From The Ashes Records - Classic and Progressive Rock in the UK
Welcome to From The Ashes Records
From The Ashes was founded in 2011 by Tony Drake and Ashley Mortimer in order to provide a home and point of contact for the recordings of Pilgrym and Dawn Trader, two bands recently re-surfaced with roots in the deep past of British rock music.
Pilgrym is real and original Classic Symphonic Progressive Rock music, exploring all the themes, traditions and ideas around bands as "Pink Floyd", "Yes", "Alan Parsons Project", "Camel" and "Emerson Lake and Palmer" with elaborated compositions, high musical culture and magnificent arrangements. Pilgrym was formed in the new millenium by Andy Wells and Tony Drake following a chance meeting in a Yorkshire music shop. Following the success of their first album, they are about to release the follow up which is called "The Great Divide"
Dawn Trader were Nottingham's finest band during the NWOBHM phenomenon in the 1980's. They were also rock's best kept secret, never quite breaking into the commercial success everyone acknowledged they deserved. Tragedy tore the heart out of the band and despite writing over 70 songs they faded away at the end of the eighties . . only to be reborn in 2010 when long time fan, Ashley Mortimer, somehow got them back together again. One thing led to another and finally, after 30 years, they are rleeasing what must be the worlds longest awaited debut album . . . from the worlds logest overnight success!
Tony Drake worked as a session musician for many years prior to forming Pilgrym. He has worked with other named musicians such as Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe), Iron Duke and even auditioned to replace Greg Lake as bass player / vocalist in King Crimson but was turned down by Bob Fripp because he was the wrong star sign! Tony's sons Matt and Ol play in successful metal band Evile.
Ashley Mortimer was a Dawn Trader fan from his teenage years, he worked as tour manager and business advisor with Magnum and has been a permenant fixture at Earache Records for 10 years where he manages business, finance, contracts and royalties and sometimes mends the computers. He has his own web design business (Seagull Designs), is a prominent pagan being on the board of the Centre For Pagan Studies. He occasionaly weilds acoustic and classical guitars.
