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TheOlmec Biography

So just who are TheOlmec ? Over the years there have been many unsubstantiated rumours, some of the more unlikely ones being that they were time-travelers from ancient Mexico, aliens, a horrible cloning experiment gone wrong and even more bizarre that they are really the same person !
Well, at last it can be revealed who this media shy, elusive band really are. Just click on each of the band members ! 

          Ricardo A          DickK                    RickD          RichiV              RichE        

 

Aren't artists vain sometimes ? Well Richi V thinks he's the best looking guy in the band - but he would, wouldn't he ?
  Click here to see and vote !


 

Dick K/ OldMec - keyboards, production, engineer, writes music and designer of this internet

Dick K is the oldest in the band and works in the computer industry by day. He is very proud that he has never travelled outside Guildford where he lives and owns the famous Field Studios. This is where the band record and produce their music. Dick K writes some of the music, does all the production and keyboards for the band and what little spare time he has, he write and updates this website. 
"I love Guildford, why go anywhere else ? That's what I say to the rest of the band (who all come from Manchester), but particularly Ricardo A who always goes on about travelling and Richi V who swears Manchester is the best place in the world. As for TheOlmec, I am the 5th Beatle, the George Martin of the band. Richi V always wants to sing and Ricardo A and Rich E just want to play guitar (Rick D and I have a hard time with these boys). I love producing music, and who knows some day, if the band splits up, I'll carry on producing for other bands. My favourite sounds are the strings and you're find my influence on many of the softer songs like The Ice Maiden.  I hope I create a balance and that unique TheOlmec sound. "
Guildford Festival   In the recording studio
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Rick D / NiceMec - drums

 Rick D is seen as the fun guy in the band who doesn't like conflict. Everyone likes him ! He works as a chief by day (in a famous restaurant in Guildford) and drums by night. He met Ricardo A in Winchester while studying gardening and unsuccessfully tried to start a band. Luckily they kept in touch and here they are together again !
"Drums, timing and food. That's me, in that priority and luckily I can do all three! Food - especially curries are my passion. I love 'em. Drumming is like cooking - it's all in the timing and ingredients. It's art ! I first started cooking when I was very young, starting on cakes and finally working up to that ultimate in gastronomical perfection: The Indian Curry. Unfortunately having visited Thailand on a food-exchange program I discovered even more tastier food ! Currently my house specialties are veggie Indian curries - all available at very reasonable prices ! [Better stop plugging this one now - Dick K is getting impatient].  
Anyway I gel the band together, with so many big egos they need someone like me to stop them from falling out. Guess who has the biggest ego in the band ? Just look at our photo's to find that one out !
As for the music, my favourite is the last track, 'Switch off the TV', cos it's got lots of drums. With Ice Maiden and The Sea, when the rest of them were recording,  Dick K kept me locked out of the studies!  I wasn't happy! Luckily there was a India takeaway nearby.. "
Lebanese  waiting for curry ..afterwards Cakes & .. ..more curry
          
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Richi V / BabyMec - vocals, wind instruments, lyrics

 A Mancunian builder by trade, Richi V put the band together. But that's not all he does: he also invented the Share Game. Richi V also has had a brief solo career, but his heart is really in the band. He met  Dick K while studying at music school in Guildford and met Rich E at a stag do (another story !). The band officially call him BabyMec because he's the youngest in the band (and not SpoiltMec as one or 2 of the band members like to call him) !

"I am the front-man of the band and this is my band. I started writing music in Manchester and gradually built up the band over the years. My band has had it's highs and lows, and even line up changes over the years, but I always knew we would finally get it together. Now, together, we form TheOlmec. I couldn't do this without the boys.  I write most of the songs and sing in all of them. I like to think I give the band it's distinctive sound, with my voice as the instrument. Hopefully sometime in the future we'll do some music video's - if Dick K ever has time ! Hey, watch out for our live interviews and maybe even a radio series too ! "
 
Some renovation work Working at Ascot Drinking tea with the local Rio  'gangsta'
'Solo' singing career

        
           
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      Rich E / SportyMec - electric and lead guitar

Rich E is the sports person and the 2nd oldest and quietest of the band. He cycles, sails, snowboards, wakeboards,. windsurfs, wave surfs and tries any outdoor sport at least once. Which is a surprise considering that he works indoors at Tescos during most of the day and has to record in Dick K's cellar ! After a stint in Lancaster & Teesside, he settled down here in the leafy suburbs of Guildford with the rest of the boys. We managed to get him drunk one night to say a few more words about himself - he is notoriously quiet !
"Give me the outdoors, any day. I should really get a roofing job. Gis us a job Richi V ! As you would have all found out by now, I play the electric guitar that is so much a distinctive sound of TheOlmec. It's a bit of a competition between Ricardo A and I, but obviously the electric wins every time. Check out the classic, 'So I live hotel', and my favourite "The Sea" and "Thinking about You" to know what I'm saying."
Sailing in Dec ! Snowboarding in Canada Windsurfing in Chichester Cycling marathon, New York
Wave surfing in Newquey
     
          
    
 
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  Ricardo A / RoamingMec - acoustic guitar, mainly writes the music and some lyrics

Ricardo A, the is currently in-between jobs. In fact he has been between jobs for quite some time, much to the disgust of fellow TheOlmec member, Dick K. Ricardo A has also been an actor, a painter and has studied philosophy (don't get him started on this one). His acting career spanned Winchester, Teesside, Manchester and Guildford where he has played in some Shakespeare plays and the most famous part - as a dead body ! He has also travelled extensively around the world over the past 10 years and is the source of most of the photo's and art-work you see in the album. He is by far the coolest, most laid back member of TheOlmec !
   "Cool.... They weren't ready for my acting & art, so now I'm concentrating on the guitar and the band, man. I'm the backbone of the songs. Most music of the songs were written by me, and you can hear my guitar in the background. Sometimes though, Dick K, takes down the volume of the acoustic guitar and sometimes even swaps the sound for an electric guitar or keyboard in the final mix, but hey, I'm cool about it ! I work quite closely with Richi V in writing the songs. You know we met in Teesside, Richi V and I ?    
There have been rumours that someone else might be this band (you've seen the Matrix?), well despite what Richi V says, I'm not so..." 
[that's enough of that - DK, Ed]
Beijing Composing on a Monday while some people work! Lakes The Bronx
Berlin
                
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Band member votes

Just for fun, why not vote for your favourite band member !

Band member
TheOlmec Vote
Your Vote !
Your comments !
Richi V
8
5.8
'He's the greatest ! RV' 'looks good'
Dick K
8
4.5
 
Ricardo A
8
5.7
'looks good'
Rich D
8
7.5
'nice with a cuppa'
Rich E
8
8.0
'good drugs'

 

 

 

Member
In their own words...
Picture
Vote here !
Richi V
Thinks he's the best looking!
   
Dick K
Best looking local boy!
   
Ricardo A
The coolest!
   
Rich D
The nice guy!
   
Rich E
Not interested in this survey!
   

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