News

“It’s up to you.”…John Wesley, Radiohead…could we see a trend?? A month ago I started the “Share the Wes” policy with all my studio albums…all available for unrestricted download with a paypal button set up for the furthering of the music.

Pay nothing, pay a little, pay a lot, but whatever you do, download the music, listen and “Share it”.

In that month over 17,000 John Wesley albums have been downloaded by old and new listeners all over the world. Radiohead have now announced a similar policy for their new album, one of the highest profile bands to do so yet. Download their new album, pay them something….however much or however little…it’s “up to you” as it says on their download site.
Hopefully a new trend in music has begun that will give more people the opportunity to hear more music, for less money! I am continuing my “Share the Wes” policy, it’s all there on the front page of my site, take it, listen to it….share it…”it’s up to you”.

See you on tour with Porcupine Tree!

Cheers! WES

For me to continue to create music, I have to know that people are hearing it. Elements of cost and lack of distribution have made most of my catalog very difficult to acquire.

So rather than go into a long diatribe about how the industry is changing, I am just going to announce a new “Share the Wes” policy.

My entire catalog is now available through links on this site and on my Myspace.com page as MP3 downloads – at no cost.

The only thing I ask in return is that if you choose to download the music and add it to your collection, you “Share the Wes” with everyone you know that may have an interest in the music that I create. Point them to the site and encourage them to discover the music I have created over the course of my career, and then encourage them to share it!

I am driven by a need to create and perform. Sharing my music in this manner will help to remove some of the barriers that I have encountered in exposing the songs to a wider audience. In regards to income, music is not free to create. There are heavy costs in the time, money and expense it takes to create, record and perform the music. Many people also still enjoy having the CD and artwork… Some like to have it signed to collect, and let¹s face it, CD’s are higher quality and sound better than MP3’s. So to help defray these costs and still make the music available to the fans that love having the discs, I will still offer the music in CD form on-line and at gigs, although most of the music I am offering is now out of print, which again, is a major factor in my decision to “Share the Wes” for free.

I’ve added a Paypal button on the site for donations to go towards covering the expense of creating new music. If you download the music and you love it, and you want to be a part of supporting my quest to create more, click the Paypal button. Any amount helps and will go to covering the cost of creating new music. When I create new music, there will be an initial period where it will only be available on CD or Snocap, again, to help cover the costs. The bottom line is, there are now over 50 songs on this site to have, to share, and to help you become a part of the entire history of my journey of creating music. Please take it all, listen to it, and enjoy… and share it! …WES

Carbon Nation – Mine’s A Guinness!

by Simon Clarke

August, 2007| It’s mid-afternoon and we bump into Wes as we walk up to the side door of the Bristol Academy, yet another in the ever expanding chain of Carling sponsored venues springing up around the UK. We find a space in the venue bar and Wes explains that if we don’t mind he’d like to practise some guitar parts
[Read more…] about Mines A Guinness

Music Connection Magazine – The Art of Compromise

by Dan Kimpel

Guitarist John Wesley, now a touring member of a band Porcupine Tree, has a decidedly philosophical overview of what it takes to be a working musician. As a single father raising a daughter, he determined that the choices he made would also affect the life of his child.
[Read more…] about The Art of Compromise

Guitar One Magazine – DVDs

by Bob Gulla

Porcupine Tree: Arriving Somewhere (Snapper) Guitarist and studio whiz Steve Wilson has hit on a blissful sound that appeals equally to head and heart: heavy doses of sinewy power chords, merged with gentle melodies and haunting lyrical motifs,

more than a little reminiscent of vintage Pink Floyd. This two-disc video, recorded during last year’s Deadwing tour, rewards the patient and open-minded with snap-tight musicianship and first-rate, post-Genesis prog arrangements.

SCENE STEALER: Wilson’s work is bolstered onstage by second guitarist John Wesley, who adds backing vocals, a backbone of riffing, and even a few sweet solos.