Darrel Treece-Birch

Biography

Darrel began learning piano at age seven, buying his first synthesizer KORG DW6000 at 17, joining Fleetwood based Progressive Rock Band ‘Purple on the Storm’ in 1985 (featuring long-time collaborator Michael Alan Taylor also singer with Nth Ascension). One of the founding members of Nth Ascension (which began in 2010, one year before joining Melodic Hard Rockers ‘TEN’). Darrel released 4 albums with Nth Ascension before leaving in March 2021. As a solo artist specialising at this point primarily on ambient instrumental material but also touching on his more progressive roots Darrel has also released 4 solo albums to date. Debut album ‘Celestial’ in 2015, ‘No More Time’ in 2016, ‘Healing Touch’ in 2017 and ‘The first step is to take one’ in 2018. Joining TEN in 2011 just prior to their Fleetwoodstock appearance commemorating the start of the Stormwarning mini-tour, Darrel has played on 7 albums to date. ‘Heresy & Creed’ 2012, ‘Albion’ 2014, ‘Isla de Muerta’ 2015, ‘Gothica’ 2017, ‘Illuminati’ 2019, ‘Here Be Monsters’ 2021, and ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ 2022. Darrel has also collaborated on fellow Ten bandmate Steve Grocott’s ‘Signal Red’ album ‘Under the Radar’ in 2018, plus Gary Hughes solo album Waterside 2021 playing keyboards and drums, and Gary’s producer project TAO album ‘Prohecy’ 2021 sung by Ten backing Vocalist Karen Fell. Darrel has also contributed keyboards on the 2021 Scar for Life album ‘Sociophobia’ 2022, and his home-town friends album Mitchell’s Kiss of The Gypsy ‘Unfinished Business’ 2022. In 2023 Darrel embarked on a more expansive song writing exploration under the guise of ‘Darrel Treece-Birch’s Atlantea’ releasing his first album ‘Choices’ in October 2023, with several guest singers and guitarists from far and wide. A sophomore release is due late 2024 or early 2025. Also on the horizon is a new project with oldest friend Alan Allcock under the band name of ‘Dark Matter Theory’. Darrel is producing, arranging and playing several instruments of this new Rock project. This is also due for release in late 2024 or early 2025. More news to follow. As a fine & graphic artist Darrel has also worked on several sleeves and booklets either in painting, designing or graphic art.