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{{Short description|English musician (born 1953)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mike Oldfield | image = Mike Oldfield NOTP 2006.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = Oldfield at the [[Night of the Proms]] in 2006 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Michael Gordon Oldfield | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|5|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Reading, Berkshire]], England | origin = | genre = {{Flatlist| *[[Progressive rock]] *[[world music|world]] *[[folk music|folk]] *[[classical music|classical]] *[[ambient music|ambient]] *[[new-age music|new-age]] *[[pop music|pop]] *[[experimental music|experimental]] *[[minimalist music|minimalist]]}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|record producer|[[video game designer]]}} | instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|bass|keyboards|percussion|vocals}} | years_active = 1967–2023 | label = {{hlist|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]/[[Virgin EMI Records|Virgin EMI]]/[[Universal Music Group|Universal]]}} | past_member_of = [[The Sallyangie]] | spouse = {{hlist|{{marriage|Diana Fuller|1978|1978|end=div}}|{{marriage|Sally Cooper|1979|1986|end=div}}|{{marriage|Fanny Vandekerckhove|2002|2013|end=div}}}} | website = {{URL|https://mikeoldfieldofficial.com/}} }} '''Michael Gordon Oldfield''' (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a guitarist, Oldfield played a range of instruments, which included keyboards and percussion, as well as vocals. He had adopted a range of musical styles throughout his career, including [[progressive rock]], [[World music|world]], [[Folk music|folk]], [[Classical music|classical]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Ambient music|ambient]] and [[new age music]]. Oldfield took up the guitar at age ten and left school in his teens to embark on a music career. From 1967 to 1970, he and his sister [[Sally Oldfield]] were a folk duo, [[the Sallyangie]], after which he performed with [[Kevin Ayers]]. In 1971, Oldfield started work on ''Tubular Bells'' which caught the attention of [[Richard Branson]], who agreed to release it on his new label, [[Virgin Records]]. Its opening was used in the horror film ''[[The Exorcist]]'' and the album went on to sell over 2.7 million copies in the UK. Oldfield followed it with ''[[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]'' (1974), ''[[Ommadawn]]'' (1975) and ''[[Incantations (album)|Incantations]]'' (1978), all of which feature longform and mostly instrumental pieces. In the late 1970s, Oldfield began to tour and release more commercial and song-based music, beginning with ''[[Platinum (Mike Oldfield album)|Platinum]]'' (1979), ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]'' (1980) and ''[[Five Miles Out]]'' (1982). His most successful album of this period was ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' (1983), which features the worldwide hit single "[[Moonlight Shadow]]" with vocalist [[Maggie Reilly]]. After signing with [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] in the early 1990s, Oldfield's most significant album of the decade was ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' (1992) and he experimented with virtual reality and gaming content with his [[MusicVR]] project. In 2012, he performed at the opening ceremony for the [[2012 Olympic Games]] held in London. [[Mike Oldfield discography|Oldfield's discography]] includes 26 studio albums, nine of which have reached the UK top ten. His final album, ''[[Return to Ommadawn]],'' was released in 2017. Oldfield's label announced his retirement in 2023.<ref name="uDiscover">{{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=31 March 2023 |title=Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' For 50th Anniversary Reissue With Unreleased Demo |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-50th-anniversary-reissue/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Early life== Michael Gordon Oldfield was born in [[Reading, Berkshire]], on 15 May 1953, to Raymond Henry Oldfield (1923–2016),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fasmer |first1=B. T. |title=Raymond Henry Oldfield Died |url=https://newagemusic.guide/new-age-music/raymond-henry-oldfield-died/ |website=New Age Music Guide |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=24 August 2016}}</ref> an English [[general practitioner]], and Maureen (''[[née]]'' Liston), an Irish nurse from [[Charleville, County Cork]], who emigrated to England to pursue career in nursing.<ref name="omnotes">{{cite web |url=http://www.amarok.ommadawn.net/mike/discog/extras/ommadawnnotes.htm |title=Ommadawn |website=amarok.ommadawn.net |first=Rob |last=Miles |access-date=11 July 2008 |archive-date=10 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710225841/http://www.amarok.ommadawn.net/mike/discog/extras/ommadawnnotes.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=HAE02>{{cite web |url=https://tubular.net/articles/2002_08d/Interview-with-Mike-Oldfield-from-BBC-1s-Heaven-and-Hearth |title=Interview with Mike Oldfield from BBC 1's Heaven and Hearth |work=Heaven and Earth |via=Tubular.net |first=Alice |last=Beer |date=25 August 2002 |access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |section=Oldfield Mike |section-url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.013.20694 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |first=Colin |last=Larkin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |edition=4th |date=2006 |isbn=9780199726363}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Famous musical 'son' comes back to his Charleville roots |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/entertainment/famous-musical-son-comes-back-to-his-charleville-roots-38534985.html |access-date=7 April 2023 |work=The Corkman |date=28 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Oldfield has two elder siblings, sister [[Sally Oldfield|Sally]] and brother [[Terry Oldfield|Terence]].{{sfn|Dewey|2013|p=8}} When Oldfield was seven, his mother gave birth to a younger brother, David, who had [[Down syndrome]] and died in infancy.{{efn|The parents lied about this to their other children, and told them that the baby had died - they later discovered that he had survived for a few years in an institution.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/todays-britain-rings-hollow-for-mr-tubular-bells-jvltxvp5l|title=Today's Britain rings hollow for Mr Tubular Bells|last1=Thring|first1=Oliver}}</ref>}} His mother was prescribed [[barbiturate]]s, to which she became addicted, and developed mental health problems. She spent much of the rest of her life in mental institutions and died in early 1975, shortly after Oldfield had started writing ''[[Ommadawn]]''.<ref name=D92>{{cite web |url=https://tubular.net/articles/1992_12/Saved-by-the-Bells |title=Saved by the Bells |work=Details |via=Tubular.net |first=William |last=Show |date=December 1992 |access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref name=2010CD>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ommadawn [2010 Reissue] |year=1975 |id=532 676-2 |publisher=Mercury Records |type=Booklet essay |pages=3–5, 7–9 |first=Mark |last=Powell}}</ref> Oldfield attended [[The Highlands School, Reading|Highlands Junior School]], followed by St. Edward's Preparatory School<ref name=changeling>{{cite book |title=[[Changeling (Mike Oldfield autobiography)|Changeling]] |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85227-381-1 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]]}}</ref> and [[Elvian School|Presentation College]], all in Reading. When he was thirteen, the family moved to [[Harold Wood]], [[Essex]], and Oldfield attended [[Emerson Park Academy|Hornchurch Grammar School]] where, having already displayed musical talent, he earned one [[General Certificate of Education|GCE]] qualification in English.{{sfn|Moraghan|1993|pp=11–12}} Oldfield took up the guitar aged ten, first learning on a 6-string acoustic which his father had given to him.<ref name=GP78/> He learned technique by copying parts from songs, by folk guitarists [[Bert Jansch]] and [[John Renbourn]], that he played on a portable record player. He tried to learn musical notation but was a "very, very slow" learner, saying: "If I have to, I can write things down. But I don't like to."<ref name=SOS13/> By the time he was twelve, Oldfield played the electric guitar and performed in local folk and youth clubs and dances, earning as much as £4 ({{Inflation|UK|4|1965|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}) per gig.<ref name=GP78/><ref name=SOS13/><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08b2fvr |title=Mike Oldfield, The First Time With... - BBC Radio 6 Music |website=BBC}}</ref> During a six-month break from music that Oldfield had around this time, he took up painting. In May 1968, when Oldfield turned fifteen, his school headmaster requested that he cut his long hair. Oldfield refused, left abruptly and never returned. It was at this point when he decided to pursue music on a full-time, professional basis.{{sfn|Moraghan|1993|pp=11–12}}<ref name=GP78>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1978_xx/Mike-Oldfield-A-Rare-Interview-With-The-English-Guitarist-Studio-Wizard-and-Composer-of-Tubular-Bells|title=Mike Oldfield: A Rare Interview With The English Guitarist, Studio Wizard, and Composer of "Tubular Bells" |work=Guitar Player|via=Tubular.net|date=1978|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref> ==Career== ===1968–1972: Early career=== After leaving school Oldfield accepted an invitation from his sister Sally to form a folk duo [[the Sallyangie]], taking its name from her name and Oldfield's favourite Jansch tune, "Angie".{{sfn|Moraghan|1993|p=12}} They toured England and Paris and signed a deal with [[Transatlantic Records]], for which they recorded one album, ''[[Children of the Sun (The Sallyangie album)|Children of the Sun]]'' (1969). After they split in the following year Oldfield had a [[nervous breakdown]]. He auditioned as bassist for [[Family (band)|Family]] in 1969 following the departure of [[Ric Grech]], but the group did not share [[Roger Chapman]]'s enthusiasm towards Oldfield's performance.<ref name=TS12>{{cite AV media notes|url=https://tubular.net/articles/2012_08c/Two-Sides-Sleeve-Notes|title=Two Sides: The Very Best of Mike Oldfield|year=2012|publisher=Mercury Records|id=5339182}}</ref> Oldfield spent much of the next year living off his father and performing in an electric rock band named Barefoot that included his brother Terry on flute, until the group disbanded in early 1970.{{sfn|Moraghan|1993|p=13}}<ref name=G97>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1997_07 |title=Not Totally Tubular |first=Dave |last=Thompson |work=Goldmine|via=Tubular.net |date=18 July 1997 |access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref> In February 1970, Oldfield auditioned to become the bassist in the Whole World, a new backing band that former [[Soft Machine]] vocalist [[Kevin Ayers]] was putting together. He landed the position despite the bass being a new instrument for him, but he also played occasional lead guitar and later looked back on this time as providing valuable training on the bass.{{sfn|Moraghan|1993|p=14}}<ref name=SOS13/> Oldfield went on to play on Ayers's albums ''[[Shooting at the Moon (album)|Shooting at the Moon]]'' (1970) and ''[[Whatevershebringswesing]]'' (1971), and played mandolin on ''[[Edgar Broughton Band (album)|Edgar Broughton Band]]'' (1971).<ref name=G97/> All three albums were recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]], where Oldfield familiarised himself with a variety of instruments, such as orchestral percussion, piano, [[Mellotron]] and [[harpsichord]], and started to write and put down musical ideas of his own.<ref name=SOS13/> While doing so Oldfield took up work as a reserve guitarist in a stage production of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' at the [[Shaftesbury Theatre]], where he played and gigged with [[Alex Harvey (musician)|Alex Harvey]]. After ten performances Oldfield grew bored of the job and was fired after he decided to play his part for "Let the Sunshine In" in [[Time signature|7/8 time]].<ref name=SOS13>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/classic-tracks-mike-oldfield-tubular-bells|title=Classic Tracks: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells|date=April 2013|first=Richard|last=Buskin|magazine=Sound on Sound|access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> ===1971–1991: Virgin years=== ====''Tubular Bells''==== By mid-1971, Oldfield had assembled a demo tape containing sections of a longform instrumental piece initially titled "Opus One". Attempts to secure a recording deal to record it professionally came to nothing. In September 1971, Oldfield, now a session musician and bassist for the [[Arthur Louis|Arthur Louis Band]], attended recording sessions at [[The Manor Studio]] at [[Shipton-on-Cherwell]], [[Oxfordshire]], owned by businessman [[Richard Branson]] and run by engineers [[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]] and Simon Heyworth.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> Branson already had several business ventures and was about to launch [[Virgin Records]] with Simon Draper. Newman and Heyworth heard some of Oldfield's demos and took them to Branson and Draper, who eventually gave Oldfield one week of recording time at The Manor, after which Oldfield had completed what became "Part One" of his composition, ''[[Tubular Bells]]''. He recorded "Part Two" from February to April 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/2001_08 |title=The Making of Tubular Bells |work=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |date=August 2001 |access-date=12 January 2012}}</ref> Branson agreed to release ''Tubular Bells'' as the first record on the Virgin label and secured Oldfield a six-album deal with an additional four albums as optional.<ref name=TT13>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/9811942/Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells-made-me-a-million-but-the-tax-bill-came-to-860000.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/9811942/Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells-made-me-a-million-but-the-tax-bill-came-to-860000.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Mike Oldfield: 'Tubular Bells made me a million but the tax bill came to £860,000'|date=20 January 2013|work=The Telegraph|first=Sarah|last=Ewing|access-date=26 February 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Tubular Bells'' was released on 25 May 1973. Oldfield played more than twenty different instruments in the [[Overdubbing|multi-layered recording]], and its style moved through diverse musical genres. Its 2,760,000 UK sales puts it at No. 42 on the list of the best-selling albums in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=The best-selling albums of all time on the Official UK Chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-best-selling-albums-of-all-time-on-the-official-uk-chart__15551/ |website=Official Charts |date=11 April 2019 |access-date=8 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The title track became a top-10 hit single in the US after the opening was used in the film ''[[The Exorcist]]'' in 1973. It is today considered to be a forerunner of the [[New-age music|new-age music movement]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Patti Jean |last=Birosik |title=The New Age Music Guide |year=1989 |publisher=Collier MacMillan |page=138 |isbn=0-02-041640-7}}</ref> ====''Hergest Ridge'' to ''Incantations''==== In 1974, Oldfield played the guitar on the critically acclaimed album ''[[Rock Bottom (album)|Rock Bottom]]'' by [[Robert Wyatt]]. In late 1974, his follow-up LP, ''[[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]'', was No. 1 in the UK for three weeks before being dethroned by ''Tubular Bells''. Although ''Hergest Ridge'' was released over a year after ''Tubular Bells'', it reached No. 1 first. ''Tubular Bells'' spent 11 weeks (10 of them consecutive) at No. 2 before its one week at the top. Like ''Tubular Bells'', ''Hergest Ridge'' is a two-movement instrumental piece, this time evoking scenes from Oldfield's [[Herefordshire]] country retreat. It was followed in 1975 by the pioneering [[world music]] piece ''[[Ommadawn]]'' released after the death of his mother, Maureen.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amadian.net/biography1.htm |title=''Amadian - The Mike Oldfield Biography (II)'' website |access-date=26 January 2015 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124155547/http://www.amadian.net/biography1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1975, Oldfield recorded a version of the Christmas piece "[[In Dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield)|In Dulci Jubilo]]" which charted at No. 4 in the UK. In 1975, Oldfield received a [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Grammy award for Best Instrumental Composition]] in "Tubular Bells – Theme from ''The Exorcist''". In 1976, Oldfield and his sister joined his friend and band member [[Pekka Pohjola]] to play on his album ''[[Mathematician's Air Display]]'', which was released in 1977. The album was recorded and edited at Oldfield's Througham Slad Manor in [[Gloucestershire]] by Oldfield and Paul Lindsay. Oldfield's 1976 rendition of "[[Portsmouth (Mike Oldfield single)|Portsmouth]]" remains his best-performing single on the [[UK Singles Chart]], reaching No. 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com|title=Mike Oldfield – "Portsmouth"|publisher=EveryHit|access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> Oldfield recorded the double album ''[[Incantations (album)|Incantations]]'' between December 1977 and September 1978. This introduced more diverse choral performances from [[Sally Oldfield]], [[Maddy Prior]] and the [[Queen's College, London|Queen's College]] Girls Choir. When it was released on 1 December 1978, the album went to No. 14 in the UK and reached platinum certification for 300,000 copies sold. In 1979, Oldfield supported ''Incantations'' with a European tour that spanned 21 dates between March and May 1979. The tour was documented with the live album and concert film, ''[[Exposed (Mike Oldfield album)|Exposed]]''. Initially marketed as a limited pressing of 100,000 copies, the strength of sales for the album were strong enough for Virgin to abandon the idea shortly after, transferring it to regular production.<ref name=G97/> During the tour Oldfield released the disco-influenced non-album single "[[Guilty (Mike Oldfield instrumental)|Guilty]]", for which he went to New York City to find the best session musicians and write a song with them in mind. He wrote a chord chart for the song and presented it to the group, who completed it in the studio.<ref name=TS12/> Released in April 1979, the song went to No. 22 in the UK and Oldfield performed the song on the national television show ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. Oldfield's music was used for the score of ''[[The Space Movie]]'' (1980), a [[Virgin Films]] production that celebrated the tenth anniversary of the [[Apollo 11]] mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mikeoldfieldspacemoviedvd.com/|title=''The Space Movie'' website|access-date=25 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517093522/http://mikeoldfieldspacemoviedvd.com/|archive-date=17 May 2010}}</ref> In 1979, he recorded a version of [[Blue Peter (instrumental)|the signature tune]] for the BBC children's television programme ''[[Blue Peter]]'', which was used by the show for 10 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/under_16/showcase_bp.shtml |title=Blue Peter's theme tune |publisher=BBC New Talent |date=April 2007 |access-date=20 June 2010}}</ref> ====''Platinum'' to ''Heaven's Open''==== Oldfield's fifth album, ''[[Platinum (Mike Oldfield album)|Platinum]]'', was released in November 1979 and marked the start of his transition from long compositions towards mainstream and pop music. Oldfield performed across Europe between April and December 1980 with the [[In Concert 1980]] tour. In 1980, Oldfield released ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]'', named after the [[Queen Elizabeth 2|ocean liner]], which features a variety of guest musicians including [[Phil Collins]] on drums. This was followed by the European Adventure Tour 1981, during which Oldfield accepted an invitation to perform at a free concert celebrating the [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana]] in [[Guildhall]]. He wrote a new track, "Royal Wedding Anthem", for the occasion.<ref name=G97/> His next album, ''[[Five Miles Out]]'', followed in March 1982, with the 24-minute track "Taurus II" occupying the whole of side one. The Five Miles Out World Tour 1982 saw Oldfield perform from April to December of that year. ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' saw Oldfield continue the pattern of one long composition with shorter songs. The first single from the album, "[[Moonlight Shadow]]", with [[Maggie Reilly]] on vocals, became Oldfield's most successful single, reaching No. 4 in the UK<ref name=G97/> and No. 1 in nine other countries. The subsequent Crises Tour in 1983 concluded with a concert at [[Wembley Arena]] to commemorate the tenth anniversary of ''Tubular Bells''. The next album, ''[[Discovery (Mike Oldfield album)|Discovery]]'', continues with this trend, being the first single "[[To France]]" and subsequent Discovery Tour 1984. Oldfield later turned to film and video, writing [[The Killing Fields (album)|the score]] for [[Roland Joffé]]'s acclaimed film ''[[The Killing Fields (movie)|The Killing Fields]]'' and producing substantial video footage for his album ''[[Islands (Mike Oldfield album)|Islands]]''. ''Islands'' continued what Oldfield had been doing on the past couple of albums, with an instrumental piece on one side and rock/pop singles on the other. Of these, "[[Islands (Mike Oldfield song)|Islands]]", sung by [[Bonnie Tyler]] and "[[Magic Touch (Mike Oldfield song)|Magic Touch]]", with vocals by [[Max Bacon]] (in the US version) and [[Glasgow]] vocalist Jim Price (Southside Jimmy) in the rest of the world,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southsidejimmy.co.uk/site/pages/biog.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705163422/http://www.southsidejimmy.co.uk/site/pages/biog.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=Southside Jimmy Biography |publisher=Southside Jimmy |access-date=2 November 2008}}</ref> were the major hits. In the US "Magic Touch" reached the top 10 on the [[Billboard charts|Billboard album rock charts]] in 1988. During the 1980s, Oldfield's then-partner, Norwegian singer [[Anita Hegerland]], contributed vocals to many songs including "[[Pictures in the Dark]]". Released in July 1989, ''[[Earth Moving]]'' features seven vocalists across the album's nine tracks.<ref name=G97/> It is Oldfield's first to consist solely of rock and pop songs, several of which were released as singles: "[[Innocent (Mike Oldfield song)|Innocent]]" and "[[(One Glance Is) Holy|Holy]]" in Europe and "Hostage" in the US. For his next instrumental album, Virgin insisted that Oldfield use the title ''Tubular Bells 2''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 May 2013|title=How we made: Richard Branson and Mike Oldfield on Tubular Bells|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/20/how-we-made-tubular-bells|access-date=12 October 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Oldfield's rebellious response was ''[[Amarok (Mike Oldfield album)|Amarok]]'', an hour-long work featuring rapidly changing themes, unpredictable bursts of noise and a hidden [[Morse code]] insult, stating "Fuck off RB", allegedly directed at [[Richard Branson|Branson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/20/mike-oldfield-interview-tubular-bells-drugs |title=Mike Oldfield: 'We wouldn't have had Tubular Bells without drugs' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 March 2014 |access-date=2 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/faq/ |title=FAQ |publisher=Tubular.net |access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref> Oldfield did everything in his power to make it impossible to make extracts and Virgin returned the favour by barely promoting the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/amarok |title=Amarok |date=18 April 2013 |publisher=Dark Star Magazine |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> in February 1991, Oldfield released his final album for Virgin, ''[[Heaven's Open]]'', under the name "Michael Oldfield". It marks the first time he handles all lead vocals. In 2013, Oldfield invited Branson to the opening of St. Andrew's International School of The Bahamas, where two of Oldfield's children were pupils. This was the occasion of the debut of ''Tubular Bells for Schools'', a piano solo adaptation of Oldfield's work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/oct/21/famous-faces-for-bahamas-debut-of-tubular-bells/ |title=Famous faces for Bahamas debut of Tubular Bells for Schools |publisher=Tribune 242 |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> ===1992–2003: Warner years=== By early 1992, Oldfield had secured Clive Banks as his new manager and had several record label owners listen to his demo of ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' at his house. Oldfield signed with [[Rob Dickins]] of [[Warner Music Group|WEA Warner]] and recorded the album with [[Trevor Horn]] as producer.<ref name=TS12/> Released in August 1992, the album went to No. 1 in the UK. Its live premiere followed on 4 September at [[Edinburgh Castle]] which was released on home video as ''[[Tubular Bells II Live]]''. Oldfield supported the album with his Tubular Bells II 20th Anniversary Tour in 1992 and 1993, his first concert tour since 1984. By April 1993, the album had sold over three million copies worldwide.<ref name="TI93">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-sound-as-a-bell-twenty-years-ago-tubular-bells-rang-out-for-the-first-time-now-after-years-of-1453352.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-sound-as-a-bell-twenty-years-ago-tubular-bells-rang-out-for-the-first-time-now-after-years-of-1453352.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sound as a bell|first=Charles|last=Nevin|date=4 April 1993|work=The Independent|access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref> Oldfield continued to embrace new musical styles, with ''[[The Songs of Distant Earth (album)|The Songs of Distant Earth]]'' (based on [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s [[Songs of Distant Earth|novel of the same name]]) exhibiting a softer new-age sound. In 1994, he also had an [[asteroid]], [[5656 Oldfield]], named after him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/special/rocknroll/0005656.html |title=Oldfield 5656 |publisher=[[Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics]] |access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1998_09 |title=Mike Oldfield Interview |publisher=[[BBC Radio 2]] |date=9 September 1998 |access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref> In 1995, Oldfield continued to embrace new musical styles by producing the [[Celtic music|Celtic]]-themed album ''[[Voyager (Mike Oldfield album)|Voyager]]''. In 1992, Oldfield met [[Luar na Lubre]], a Galician Celtic-folk band (from [[A Coruña]], Spain), with the singer [[Rosa Cedrón]]. The band's popularity grew after Oldfield covered their song "O son do ar" ("The sound of the air") on his ''Voyager'' album. In 1998, Oldfield produced [[Tubular Bells III|the third ''Tubular Bells'' album]] (also premiered at a [[Tubular Bells III Live|concert]], this time in [[Horse Guards Parade]], London), drawing on the [[dance music]] scene at his then new home on the island of [[Ibiza]]. This album was inspired by themes from ''Tubular Bells'', but differed in lacking a clear two-part structure. During 1999, Oldfield released two albums. The first, ''[[Guitars (Mike Oldfield album)|Guitars]]'', used guitars as the source for all the sounds on the album, including percussion. The second, ''[[The Millennium Bell]]'', consisted of [[pastiche]]s of a number of styles of music that represented various historical periods over the past millennium. The work was [[The Art in Heaven Concert|performed live]] in Berlin for the city's millennium celebrations in 1999–2000. He added to his repertoire the [[MusicVR]] project, combining his music with a [[virtual reality]]-based computer game. His first work on this project is ''[[Tres Lunas]]'' launched in 2002, a virtual game where the player can interact with a world full of new music. This project appeared as a double CD, one with the music and the other with the [[Tres Lunas (video game)|game]]. In 2002 and 2003, Oldfield re-recorded ''Tubular Bells'' using modern equipment to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the original. He had wanted to do it years before but his contract with Virgin kept him from doing so.<ref name=SOS02>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/2002_11/Mike-Oldfield-Sound-on-Sound|title=Mike Oldfield - Sound on Sound|date=November 2002|first=Mark|last=Wherry|work=Sound on Sound|access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref> This new version featured [[John Cleese]] as the Master of Ceremonies, as [[Viv Stanshall]], who spoke on the original, died in the interim. ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]'' was released in May 2003. ===2004–present: Mercury years=== On 12 April 2004, Oldfield launched his next [[virtual reality]] project, ''[[Maestro (video game)|Maestro]]'', which contains music from the ''Tubular Bells 2003'' album and some new [[chillout]] melodies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield's MusicVR game Maestro reviewed - tubular bells |url=https://www.sean.co.uk/a/musicjournalism/mike_oldfield_maestro.shtm |website=www.sean.co.uk |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> The games have since been made available free of charge on Tubular.net.<ref name="tubulararchives"/> In 2005, Oldfield signed a deal with [[Mercury Records|Mercury Records UK]], who secured the rights to his catalogue when the rights had reverted to himself.<ref>{{cite web |title=MIKE OLDFIELD SIGNS WITH MERCURY RECORDS |url=http://www.artarabia.com/artman/publish/MIKE_OLDFIELD_SIGNS_WITH_MERCURY_RECORDS.shtml |website=Art Arabia |publisher=Mercury Records |url-status=dead |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-date=11 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211121234/http://www.artarabia.com/artman/publish/MIKE_OLDFIELD_SIGNS_WITH_MERCURY_RECORDS.shtml }}</ref> Mercury acquired the rights to Oldfield's back catalogue, in July 2007. Oldfield released his first album on the Mercury label, ''[[Light + Shade]]'', in September 2005. It is a double album of music of contrasting mood: relaxed (Light) and upbeat and moody (Shade). In 2006 and 2007, Oldfield headlined the [[Night of the Proms]] tour, consisting of 21 concerts across Europe.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.notp.com/?country=de&menuitem=2 | title=Nokia Night of the Proms 2006 |publisher=[[Night of the Proms]] |access-date=1 June 2006}}</ref> Also in 2007, Oldfield released his autobiography, ''[[Changeling (Mike Oldfield autobiography)|Changeling]]''.<ref name=resolution>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/2007_03 |title=Craft: Mike Oldfield |work=Resolution Magazine |date=March 2007 |access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref> In March 2008, Oldfield released his first classical album, ''[[Music of the Spheres (Mike Oldfield album)|Music of the Spheres]]''; [[Karl Jenkins]] assisted with the orchestration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classicsandjazz.co.uk/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=artist&id=51402037 |title=Mike Oldfield artist details |publisher=[[Universal Classics and Jazz]] |access-date=2 April 2008 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073523/http://www.classicsandjazz.co.uk/tssite/homepage.do?id=51402037&ruleset=artist |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the first week of release the album topped the [[UK Classical chart]] and reached No. 9 on the main UK Album Chart. A single "[[Spheres (song)|Spheres]]", featuring a demo version of pieces from the album, was released digitally.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spheres single release |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.com/ |website=Mike Oldfield |access-date=26 February 2008 |date=25 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228154320/http://www.mikeoldfield.com/ }}</ref> The album was nominated for a [[Classic Brit Awards|Classical Brit]] Award, the [[National Savings and Investments|NS&I]] Best Album of 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brierley |first1=Danny |title=Russian refugee wins Classical Brit |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/russian-refugee-wins-classical-brit-6796134.html |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=12 April 2012 |language=en}}</ref> In 2008, when Oldfield's original 35-year deal with Virgin Records ended, the rights to ''Tubular Bells'' and his other Virgin releases were returned to him,<ref name=TO08>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201180030/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece|title=Mike Oldfield regains control of Tubular Bells|first=Alan|last=Jackson|date=1 March 2008|work=Times Online|access-date=5 April 2008|archive-date=1 December 2008}}</ref> and were then transferred to Mercury Records.<ref name="tubulararchives">{{Cite web |url=http://tubular.net/archives/ |title=News Archives |publisher=Tubular.net |date=3 June 2005 |access-date=26 May 2008}}</ref> Mercury announced that his Virgin albums would be reissued with bonus content from 2009.<ref name="offtb09">{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/150409.htm |title=Universal press release – ''Tubular Bells'' |date=15 April 2009 |publisher=Mike Oldfield Information Service |access-date=20 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830133946/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/150409.htm |archive-date=30 August 2009 }}</ref> In 2009, Mercury released the compilation album ''[[The Mike Oldfield Collection 1974–1983]]'', that went to No. 11 in the UK chart. In 2008, Oldfield contributed a new track, "Song for Survival", to the charity album ''[[Songs for Survival]]'' in support of [[Survival International]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/planetsound/news/3374790848323d90a6c099afcc851183/Coldplay+and+A-ha+team+up.aspx |title=Coldplay and A-ha team up |publisher=[[Teletext]] |access-date=22 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826070007/http://www.teletext.co.uk/planetsound/news/3374790848323d90a6c099afcc851183/Coldplay+and+A-ha+team+up.aspx |archive-date=26 August 2008 }}</ref> Oldfield's daughter Molly played a large part in the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kensaltownrecords.com/tracklisting.html |title=Survival Project – Album Track listing |publisher=Kensaltown Records |access-date=25 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216095338/http://www.kensaltownrecords.com/tracklisting.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 }}</ref> In 2010, lyricist [[Don Black (lyricist)|Don Black]] said that he had been working with Oldfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/151031234 |title=Masterclass: Black's Magic |publisher=California Chronicle (Music Week) |quote=I've just written with Mike Oldfield and he sent me Tubular Bells and I thought, "What goes with that?" |year=2010 |access-date=30 October 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Oldfield was featured on ''Journey into Space'', an album by his brother Terry, and on the track "Islanders" by German producer [[Torsten Stenzel]]'s [[York (group)|York]] project. In 2013, Oldfield and York released a remix album entitled ''[[Tubular Beats]]''. Oldfield performed live at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]] in London. His set included renditions of ''Tubular Bells'', "[[Far Above the Clouds]]" and "[[In Dulci Jubilo / On Horseback|In Dulci Jubilo]]" during a segment about the [[National Health Service]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> This track appears on the officially released soundtrack album ''[[Isles of Wonder (album)|Isles of Wonder]]''. Later in 2012, the compilation album ''[[Two Sides|Two Sides: The Very Best of Mike Oldfield]]'' was released and reached No. 6 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/100427.htm |title=Universal press release – Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn |publisher=The Official Mike Oldfield Information Service / Universal Music |access-date=15 May 2010 |archive-date=4 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504062313/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/100427.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfieldofficial.com/news.php?item=6 |title=The next wave of Mike Oldfield Deluxe Editions is coming... |publisher=Mike Oldfield Official |date=15 February 2011 |access-date=14 March 2011}}</ref> In October 2013, the [[BBC]] broadcast ''Tubular Bells: The Mike Oldfield Story'', a documentary on Oldfield's life and career.<ref name="bbcstory">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03cw8g0|title=Tubular Bells: The Mike Oldfield Story|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> Oldfield's rock-themed album of songs, titled ''[[Man on the Rocks]]'', was released on 3 March 2014 by [[Virgin EMI]]. The album was produced by [[Steve Lipson]]. The album marked a return of Oldfield to a Virgin branded label, through the merger of Mercury Records UK and Virgin Records after Universal Music's purchase of EMI. The track "Nuclear" was used for the E3 trailer of ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]''. In 2015, Oldfield told [[Steve Wright (DJ)|Steve Wright]] on his BBC radio show that a sequel album to ''Tubular Bells'' was in early development, which he aimed to record on analogue equipment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r7qr4 |title=Mike Oldfield gives Steve Wright a (tubular) bell from the Bahamas |publisher=BBC Radio 2 |date=12 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> Later in 2015, Oldfield revealed that he had started on a sequel to ''Ommadawn''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/GordenMikefield/status/654968898727505920 |title=Twitter Post |publisher=Mike Oldfield via [[Twitter]] |date=16 October 2015 |access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> The album, named ''[[Return to Ommadawn]]'', was finished in 2016 and released in January 2017.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> It went to No. 4 in the UK.<ref name="RTOChart">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/date=2017-01-27|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100, 27 January 2017 – 02 February 2017|website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]]|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> Oldfield again hinted at a fourth ''Tubular Bells'' album when he posted photos of his new equipment, including a new [[Telecaster]] guitar.<ref name="Facebook290117">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/MikeOldfieldPublic/permalink/356001801444327/|title=Mike Oldfield's official Facebook fan page|website=[[Facebook]]|date=29 January 2017|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> A 50th anniversary edition of ''Tubular Bells'' was released on 26 May 2023.<ref name="TB50">{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (50th Anniversary Edition): CD |url=https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/tubular-bells-50th-anniversary-edition |website=HMV |access-date=31 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It features a new master of the original album along with an additional previously unreleased 8-minute track, the "Introduction to ''Tubular Bells 4''".<ref name="TB50"/> "Introduction to ''Tubular Bells 4''" was recorded by Oldfield as a demo in 2017. His record label indicated that he had decided not to go forward with the ''Tubular Bells 4'' project and that this "may well be the last piece ever to be recorded by Oldfield".<ref name="uDiscover"/> ==Musicianship== Oldfield's 1970s recordings were characterised by a very broad variety of instrumentation predominantly played by himself, plus assorted guitar sound treatments to suggest other instrumental timbres (such as the "bagpipe", "mandolin", "Glorfindel" and varispeed guitars on the original ''Tubular Bells''). During the 1980s Oldfield became expert in the use of digital synthesizers and sequencers (notably the [[Fairlight CMI]]) which began to dominate the sound of his recordings: from the late 1990s onwards, he became a keen user of [[software synthesizer]]s. He has, however, regularly returned to projects emphasising detailed, manually played and part-acoustic instrumentation (such as 1990's ''Amarok'', 1996's ''Voyager'' and 1999's ''Guitars''). While generally preferring the sound of guest vocalists, Oldfield has frequently sung both lead and backup parts for his songs and compositions. He has also contributed experimental vocal effects such as fake choirs and the notorious "Piltdown Man" impression on ''Tubular Bells''. ===Guitars=== Over the years, Oldfield has used a range of guitars. Among the more notable of these are: ; 1963{{efn|Also quoted as 1961 and 1962.}} [[Fender Stratocaster]] : Serial no. L08044, in salmon pink (fiesta red). Used by Oldfield from 1984 (the ''[[Discovery (Mike Oldfield album)|Discovery]]'' album) until 2006 (Night of the Proms, rehearsals in Antwerp). Subsequently, sold for £30,000 at Chandler Guitars. ; 1989 [[PRS Guitars|PRS]] Artist Custom 24 : In amber, used by Oldfield from the late 1980s to the present day. ; 1966 [[Fender Telecaster]] : Serial no. 180728, in blonde. Previously owned by [[Marc Bolan]], this was the only electric guitar used on ''Tubular Bells''.<ref name=roland>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1999_06 |title=Interview with Mike Oldfield |publisher=[[Roland Corporation|Roland]] PowerOn magazine (Issue 4) |date=6 June 1999 |access-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> The guitar was unsold at auction by [[Bonhams]] in 2007, 2008 and 2009 at estimated values of, respectively, £25,000–35,000, £10,000–15,000 and £8,000–12,000;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15242/lot/391/ |title=Lot 391 Mike Oldfield's Fender Telecaster, used to record the album 'Tubular Bells', Film and Rock & Roll Memorabilia Auction 15242 |date=20 June 2007 |publisher=[[Bonhams]] |access-date=21 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15765/lot/361/ |title=Lot 361 Mike Oldfield's Fender Telecaster, used to record the album 'Tubular Bells', Entertainment Memorabilia Auction 15765 |date=15 January 2008 |publisher=[[Bonhams]] |access-date=21 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16905/lot/277/ |title=Lot 277 Mike Oldfield's Fender Telecaster, used to record the album 'Tubular Bells', Entertainment Memorabilia Auction 16905 |date=16 December 2009 |publisher=[[Bonhams]] |access-date=21 April 2012}}</ref> Oldfield has since sold it and donated the £6500 received to the charity [[SANE (charity)|SANE]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sane.org.uk/resources/media_centre/archive/archive_show_news/184 |title=Historic guitar in safe hands of SANE supporter |publisher=[[SANE (charity)|SANE]] |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref> ; Various [[Gibson Les Paul]], [[Zemaitis Guitars|Zemaitis]] and [[Gibson SG|SG]] guitars : Used extensively by Oldfield in the 1970s and 1980s. The most notable Gibson guitar Oldfield favoured in this time period was a 1962 [[Gibson SG Junior|Les Paul/SG Junior]] model, which was his primary guitar for the recording of ''[[Ommadawn]]'', among other works. Oldfield is also known to have owned and used an [[Gibson L6-S|L6-S]] during that model's production run in the mid-1970s. On occasion, Oldfield was also seen playing a black [[Gibson Les Paul Custom|Les Paul Custom]], an early reissue model built around 1968. Oldfield used a modified [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] GP8 effects processor in conjunction with his PRS Artist to get many of his heavily [[Distortion (music)|overdrive]]n guitar sounds from the ''[[Earth Moving]]'' album onwards.<ref name=roland/> Oldfield has also been using [[guitar synthesizer]]s since the mid-1980s, using a 1980s [[Roland GR-300]]/G-808 type system, then a 1990s Roland GK2 equipped red PRS Custom 24 (sold in 2006) with a Roland VG8,<ref name=roland/> and most recently a [[Line 6 (company)|Line 6]] [[Variax]]. Oldfield has an unusual playing style, using fingers and long right-hand fingernails and different ways of creating vibrato: a "very fast side-to-side vibrato" and "violinist's vibrato".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1995_06 |title=Gareth Randall Interviews Mike Oldfield |date=1 June 1995 |access-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> Oldfield has stated that his playing style originates from his musical roots playing folk music and the bass guitar.<ref name=changeling/> ===Keyboards=== Over the years, Oldfield has owned and used a vast number of synthesizers and other keyboard instruments.<!--Add some further examples if you wish--> In the 1980s, he composed the score for the film ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' on a [[Fairlight CMI]].<ref name=roland/> Some examples of keyboard and synthesised instruments which Oldfield has made use of include [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5]]s (notably on [[Platinum (Mike Oldfield album)|''Platinum'']] and [[The Killing Fields (album)|''The Killing Fields'']]), Roland JV-1080/JV-2080 units (1990s), a [[Korg M1]] (as seen in the "[[Innocent (Mike Oldfield song)|Innocent]]" video), a [[Clavia]] [[Nord Lead]] and [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] pianos. In recent years, he has also made use of software synthesis products, such as [[Native Instruments]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/discography/LightAndShade.shtml |title=''Light & Shade'' |publisher=Tubular.net |access-date=28 September 2010}}</ref> ===Recording=== Oldfield has self-recorded and produced many of his albums, and played the majority of the featured instruments, largely at his home studios. In the 1990s and 2000s he mainly used [[Digital audio workstation|DAWs]] such as [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[Logic Pro|Logic]], [[Avid Technology|Avid]] [[Pro Tools]] and [[Steinberg]] [[Nuendo]] as recording suites.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1995_02 |title=Tubular Worlds |magazine=Sound on Sound |date=February 1995 |access-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> For composing orchestral music Oldfield has been quoted as using the software notation program [[Sibelius (software)|Sibelius]]<ref name=resolution/> running on Apple [[Macintosh]]es.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.eu.org/mike_mac_format0408.jpg |title=I use my Mac for... Composing music |publisher=[[MacFormat]] |date=April 2008 |access-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> He also used the [[FL Studio]] DAW on his 2005 double album ''[[Light + Shade]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flstudio.com/documents/mikeoldfield.html |title=Interview of Mike Oldfield by Image-Line |publisher=[[Image-Line]] |access-date=11 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105204540/http://www.flstudio.com/documents/mikeoldfield.html |archive-date=5 January 2009}}</ref> Among the mixing consoles Oldfield has owned are an [[AMS Neve]] Capricorn 33238, a [[Harrison Audio|Harrison]] Series X,<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Mike Oldfield |publisher=Home & Studio Recording Magazine|url=http://tubular.net/articles/91_03.shtml |date=March 1991 |access-date=19 April 2008}}</ref> and a [[Euphonix]] System 5-MC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euphonix.com/news/news2006/071706_mike_oldfield.htm |title=Mike Oldfield Chooses Euphonix System 5-MC Integrated DAW Controller with Apple's Logic Pro |publisher=[[Euphonix]] |date=17 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816053423/http://www.euphonix.com/news/news2006/071706_mike_oldfield.htm |archive-date=16 August 2006}}</ref> ==Personal life== ===Family=== In 1978, Oldfield married Diana Fuller, a relative of the [[Exegesis (group)|Exegesis]] group leader. The marriage lasted for three months.{{sfn|Symons|2007|p=58}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/we-love-tubular-bells-2317926 |title=We love... Tubular Bells |first=Robin |last=Turner |date=31 July 2006 |publisher=WalesOnline |access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref> Oldfield recalled that he phoned label boss [[Richard Branson]] the day after the ceremony and said he had made a mistake.<ref name=TM01/> From 1979 to 1986, Oldfield was in a relationship with Sally Cooper, whom he met through Virgin. They had three children.<ref name=H89>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1989_10/Sue-Humphries-Interview|title=Sue Humphries' Interview|first=Sue|last=Humphries|work=Hello|access-date=1 September 2020|date=October 1989}}</ref> In 2015, his son Dougal died after collapsing while working at a film production company in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11620071/Mike-Oldfield-mourns-sons-sudden-death.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11620071/Mike-Oldfield-mourns-sons-sudden-death.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mike Oldfield mourns son's sudden death |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=21 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Luke Oldfield |url=https://lukeoldfield.com/ |website=Luke Oldfield |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref> By the time of birth of their third child, in 1986, the relationship had broken down and they amicably split. Oldfield entered a relationship with Norwegian singer [[Anita Hegerland]] that lasted until 1991.<ref name="snl.no">Bergan, Jon Vidar (30 December 2019). “Anita Hegerland”. [[Great Norwegian Encyclopedia]]. Retrieved on 26 August 2021, from https://snl.no/Anita_Hegerland</ref> The pair met backstage at one of Oldfield's gigs while touring Germany in 1984.<ref name=H89/> They lived in Switzerland, France and England. They have two children.<ref name=H89/> In the late 1990s, Oldfield posted in a lonely hearts column in a local Ibiza newspaper. It was answered by Amy Lauer; the pair dated, but the relationship was troubled by Oldfield's bouts of alcohol and substance abuse and it ended after two months.<ref name=TM99>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cocaine+and+booze+turned+my+Mike+into+a+monster+..+he+made+me+feel...-a060398827|title=Cocaine and booze turned my Mike into a monster ... he made me feel worthless|first=Nic|last=North|work=The Mirror|access-date=1 September 2020|date=23 February 1999}}</ref> In 2001, Oldfield began counselling and psychotherapy.<ref name=TM01>{{cite web|url=http://mike.oldfield.org.pl/artysta/articles/a037e.html|title=Tubular Bells Legend Mike Oldfield's Battle With Booze|first=Alun|last=Palmer|work=The Mirror|access-date=1 September 2020|date=6 October 2001}}</ref> Between 2002 and 2013, Oldfield was married to Fanny Vandekerckhove, whom he met while living in Ibiza. They have two sons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201180030/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2008 |title=Mike Oldfield regains control of ''Tubular Bells'' |work=[[The Times]] |date=1 March 2008 |access-date=17 July 2008 |location=London |first=Alan |last=Jackson}}</ref> ===Other=== Oldfield and his siblings were raised as Catholic, their mother's faith.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/2002_08d |title=Interview with Mike Oldfield |publisher=[[BBC 1]]'s [[Heaven and Earth Show|Heaven and Earth]] programme |date=25 August 2002 |access-date=2 April 2008 |quote=My mother being Irish, she was a Roman Catholic. They put me on the first stages of educating me to be a Catholic.}}</ref> In June 1978, during the recording of ''Incantations'', Oldfield and his siblings completed a three-day [[Exegesis (group)|Exegesis]] seminar, a controversial self-assertiveness programme based on [[Werner Erhard]]'s [[Erhard Seminars Training|EST training programme]]. The experience had a significant effect on Oldfield's personality, who recalled that he underwent a "rebirth experience" by reliving past fears. "It was like opening some huge cathedral doors and facing the monster, and I saw that the monster was myself as a newborn infant, because I'd started life in a panic."<ref name=G97/><ref name=MM78>{{cite news|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/mike-oldfield-this-is-the-year-of-the-expanding-man|title=Mike Oldfield: This is the Year of the Expanding Man...|first=Karl|last=Dallas|newspaper=Melody Maker|date=25 November 1978|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|url-access=subscription |access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Following the Exegesis seminar, the formerly reclusive Oldfield granted press interviews, posed nude for a promotional photo shoot for ''Incantations'' and went drinking with news reporters. He had also conquered his fear of flying, gained a pilot's licence and bought his own plane.<ref name="TI93"/> He used drugs in his early life, including [[LSD]], which he said affected his mental health.<ref name=changeling/> In the early 1990s, Oldfield set up Tonic, a foundation that sponsored people to receive counselling and therapy.<ref name=changeling/> In 1980, Oldfield, a longtime fan of [[model aircraft]], acquired his pilot's licence.<ref name="omnotes"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amadian.net/biography1.htm |title=Mike Oldfield Biography 1 |publisher=Amadian |access-date=6 March 2010 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124155547/http://www.amadian.net/biography1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He later became a motorcycle enthusiast and has been inspired to write songs from riding them. He has owned various models, including a [[BMW R1200GS]], [[Suzuki GSX-R750]], [[Suzuki GSX-R1000]] and a [[Yamaha R1]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/May/may21-27/may2307oldfieldbikesvideo/ |title=Mike Oldfield Motorcycle News 23 may |publisher=[[Motor Cycle News]] |date=25 May 2007 |access-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> Oldfield has lived in [[Nassau, Bahamas]], since 2009 and is a Bahamian citizen.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/overseasproperty/5049511/Property-on-Majorca-New-modesty-can-wait.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519163212/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/overseasproperty/5049511/Property-on-Majorca-New-modesty-can-wait.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2010 |title=Mike Oldfield's house for sale |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 March 2009 |access-date=26 March 2009 |location=London |first=Anna |last=Tyzack}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.savills.com/property-detail/gblaixlai121182 |title=Bunyola, Mallorca, 08093 |publisher=[[Savills]] |year=2009 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> He has also lived in Spain, Los Angeles and [[Monaco]]. In 2012, Oldfield stated that he had decided to leave England after feeling that the country had become a "[[nanny state]]" with too much surveillance and state control.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/humble-opus-still-rings-a-bell-39-years-on-20120111-1pv9c.html | title= Humble opus still rings a bell, 39 years on | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | first=Bruce | last=Elder | date=12 January 2012 | access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> Oldfield has remarked that while he is close to other celebrity residents in the Bahamas, he chose not to live within a wealthy gated community with staff and described his lifestyle as "austere."<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/todays-britain-rings-hollow-for-mr-tubular-bells-jvltxvp5l|title=Today's Britain rings hollow for Mr Tubular Bells|last1=Thring|first1=Oliver}}</ref> In 2017, Oldfield expressed support for then US President [[Donald Trump]] and said he would have played at [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|Trump's inauguration]] if he had been invited to do so. In the same interview, he also stated that he was in favour of [[Brexit]].<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells legend launches new album, Ommadawn |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-times/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-legend-launches-new-album-ommadawn/news-story/48a60638b49eb218d870409cc3cedcf9 |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Theaustralian.com.au}}</ref> ==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! scope="row" | [[Association of Professional Recording Services|APRS Annual Sound Fellowships Lunch]] | 2015 | Himself | Honour Fellowship | {{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosoundnetwork.com/international/ray-davies-and-mike-oldfield-honoured-at-aprs-annual-bash|title = Ray Davies and Mike Oldfield honoured at APRS annual bash|date = 18 November 2015}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[British Academy Film Awards]] | [[38th British Academy Film Awards|1985]] | ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' | [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Original Music]] | {{nom}} |<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646131/awards|title=Mike Oldfield|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[Brit Awards]] | | [[1977 Brit Awards|1977]] | ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' | [[Brit Award for British Album of the Year|British Album of the Year]] | {{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1977|title=History|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[Daily Mirror]] The British Rock & Pop Awards | |1977 | Himself | Best Instrumentalist | {{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=British News Paper Archive|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/|access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[Golden Globe Awards]] | [[42nd Golden Globe Awards|1985]] | ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' | [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] | {{nom}} |<ref name="auto"/> |- ! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Goldene Europa]] | 1987 | rowspan=2|Himself | rowspan=2|Best International Artist | {{won}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.ard.de/ard-chronik/index/2010?year=1984|title=Chronik der ARD | Goldene Europa|website=Web.ard.de|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815080139/http://web.ard.de/ard-chronik/index/2010?year=1984|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 1998 | {{won}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Grammy Awards]] | [[1975 Grammy Awards|1975]] | "[[Mike Oldfield's Single|Tubular Bells]]" | [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]] | {{won}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/mike-oldfield/5862|title=Mike Oldfield|website=Grammy.com|date=23 November 2020}}</ref> |- | [[1998 Grammy Awards|1998]] | ''[[Voyager (Mike Oldfield album)|Voyager]]'' | [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Album]] | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row"|[[Grammy Hall of Fame]] | 2018 | ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' | Album Induction | {{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/list/tubular-bells-5-facts-about-mike-oldfields-classic-grammy-hall-fame|title=5 facts about Mike Oldfield's classic |date=16 January 2018}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"|[[Hungarian Music Awards]] | 1997 | ''[[Voyager (Mike Oldfield album)|Voyager]]'' | Best Foreign Album | {{nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fonogram.hu/jeloltek-1997|title=Jelöltek 1997|website=Fonogram.hu|date=12 August 2016}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[Ivor Novello Awards]] | 1984 | "[[Moonlight Shadow]]" | Most Performed Work | {{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ivorsacademy.com/awards/the-ivors/archive/|title=Archive | The Ivors | The Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators|website=The Ivors Academy|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3| [[NME Awards]] | 1975 | rowspan=3|Himself | rowspan=3|Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist | {{won}} | rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/poppoll.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629131458/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/poppoll.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=29 June 2006|title = Rocklist.net...NME Lists readers Pop Poll Results|website=Rocklistmusic.co.uk}}</ref> |- | 1976 | {{won}} |- | 1977 | {{won}} |- ! scope="row" | Online Film & Television Association | 1999 | ''[[The X-Files (film)|The X-Files]]'' | Best Music, Original Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Score | {{nom}} |<ref name="auto"/> {{end}} ==Honours== * In 1981, Oldfield was awarded the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom]] of the [[City of London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKSxvd5xf28| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/iKSxvd5xf28| archive-date=4 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Mike Oldfield Freedom Of City Of London Award| date=26 November 2013|access-date=2 October 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> {{Incomplete list|date=February 2020}} ==Discography== {{Main|Mike Oldfield albums discography|Mike Oldfield singles discography}} '''Studio albums''' {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} * ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' (1973) * ''[[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]'' (1974) * ''[[Ommadawn]]'' (1975) * ''[[Incantations (album)|Incantations]]'' (1978) * ''[[Platinum (Mike Oldfield album)|Platinum]]'' (1979) * ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]'' (1980) * ''[[Five Miles Out]]'' (1982) * ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' (1983) * ''[[Discovery (Mike Oldfield album)|Discovery]]'' (1984) * ''[[The Killing Fields (album)|The Killing Fields]]'' (1984) * ''[[Islands (Mike Oldfield album)|Islands]]'' (1987) * ''[[Earth Moving]]'' (1989) * ''[[Amarok (Mike Oldfield album)|Amarok]]'' (1990) {{Col-2}} * ''[[Heaven's Open]]'' (1991) * ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' (1992) * ''[[The Songs of Distant Earth (album)|The Songs of Distant Earth]]'' (1994) * ''[[Voyager (Mike Oldfield album)|Voyager]]'' (1996) * ''[[Tubular Bells III]]'' (1998) * ''[[Guitars (Mike Oldfield album)|Guitars]]'' (1999) * ''[[The Millennium Bell]]'' (1999) * ''[[Tr3s Lunas]]'' (2002) * ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]'' (2003) * ''[[Light + Shade]]'' (2005) * ''[[Music of the Spheres (Mike Oldfield album)|Music of the Spheres]]'' (2008) * ''[[Man on the Rocks]]'' (2014) * ''[[Return to Ommadawn]]'' (2017) {{Col-end}} ==Concert tours== * Tour of Europe 1979 (March–May 1979) * In Concert 1980 (April–December 1980) * European Adventure Tour '81 (March–August 1981) * Five Miles Out World Tour 1982 (April–December 1982) * Crises Tour 1983 (May–July 1983) * Discovery Tour 1984 (August–November 1984) * Tubular Bells II 20th Anniversary Tour (March–October 1993) * Live Then & Now '99 (June–July 1999) * Nokia [[Night of the Proms]] (December 2006) * [[Night of the Proms]] Spain (March 2007) ==Bibliography== *{{cite book |title=Music from the Darkness – Mike Oldfield, 1953–1993 |first=Peter |last=Evans |year=1994 |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/biography/music-darkness/ |access-date=28 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216060315/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/biography/music-darkness/ |archive-date=16 December 2016 |url-status=dead }} *{{cite book |title=[[Losing My Virginity]] |first=Richard |last=Branson |author-link=Richard Branson |year=1998 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=978-0-7535-0648-6}} *{{cite book |title=[[Changeling (Mike Oldfield autobiography)|Changeling]] |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85227-381-1 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]]}} *{{cite book |title=The Mike Oldfield Chronology |first=Patrick |last=Lemieux |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-9919840-6-0 |publisher=Across The Board Books}} *Tobal Cayuela,J.J. (2019). ''Mike Oldfield. Taurus''. Editorial TBEditores. {{ISBN|978-84-948809-8-8}} *Campos, Héctor (2018). ''Mike Oldfield: La música de los Sueños''. Editorial Círculo Rojo. {{ISBN|978-84-1304-271-8}} *Capitani, Ettore - Paolucci, Stefano (2020). ''Mike Oldfield. In Italia.'' Passamonti Editore. {{ISBN|979-8670270250}}. ==Musical scores== * {{cite book |title=Mike Oldfield's single (Theme from "Tubular Bells") |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1972 |id=1-49806-F |publisher=[[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishing) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Tubular Bells |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-86001-249-8 |publisher=Wise Publications}} .Copyright 1973. Text written by [[Karl Dallas]]. Analysis by [[David Bedford]]. The text of this book originally appeared in "[[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]]" magazine, December 1974, under the title of "Balm for the Walking Dead".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1974_12/Balm-For-The-Waking-Dead |title=''Balm For The Waking Dead'' |publisher=[[Karl Dallas]], [[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]] Magazine, December 1974 |access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> * {{cite book |title=On Horseback |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1975 |id=1-49898-G |publisher=[[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishers) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=In Dulci Jubilo. Music by J.S.Bach, Arranged by Mike Oldfield |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1976 |id=1-49008-G |publisher=[[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishers) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Portsmouth. Traditional, Arranged by Mike Oldfield |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1976 |id=1-0-50021-F |publisher=[[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishers) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Guilty |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1979 |id=VR 80107 |publisher=West Central Printing Co. ltd. / [[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishers) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Blue Peter Theme (Barnacle Bill), As recorded by Mike Oldfield on Virgin Records and used on the BBC Television Series [[Blue Peter]] |first=H. |last=Ashworth-Hope |year=1980 |oclc=810506300 |publisher=[[EMI Music Publishing|EMI Music Publishing ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=10 years: 1973–1983 |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1984 |id=VR 80594 |oclc=256751247 |publisher=[[Virgin Records|Virgin Music (Publishers) ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Mike Oldfield Hot Songs |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1987 |isbn=1-85909-027-3 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]]. }} * {{cite book |title=IMP Presents Mike Oldfield: 8 Hits including Tubular bells |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-86359-464-9 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]].}} * {{cite book |title=Tubular Bells II |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-86359-949-1 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]]. }} * {{cite book |title=Tubular Bells II Concert Score |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1993 |isbn=1-85909-004-4 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]]. }} * {{cite book |title=Elements. The best of Mike Oldfield. Piano/Vocal/Guitar |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1994 |isbn=1-85909-157-1 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]]. }} * {{cite book |title=Tubular Bells III. Piano/Vocal/Guitar |first=Mike |last=Oldfield |year=1999 |isbn=1-85909-617-4 |publisher=[[International Music Publications|IMP International Music Publications ltd]]. }} ==Notes== {{noteslist}} ==References== {{Reflist}} '''Sources''' *{{cite book|title=Mike Oldfield: A Life Dedicated to Music|first=Chris|last=Dewey|year=2013|publisher=Brimstone Press|isbn=978-1-90638-535-4}} *{{cite book|last=Symons|first=Mitchell|title=This, That and the Other|year=2007|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-0-552-15647-9}} *{{cite book|title=Mike Oldfield: A Man and His Music|first=Sean|last=Moraghan|isbn=978-1-419-64926-4|publisher=BookSurge Publishing|year=1993}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{Official website}} * {{Discogs artist|Mike Oldfield}} * {{IMDb name|646131}} {{Mike Oldfield}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Oldfield, Mike}} [[Category:Mike Oldfield| ]] [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Bodhrán players]] [[Category:Caroline Records artists]] [[Category:English aviators]] [[Category:English buskers]] [[Category:English composers]] [[Category:English Eurosceptics]] [[Category:English expatriates in Spain]] [[Category:English expatriates in the Bahamas]] [[Category:English male composers]] [[Category:English male guitarists]] [[Category:English male songwriters]] [[Category:English multi-instrumentalists]] [[Category:English people of Irish descent]] [[Category:English rock guitarists]] [[Category:English Roman Catholics]] [[Category:British fingerstyle guitarists]] [[Category:Grammy Award winners]] [[Category:Mercury Records artists]] [[Category:Minimalist composers]] [[Category:New-age composers]] [[Category:People educated at Elvian School]] [[Category:People educated at The Highlands School, Reading]] [[Category:Musicians from Reading, Berkshire]] [[Category:Progressive rock guitarists]] [[Category:Progressive rock keyboardists]] [[Category:Reprise Records artists]] [[Category:Virgin Records artists]] [[Category:Warner Records artists]]
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