Roy Shipston studied Theory of Music and Piano, winning prizes at classical festivals in and around London as a teenager, and he used to "dep" in his Father’s dance band — on piano, double bass and drums — from the age of 11.

Shipston then formed his own band, Rococo, one of London's top progressive rock acts of the decade. Rococo also played live as The Brats, described by the NME as "legendary".

Shipston was subsequently signed as a singer-songwriter and later became a successful session musician as a keyboard player, singer, arranger and producer.

With their own production company, Shipston and Rococo guitarist Rod Halling bought Jimmy Page's studio in Buckinghamshire, England, in the late 1980s and transformed it into The Mill Recording Studios — for five years one of Europe's top facilities, used by Elton John, George Harrison, Chris Rea, Clannad and a host of other artistes. The Mill won several awards, including two BASFs, and Shipston and Halling earned a production award for one of the albums they produced, Blue Mania, by The Skeleton Crew.

Rococo reformed in 2003, for more information visit www.flopidiscs.com

Shipston counts Beethoven, Lennon, Zappa and Ellington among his major influences.