Edgar Jones

Edgar William Jones (born 4 December 1970), also known as Edgar Summertyme, is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Jones was originally the bass player and singer-songwriter for the Stairs and has since formed and fronted the Isrites, The Big Kids, Edgar Jones & the Joneses and Free Peace. He has also played as a session musician for several artists, including Ian McCulloch, Paul Weller, Saint Etienne and Ocean Colour Scene.

Career Early career: to 1994

Jones was born in Liverpool. With Ged Lynn and Paul Maguire, he formed The Stairs, a 1960s-oriented band with English beat, garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic influences. The band's manager, Jason Otty, would often play harmonica, and the band would later feature 2nd guitarists Carl Cook and Daniel Kearney before splitting in 1994. The band achieved cult status with the album Mexican R'n'B (1992).

1995–2001: The Isrites and the Big Kids Jones also formed The Isrites with Sean Payne, later of the Zutons, Paul Maguire's younger brother Dave and Luke Goldberg, later of Book and the Big Kids again with Sean Payne and Russell Pritchard, later of The Zutons, and Howie Payne of The Stands. Although both bands split before releasing anything, material has since been issued on several compilations by The Viper Label.

2002–2011: Edgar Jones & the Joneses and Free Peace Having ditched the Summertyme pseudonym, Edgar released his first solo album as Edgar "Jones" Jones in 2005 entitled Soothing Music for Stray Cats which encompassing elements of jazz, R&B, soul and doo wop and was recorded on a portastudio donated by Johnny Marr. Edgar followed the album up with Gettin' a Little Help from The Joneses, backed by The Joneses, in 2007 and The Masked Marauder in 2009.

Jones formed Free Peace in August 2008 with his nephew Nick Miniski and guitarist Stuart Gimblett. An EP was released via gigs, mail orders and independent record shops in Liverpool, and they were recording they debut album, which was set to be released on their label, Loud Soul, in October 2009. The band saw Jones return to the 3-piece rock sound of The Stairs, and they had reportedly finished about 20 songs for their debut album. Despite regularly gigging, including major support slots with Oasis, the band split up with an album entitled "Stormy Weather" released under the name "The Edgar Jones Free Peace Thing" in September 2011 on the Viper label over a year after the band disbanded.

2012–present: Solo work Under Edgar Summertyme, Jones released his fourth solo album, Sense of Harmony, in 2012.

In November 2015, Jones reunited with The Stairs, who later released a collection of rare recordings on The Viper Label.

In April 2016, Jones's Soothing Music For Stray Cats was reissued on limited edition vinyl via The Viper Label and Mellowtone Records.

In July 2016, Jones put together a backing band for Johnny Echols of Love, for a show at Sefton Park dubbed From Liverpool With Love featuring guest vocalists such as John Power, Dave McCabe and Nick Ellis.

Jones's solo record, entitled The Song Of Day and Night, was released in 2017 on Skeleton Key Records. Jones put together a touring band, dubbed 'The New Joneses' and toured the UK with fellow Skeleton Key acts, headlining the Kristian Ealey Stage at Smithdown Road Festival in Sefton Park's Palmhouse.

Collaborations Since the break-up of the Stairs, Jones has worked with Ian McCulloch on Mysterio (1992), Paul Weller (live and appears on Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD, 2000), Johnny Marr in an early version of the Healers (where he was replaced by Alonza Bevan previously of Kula Shaker), Saint Etienne, Cherry Ghost on their Thirst For Romance (2007) and Lee Mavers following the departure of John Power from the La's.

Associated acts Years active Act 1990–1994 The Stairs Edgar Summertyme – vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards (1990–1994) Ged Lynn – backing vocals, guitar (1990–c. 1993) Paul Maguire – drums (1990–1994) Carl Cook – guitar (c. 1993/1994) Daniel Kearney – guitar (c. 1993/1994) Jason Otty – backing vocals, harmonica (c. 1990/1993) 1995–1998 The Isrites Edgar Summertyme Luke Goldberg Dave Maguire Sean Payne 1999–2001 The Big Kids Edgar Summertyme – vocals, guitar Howie Payne – guitar Russell Pritchard – bass Sean Payne – drums 2003–2008 Edgar Jones & the Joneses Edgar Jones – vocals, bass (2003–2008) Kristian Ealey – vocals (2003) Candie Payne – vocals (2003) Mike Marshall – guitar (2003–2004) Nick Miniski – drums (2003–2004) Paul Molloy – guitar (2005) Jamie Backhouse – guitar (2005–2008) Austin Murphy – saxophone, guitar (2005–2008) Grenville Harrop – drums (2005–2006) Hugo Harrison – double bass (2005–2006) Robert Stringer – piano (2005–2008) Karl Penney – drums (2006–2008) Paul Blakesley – bass, double bass (2006–2008) 2008–2010 Free Peace Edgar Jones – vocals, bass Stuart Gimblett – guitar Nick Miniski – drums

Discography Studio albums Title Details Mexican R'n'B (as The Stairs) 1st The Stairs album Released: 25 May 1992 Label: Go! Discs Format(s): CD, LP Soothing Music for Stray Cats (as Edgar "Jones" Jones) 1st solo album Released: May 2005 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Reissued 2016 Label: Viper & Mellowtone Records Format(s): LP Gettin' a Little Help from The Joneses (as Edgar "Jones" Jones) 2nd solo album Released: July 2007 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download The Masked Marauder (as Edgar Jones & Friends) 3rd solo album Released: March 2008 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Who Is This Is (as The Stairs) 2nd The Stairs album Released: August 2008 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Stormy Weather (as The Edgar Jones Free Peace Thing) 1st Free Peace album Released: 18 September 2011 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Sense of Harmony (as Edgar Summertyme) 4th solo album Released: 16 August 2012 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Morphic Fields (as Edgar Summertyme) 5th solo album Released: 28 October 2013 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download The Song of Day and Night (as Edgar Jones) 6th solo album Released: 14 April 2017 Label: Skeleton Key Format(s): CD, downloadReflections of a Soul Dimension (as Edgar Jones) 7th solo album Released 28 April 2023 Label: Steropar Format(s): CD, LP, download

Compilation albums Title Details Right in the Back of Your Mind (as The Stairs) The Stairs compilation album Released: 6 June 2006 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download Keep It On: The Isrites & Big Kids Sessions 1995–2000 (as Edgar Summertyme) The Isrites and The Big Kids compilation album Released: 15 July 2013 Label: Viper Format(s): CD, download The Way It Is: 25 Years of Solo Adventures (as Edgar Jones) Compilation album Released: 22 January 2021 Label: Cherry Red Format(s): CD, download

Singles & EPs Weed Bus (1991) (as The Stairs) Woman Gone And Say Goodbye (1992) (as The Stairs) Mary Joanna (1992) (as The Stairs) Last Time Around (1992) (as The Stairs) I'm Bored (1999) (as The Big Kids) More than You've Ever Had! (2006) (as Edgar Jones & the Joneses) The Way It Is (2007) (as Edgar Jones & the Joneses) Mellow Down Pussycat! (2007) (as Edgar Jones & the Joneses) Free Peace EP (2009) (as Free Peace)

Compilation appearances 1965: Through the Looking Glass (1992) – "Moonchild" (as The Stairs) Unearthed: Liverpool Cult Classics, Vol. 1 (2001) – "Skin Up for Me Baby" (as The Stairs) The Great Liverpool Acoustic Experiment (2002) – "Mister Can You Tell Me? " (as Edgar Summertyme) Unearthed: Liverpool Cult Classics, Vol. 3 (2004) – "Keep It On" (as The Isrites) 21st Century Liverpool Underground (2005) – "I'm Bored", "Too Much Baby", "For a Moment", "Up to No Good Again", "Hot Potatoes", "Hey, Hey, Now, Now" (as The Big Kids)

Session discography Ian McCulloch – Mysterio (1992) Saint Etienne – Sound of Water (2000) Ocean Colour Scene – Mechanical Wonder (2001) Cherry Ghost – Thirst for Romance (2007) Black – The Given (2009) Mike Badger – Rogue State (2011)