The Attack

The Attack was an English psych-rock combo that issued four singles on Decca in 1967/68. The band distinguished itself as one of the more thunderous purveyors of the freakbeat/pop-psych sounds then in vogue on the UK scene. Sadly, the band’s lineup never stabilized and no proper album materialized during their existence.

Guitarist John Du Cann moonlighted in the 1968 studio project The Five Day Week Straw People and led the 1969 power-trio Andromeda. In 1970, he joined Atomic Rooster and laid rapid-fire leads on the albums Death Walks Behind You and In Hearing Of. He subsequently led Hard Stuff (aka Daemon) on a pair of 1972/73 albums.

Along with Art, Gun, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Attack could be viewed as a formative link in proto-heavy metal.

Members: Richard Shirman (vocals), David John [Davy O’List] (guitar, trumpet, vocals, 1966-67), Alan Whitehead (drums, 1966-67), Gerry Henderson (bass, 1966-67), Bob Hodges (organ, 1966-67), Brian Davison (drums), Barney Barnfield (drums, 1967), Geoff Richardson (guitar, 1967), Kenny Harold (bass, 1967), George Watt (organ, 1967-68), Chris Allen (drums, 1967), John Du Cann (guitar, 1967-68), Plug Davies (drums, 1967-68), Jim Avery (bass, 1967-68), Keith Hodge (drums, 1968), Roger Deane (bass, 1968)

Discography:

• Complete Recordings 1967-68 (1999)

Singles:

• “Try It” b/w “We Dont Know” (Decca, 1967)
• “Hi Ho Silver Lining” b/w “Any More Than I Do” (Decca, 1967)
• “Created By Clive” b/w “Colour of My Mind” (Decca, 1967)
• “Neville Thumbcatch” b/w “Lady Orange Peel” (Decca, 1968)