1. Christopher John Judge Smith was born on 1 July 1948 and is an English songwriter, author, composer and performer, and a founder member of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator.
14 Facts About Judge Smith
1. 2.
In 1967, with Peter Hammill, Judge Smith founded the band Van der Graaf Generator.
3.
Judge Smith was originally a singing drummer and percussionist, but after drummer Guy Evans joined the band, Smith realized that there wasn't a great deal left for him to do, since his role was reduced to being a backing vocalist.
4.
Judge Smith went on to form a jazz-rock band called Heebalob, which included saxophonist David Jackson, who would later join Van der Graaf Generator.
5.
Judge Smith wrote several stage musicals as lyricist with composer Maxwell Hutchinson.
6.
Lene Lovich recorded songs written by Judge Smith, including "What Will I Do Without You" and "You Can't Kill Me".
7.
In 1974 Judge Smith wrote and directed a short film titled The Brass Band, which has won several international awards.
8.
Judge Smith wrote music for the television comedy series Not The Nine O'Clock News in the 1980s, including the punk rock parody "Gob on You".
9.
Judge Smith spent months making his own samples, hiring various musicians and recording individual notes.
10.
At this concert his new album, The Full English was launched, and Judge Smith played all the songs from the album.
11.
Judge Smith was accompanied by John Ellis on electric guitar, Michael Ward-Bergeman on accordion and Rene van Commenee on percussion.
12.
In May 2009 Judge Smith performed the premiere of his second songstory, The Climber.
13.
Judge Smith released his third songstory, Orfeas, on 9 May 2011.
14.
In 2013, Judge Smith published his first book, "The Universe Next Door", about life after death.