ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½


Explore the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.
3 Oct 2014

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½page
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Truths - with John Peel ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4

Radio 4

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Truths
Listen Again
About John Peel

Help
Feedback
Like this page?
Mail it to a friend




Synthesiser Man



ÌýListen again

Ken McBeth's obsession with his synthesisers has done his love life no good at all...

Image: Ken McBeth is synthesiser man

Ken McBeth with one of his many synthesisers

In the early 70s, electronic music was the thing - think Chicory Tip and Brian Eno. And it was Ken's thing, as were the stretchily weird sounds eminating from Dr Who.

Synthesisers were too expensive for Ken, but fate took a hand in the form of the local music shop where Ken and his pals were allowed to play display models. The addiction kicked in.

Ken decided to build his own. It was puzzling going at first, Ken not knowing one end of a resistor from the other. But he persisted and now Ken's flat is overflowing with synths and bits related to synths.

When he started building synthesiser, Ken was married. He's not now and realises that an obsession - Ken's word - can cause you to neglect those around you. Ken warns people, if you have a partner - be careful. Friends - he still has them - look on amused and for the most part, tolerant.

Building and repairing sythesisers is Ken's business, but he says he's got his act together now and can control the obsession. "Not everyone wants to talk about voltage control oscilators."

ÌýListen to Ken's full story

Ìý Listen to an extract of Ken's synthesiser music - Analogue Madness




More information






The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external websites. Ìý

Listen Again
Hear John Peel's Tribute Program

About the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy