Red Square is an English free improvising, experimental rock band originally from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, that formed in 1974 and broke up in 1978, before reforming again in 2008 as a result of renewed interest in their music. The line up has remained unchanged, consisting of Ian Staples (electric guitar), Jon Seagroatt (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, flute and electronics) and Roger Telford (drums and percussion). History Formation and early history: 1972–1978 The groundwork for what became the Red Square sound was laid when Jon Seagroatt & Ian Staples began a musical collaboration in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1972, following encounters at a number of experimental music workshops. Staples, fresh from the London underground scene, had been gigging regularly at the legendary Middle Earth Club in London with Ginger Johnson's African Drummers, alongside, amongst others, Pink Floyd and Mark Bolan. He was working with tape multi-tracking, noise, psychedelia and action painting. Staples' electric guitar playing was a revolutionary blend of Jimi Hendrix and Captain Beefheart, with the sonic palettes of Derek Bailey and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Seagroatt, galvanised by the explorations of John Coltrane, John Tchicai, Evan Parker, Steve Lacy, Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler, also drew freely on groups such as Can, Faust, Weather Report, the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Soft Machine. Both were also heavily influenced by developments in contemporary 'straight' music. From the beginning of their collaboration they determined to improvise all of their music. Initially Seagroatt and Staples experimented extensively with tape multi-tracking, using a combination of standard instruments, toys, percussion, voices, violin and prepared electric guitar. Seeking to expand their collaboration by working with other musicians they found a kindred spirit in drummer Roger Telford, a committed exponent of the free-jazz style of kit playing being pioneered at the time by Milford Graves and Sunny Murray. The combination of electric guitar, amplified bass clarinet & soprano saxophone and drum kit gave Red Square a unique sound palette to explore, as well an instantly recognisable group sound. The line up of Seagroatt, Staples and Telford remained constant throughout the band's history, as did the original commitment to total improvisation, but, given the group's wide range of influences, their improvisations drew as much on avant-rock as they did on jazz or contemporary improvised music. Staples became adept at unleashing cunningly atonal guitar riffs, which referenced metal without ever becoming metal. These onslaughts were critiqued and counterposed by Telford's coruscating,