EVER googled your own name? Of course you have, but for psychedelic folk legend Simon Finn, it was the turning point in a career, which first started in the late Sixties.

Then he was “just a child” with dreams of making a career as a musician.

That resulted in the now legendary album, Pass the Distance, released in 1970. But no sooner had he started forging his musical career that he jacked it all in for farm life – in Canada.

But after all those years, Simon is back in the spotlight, and gigging. Next week he will be appearing at Colchester Arts Centre. After an earlier gig there, he decided Colchester was for him and has been living in the town for just over a year.

Talking of his early rise to fame, Simon said: “I was lucky. Within three months I had a gig opening for Al Stewart at the Marquee Club in London.” That was in 1967 and Simon was just 16.

After several years gigging and busking, he decided to emigrate to Canada.

He left the music world behind. In 2003 someone told him about Google. Simon said: “I put my name in and was astonished to find not only my record, but someone had reviewed it six months previously.”

Pass the Distance, released in 1970, had become a cult classic.

Re-released in 2004 and again in 2008 on vinyl, the album has relaunched Simon’s career.

His first performance after a 35-year break was in Canada. Gigs since have included Moscow, New York and Glasgow.

Simon plays at Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, on November 26 at 8pm. Tickets are £6. Call 01206 500900