Transmission Rails – Murky Red

Transmission Rails is a rock music project composed of John Moulder, Stef Flaming and Colin Tench.

John Moulder
Has been around music all his life. He started writing poetry in 1979 which developed into songwriting stints in Nashville in the early 2000’s. His work has been described by readers as some of the most beautiful they’ve ever read. John is a musician as well, a composer, who lays down the framework on how his writing is meant to be heard.

Stef Flaming
With a musician as father who hammered the music in his head since he was a kid, he wanted to be a drummer, but that was a bridge too far for his parents who were living in the centre of a little city. So he started to play the guitar, and became guitarist in metal bands such as Chronic Death and Argelterp. Inspired by the great classic rock bands from the 60’s and the 70’s he started to write his own songs, which developed into a unique style, a blend of classic rock, prog and metal. Currently he is the singer/guitarist in the band Murky Red for who he writes the music, and he is also bassist in the band Oceans 5.

Colin Tench

Colin (1954–2017) was a British musician and composer renowned for his contributions to progressive and symphonic rock. A gifted guitarist, Colin became a beloved figure in the modern prog community, admired for his creativity, humor, and the emotional depth of his music.

His journey with the guitar began early in life. During the early 1980s, he played with Odin of London, a promising young band. However, as live performance opportunities waned, Odin disbanded. Colin then formed BunChakeze with some friends, but the band struggled to find label interest and eventually went on hiatus.

In 2010, BunChakeze revived their work, releasing an album under their original name. The album later gained recognition through Melodic Revolution Records. Colin was also involved in other notable projects, including Corvus Stone, Oceans 5, and the Colin Tench Project (CTP), further cementing his legacy as a significant contributor to the progressive rock scene.

How it all started

John and Stef first connected on Facebook toward the end of 2012. They quickly discovered a shared love for the same kind of music. John, intrigued, listened to Stef’s band Murky Red and was immediately impressed. An idea began to form in his mind.

But nothing came of it—at least, not yet.

As John and Stef continued talking, they realized how much they shared: musical tastes, humor, vision, and more. John, inspired by Stef’s talent, proposed an idea: he would send Stef lyrics, asking him to create music for them. In 2013, John sent Stef his first set of lyrics, soon followed by many more, with a simple challenge: “Okay, mate, make something great out of this.”

For Stef, this was a new experience. He was used to writing his own lyrics, but he appreciated John’s poetic style—something he knew he couldn’t replicate. Initially, it was a challenge. Stef typically composed music first, then added lyrics, but John’s work had varied sentence lengths, which required a new approach. Over time, they found their rhythm. John began adapting his lyrics to fit the music, and Stef tailored the music to complement the words.

However, Stef felt the project needed something more—another musician to enhance the sound. Without hesitation, he thought of Colin, his longtime friend and an exceptional guitarist. Stef and Colin shared an unspoken understanding, so it was natural for Colin to add his guitar work to the tracks.

The collaboration of these three talents—John, Stef, and Colin—proved to be magic. They realized they had created something truly unique, and their project earned a name: Transmission Rails. A new band was born.

Their first track, the rock ballad “Books,” featured none other than legendary drummer Joe Vitale (The Eagles). The second track, “Citizen’s Lament,” showcased former Buckingham Nicks drummer Gary Hodges.

Plans are already underway for collaborations with other guest musicians, hinting at an exciting future for Transmission Rails.