ARTISTS

THE EARLY DAYS/POST ARENA:

HYPERMANIA (formerly known as John Carson's Hypermania) are one of the main featured artists on (Proverbs 9 Music) site. John is the former lead vocalist of neo progressive rock stalwarts & prog supergroup ARENA (who feature ex & present Marillion. Pendragon, IQ, Asia, Michael Schencker, It Bites & Fish members) to name but a few!!.

John sang the lead vocals on ARENA'S critically acclaimed debut album "Song's From The Lion's Cage", back in 1994/ 5.

Since leaving Arena John formed Hypermania in the late 1990's & released a self financed debut album called "Down To Birth" in 2000, it featured close friend the locally & a far off well reknowned Lead Guitarist Neil Mellor on Lead Guitars, Preston based Mr solid & dependable himself Lindsay Davies on Bass guitar & still ever & present with Hypermania on Keyboards, pre-mixing & pre-Production duties Ian Schofield. Ian was bandmates with John with Merseyside classic AOR outfit Frontier as far back as 1983/4 & Ian a very gifted Keyboard, Stynth, Piano player & songsmith in the Keith Emmerson, Clive Nolan, Jonathon Caine school of playing has worked in projects connected with Asia, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Max Bacon (Bronze & GTR) & with Dave (The Flake advert voice) Lloyd (Nutz &Rage) & Mark Thomas in Liverpool combo 2 AM (Polydor Records) circa 1986-88.

BUILDING A FOUNDATON:

The "Down To Birth" album was co-produced by John along with Marc (Lebretto) Briton of Green Tree Productions & ian Schofield.

The album did receive a mixed reaction from the music press as it was an eclectic mix of neo & lightweight prog rock/pop, classic melodic rock, with one or two emotion fuelled heart wrenching commercial ballads "WOUNDED" & "SLEEPING" thrown in for good measure, which New Horizon's magazine said that the album was worth buying on the strength of these 2 songs alone!! I leave that conclusion with the true connoissuer's of music appreciation, the FANS, not the JOURNO'S!! LOL HA HA,,,,,

THE JOURNEY SO FAR:

As far back as 1993 about a year before John joined Arena, after many wilderness years as a Prodigal Son, John started a new spiritual journey that led him back to church, back to the Christian fold & off the Broadway back to the Narrow Path/Gate which is Jesus Christ & the Holy Bible. He spent 11 years in St Basil's Catholic church congregation in Hough Green, Widnes where he grew up as a young boy having moved from his Birthplace of Liverpool with his late Father John, his Mother May (Mary) & brothers Peter, Paul (RIP) & sister Julie in October 1968.

After 11 years at St Basil's in 2004 & feeling he had spiritually, experientially, theologically & supernaturally outgrown the priests!!

who appeared to him as men doing a job, rather than being vocationally "called" to serve God"; and definitely "not chosen" & after exposing their false teachings, understanding & lack of Holy Ghost powered sermons & challenging their false doctrine's of devil's & teachings of men for itching ears!! John left a lot of his dear congregational friends behind after God spoke to him in a number of dreams, through the prompting unction of the Holy Spirit & with direct words of knowledge, instruction & purpose. It was in October 2004 that John under the power & direction of the Holy Spirit that John was led back to his birthplace by a prophetic dream from God to an African founded Evangelical/Pentecostal Church, Deeper Life in Toxteth, Liverpool, as John experienced the Pentecostal Baptism of the Holy Ghost: ACTS chapter 2: 1-20 & of being "BORN AGAIN" JOHN chapter 3:1-8.

THE MISSION, THE MESSAGE, THE MUSIC - MORE THAN A SONG!!

(MARK CHAPTER 16; 15-20)

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen

SIGNS & WONDERS:

THIS LED jOHN INTO A POWERFUL , SUPERNATURAL, EVANGELICAL, PROPHETIC & APOSTOLIC NEW DIMENSION OF WHO GOD, THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST, THE SON & THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE, experiencing supernatural visions, dreams & spiritual instruction of practical, personal & End Time Prophetic dreams, visions & knowledge of future events, even fasting & praying to fight a spiritual war against principalities & powers & spiritual wickedness in high places, also learning by Faith & by fasting & prayer to do deliverance ministry & casting out devils (DEMONS).

(EPHESIANS chapter 6:10-20)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

THE PLACE CALLED MERIBAH/THE WILDERNESS OF SIN & STRIFE:

Just like the children of Israel in the desert of the Wilderness of Sin/Meribah under Moses & Aaron's God led leadership the Hypermania journey has been a long, arduous, some times drawn out saga that has taken more turns than a L Plate learner driver!! or the river Nile.... lol!!

There was & has always been room for musicians past, present & in future who were not believers to become involved, nobody was discounted, but rather the people interested or auditioning for the band did not stay around too long sometime for many varying reason's!! The band members coming & going infrequently!! in some cases before they even really bedded in, this was mainly because of the Biblical & scriptural lyrical & Bible based concepts & stories which they didn't ascribe too!! but the door has always been open for Christians & non Christians alike. The length of the album journey has now taken on many different guises too, finally we have settled for a 3 Album Biblical Trilogy Concept....

1. Back To the Wilderness (Part 1 & 2) The Old Testament (Genesis to Malachi - John the Baptist preaching ministry era begins.

2. BTTW (Part 2) The New Testament & The Gospels of Jesus Christ Ministry.

3. BTTW (Part3) The Book of Revelation & the End of Days.

There have been several Lead Guitarists & musicians who have contributed their time, energy & there friendship & good will along the way spanning over the past 10 years to shape some of the early musical constructs & textures of this Hypermania trilogy concept project....so I would like to thank friends like Neil Mellor, Colin Cuthrie, Mark Harley, Mike Canavan & Joe Wettham, but a special thank you goes out to my son Adam: who is an all round extremely talented & skillful young musician who's early learning & playing curve was remarkably ahead of it's time for his tender age. Adam is only just 18 years old, but since he was about 15/16 he has been helping me out tremendously by stepping in & playing on & helping lay down & write, construct & shape a lot of the Lead & Rhythm guitar parts with me whilst I have been meticulously searching high & low for a permanent & long term Lead Guitarist. Although it has been a bit long winded at times because of Adam's inexperience!! but the results were excellent & the guitars as guides for the music has given the songs more of it's potential shape, dynamics & a truer grander pomp towards it's potential finish. Meanwhile Adam is always standing by at the ready waiting in the wings in case another guitarist famine should arise lol...

THE GOSPEL OF LOVE, PEACE, SALVATION & FORGIVENESS.

These experiences & encounters through the Holy Spirit of Jehovah/Yahweh/Jesus the Messiah have turned John's world upside down or right side up now!! lol, as he's now a Born Again believer!! This obvious life changing & spiritually mind blowing experience & transformation have affected, re-directed, influenced & have had a amazing 'Cathartic' resonance through the very essence of who John has become? a follower of THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE - AN EVANGELICAL AMBASSADOR FOR JESUS CHRIST'S GOSPEL MESSAGE THROUGH A MUSICAL BIBLE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS; AS WELL AS A STREET PREACHING EVANGELIST.

THE NEW RECRUITS FOR HYPERMANIA:

SCOTT HIGHAM; DRUMS

PAUL REAY; BASS GUITAR

JACOB ZIEMBA: LEAD GUITAR

ADAM CARSON-DORAN: LEAD GUIAR GUIDES

KEYBOARDS, SYNTHS, PIANO: IAN SCHOFIELD

LEAD VOCALS, KEYBOARDS, GUITARS: JOHN CARSON

STUDIO ENGINEER-MIXING, PRE-PRODUCTION & TECNICAL ASSISTANCE: MARC (LEBRETTO) BRITON.