Living Force were a New Zealander Latin-rock band that released a self-titled album on Atlantic in 1977.
Members: Harvey Mann (guitar), Eddie Hansen (guitar), Murray Partridge (guitar), Ivan Thompson (keyboards), John Pepper (keyboards), Gary Clarke (bass), Matt Matepi (bass), Glen Absolum (drums), Mike Fisher (drums), Mona Hollguin (vocals)
The roots of Living Force date back to 1973 when guitarists Eddie Hansen (Ticket) and Harvey Mann (Space Farm) grew disillusioned with their respective bands and began jamming as a duo. An assortment of combinations followed before the pair assembled a five-piece lineup that included another Space Farm alumnus, drummer Glen Absolum.
Living Force were known for their improvisational live shows, where they would extend a single number for upwards of 30 minutes. They released their singular album on Atlantic/WEA (NZ) in 1977. Seven of the nine tracks are band originals, including “Hari Bol,” “Changes,” and “Matter Monster.” The tracks “Sweet Inspiration” and “Baja Sri” (a 7″ a-side) are traditional numbers rearranged by the band. The cover art depicts a lion/human hybrid against a fiery gold background. It was illustrated by one Ivesvara Das.
Amid further lineup changes, Living Force went to San Francisco to begin work on a second album with Santana engineer Glen Kalatkin. The project was abandoned and the whereabouts of those recordings are unknown.
The band morphed into The Spys (aka Spyz) for a pair of singles in 1981. In that configuration, they were the first western rock act to tour China. Hansen also played on early ’80s albums by Wayne Roland Brown and Jagad Guru & Friends.
Discography:
- Living Force (1977)
Sources:
Artist/Album Pages:
Harold Vick (April 3, 1936 — Nov. 13, 1987) was an American post-bop/jazz-funk saxophonist and fl...
Leo's Sunshipp were an American soul-funk band that released the album We Need Each Other on Lyon'...
Manfred Mann's Earth Band was an English symphonic/art-rock band that released a pair of albums on P...
Spice were an American soul group from the Bronx. Members: Richard Brown Jr., Cedric Clemens, Ch...
Jaco Pastorius (Dec. 1, 1951 — Sept. 21, 1987) was an American bassist from Norristown, Penn., who...
Elkie Brooks (born Feb. 25, 1945) is an English soul-pop vocalist who recorded three singles apiec...
Executive Suite were an American soul group from Camden, NJ. Members: Henry Tuten, Billy Tyler,...
Gino Pertot is an Austrian vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who was active during the 1970s. In...
Stars & Stips were a Dutch art-rock band that released the album Nevergreens on Polydor in 197...
Salty Dog were a Zambian rock quartet of the mid-1970s. The band issued two singles and a 1976 self-...
Sassafras were a Welsh hard-rock/boogie band from Caerdydd that released the album Expecting Comp...
Michelle Phillips (born June 4, 1944) is an American singer and actress from Long Beach, Calif. ...