Phil Ryan (21 October 1946 – 30 April 2016) was a Welsh keyboardist and composer known for his work with Man and Pete Brown.
[2] The album included two tracks written by Graham Bond's wife Diane Stewart "Crossroads of Time" and "Love is the Law", who was a major influence on Ryan.
The Eyes of Blue's third and final album, Bluebell Wood, was released under the pseudonym Big Sleep, and the band broke up shortly afterwards.
Andrew Lauder, head of A&R at United Artists put the duo in Rockfield Studios where they began recording the first Neutrons album, Black Hole Star.
To record the album, Ryan and Youatt assembled several friends and former bandmates, including drummers John "Pugwash" Weathers (then with Gentle Giant) and Dave Charles; guitarists Martin Wallace and Ray "Taff" Williams, who had been in Eyes of Blue and Piblokto!, violinist Stuart Gordon (ex Incredible String Band) and vocalist Caromay Dixon.
[11] The initial recordings were made at Rockfield Studios – "Snow Covered Eyes" and "Living In The World Today".
Although now living in Denmark, Ryan continued a productive songwriting partnership with Pete Brown, producing two Ryan/Brown albums, Ardours of the Lost Rake and Coals to Jerusalem.
Ryan rejoined Man in 1996, playing on the albums 1998 at the Star Club (1998) and Endangered Species (2000), before leaving again in 2001, to look after his wife, who was terminally ill. Ryan rejoined Man in 2007, remaining with the 'core' band when it split in two in 2008 and playing on the albums Kingdom of Noise (2009) and Reanimated Memories (2015).
[14] Despite suffering three heart attacks and a stroke,[15][13] he continued playing and remained in Man until his death in Denmark on 30 April 2016.