Alan Pearson - Los Endos Keys

I have always been a keyboard noodler, having an old upright piano in the living room in my very early years.
I became a fan of Genesis when introduced to Foxtrot by a friend, Sid Smith.

Sid went on to fame and glory, writing the biography “In The Court of King Crimson”. Another of my favourite bands.

Foxtrot knocked me out. At the time I was a Led Zep and ELP fan, but the intricacy of the music, combined with Gabriel’s lyrics and “olde worlde” stories took me to another dimension. Banks swirling Mellotron, church organ and the inter-twined 12 strings gripped me.
I filled my record rack with Genesis to Revelation, Nursery Cryme and beyond to Wind and Wuthering. Then I lost interest as pop overtook prog.

The years waxed and waned until eventually I was persuaded by my cousin Jeff to visit the G2 (2002) convention in Guildford. Such famous trib’s as G2, In The Cage and Face Value reignited my interest in Genesis.
When the opportunity came (too soon) to audition for ITC I was well on the way to wanting to play Genesis keyboards seriously. I failed too with G2 but received great support from my new friend Chris Cawte of G2, Letz Zep and Gutter Bros fame.
Having just seen G2 at The Hawth in Crawley in December 2003, I replied to a cheeky post from a certain Nigel Betteridge – the rest, as they say, is history.

Equipment list ::

Having originally lugged four keyboards and a rack of synths around, I streamlined my gear to a sensible shape as it is now:

• Roland XP30 with Vintage Synth and Keys 60s and 70s Expansion – Lead sounds
• Roland Fantom S – Organ and Mellotron sounds
• Roland FA76 - Piano, Mellotron, organ and various effects
• Rack containing Novation A-Station, EMU Proteus Custom with B3, Yamaha A-4000 Sampler

Los Endos – Band History ::

In December 2003, I replied to a cheeky post on the G2 website from a certain Nigel Betteridge – a keen vocalist and Gabriel/Collins soundalike looking for a Genesis band r a beer in the local, we set about looking for band members.

After bringing together a wayward Brazilian lead guitarist called Ernesto, a left-handed, determined bass player called Col and a talented Scottish drummer called John Alexander O’Neill (no relation to the fat bloke), we just had to settle on Los Endos to accommodate Ernesto. Although there were other options (Shock the Monkey, Can Utility and the Coast Liners).

We then went through endless rehearsals and various personnel changes.

Nigel left through with a back injury and we brought in a guy called Mike Morton. A little while in Ernesto returned to Brazil and luckily Mike brought in Gary Lucas. Then Mike left and Nigel returned. Then Col left and John brought in his bassist friend Martin from his jazz-fusion band Tokamak.

Nige put his left foot in, his left foot out and kept us guessing for a while!
Glyn Protheroe paid a swift visit and left on the same night, then Nige returned for a while... then he decided to leave again.....and now Den has taken over the helm and so far.........he's stuck with it.

We were also lucky to find the very experienced Stuart Barnes (sound) and Ronaldo Faust (lighting) – skilful musicians in their own rights.
Los Endos has been three years in the making but as the advert says.... we think it’s worth it!