Marc Breman

Born in Belsize Park, London (currently living back there, with my wife Carol), to Dutch parents.

Character-wise: Leo Kottke, London Pride, Allan Holdsworth, Gunwharf Quays, Led Zeppelin, cheese, Stravinsky, my Les Paul, storms, Quo (not still, but again), Boulez, brandy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, pesto, Machaut. Did I mention Quo?

Professionally, the last thirty years have been spent compiling crosswords for every tabloid in the land, particularly the Mirror two-speeds (for the full thirty years) and the Express Crusaders (just the last twenty), plus periodicals, trade magazines and advertising campaigns. I can reveal that the notorious last News of the World crossword, supposedly full of vitriolic references to Rebekah Brooks, contained nothing of the sort, having been submitted, by me, a full week before the shock announcement of the paper’s termination. Sad but true.

The previous decade saw me as a musician. It started with me being drafted into a pop band signed to Epic with a couple of singles in the charts, touring with the likes of Elton John and Shakin’ Stevens. There followed a number of rock and jazz ventures of my own, none of which I was happy with, and the decade ended with me as Donovan’s lead guitarist on the first of his comebacks – not a massively enjoyable experience but at least I can say I’ve played Wembley Arena.

At this point, in order to keep music enjoyable, it seemed sensible to restrict it to a hobby. It is still both. I still gig occasionally, currently as a Son of Sue and a Wild Uncle. I have also just completed a concerto for two guitars and chamber orchestra.

Plus I have had fun devising, over the years, a number of crossword related puzzles, mostly 3-D (serialised, manipulated 2-D and true 3-D), including a 3-D crossword in the style of 3-D noughts and crosses.

Social networking sites bring me out in a rash, I’m afraid, but there is a marcbreman.london, so I am available at marc@marcbreman.london, an address that completely exhausts my talents for self-publicity.