Locust -

Locust was an English soul-funk sextet that released the 1976 album Alpha Waves and the single “Foxy” on Buk Records. The group joined three original Brand X members with the prior Zac partnership of Brent Forbes and Chris Parren, who also brought experience from the Doris Troy and Hudson-Ford bands.

Members: Phil Spinelli (lead vocals, percussion), Peter Bonas (lead guitar), Brent Forbes (bass), Chris Parren (keyboards), Ray Allen (saxophone, percussion, vocals), John Dillon (drums)

For the American hard-rock band behind the 1976 album Playgue, click here.

Background

Locust formed in 1976 around guitarist Peter Bonas and singer–percussionist Phil Spinelli. With drummer John Dillon, they restored a partnership established in the original Brand X lineup. Island Records contracted that lineup and shelved its February 1975 vocal album; Bonas and Spinelli subsequently left Brand X.

Ex-One bassist Brent Forbes and former Forever Amber keyboardist Chris Parren worked together in the unsigned Zac, then joined the 1974 backing band of London-based American soul singer Doris Troy. Parren also played on the 1973 Hudson-Ford album Nickelodeon and entered the duo’s touring band. Saxophonist–percussionist Ray Allen completed Locust.

Alpha Waves

Locust released their singular album, Alpha Waves, in May 1976 on Buk Records.

Alpha Waves contains eight originals with credits divided between solo and paired compositions apart from the group-written “Cosmic Kangaroo Juice.” Spinelli handles lead vocals and percussion; Allen adds saxophone, percussion, and vocals.

“Stranger” threads harpsichord figures through a wistful drift. “Tribute to Escoriot” bounds through brisk passages. “Say Your Little Piece” sprints through buoyant turns. “Alpha Waves” settles into a soulful sway. “Cosmic Kangaroo Juice” coasts across hazy, spacey figures in an unhurried instrumental span.

A1. “Good People” (5:30) – Allen
A2. “Foxy” (3:59) – Parren
A3. “Strangers” (5:35) – Bonas, Spinelli
A4. “Tribute to Escoriot” (4:30) – Bonas, Spinelli

B1. “Say Your Little Piece” (4:20) – Bonas, Spinelli
B2. “Funky Paranoia” (4:45) – Bonas, Allen
B3. “Alpha Waves” (5:15) – Spinelli, Allen
B4. “Cosmic Kangaroo Juice” (5:40) – Forbes, Parren, Dillon, Bonas, Spinelli, Allen

Locust produced and mixed Alpha Waves under executive producer David Beale. Paul Northfield engineered the album during his 1975–76 Advision period, amid work with Gentle Giant (Free Hand, Interview) and Cado Belle (self-titled).

Alpha Waves appeared in a sleeve photographed by Gerry Rushton, with rear notes by Jim Capaldi, the drummer–singer and co-founder of Traffic.

Buk issued “Foxy” on May 28, 1976 (b/w “Cosmic Kangaroo Juice”; BUK 3006).

Postlude

In 1978, Parren reunited with Bonas in Jim Capaldi’s touring group The Contenders, which Allen also joined alongside Kokomo bassist Alan Spenner and Quantum Jump drummer Trevor Morais. Parren later joined Maggie Bell for a 1981 album with her soul-rock vehicle Midnight Flyer.

Bonas (as Pete Bonus) teamed with early Brand X supervisor Danny Wilding in the duo Wilding/Bonus, which cut the 1978 jazz-rock album Pleasure Signals with members of Automatic Man and the current Brand X iteration. He later joined a post-record lineup of the NWOBHM glam band Girl after their lead guitarist, Phil Collen, joined Def Leppard.

Bonas and Parren cut the 1983 hard rock album Zen Attack with Rosco Gee, Anthony Reebop Kwaku Baah, and ex-Spooky Tooth drummer Bryson Graham.

Discography: