Comus Comus recorded an album for
Virgin Records in 1974 entitled
To Keep from Crying. Hale played keyboards and marimba.
Blood Donor Determined to pursue his own musical vision, Hale formed Blood Donor in 1977. It had the then highly unusual line-up of two synthesizer players, two percussionists and a bass player. This group battled against a backdrop of punk rock, supported
J.J. Burnel, and was signed to
Arista Records in 1979. Various producers were used including Steve James and
John Cale although they recorded the first album with
Tonto's Expanding Head Band and
Stevie Wonder producer
Malcolm Cecil. Internal disputes between record company and management meant that this album was never released, although two singles were – "Rubber Revolution" and "Rice Harvest". The latter, featuring a Vietnamese children's choir, is regularly revitalised for Hale's school productions. Blood Donor at
Rockfield Studios.
Ginger Baker Following
Hawkwind, Ginger then asked Hale to get a band together for which he enlisted the help of old friends
Billy Jenkins and Ian Trimmer, as well as Blood Donor bassist Rikki Legair. Known as Ginger Baker's Nutters the band undertook two long European tours and recorded two live albums,
Live in Milan 1980 and
Ginger Baker in Concert. The band broke up when Ginger had to leave the UK for tax reasons.
Toyah Hale co-wrote and co-produced Toyah's first album (and EP/AP)
Sheep Farming in Barnet and her first single "
Victims of the Riddle". In February 1981 her version of Hale's song "
It's a Mystery" reached no. 4 in the
UK Singles Chart. He then joined
Toyah's band for more touring and TV work including
Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour, a double album recorded at the culmination of a 25-date UK tour, during two nights at the
Hammersmith Odeon in July 1982.
Toyah Willcox had this to say in 2011 – "So when it comes down to
Warrior Rock, I know it's one of the best live albums ever made! And I'm confident about that and two fingers to everyone else about it really!".
Space Cadets Hale, along with former Blood Donor colleagues
John Bentley and Gordon Coxon released one experimental self-titled 'acid-jazz' album in 1988.
Jasper Fish Nicknamed Jasper Fish by
Ginger Baker (a reference to Hale originating from a fishing city), he recorded two albums in the guise of Jasper Fish and the Alice Band. Alice is the name of Hale's daughter. They supported
Jools Holland in 1998, and were described as 'very much in the
Canterbury style of the '70s'.
Mind Your Head Project with
Squeeze bass player and former Space Cadet
John Bentley. Performed showcase at Ropetackle, Shoreham, 2 May 2008.
Musical director and music tutor In the present day, Hale writes and arranges many children's musical productions in the Kent and London area and teaches keyboards and songwriting at Charles Darwin School. He has participated with members of
Squeeze's
Chris Difford's songwriting workshops in Italy. ==Discography (selected)==