Dave Dyke

Born in Wales in 1962 Dave Dyke first became hooked on music after attending a wedding at the age of 10. It was there that he was first introduced to drumming and went on to make many appearances as a drummer during his early teens, playing with the big bands of the day and making TV appearances.

When Punk Rock was born in the mid-late 70’s, Dave was living in Southend-on-Sea in Essex. It was from there that artists such as Dr. Feelgood and Wilko Johnson sprang. Dave joined a local band called the ‘Idiots’ spending 4-5 years playing New Wave/Punk music.

‘Speedball’ followed seeing the band release album and getting a session with the legendary John Peel for his show on BBC Radio One and doing a live circuit of London Clubs such as the Marquee in Wardour Street. Dave also played drums for top acts such as Depêche Mode, Alison Moyet and Eddie and The Hot Rods.

Dave’s growing passion for lyrics and music encouraged him to learn the guitar. Self-taught he then spent 20 years as a travelling hippy getting creative influences from the many cultures he encountered. Dave’s repertoire of chords, choruses and tunes soon grew, helped along by hours of busking and practicing in café’s, stations - anywhere to gain experience.

In the mid 90’s he settled in Brighton, a town becoming increasingly popular with musicians. Here he performed guitar with bands such as ‘Big Love’, ‘Love Star’, and gigging in venues in London such as the Mean Fiddler.

Becoming a father completely changed the hippy Dave into a responsible dad for his son. Music and travelling was put on a back burner.

In 2000 Dave discovered Totnes. Its creative atmosphere was perfect for the artistic ambitions in Dave. Now that the digital age had made the idea of recording at home on a professional level a financial reality it allowed Dave to put together his own recording studio.

Help and advice from local musicians, engineers etc soon allowed Dave to work on the CD that is now ‘This Is Your Life’ by Oceanic.

In a space of two years the lovingly crafted album is now completed. An atmospheric CD, the lyrics express love and mellow moods underscored by reflective tunes. The result is an album not of ten separate tracks but of one entity flowing from one song to the next. ‘This Is Your Life’ is an album of gorgeous words, creating a depth of musical experience that leaves the listener in a relaxed state of well-being.

It is a bittersweet irony for Dave that the completion of this life’s work heralded the news that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It is also a strange twist of Fate that the nature of Dave’s lyrics for this album is focussed on life, love and death. The titles of the tracks alone are eerily prophetic.

From the artist’s point of view this is a chance to leave behind something of himself, a creative work and a legacy to his family and friends. Certainly a powerful and potent reason for releasing “This Is Your Life’ by Oceanic.