Cream was an English rock trio that was active for 28 months between July 1966 and November 1968. They released three proper albums — Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, and Wheels of Fire — and the leftovers roundup Goodbye. Their most recognized songs include the much-covered “Badge” and the FM evergreens “I Feel Free,” “Sunshine of […]
Fleetwood Mac are an English–American rock band formed in 1967 by drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Peter Green. The first-recorded lineup stabilized with guitarist Jeremy Spencer and bassist John McVie. Green created the band’s name by combining the surnames of Mick (Fleetwood) and John (Mac). This lineup cut three singles and the 1968 albums Peter […]
Free was an English hard-rock band that released six studio albums and a live set between 1969 and 1973 on Island Records. Their first two albums, Tons of Sobs and Free, appeared in 1969 and established their soft/heavy blues-based style. They reached their popular peak with the 1970 albums Fire and Water and Highway. After […]
Colosseum was an English brass-rock band that released the 1969 albums Those Who Are About to Die Salute You (Fontana) and Valentyne Suite (Vertigo). They were led by drummer Jon Hiseman and reedist Dick Heckstall-Smith, fellow travelers in the Graham Bond Organization and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. As an instigator of pop’s shift into maximalism, they […]
The Keef Hartley Band was an English brass-rock ensemble that released five albums and a live disc on Deram between 1969 and 1972. Drummer–bandleader Keef Hartley and frontman–songwriter Miller Anderson later collaborated in Broken Glass and Dog Soldier, releasing one album with each band in 1975. Members: Keef Hartley (drums), Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals), Gary […]
Ten Years After were an English blues-rock band that released five 1967–70 studio albums and a live disc on Deram, followed by four 1971–74 studio albums and a double live on Chrysalis. They are best known for their 1969 Woodstock performance and the 1971 acoustic hit “I’d Love to Change the Word.” In 1973, guitarist–singer […]
John Mayall (1933–2024) was an English guitarist and bandleader who led multiple lineups of the Bluesbreakers. They released four albums between 1966 and 1968 on Decca. The Bluesbreakers served as a launch pad for members of Cream, Fleetwood Mac, Colosseum, and Mark–Almond. Members: John Mayall (vocals, organ, piano, harmonica, guitar), John McVie (bass, 1963-65, 1965-67), […]
Chicken Shack was an English blues-rock band that released four 1968–70 albums on Blue Horizon, followed by two 1972–73 titles on Deram. They emerged amid the British blues boom. Guitarist/singer Stan Webb formed the band, joined early on by bassist Andy Sylvester, drummer Dave Bidwell, and keyboardist Christine Perfect. Their 1968 debut 40 Blue Fingers, […]
The Climax Blues Band was an English rock band that emerged in 1969 with two blues-rock albums on Parlophone. After a three-album stint on Harvest (1970–72), they released six albums on Sire (1973–79) and scored a transatlantic hit with “Couldn’t Get It Right.” In 1980, they moved to Warner and had a second hit with […]
Savoy Brown was an English blues-rock band that released eleven albums on Decca between 1967 and 1974, followed by further titles on London, Town House, and Relix during the subsequent decade. Guitarist Kim Simmonds (1947–2022) was the one constant member throughout numerous lineups. Like John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Savoy Brown served as a launching […]
Humble Pie was an English hard-rock/blues band that released two albums in 1969 on Immediate, followed by six albums and a live double-LP between 1970 and 1975 on A&M. For the length of its run, the band featured ex-Small Faces vocalist/guitarist Steven Marriott, who formed the band with ex-Herd guitarist/singer Peter Frampton, who departed for […]
Foghat is an English hard-rock/blues band that formed in London in 1971 and built its main recording career in the United States after signing with Bearsville. The founding lineup paired singer-guitarist “Lonesome” Dave Peverett, slide guitarist Rod Price, bassist Tony Stevens, and drummer Roger Earl. Across twelve studio albums and one live set between 1972 and […]
Tramline was an English blues-rock band from Middlesbrough that released the 1968–69 albums Somewhere Down the Line and Moves of Vegetable Centuries, both on Island Records. Members: Micky Moody (guitar), John McCoy (vocals, harmonica), Terry Sidgwick (bass, vocals), Terry Popple (drums) Background Tramline formed when guitarist Micky Moody teamed with singer John McCoy after respective […]
Juicy Lucy was an English blues-rock band that released the 1969–70 Vertigo albums Juicy Lucy and Lie Back and Enjoy It. They charted with the revved-up Bo Diddley cover “Who Do You Love?” Amid multiple lineup changes, they cut the 1971 Bronz title Get a Whiff a This and the 1972 Polydor album Pieces. Steel […]
Blodwyn Pig was an English blues-rock band that released the album Ahead Rings Out on Island Records in 1969, followed by Getting to This on Chrysalis in 1970. They were led by guitarist Mick Abrahams, who co-founded Jethro Tull but left after one album. Members: Mick Abrahams (guitar, vocals), Andy Pyle (bass), Ron Berg (drums), […]
Ashkan was an English blues-rock band that released the album In From the Cold on Decca in 1969. Guitarist Bob Weston joined the 1973 incarnation of Fleetwood Mac. Members: Steve Bailey (vocals), Ron Bending (bass, vocals), Terry Sims (drums, percussion), Bob Weston (guitar, vocals, mandolin) Background Ashkan formed in late 1968 when two ex-members of […]
Bakerloo was an English blues-rock trio from the Midlands that released a self-titled album on Harvest in 1969. They broke up immediately afterward and another band (later known as Hannibal) toured the album under their name. Guitarist Clem Clempson joined Colosseum and became a prominent journeyman (Humble Pie, Greenslade, Snafu, Cozy Powell). Bassist Terry Poole […]
Black Cat Bones were an English blues-rock band from London that released the album Barbed Wire Sandwich on Decca in 1970. Their two constants were brothers Stuart Brooks (bass) and Derek Brooks (rhythm guitar), who steered the band through an ever-changing cast of singers, drummers, and lead guitarists. Early members Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke […]
Bacon Fat was an American blues-rock band from California that released two albums in 1970/71 on Blue Horizon. The band was joined on these sessions by veteran harpist George “Harmonica” Smith (1924–1983), whose career stretched back to mid-’50s recordings by Otis Spann and Chuck Berry. In-house harpist Rod “Gingerman” Piazza cut numerous solo albums and […]
