About the Band

Gil Galad began not with a grand prophecy or a cosmic alignment… but with five students in Durham & one in Darlington, who really should have been doing their coursework. Three of that original lineup are working together again.

Paul was studying Music, Nev was deep into Music and Drama, and Kev, studying hard near the music department, armed with a passion for graphic art and an enormous Premier drum kit, kept turning up between lectures in the Music Department like a man who had accidentally enrolled in percussion school, what a star.

Together they formed the original line‑up of Gil Galad: a prog rock band fuelled by enthusiasm, questionable fashion choices, and drawn together through their love of songs that were longer than the average lifespan of a small horse and carried more time-shifts than a series of Dr Who.

The Durham Days…

Picture it: Ford Cortina, Vauxhall Viva, Austin Maxi. Flared jeans. Long hair. Velvet jackets. Students fortified by beer, Salutation burgers, and Colpitts toasties.

Drawn together by a love of music they forged a sound in a bid to take over the world. The music was good, the gigs even better the push to make the band a career was just about in reach. The world, however, is inconveniently large. So, in time they drifted off, careers, families, adventures, and the occasional sensible haircut, leaving the Gil Galad sound dormant but never forgotten.

Forty Years Later…

Then one day, more than four decades on, something stirred. A spark. A chord. A mysterious, invisible, ethereal thread of brotherhood, possibly caused by modern science, possibly by nostalgia, possibly by Nev’s cat walking across a keyboard.

Suddenly Paul, Nev, and Kev were writing together again, older, wiser, and wearing sensible slacks with actual pockets. Now with two albums, an EP, and more projects underway, the sound awakened once more through the wonders of digital wizardry.

The Story Continues….

Inspired by the tale of John Walker, inventor of the friction match, the band plunged into time‑shifts, parallel universes, steampunk avatars, and endless worlds, all in the hope of making sense of this one. Others have joined the quest: talented guests, musical allies, creative conspirators. Some arrive for a session and never quite leave. Gil Galad has that effect. This is not the beginning. This is not the end. This is simply… the continuation.

Paul Dobson – Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Production & Composer

From the outside, Paul’s musical life looks like a seamless masterplan, but anyone who actually knows him will tell you it began with long hair, spandex, and a father repeatedly asking, ‘When are you going to get a proper job!’ To be fair, his dad was wonderfully supportive in the early days, acting as Paul’s roadie until he could drive at 17… at which point the job title quietly changed to chauffeur‑in‑retirement. Eventually Paul did get that “proper job,” carving out a successful career as a director in local government, but only after giving the musical dream a heroic, full‑volume fight. It was always the plan: finish work early, return to his first love, music… and since 2020, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.

Early spark

Paul’s first steps onto a stage came at the age of six in the family concert party, a tiny performer with big ambition. Piano lessons followed, though an encounter with a teacher straight out of Great Expectations nudged him firmly toward the guitar. Excellent decision. He wrote his first song at eleven (She’s the Girl) and never stopped. Over the years he’s played with countless bands, a full big band, and in his own creative projects, touring in the USA and Europe, always pushing forward, always writing, always building, and occasionally wondering how many instruments one man is legally allowed to own.

Studio craft

Paul’s understanding of studio life began in the humblest way possible: making tea and operating tape machines. Those early days gave him a grounding in how music is really made the graft, the detail, the patience. Today he has his own studio, (The Black Wazp Studio) a space where his engineering and production skills shine. Much of Gil Galad’s sound carries Paul’s fingerprints: clarity, atmosphere, precision, and a knack for making ideas feel bigger than the room they were born in; and yes he still makes a canny cuppa.

What about Paul…

• Film and TV watcher – Loves binge watching good films and shows for relaxation
• Breaker of many bones – too many to list and the stories are never as interesting as the injuries
• Lawn‑mower man – guardian of gardens and saviour of hedgehogs
• Après in the mountain air – happiest when the altitude is high and the views are wide
• Redeveloping historic theatres – reimagining the past and shaping the future
• Gets things done – usually several things at once
• Gourmet experimenter – look restaurant ready, taste good, uses every pan in the house and even the smoke alarm applauds
• Apple Mac enthusiast – but only when running faster than Warp Factor 9
• Break glass in case of flute emergency – because every band needs a flute in a glass picture frame on your lounge wall!

Nev Tobin – Lead Vocals, Narration, Keyboards, Imagineer, Story & Words & Composer

Nev has always been drawn to the stage. From singing in the church choir as a child to school musicals, he found his voice early and at just fifteen he landed his first paid performance with the English National Opera Company, striding out as a matador. It was clear from the start: he didn’t just want to perform, he needed to.

A life in performance

Long hair, rock and roll, and the thrill of live music carried him away from classical training and into a world of bands, keyboards, and creative experimentation. Gil Galad gave him his first real taste of the limelight, and from there he expanded into writing for theatre, acting and any creative endeavour that would let him build worlds and tell stories.

He earned a degree, lived large on stage, and chased every spark of imagination he could find. But reality eventually tapped him on the shoulder. The arts offered joy, but not riches, just graft, passion, and the satisfaction of creation. So Nev turned his talents toward helping others, beginning a 30‑year career in probation, supporting people through some of the hardest chapters of their lives.

Return of the Imagineer

Thankfully, the boys of Gil Galad pulled him back from the wilderness. Nev returned not just as a performer, but as the band’s Chief Imagineer the architect of stories, atmospheres, and the emotional worlds that shape Gil Galad’s identity. His narration, lyrics, and creative vision are woven through the band’s music like threads of myth and memory.

What about Nev…

• Film lover – from any era, with a special devotion to Lord of the Rings, sci‑fi, gothic horror, and classic black‑and‑white cinema
• Books and reading – the shelves mirror the films: fantasy, myth, mystery, and worlds beyond
• Hobbit‑style feasting – second breakfast is a way of life
• Friendly, wholesome people – his favourite kind
• Writer of words – creator of worlds
• Coffee, cake, cats, cricket – the four pillars of contentment
• Books and music and music and books
• Big jumpers and autumn leaves – freshly cut grass, a blackbird’s song, snow, and safe harbours
• Infinite possibilities – drawn with optimism and love
• Mae Govannen – a greeting from Middle Earth and a fitting welcome to Nev’s world

Kev Stevens – Drums, Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Composer & Graphic Artist

Kev’s musical journey began before he could even spell the word “music.” His dad’s cornet playing in the Mainsforth Colliery Band opened the door to classical and church music, and young Kev stepped through it with enthusiasm. That all changed in 1972 when his voice broke, abruptly ending his illustrious innings as a church chorister and beginning a lifelong love affair with the louder, wilder side of sound.

From cassock to cheesecloth…

The stiff collar and cassock were swiftly swapped for cheesecloth, denim, and BIG LOUD DRUMS. Kev discovered the beauty of music beyond the chancel and transept, and he never looked back. Over the decades he’s played in bands across the full spectrum, contributing drums, guitar, keyboards, vocals, if it makes a noise, Kev has mastered it. He’s been a musical director, an award‑winning actor, and a constant source of creativity and inspiration. His 44+ year career as a graphic artist rivals his musical output, shaping visuals with the same imagination he brings to sound and in his local community, he’s known for sowing positive vibes wherever he goes, a creator in every sense of the word.

Inspiration on the open road…

When Kev “relaxes,” he doesn’t. At least not in the usual sense. He’s often halfway up a mountain in his trusty campervan or pulling his caravan, surrounded by keyboards and guitars, chasing inspiration in the world around him. For Kev, creativity isn’t a switch, it’s a way of life.

What about Kev…

• Writing & journaling – plus tasty hobbit treats, Tolkien’s worlds, gothic artwork, and movies
• Bird watching – wildlife watching in general
• Sound tinkering – always mucking around with music
• Red wine – a reliable companion
• Bathroom scale victories – small wins, big celebrations
• Autumn colours – not much of a winter dude… except for Christmas
• The open road – even in a world full of traffic
• Prog rock devotion – morow.com radio and Prog magazine
• Dora the Explorer… and her replacement – sunny escapes where the weather is indifferent
• Inner circles – loves his family, loves his friends… you know who you are

Chris Suddes – Website Designer, Technical Wizard & Musician

Chris’s musical story began at 13 with a simple plan: learn enough guitar chords to impress girls. As it turned out, he became far better at guitar playing than was required to just impress and by his mid‑twenties, after a stint in a club band, he realised that music alone wasn’t going to pay the bills.

From logistics to semi‑retirement…

A successful career followed, running large logistics companies with the kind of calm efficiency that makes other people wonder how he does it. That career funded an early semi‑retirement at 40, prompted by a serious (but unimpressive, he insists) motorbike crash. Chris developed a new perspective and a renewed appetite for doing things he actually enjoyed.

Music, making, and meaningful work…

His musical life never stopped. Projects at the Sage/Glasshouse in Gateshead, a folk‑music tuition start‑up, and these days regular church musicianship with the occasional wedding gig. Alongside all that, he served at board level in bold attempts to help save the NHS, proof that Chris is a man with many skills and a strong sense of purpose. Then there’s Gil Galad. Chris is the band’s digital architect: website designer, technical problem‑solver, and the man who makes the online world of Gil Galad run smoothly. He’s also a great musician, but far too modest to say so himself.

He is, however, not too modest to say: “You can never have too many guitars.” He is also known to pay a small extra fee to ensure the receipt reflects the price he told his wife he paid…

What about Chris…

• Buying guitars – enthusiast, collector, connoisseur
• Motorbikes – now rides a Can‑Am
• Renovating vintage bikes – grease, patience, satisfaction
• Fast cars – the louder the better
• Big cats – lifelong fascination
• Legendary childhood glasses – now replaced with foreign‑sourced implants; no longer allowed near government buildings
• Ingenious problem solver – technical, practical, creative
• Maker of things – and finder of solutions
• Films with subtitles – preferred viewing mode

Rick Carr – YouTube Manager, Creative Consultant, Published Author

Music has always been a passion of Rick’s, ever since he was a 10 years-old and dressed up and performed a version of Sweet’s Blockbuster in front of his school classmates – air guitar, glitter and all.

Wilderness Years & the making of a storyteller…

After leaving college with a City & Guilds in Electrical Engineering, Rick entered what he later called “The Wilderness Years.” The 1980s brought upheaval, hard lessons, and sharp turns, but four things kept him grounded: The Lord of the Rings, 1970s Prog Rock, History, and Blackadder. The 1990s opened a new door. Rick discovered that words could be as powerful as music. When the millennium arrived, the internet expanded his world. He became Assistant Editor of Echoed Voices e‑zine and eventually turned his hand to writing novels. He co‑wrote the satirical Diary of a Sacred Tree series, published in renowned Author Anna Franklin’s Silver Wheel quarterly magazine. His first of many self‑published novels arrived in 2021, which included a full volume dedicated to his poetry. Rick is, without question, a creator of worlds.

Photography, film, and the eye for story…

Photography has been a constant since he first picked up a 35mm camera in 1987. Today he shoots with two road‑worn Canon DSLRs, working with nature, landscapes, Ancient Britain, and models. On the other side of the camera, he once appeared (silently!) in an episode of The Hairy Bikers Best of British series.

Druidry, Ogham, and the spiritual path…

For forty years Rick has been a dedicated student and advocate of Druidry. He has written articles, ran workshops, and created a successful website devoted to Ogham, the ancient Irish system of divination. His work blends scholarship, spirituality, and creativity, a signature Rick combination.

Work & wanderings…

Rick spent much of his early working life operating fabric Finishing machines. Since 2003 he has worked for the NHS, balancing professional life with an ever‑expanding creative universe. Now, working with Gil Galad, managing the YouTube channel, shaping creative direction, and bringing his storytelling instincts to the band, Rick has found a project that ticks every box.

What about Rick…

• Photography – nature, travel, landscapes, Ancient Britain, weddings, models
• Travel – solitary woodland walks and anywhere off the beaten track
• Writing – novels, poetry, articles
• Prog Rock – lifelong devotion
• Sci‑fi & fantasy – TV, movies, lore
• Celtic art & design – a deep fascination
• Guitars – first picked one up at six; still learning; owns eight
• Cosplay – Medieval, Iron Age, Edwardian, Steampunk… and Star Trek
• Favourite tipple – ale from a tankard, cider from a jug, mead from a goblet

Guests:

• Geoff Parkin – Lead Guitar on A Record of the Unworldly and the Strange and Played on Track 10. of The John Walker Imaginarium
• Linzi Hunter – Lead Vocals and creative on Track 7. A Walk in the Woods – The John Walker Imaginarium – Time Shift
• Ben Romaines – Backing vocals – The John Walker Imaginarium – Time Shift