Silverhead -

Silverhead was an English hard-rock band that released the 1972–73 albums Silverhead and 16 and Savaged on Deep Purple‘s namesake label Purple Records. A document of their November 1973 show at London’s Rainbow Theatre appeared on EMI Japan.

Singer Michael Des Barres, known prior as an actor (To Sir, with Love), reappeared in the transatlantic hard-rock super-group Detective. He later replaced Robert Palmer in the 1985–86 touring lineup of The Power Station.

Silverhead bassist Nigel Harrison resurfaced in Ray Manzarek’s Nite City and the 1978–82 lineup of Blondie. He reunited with Des Barres in the 1984 one-off Chequered Past.

Members: Rod Rook Davies (guitar), Michael Des Barres (vocals), Nigel Harrison (bass), Pete Thompson (drums), Steve Forest (guitar, 1971-72), Robbie Blunt (guitar, 1972-74)

Background

Silverhead formed in London around the turn of 1972 with singer Michael Des Barres, bassist Nigel Harrison, drummer Pete Thompson, and guitarists Rod “Rook” Davies and Stevie Forest.

Des Barres attended Repton School and studied acting at Corona Theatre School in west London. At Corona, he joined fellow students in an informal group called the Orange Illusion, which Des Barres later recalled playing only once or twice.

He appeared as Williams, an East End pupil who wears dark sunglasses, in To Sir, with Love, a 1967 school drama starring Sidney Poitier as engineer-turned-teacher Mark Thackeray and Scottish singer Lulu as pupil Barbara “Babs” Pegg.

In 1971, Des Barres portrayed Rose, an androgynous rock star, in the West End production of The Dirtiest Show in Town, a nude satirical musical revue by Tom Eyen that combined sexual material with attacks on the Vietnam War and social conformity. Andrew Lloyd Webber saw Des Barres in the production and encouraged him to form a rock band.

Harrison grew up in Stockport and took up bass after a mail-order company sent him a Vox Clubman bass in place of the six-string guitar he ordered. He moved to London and answered a Melody Maker advertisement placed for the new group, which led to an audition with Des Barres in Leicester Square.

Davies played guitar in the 1967 lineup of Riot Squad, an R&B/mod group with ties to David Bowie. Thompson grew up in Southend-on-Sea and worked European U.S.O. clubs, where he met Davies, who subsequently brought Thompson into Silverhead.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice bankrolled the initial project. Lloyd Webber connected Des Barres with Deep Purple management, while Purple Records signed Silverhead within the following months. Silverhead entered debut sessions with producer Martin Birch.

Silverhead

Silverhead released their self-titled debut album in December 1972 on Purple Records.

A1. “Long Legged Lisa” (3:38)
A2. “Underneath the Light” (5:24)
A3. “Ace Supreme” (2:58)
A4. “Johnny” (6:24)
A5. “In Your Eyes” (6:05)

B1. “Rolling With My Baby” (3:52)
B2. “Wounded Heart” (5:23)
B3. “Sold Me Down the River” (4:26)
B4. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” (5:53)
B5. “Silver Boogie” (0:54)

Producer – Martin Birch

Bass Guitar – Nigel Harrison
Drums, Percussion – Pete Thompson
Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Rod Rook Davies
Guitar, Vocals – Stevie Forest
Vocals – Michael Des Barres

Saxophone – Lyle Jenkins
Trombone – John Mumford
Trumpet – Dave Caswell

Backing Vocals – The Silverettes

16 and Savaged

Silverhead released their second album, 16 and Savaged, in October 1973 on Purple Records.

A1. “Hello New York” (3:18)
A2. “More Than Your Mouth Can Hold” (3:24)
A3. “Only You” (4:13)
A4. “Bright Light” (4:43)

B1. “Heavy Hammer” (3:40)
B2. “Cartoon Princess” (4:11)
B3. “Rock Out Claudette Rock Out” (3:30)
B4. “This Ain’t a Parody” (3:21)
B5. “16 and Savaged” (4:21)

Recorded At – Island Studios
Producer – Alan Harris, Silverhead, Stuart Wicks

Bass – Nigel Harrison
Drums – Pete Thompson
Guitar – Robbie Blunt, Rod Rook Davies
Keyboards – John Bundrick Rabbit
Vocals – Michael Des Barres

Saxophone – Ian McDonald

Photography By – Keith Morris

Discography: