“Quite how I ended up joining such an already-brilliant band is beyond me, as I was sure they didn’t need another person and I’m certain they weren’t looking for one! Who knows, maybe that’s why it happened. A beautiful natural accident—like most of the music we began to make. Something very odd happened when the three of us got into a studio. It’s hard not to think of it in terms of unexplained mysteries, alchemy, even magick… We were pushed to explain it a lot in the early 80s, but never could.”
Simon Raymonde
- Full name: Simon Philip Raymonde
- Role: Bass, guitar, keyboards, production
- Birth date: 3 April 1962
- Birthplace: London, England
- Residence: London, England
- Partner(s): Karen Raymonde (divorced); Abbey Raymonde (2013-)
- Children: Stanley (b. 1991); William (b. 1993)
Simon Raymonde joined Cocteau Twins in 1983, following the departure of Will Heggie earlier that year. He had previously been a member of Drowning Craze, and met Robin and Elizabeth while he was working at the Beggars Banquet record shop downstairs from the offices of Cocteau Twins’ first label 4AD. They struck up a casual friendship.
“I was working part-time on the weekend at this little eight-track studio up in Camden,” Simon explained in an interview with C86 Radio Show in 2019. “I knew the owner was gonna be away one weekend and then when Robin and Liz were down for a visit, I said, ‘Hey, you know, you can use the studio this weekend because I can let you in and you can just do what you want to do,’ and I took them up there and they sort of stared at me, like, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’ And I said, ‘What do you mean?’ And they said, ‘Well, you know, we thought you wanted to write some songs,’ and I was like, ‘That wasn’t in the plan, but let’s do it!’ So we just kinda wrote this tune. Liz went out to get some chips and me and Robin jammed for ten minutes and we had this tune going, and when she came back she was like, “Oh my god that’s the best thing I ever heard,” and we carried on recording it that day and that version we recorded, the first song we ever wrote together, is a track called “Millimillenary,” which was on the album The Pink Opaque.”
Simon’s natural affinity for the Cocteaus’ sound, where he contributed mainly bass and keyboards or piano, and occasionally guitar, made him a perfect fit. Thenceforth Cocteau Twins’ lineup would be Fraser, Guthrie, and Raymonde. An Englishman born in Tottenham, Simon’s musical bona-fides run deep: he is the son of composer, musician, and producer Ivor Raymonde (1926-1990), who was well-known for his work with Dusty Springfield and others in the 1950s and 1960s.
In an effort to gain more control over Cocteau Twins’ musical career and create space for artists they loved, Simon co-founded Bella Union Records with Robin and Elizabeth in 1996. Following Cocteau Twins’ breakup in 1997—a painful period for him, as he often found himself caught in the middle of his bandmates’ tense relationship—Simon recorded his own critically-acclaimed solo album, Blame Someone Else (1997)—Bella Union’s first release. He played most of the instruments, including vocals (with guest appearances by Robin, Elizabeth, and other friends). Robin divested from the business after relocating to France, making Bella Union Simon’s primary focus. He has since become a respected leader in the music business, and has led the label to become one of the most influential independents in the world.
When he is not running Bella Union and its record shops in London and Brighton, Simon continues to make music: in 2014 he released the album Moon with Snowbird, and in 2017 released the album Ojalá with former Dif Juz member Richard Thomas under the band name Lost Horizons. In 2018, Simon oversaw the Bella Union release of a retrospective of his father’s work entitled Paradise: The Sound of Ivor Raymonde. Lost Horizons released a double-LP—their second album—entitled In Quiet Moments in December 2020, and February 2021. A remastered version of Blame Someone Else was released by Bella Union in 2023 as part of a collection titled Solo Works: 96-98, which included three previously unreleased tracks. Reflecting on his solo material, Simon said, “At the time, I was unsure if I should make the album but my band-mates were extremely supportive, and their encouragement helped me get the record finished. It took me 25 years to feel comfortable with these songs being available again. We all have hurdles to get over before we can feel ready to let go of certain things. Today, I feel that the first-ever release on Bella Union should once again be an active part of the label’s history, if only to bookmark these first 25 years.”
In September 2024, Simon will publish his memoir, In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me, which Elton John has described as, “a wonderful book of pop music history… We need more of people like him in a world full of mass-produced mediocrity.”
Simon has two sons, Stanley and William, with his former wife Karen. He resides in London with his wife Abbey.
Video
Press
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde on drugs, reunions and his brain tumour”
- The Times | 26-Aug 2024
- Simon Raymonde announces memoir, “In One Ear”
- Cocteau Twins News | 24-May 2024
- Simon Raymonde: The John Robb Interview
- YouTube | 25 Apr 2022
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- ”What Goes Around” | 05-Jan 2022
- Lost Horizons release new single ‘Florida’
- NEWS | 20-Oct 2021
- Simon Raymonde Charity Draw for Clock Tower Sanctuary
- NEWS | 28-Sep 2021
- Simon Raymonde: Bella Union Burls Forever
- The SuperSwell Podcast | 29-Jul 2021
- Re-creating the Sound of Cocteau Twins: Guitars, Synth Keys, and Drum Machine Beats
- YouTube | 10-Apr 2021
- Cocteau Twins’ ‘Milk & Kisses’ Turns 25
- SPIN | 15 Mar 2021
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde Learned That the Best Plan is None at All”
- Alternative Press | 2-Mar 2021
- From Cocteau Twin to Lost Horizons: Simon Raymonde talks to RTÉ Arena
- RTÉ Arena | 26 Feb 2021
- Simon Raymonde unboxes latest Lost Horizons double-LP
- NEWS | 23-Feb 2021
- “Simon Raymonde on Lost Horizons’ New Album ‘In Quiet Moments’”
- Under the Radar | 11-Jan 2021
- “Cocteau Twins, 4AD, The Mary Chain & Other Stories — An Interview with Colin Wallace”
- Arcane Delights | 15-Dec 2020
- Latest Lost Horizons News
- NEWS | 28-Nov 2020
- Tim Burgess and Simon Raymonde co-host Twitter ‘Listening Party’ for Four-Calendar Café
- NEWS | 18-Oct 2020
- Lost Horizons Announce Double Album, Share New Song
- Pitchfork | 7-Oct 2020
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde Announces New Lost Horizons Album”
- Rolling Stone | Oct-7 2020
- “‘Heaven or Las Vegas,’ the Troubled Paradise of Cocteau Twins”
- Addict-Culture | 17-Sep 2020
- Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde on ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ (which just turned 30)
- Brooklyn Vegan | 17-Sep 2020
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- Peekaboo Music Magazine | 15-Aug 2020
- Tim Burgess and Simon Raymonde co-host Twitter ‘Listening Party’ for Heaven or Las Vegas
- NEWS | 3-Apr 2020
- Radio Interview with Simon Raymonde
- C86 Radio Show/Podcast | 17-Jan 2019
- “Simon Raymonde on… Nostalgia”
- Long Live Vinyl | 10-Jan 2019
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- The Brighton Source | Apr 2018
- Interview with Simon Raymonde (Four parts)
- Chinwag (Video) | Jan 2018
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde and Richie Thomas of Dif Juz announce debut album as Lost Horizons”
- The Line of Best Fit | Jul 2017
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- BBC Radio 6 | Jul 2017
- “Lost Horizons (Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins) - ‘Frenzy, Fear (Feat. Hilang Child)’”
- Under the Radar | Jul 2017
- “Making Your Noise: Bella Union Founder Simon Raymonde on His New Band and the Future of Indie Labels”
- Billboard | Oct 2017
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- Culture Collide 2017
- “Simon Raymonde talks about his first musical project in two decades”
- BBC Radio 6 | Oct 2017
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde Says He Didn’t Know About His Band’s Record Store Day Reissues”
- Pitchfork | Mar 2017
- “Simon Says #11: Nostalgia for the Cocteau Twins era”
- LongLiveVinyl.com 2017
- “Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde Shares and Talks About His First New Music in 20 Years”
- National Public Radio (USA) | 26-Oct 2017
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- Le Cool London 2016
- “Bella Union: ‘We only sign artists that we like as people.’”
- PIAS | Mar 2016
- “Have Yourself a Very Punk Rock Christmas”
- Pitchfork | 22-Nov 2016
- “Simon Raymonde’s Record Box”
- JohnPeelArchive.com | Dec 2015
- “Simon Raymonde: Five Essential Albums”
- WFUV.com | Jan 2014
- “Perfect Calibrations: Simon Raymonde’s Favourite Albums”
- The Quietus | Feb 2014
- “Divine Rapture: Simon Raymonde revisits Cocteau Twins’ purple patch”
- The Skinny | 1-Jul 2014
- “The Byline: Simon Raymonde On A Love Affair With Spurs”
- The Quietus | Aug 2014
- “Ether Madness”
- Uncut | Apr 2003
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- Barcode 2001
- “12 Questions with Simon Raymonde”
- Pennyblack Music | May 2001
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- The Horses’ Gob | Mar 2000
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- AmbiEntrance | 26-Jan 2000
- Interview with Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde
- MOJO 1999
- Interview with Simon Raymonde
- Ink19 | Aug 1998
- “Atlanta’s Epiphany”
- Footnotes | 6-Nov 1990
Solo performances, guest appearances, and other collaborations
Song title(s)/Role | Artist/Collaborator | Release | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Bass | Drowning Craze | Storage Case | 1981 |
Bass | Drowning Craze | Trance | 1981 |
“Kangaroo,” “The Last Ray,” “Barramundi,” “Not Me,” “A Single Wish” | This Mortal Coil | It’ll End in Tears | 1984 |
“The Jeweller,” “Ivy and Neet,” “My Father,” “Come Here My Love,” “Alone,” “Red Rain” | This Mortal Coil | Filigree and Shadow | 1986 |
Bass | The Lillies | “And David Seaman Will Be Very Disappointed About That…” | 1991 |
All tracks | Solo | Blame Someone Else | 1997 |
All tracks | Solo | It’s a Family Thing / In My Place | 1997 |
Guitar, Bass, Piano, Loops, Horn, Production, Engineering | Nanaco | Luminous in Love 23 | 1998 |
Bass | Brian (50) | “Light Years” | 1999 |
Bass | Sneakster | “Stolen Letter” | 1999 |
Engineer | The Autumns | “Garlands” | 1999 |
Piano, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Arranging, Production, Mixing | Anneli Drecker | “Morning Glory” | 2000 |
Guitar, Vocals, Mixing | Departure Lounge | Out of There | 2000 |
Sampling, Vocals | Rothko | In the Pulse of An Artery | 2001 |
Piano | Michael J. Sheehy | No Longer My Concern | 2002 |
Piano | Piano Magic | Writers Without Homes | 2002 |
Instrumentation, Production | The Czars | The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People | 2002 |
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Mellotron | Tram | A Kind of Closure | 2002 |
Guitar | Departure Lounge | Too Late to Die Young | 2002 |
Steel Guitar, Production | James Yorkston and the Athletes | Moving Up Country | 2002 |
Guitar | Edison Woods | Seven Principles of Leave No Trace | 2003 |
Producer | The Duke Spirit | Cuts Across the Land | 2005 |
Piano, Bass, Guitar, Effects, Production, Mixing | Lisa Dewey and The Lotus Life | Busk | 2004 |
Bass, Electric Guitar, Piano, Mixing | Astronautalis | “Oceanwalk” | 2005 |
Bass, Guitar, Production, Mixing | The Czars | Before… But Longer | 2006 |
Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Backing Vocals | Helene | Routines | 2006 |
Bass, Piano, Electric Guitar, Production, Mixing | Stephanie Dosen | A Lily for the Spectre | 2007 |
Piano, Slide Guitar, Production, Engineering | Anthony Reynolds With Vashti Bunyan and Charlotte Greig | Bees Dream of Flowers and Your Summer’s Meadow Breath | 2008 |
Bass | Pyramids With Nadja | Pyramids With Nadja | 2009 |
Guitar, Piano | Various Artists | Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (Music Inspired by the Film) | 2009 |
Guitar | James Yorkston and The Athletes | Moving Up Country | 2010 |
Bass, Guitar, Piano, Drums, Production | Snowbird | (Moon) | 2014 |
Bass | Golden Fable | Ancient Blue | 2014 |
Piano, Production | The Duke Spirit | Kin | 2016 |
Songwriting, Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Production | Lost Horizons | Ojalá | 2017 |
Bass, Production | Drowning Craze | Singles 1981/1982 | 2018 |
Liner Notes | Various Artists | Ivor Raymonde: Paradise (The Sound of Ivor Raymonde) | 2018 |
Songwriting, Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Production | Lost Horizons | In Quiet Moments | 2020 / 2021 |
Songwriting, Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Production | Lost Horizons | “Florida” | 2021 |
Songwriting, Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Production | Solo | Solo Works: 96-98 | 2022 |