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Public recordCompiled from 14 credited sources · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Bill Nelson

Rock band from Wakefield · formed 1948

Bill Nelson, legendary composer and guitarist and visionary of Be Bop Deluxe and R

Listen on BandcampFollow shows on Songkick
Bill Nelson photo
Photo: Bandcamp
Shows on record
34
Rooms played
29
Cities
19
Releases
51
Last show
May 8, 2020Brauer House

About

Bill Nelson is a band from Wakefield, formed in 1948, tagged ambient, art pop, art rock by its sources. Shows on record run from 1981 to 2020, across 29 rooms in 19 cities.

  • Bill Nelson formed in 1948 — MusicBrainz
  • Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Arcana: member — MusicBrainz
  • Bill Nelson’s Red Noise: member — MusicBrainz
  • Bill Nelson and The Gentlemen Rocketeers: guitar, lead vocals — MusicBrainz
  • Be Bop Deluxe: guitar, lead vocals (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • Bill Nelson has 25 release group(s) on MusicBrainz spanning 1971–1992 — MusicBrainz
  • Latest release on Bandcamp: Magical Thinking (2026-09-11) — Bandcamp
  • Bill Nelson (musician) formed in 1970 — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson (musician) plays Progressive rock — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson (musician) plays art rock — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson (musician) plays glam rock — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson (musician) plays electronic rock — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson (musician) plays new wave — Wikipedia
  • Bill Nelson has 50697 listeners on Last.fm — Bill Nelson on Last.fm
  • Bill Nelson has released 10 recordings between 2021 and 2026 — Bill Nelson on Discogs
  • Bill Nelson has 2 followers on Genius — Bill Nelson on Genius
  • Country (per TheAudioDB): Wakefield, England — Bill Nelson on TheAudioDB
  • Genres per Wikidata: experimental music, new wave — Wikidata
  • Labels per Wikidata: Discipline Global Mobile, Harvest — Wikidata

The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.

Shows

34 on record · Songkick
No upcoming shows on record.Know of one? Tell us

Shows per year

  1. 198112 shows
  2. 198310 shows
  3. 20021 show
  4. 20031 show
  5. 20041 show
  6. 20052 shows
  7. 20101 show
  8. 20111 show
  9. 20161 show
  10. 20171 show
  11. 20181 show
  12. 20191 show
  13. 20201 show
Show history
DateVenue
May 8, 2020Brauer House · LombardSupportwith Koffin Kats, Wild Earp, The Krank Daddies, +2
Nov 9, 2019Clothworkers Hall · LeedsHeadliner
Dec 1, 2018Clothworkers Hall · LeedsHeadliner
Oct 28, 2017Clothworkers Hall · LeedsHeadliner
Oct 29, 2016Clothworkers Hall · LeedsHeadliner
Apr 29, 2011Sensoria 2011 · SheffieldHeadliner
Jun 5, 2010Cellar Bar · HoustonSupportwith Westbound, Myrna Sanders
Nov 24, 2005Life Cafe · ManchesterHeadliner
Nov 6, 2005Bloomsbury Theatre · LondonHeadliner
Oct 7, 2004The Stables, Wavendon · Milton KeynesHeadliner
Sep 4, 2003Trinity Theatre · Tunbridge WellsHeadliner
Dec 8, 2002The Jazz Cafe · LondonHeadliner
Nov 10, 1983Canterbury Art College · CanterburyHeadliner
Mar 16, 1983Dominion Theatre · LondonHeadlinerwith Richard Jobson, Frank Chickens, Yorkshire Actors Company
Mar 4, 1983Liverpool Polytechnic Student Union · LiverpoolHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Mar 3, 1983Hull University Student Union · HullHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Mar 2, 1983Queen's Hall · EdinburghHeadlinerwith Frank Chickens, Richard Jobson, Yorkshire Actors Company
Feb 26, 1983Polytechnic · LeicesterHeadlinerwith Frank Chickens, Richard Jobson
Feb 25, 1983Huddersfield Polytechnic Union · HuddersfieldHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Feb 24, 1983Leeds Polytechnic Student Union · LeedsHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Feb 23, 1983Manchester Polytechnic Student Union · ManchesterHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Feb 17, 1983Academy · PortsmouthHeadlinerwith Yorkshire Actors Company
Nov 29, 1981The Venue · LondonHeadlinerwith Richard Jobson
Aug 1, 1981Whisky a Go Go · West HollywoodHeadliner
Jun 1, 1981Heaven · LondonHeadlinerwith Bill Nelson & The Practical Dreamers, Josef K, A Flock of Seagulls
May 30, 1981Nite Club · EdinburghHeadlinerwith Bill Nelson & The Practical Dreamers, A Flock of Seagulls
May 29, 1981Brady's · LiverpoolHeadlinerwith Bill Nelson & The Practical Dreamers, A Flock of Seagulls, Altered Images
May 28, 1981The Limit · SheffieldHeadlinerwith Bill Nelson & The Practical Dreamers, A Flock of Seagulls, Hot Cuisine
May 27, 1981The Warehouse · LeedsHeadlinerwith A Flock of Seagulls
May 26, 1981The Warehouse · LeedsHeadlinerwith A Flock of Seagulls
May 25, 1981Porterhouse · RetfordHeadlinerwith A Flock of Seagulls
May 23, 1981Manchester Polytechnic Student Union · ManchesterHeadlinerwith A Flock of Seagulls
May 22, 1981The Cedar Club · BirminghamHeadlinerwith A Flock of Seagulls
May 21, 1981Bristol Polytechnic · BristolHeadliner

Where they play

29 rooms in 19 cities

Rooms played most

Cities played

  • Leeds7 shows
  • London5 shows
  • Manchester3 shows
  • Edinburgh2 shows
  • Liverpool2 shows

and 14 other cities

Live history

34 shows on record
Shows counted
34
First on record
May 1981
Latest on record
May 2020

Shows per year

  1. 198112
  2. 198310
  3. 20021
  4. 20031
  5. 20041
  6. 20052
  7. 20101
  8. 20111
  9. 20161
  10. 20171
  11. 20181
  12. 20191
  13. 20201

Top rooms

  • Clothworkers Hall, Leeds · 4
  • Manchester Polytechnic Student Union, Manchester · 2
  • The Warehouse, Leeds · 2
  • Brauer House, Lombard · 1
  • Sensoria 2011, Sheffield · 1

Top cities

  • Leeds · 7
  • London · 5
  • Manchester · 3
  • Sheffield · 2
  • Edinburgh · 2

Often on the bill with: A Flock of Seagulls, Altered Images, Koffin Kats, Myrna Sanders, The Krank Daddies

Counted from the shows BandSlate holds; missing shows are not counted.

Releases

51 releases, 1971–2026
  • Magical Thinking cover

    Magical Thinking

    Sep 11, 2026 · Album · 14 tracks

  • King Frankenstein cover

    King Frankenstein

    Aug 7, 2026 · Album · 21 tracks

  • Sunflower Dairy Product cover

    Sunflower Dairy Product

    Jul 3, 2026 · Album · 20 tracks

  • Stargazing With Ranger Bill cover

    Stargazing With Ranger Bill

    Jun 5, 2026 · Album · 18 tracks

  • Old Man Future Blows The Blues cover

    Old Man Future Blows The Blues

    May 1, 2026 · Album · 20 tracks

  • Magical Thinking (Guitars Of Tomorrow Volume One)

    2026

  • Powertron

    2024

  • Studio Cadet

    2024

  • Marvellous Realms

    2023

  • Stupid / Serious

    2023

  • All The Fun Of The Fair

    2023

  • Starlight Stories

    2023

  • Electra (In Search Of The Golden Sound)

    2022

  • Dazzlebox

    2021

  • Mixed Up Kid

    2021

  • Blue Moons and Laughing Guitars

    1992 · Album

  • Luminous

    1991 · Album

  • Altar Pieces

    1990 · Album

  • Demonstrations of Affection

    1990 · Album

  • A Catalogue of Obsessions

    1989 · Album

  • Chamber of Dreams (Music From the Invisibility Exhibition)

    1989 · Album

  • Chimes and Rings

    1989 · Album

  • Das Kabinet (The Cabinet of Dr Caligari) / La Belle et la Bete (Beauty and the Beast)

    1989 · Album

  • Details

    1989 · Album

  • Heartbreakland

    1989 · Album

  • Nudity

    1989 · Album

  • Pavillions of the Heart and Soul

    1989 · Album

  • Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights

    1987 · Album

  • Ecclesia Gnostica (Music for the Interior Church)

    1987 · Album

  • Getting the Holy Ghost Across

    1986 · Album

  • On a Blue Wing

    1986 · Album

  • Trial by Intimacy (The Book of Splendours)

    1985 · Album

  • Chamber of Dreams (Music From the Invisible Exibition)

    1984 · Album

  • The Summer of God’s Piano

    1984 · Album

  • Chimera

    1983 · Album

  • The Love That Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart)

    1982 · Album

  • Das Kabinet (The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari)

    1981 · Album

  • Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam

    1981 · Album

  • Sounding the Ritual Echo (Atmospheres for Dreaming)

    1981 · Album

  • Northern Dream

    1971 · Album

  • Optimism cover

    Optimism

    Album

  • Iconography cover

    Iconography

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc Six) cover

    My Private Cosmos (Disc Six)

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc Five)

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc Four)

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc Three)

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc Two)

    Album

  • My Private Cosmos (Disc One)

    Album

  • Caliban And The Chrome Harmonium

    Album

  • Crimsworth

    Album

  • Simplex

    Album

Discography

80 releases, 2009–2026
  • 2026Magical ThinkingAlbum
  • 2024Juke Box For Jet BoyAlbum
  • 2024PowertronAlbum
  • 2023All the Fun of the FairAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD060

  • 2023Marvellous RealmsAlbum
  • 2023Starlight StoriesAlbum
  • 2023Stupid/SeriousAlbum
  • 2022Electra (In Search of the Golden Sound)Album

    Sonoluxe

  • 2021Mixed Up KidAlbum
  • 2020New Vibrato WonderlandAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD053 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2020The Lockdown Song (It’s All Downhill From Here)Single
  • 2020Transcorder (The Acquitted By Mirrors Recordings)Compilation

    Sonoluxe · CD052

Show 68 more releases
  • 2020Transcorder: The Aquitted by Mirrors RecordingsCompilation

    Sonoluxe

  • 2019Stand By: Light Coming…Album

    Sonoluxe · CD049

  • 2019The Last LamplighterAlbum
  • 2018AuditoriaAlbum
  • 2018Drive This Comet Across the SkyAlbum
  • 2018Dynamos and TremolosAlbum
  • 2018That Old MysteriosoAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD046

  • 2018The UnrealistAlbum

    Tremelo Boy Records · DDL05

  • 2017Dreamy Screens (Soundtracks From The Echo Observatory)Compilation

    Cocteau Discs · COCD 31015 · Producer, Written-By, Performer, Recorded By, Photography By: Bill Nelson

  • 2017Dreamy Screens: Soundtracks From the Echo ObservatoryCompilation

    Cocteau Discs · COCD31015

  • 2017Kid Flip & The Golden SpacemenAlbum

    Tremelo Boy Records · DDL04

  • 2017Luxury Wonder MomentsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD043

  • 2017Songs for GhostsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD045 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2017The Awakening of Dr DreamAlbum

    Tremelo Boy Records · DDL03

  • 2017The RumblerSingle
  • 2017Tripping the Light FantasticLive

    Sonoluxe · [none]

  • 2017Variation on the Theme of a White ChristmasSingle
  • 2016All That I RememberAlbum

    Sonoluxe · SLSCD 003

  • 2016New Northern DreamAlbum

    Sonoluxe · SLSCD 004

  • 2016Perfect MonstersAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD 042

  • 2016Six String Super Apparatus: Painting with Guitars, Volume 3Album

    Tremelo Boy Records · DDL02

  • 2016Special MetalAlbum

    Tremelo Boy Records · DDL01

  • 2015AstroloopsAlbum

    Astrotone

  • 2015Electric AtlasAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD 041

  • 2015Loom: Astroloops, Volume 2Album

    Astrotone · CD 002

  • 2015Plectrajet: Painting With Guitars, Volume TwoAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD040

  • 2015Quiet BellsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD037

  • 2015Swoons And Levitations (Musical Magic From Fantasmo's Soundarium)Album

    Sonoluxe · CD038

  • 2015Swoons and Levitations: Musical Magic From Fantasmo’s SoundariumAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD038

  • 2015The YearsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD039 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2014Fantastic GuitarsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD034

  • 2014Pedalscope: Music Created for the Film ‘Velorama’Album

    Sonoluxe · CD033

  • 2014Shining ReflectorAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD036

  • 2014Stereo Star MapsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD 035

  • 2014The Dreamer’s Companion, Volume 1: How I Got My Secret PowersCompilation

    Sonoluxe · CD029

  • 2014The Dreamer’s Companion, Volume 2: In This I Reveal My Secret IdentityCompilation

    Sonoluxe · CD029

  • 2014The Dreamer’s Companion, Volume 3: Songs of the Bel-Air RocketmanCompilation

    Sonoluxe · CD031

  • 2013Albion Dream VortexAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD027

  • 2013Blip!Album

    Sonoluxe · CD025 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2013Snow Is FallingSingle
  • 2013StarlandSingle
  • 2013The Sparkle Machine: Several Sustained MomentsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD028

  • 2013The Tremulous Doo-Wah Diddy: Blip! 2Album

    Sonoluxe · CD026

  • 2013The Tremulous Doo-Wah-Diddy (Blip! 2)Release

    Sonoluxe · CD026

  • 2012Joy Through Amplification (The Ultra-Fuzzy World of Priapus Stratocaster)Album

    Sonoluxe · CD022

  • 2012Return To Tomorrow (These Tapes Rewind: Volume One)Album

    Discs Of Ancient Odeon · DOAO CD 007

  • 2012Return to Tomorrow: These Tapes Rewind: Volume OneAlbum

    Discs of Ancient Odeon · DOAO CD 007

  • 2012Silent NightSingle
  • 2012Songs of the Blossom Tree OptimistsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · SLSCD 002

  • 2012The Dreamshire ChroniclesAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD024

  • 2012The Last of the Neon CynicsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD021

  • 2012The Palace of Strange VoltagesAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD023

  • 2012Think and You’ll Miss It / Beat StreetSingle

    [no label] · [none]

  • 2011FantasmatronAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD019

  • 2011Hip Pocket JukeboxAlbum

    [no label] · [none]

  • 2011Model VillageAlbum

    Sonoluxe · SLSCD 001

  • 2011Signals From Realms of LightAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD020

  • 2011The Practice of Everyday LifeCompilation

    Cocteau Discs · COCDBOX 1002

  • 2010Captain Future’s Psychotronic CircusAlbum

    Discs of Ancient Odeon · CD 006 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2010Fables and Dreamsongs: A Golden Book of Experimental BalladsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD018

  • 2010Frost-O-MaticSingle

    Sonoluxe

  • 2010Modern Moods For Mighty AtomsAlbum

    Blue Shining Fountain · BSFCD 001

  • 2010Picture PostAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD017

  • 2009Fancy PlanetsAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD013 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2009Here Comes Mr MercuryAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD014 · Mastered By: John Spence

  • 2009Non‐Stop Mystery ActionAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD016

  • 2009The Dream Transmission PavilionAlbum

    Discs of Ancient Odeon · CD005

  • 2009Theatre of Falling LeavesAlbum

    Sonoluxe · CD015

Compiled from MusicBrainz and Discogs. Releases not listed there are not shown.

Lineup

  • Channel Light Vessel
  • Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Arcana
  • Bill Nelson’s Red Noise
  • Bill Nelson and The Gentlemen Rocketeers · guitar, lead vocals

Former

  • Be Bop Deluxe · guitar, lead vocals

Airplay

  • KEXP airplay: 45 plays, 2002-04-13–2026-01-17 — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Mechanical Breakdown' (Sharlese) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Variety Mix' (Sean) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Drive Time' (Troy Nelson) — KEXP

Photos, art and posters

Bill Nelson — Photo · logo
Photo · logo — Bandcamp
Bill Nelson — Photo · promo
Photo · promo — Bandcamp
Bill Nelson — Photo · promo
Photo · promo — TheAudioDB
Bill Nelson — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Bill Nelson — Photo
Photo — Wikidata
Bill Nelson — Magical Thinking
Release art · Magical Thinking — release
Bill Nelson — King Frankenstein
Release art · King Frankenstein — release
Bill Nelson — Sunflower Dairy Product
Release art · Sunflower Dairy Product — release
Bill Nelson — Stargazing With Ranger Bill
Release art · Stargazing With Ranger Bill — release
Bill Nelson — Old Man Future Blows The Blues
Release art · Old Man Future Blows The Blues — release
Bill Nelson — Optimism
Release art · Optimism — release
Bill Nelson — Iconography
Release art · Iconography — release
Bill Nelson — My Private Cosmos (Disc Six)
Release art · My Private Cosmos (Disc Six) — release

Sources & corrections

Report wrong info about Bill Nelson

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What each source supplied
SourceUsed for
MusicBrainzArtist facts
BandcampArtist facts, Releases, Photos
WikipediaArtist facts
Bill Nelson on Last.fmArtist facts
Bill Nelson on DiscogsArtist facts
Bill Nelson on GeniusArtist facts
Bill Nelson on TheAudioDBArtist facts
WikidataArtist facts, Photos
KEXPAirplay
SongkickShow history
TheAudioDBPhotos
DiscogsCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
GeniusCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
Last.fmCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it

This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.

From Wikipedia

These facts are from the English Wikipedia article Bill Nelson (musician). They are shown on their own and are not merged into the record above.

Years active
1970–present
Genres
Progressive rock, art rock, glam rock, electronic rock, new wave, post-punk, ambient
Labels
Harvest/EMI, Enigma, Portrait/CVS, Cocteau, Twentythree, Populuxe, Virgin, Caroline, Sonoluxe, Mercury

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Revision used. Wikipedia content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.