Intuitive Music

10 years ago today, on the 5th of February 1993, Twelfth Night’s singer Geoff Mann died of cancer at home in Rochdale, UK, at age 37.

Born Edmund Geoffrey Mann in Carrington, Cheshire, on 11th April 1956, Geoff Mann was the vocalist of Twelfth Night, one of the most reputed Neo Progressive bands from the 80’s. He was also an artist and a priest. In 1974 he began his studies of fine art at Reading university and started collaborating as a roadie and backdrop painter for the band and finally joined them as a vocalist in August 1981 in the band’s appearance at Reading Festival. Mann recorded his first album “Smiling at Grief” with Twelfth Night in 1982. Another studio album “Fact and Fiction” was followed before his departure from the band to pursue a solo career in November 1985, which happened right after 2 sell out gigs at London’s Marquee club which were recorded for the “Live and Let Live” live album.

In September 1984 Geoff Man recorded his first solo album “Chants Would Be A Fine Thing”, followed by “I May Sing Grace”(85). During this period, Geoff was involved for a few months in the band The Earthlings and a year later he finally formed The Geoff Mann Band which evolved into The Bond.

Geoff Mann entered as a priest into The Church of England in 1987 and by 1989 he was ordained Deacon at Manchester Cathedral. During the late 80’s he kept producing music and collaborating with artists such as Marc Catley, The Bond, and his own Geoff Man Band. In 1990 he was ordained priest at Bolton Parish Church and started a new band project called Casino along with Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena, Shadowland), but in September 1992 the plans were called off after he was diagnosed of Crohn’s disease, which was later changed to a diagnose of cancer in February 1993.