Gareth Jones

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jones trained at the BBC and began working at Pathway Studios in North London. While at Pathway he recorded Madness' first single, "The Prince", in 1979 and mixed John Foxx's 1980 album *Metamatic*. When Foxx established his own London recording studio, The Garden, Jones began working there, and it was at this studio that he first worked with Depeche Mode, contributing to their 1983 album *Construction Time Again*, the first of three albums in a row that Jones would do with the band. While working with a band in Vienna, the band's manager suggested Jones mix the recordings in West Germany, and took Jones to Hansa Tonstudio in West Berlin to do the mixing. The studio was the most high-tech Jones had worked in, and he decided to live in Berlin and freelance at Hansa. At Hansa, Jones began experimenting with recording atmospheres. Bands would play their instruments through large amplifiers which were then recorded with microphones, creating a large arena-type sound. This sound would catch the attention of bands like Depeche Mode, who used this method on many recordings. Jones introduced sampling to Depeche Mode, while Einstürzende Neubauten had already been using sampling and tape manipulation before working with him. He began recording with new electronic instruments such as AMS digital delays and the Synclavier sampler synthesiser, which was brought in by Daniel Miller of Mute Records.

In Their Own Story

The basement studio hummed with the low-frequency drone of a modified synthesizer. Gareth adjusted a patch cable, his brow furrowed as he listened to the feedback loop settle into a rhythmic pulse. 'It's not quite right yet,' he murmured, tweaking the gain on the mixer. Around him, the others were still finding their footing, but in that dimly lit room, Jones was already building the architecture of a sound that would one day echo in stadiums across the world.

Reader's Guide

Gareth Jones was born in Warrington, Lancashire in 1954. When he was young he played different instruments but became more interested in music technology. He owned a simple valve tape recorder and began experimenting with tape editing. Jones trained at the BBC and began working at Pathway Studios in North London. While at Pathway he recorded Madness' first single, "The Prince", in 1979 and mixed John Foxx's 1980 album *Metamatic*. When Foxx established his own London recording studio, The Garden, Jones began working there, and it was at this studio that he first worked with Depeche Mode, contributing to their 1983 album *Construction Time Again*, the first of three albums in a row that Jones would do with the band. While working with a band in Vienna, the band's manager suggested Jones mix the recordings in West Germany, and took Jones to Hansa Tonstudio in West Berlin to do the mixing. The studio was the most high-tech Jones had worked in, and he decided to live in Berlin and freelance at Hansa. At the time, many English bands chose to record in Berlin as the exchange rate made it far less expensive than recording in London, and Jones worked with bands such as Fad Gadget and Wire at Hansa. At Hansa, Jones began experimenting with recording atmospheres. Bands would play their instruments through large amplifiers which were then recorded with microphones, creating a large arena-type sound. This sound would catch the attention of bands like Depeche Mode, who used this method on many recordings. Gareth Jones was a pioneer in the use of digital equipment. He introduced sampling to many bands such as Depeche Mode and Einstürzende Neubauten. He began recording with new electronic instruments such as AMS digital delays and the Synclavier sampler synthesiser, which was brought in by Daniel Miller of Mute Records. In the mid 1990s he moved back to London and worked in famous studios such as Abbey Road and The Strongroom in London. In 2020, Jones produced several tracks for a new technopop band called Of Love and Lust. Jones collaborates with American composer/producer/Our Silent Canvas label owner Christopher Bono on Nous Alpha, who release new album *A Walk in the Woods* in 2021. In May, 2021, Jones and Daniel Miller, recording as Sunroof, released their debut album *Electronic Music Improvisations Vol. 1*. Jones is married and currently living in North London.

Did You Know?

• Jones recorded Madness' first single, 'The Prince', in 1979 at Pathway Studios.
• He mixed John Foxx's 1980 album *Metamatic*.
• Jones decided to live in Berlin and freelance at Hansa Tonstudio after finding it the most high-tech studio he had worked in.
• He introduced sampling to Depeche Mode; Einstürzende Neubauten were already using sampling and tape manipulation before collaborating with him.
• In May 2021, Jones and Daniel Miller, recording as Sunroof, released their debut album *Electronic Music Improvisations Vol. 1*.