Martin Briley is an English musician, vocalist, and songwriter who first appeared in the pop-psych band Mandrake Paddle Steamer, which issued a single on Parlophone in 1969 and recorded more than an album’s worth of material that was later released on assorted archival discs. Mandrake marked the start of Briley’s partnership with musician Brian Engel. […]
Monsoon were an English-Indian ethno/art-pop band that issued an eponymous EP on self-press Indipop in 1981. A flurry of singles followed on the Mobile Suit Corporation label, a subsidiary of Phonogram, in 1982. Most of the a-sides appeared on the album Third Eye, issued by the sublabel in 1983. Vocalist Sheila Chandra recorded nine solo […]
Morrissey Mullen was the jazz-funk duo of English saxophonist Dick Morrissey and Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen, who began their partnership with the album Up on Embryo Records in 1977, followed by Cape Wrath on Harvest in 1979. Between 1981 and 1983, the pair released three albums on Beggars Banquet, followed by two further titles on […]
Mike Batt (Feb. 6, 1949) is an English composer and arranger from Southampton who conducted a string of instrumental/interpretive recordings with his namesake orchestra for DJM Silverline between 1970 and 1972. In 1973, he masterminded the first of six releases by the costumed studio act The Wombles, a musical vehicle for the namesake children’s television […]
Mandingo was a tribal-funk project comprised of English studio musicians, led by composer/conductor Geoff Love. The project yielded four albums on EMI between 1973 and 1977. Members: Geoff Love Discography: Sacrifice (1974) The Primeval Rhythm of Life (1973) III (1974) Savage Rite (1977)
Midnight Flyer was a British hard-rock/soul band that released a self-titled album on Swan Song in 1981. Scottish vocalist Maggie Bell hailed from rustic/soul-rockers Stone the Crows, which recorded four albums between 1970 and 1972. She also cut two solo albums in 1974/75 and sang backup on the Rod Stewart album Every Picture Tells a […]
May Blitz was an English–Canadian hard-rock trio that released two albums on Vertigo during 1970 and 1971. They were initially a spinoff of Bakerloo. Drummer Tony Newman came from the Jeff Beck Group and later joined Three Man Army and Boxer. Members: Tony Newman (drums), Jamie Black (vocals, guitar), Reid Hudson (bass) Background May Blitz […]
The Drones were an English punk rock band from Manchester that released the 1977 album Further Temptations on Valer Records. Members: M. J. Drone [Michael Howells] (vocals), Pete Howells (drums), Steve “Whispa” Cundall (bass), Gus Gangrene (guitar, 1976-78), Mike Koman (keyboards, 1978) Background The Drones evolved from Rockslide, a glitter-pop band that issued the October […]
McGuinness Flint were an English folk-rock combo that released two albums on Capitol in 1970 and 1971, followed by a second pair of albums on Bronze in 1973/74. The band was formed by namesakes Tom McGuinness (bass) and Hughie Flint (drums), who respectively hailed from Manfred Mann and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. The first two albums […]
Maxine Nightingale (born Nov. 2, 1952) is an English soul-pop singer from Wembley who released three albums on United Artists between 1976 and 1978, followed by albums on Windsong, RCA, and Highrise between 1979 and 1982. Discography: Right Back Where We Started From (1976) Night Life [aka Love Hit Me] (1977) Love Lines (1978) Lead Me […]
Parrish & Gurvitz were an English rock duo comprised of bassist-singer Paul Gurvitz and guitarist-singer Brian Parrish. They released one album on Regal Zonophone in 1971 and recorded a second that later appeared on an archival two-disc set. The pair recorded earlier in The Knack, a mod-beat combo that issued multiple mid-’60s singles. They reunited […]
Majority One was an English pop-rock band that released four singles and a self-titled album in 1971 on Pink Elephant. Members: Barry Graham [aka Barry Wigley] (vocals), Roger France (lead guitar), Rob Long (guitar), Ken Smith (bass), Don Lill (drums) Majority One formed in 1964 as The Mustangs in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. Discography: Majority […]
The Foundations were an English soul-rock band, active from 1967 to 1970. They scored transatlantic hits with the Stax/Motown-influenced singles “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” and “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Members: Alan Warner (guitar, vocals), Tony Gomez (keyboards), Pat Burke (saxophone), Eric Allendale (trombone), Tim Harris (drums), Peter Macbeth (bass, 1967-69), Mike Elliott (saxophone, […]
The Equals were an English soul-rock band, best known for the hits “Viva Bobby Joe,” “Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys,” and the 1968 UK chart-topper “Baby, Come Back.” Guitarist Eddy Grant later found fame as a reggae pop singer. Members: Derv Gordon (vocals), Lincoln Gordon (guitar), Eddy Grant (guitar), Patrick Lloyd (guitar), John Hall (drums) […]
Horse was an English hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on RCA Victor in 1970. The album was reissued, along with six songs from an uncompleted second album, on the 2016 CD For Twisted Minds Only on the Rise Above Relics label. Two members formed the folk-psych combo Saturnalia. Members: Adrian Hawkins (vocals), Rod […]
Headstone were an English hard-rock band that released the album Bad Habits on EMI in 1974, followed by a self-titled release in 1975. Vocalist/guitarist Mark Ashton hailed from the original lineup of Rare Bird, releasing two albums with the band circa 1969/70. He briefly launched a solo career, releasing two solo albums between 1976 and […]
Marshall Hain were the English art-pop duo of keyboardist/songwriter Julian Marshall and vocalist/songwriter Kit Hain, who released the album Free Ride on Harvest in 1978. Marshall later teamed with vocalist Deborah Berg in the jazz-pop duo Eye to Eye while Hain recorded several solo albums and gained industry renown as a songwriter. Members: Julian Marshall […]
Manfred Mann was an English R&B/beat band from London that released a string of singles and two albums on His Master’s Voice during the mid-1960s with original vocalist Paul Jones, followed by three albums with accompanying singles on Fontana between 1966 and 1968 with singer Mike D’Abo. Guitarist/bassist Tom McGuinness later teamed with Bluesbreaker Hughie […]
Marillion are an English art-rock band from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, that released a 24-minute EP on EMI in 1982, followed by four studio albums and two live discs on the label between 1983 and 1988. After the departure of frontman Fish for a solo career, the band added ex-Europeans vocalist Steve Hogarth for a lengthy run […]
Marc Almond (born July 9, 1957) is an English vocalist, songwriter, and arranger from Southport, Merseyside, who rose to fame as one-half of the synthpop duo Soft Cell, which released three albums between 1981 and 1984. While the pair was still active, he released two 1982/83 albums with the goth/cabaret side-project Marc and the Mambas. […]
Mandy More (born Sept. 10, 1945) is an English singer/songwriter from Leeds who released the album But That Is Me on Philips in 1972, plus a trio of singles over the subsequent three-year period. Discography: But That Is Me (1972)
Magnum was an English hard-rock band from Birmingham that released four studio albums and a live disc on Jet Records between 1978 and 1983, followed by four further albums on Polydor between 1985 and 1990. Members: Bob Catley (vocals), Tony Clarkin (guitar), Dave Morgan (bass, 1972-75), Kex Gorin (drums, 1972-83), Colin “Wally” Lowe (bass, 1975-95), […]
Marsupilami was an English post-psych six-piece band that released two albums on Transatlantic Records in 1970 and 1971. Members: Mike Fouracre (drums), Fred Hasson (vocals, harmonica), Leary Hasson (keyboards), Richard Lathan Hicks (bass), Dave Laverock (guitar), Jessica Stanley Clarke (flute, vocals), Pete Bardens (percussion), Mandy Riedelbanch (woodwind), Bob West (vocals) Background Marsupilami emerged in Taunton, […]
Magna Carta were an English folk-rock band that released a self-titled album on Mercury in 1969, followed by nine studio albums and two live discs over the subsequent 19-year period, mostly on Vertigo. Members: Chris Simpson (vocals, guitar), Glen Stuart (vocals, 1969-75, 1977), Lyell Tranter (guitar, vocals, 1969-71), Davey Johnstone (guitar, vocals, 1971-72), Stan Gordon […]
M was the recording moniker of English musician, vocalist, and songwriter Robin Scott (born April 1, 1947), who released three electro/art-pop albums under the name between 1979 and 1982 on Sire. Ten years prior to his M run, he released the folk album Woman From the Warm Grass on Head Records. In 1981, he collaborated […]
The Hat Shoes were a multinational avant-rock super-project assembled in 1990 by English musician Bill Gilonis (The Work) with drummer Charles Hayward (Quiet Sun, This Heat, Camberwell Now), Belgian vocalist Catherine Jauniaux (Aksak Maboul), and American cellist Tom Cora (Curlew, Skeleton Crew, Nimal). The project yielded the album Differently Desperate in 1991 on RecRec, the […]
Hunter Muskett were an English chamber-folk combo that released the album Every Time You Move on Decca in 1970, followed by a Keith Relf-produced eponymous album on Bradleys in 1973. Initially a trio, the band were joined on the second release by bassist Roger Trevitt. Guitarist Doug Morter subsequently played on albums by Richard Digance […]
Hungry Wolf was an English brass-rock/psych studio project that yielded a self-titled album on Philips in 1970. The band consisted of session players and library musicians that concurrently grouped under the monikers Rumplestiltskin and Ugly Custard. Most tracks on the Hungry Wolf album were re-titled/repurposed on the Alan Parker/Alan Hawkshaw KPM Music release Music for […]
Hot Chocolate were an English soul-funk band from London that launched a 16-year string of singles on RAK in 1970. As an album act, the band released nine studio LPs on the label between 1974 and 1987. Members: Patrick Olive (congas, bass), Errol Brown (lead vocals, 1968-86), Larry Ferguson (keyboards, vocals, 1968-86), Tony Wilson (bass, […]
Hi-Tension were an English soul-funk band from London that released a self-titled album on Island in 1978, followed by a string of singles during the ensuing five-year period. Members: Paul McLean (lead guitar, synthesizer, vocals), Patrick McLean (saxophone, vocals), David Joseph (keyboards, lead vocals), Ken Joseph (bass guitar, vocals), Jeffrey Guishard (percussion, lead vocals) Leroy […]
Heron was an English folk-rock band from Maidenhead, Berkshire, that released two albums on Dawn during 1970 and 1971. Guitarist G.T. Moore subsequently led the Reggae Guitars, recording assorted singles and three albums on Charisma between 1974 and 1976. Heron regrouped briefly in 1983 and for a longer span in the late 1990s. Members: Tony […]
Hard Stuff were an English hard-rock trio from London that released two albums on Deep Purple‘s EMI-imprint Purple Records during 1972 and 1973. The band initially cut a single as Bullet and briefly gigged as Daemon; archival releases from both iterations would surface on compact disc during the 2000s. Members: John Du Cann (guitar, vocals), […]
Grapefruit were an English pop-psych band from London that, amid numerous Columbia (EMI) singles, issued the album Around Grapefruit on Stateside in 1968, followed by Deep Water on RCA in 1969. The nameplate was briefly resurrected in 1971 by bassist Alexander Young and Easybeats George Young (his brother) and Harry Vanda for the Deram single […]
Gypsy were an English folk-rock band from Leicester that released two albums on United Artists during 1971 and 1972. The band evolved from pop-psych combo Legay, which issued a single on Fontana in 1968. Drummer David “Moth” Smith later resurfaced in hard-rockers Flicks, which released the album Go For the Effect on Ariola in 1979. […]
The Glove was a side-project of Cure frontman Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees bassist Steven Severin. The idea stemmed from Smith’s dual involvement in Severin’s band at the time. The project generated the 1983 Polydor album Blue Sunshine, accompanied by two singles with non-album b-sides on the Banshees’ Wonderland imprint. They’re backed on […]
Glencoe were an English rustic-rock band that released two albums on Epic during 1972 and 1973. The band featured ex-Skip Bifferty/ARC guitarist John Turnbull, former Greatest Show on Earth bassist Norman Watt-Roy, and Forever More alumni Stuart Francis. Turnbull and Watt-Roy subsequently cut an album as part of Loving Awareness and joined Ian Dury’s Blockheads. […]
Gass were an English jazz-rock/psych band from London that released the album Juju on Polydor in 1970, followed by a standalone single in 1971. The album features then-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green on two tracks. The band had previously recorded three 1965–67 soul-rock singles on Parlophone and CBS as “The Gass.” Their final activity was […]
The Ghost was an English folk-psych band from Birmingham that released the album When You’re Dead – One Second on Gemini in 1970. The prior year, guitarist/singer Paul Eastment recorded one album with psych-rockers Velvett Fogg. Members: Paul Eastment (vocals, guitar), Terry Guy (keyboards, vocals), Charlie Grima (drums), Daniel MacGuire (bass, vocals), Shirley Kent (vocals, […]
Lynsey de Paul (June 11, 1950 — Oct. 1, 2014) was an English pop vocalist and songwriter who released five singles and the album Surprise on MAM Records in 1972/73, followed by two albums on Jet in 1974/75 and a further longplayer on Polydor in 1979. Discography: Surprise (1973) Taste Me … Don’t Waste Me […]
Loose Ends were an English soul-funk trio from London that released four albums on Virgin between 1984 and 1988, followed by a fifth on the label’s 10 Records imprint in 1990. Members: Carl McIntosh (vocals, guitar), Jane Eugene (vocals), Steve Nichol (keyboards) Discography: A Little Spice (1984) So Where Are You? (1985) Zagora (1986) The […]
Locust were an English soul-funk band that released the album Alpha Waves on Buk Records in 1976. Members: Brent Forbes, Chris Parren, John Dillon, Peter Bonas, Phil Spinelli, Ray Allen Discography: Alpha Waves (1976)
Live Wire were an English swamp-rock band from London that released two albums on A&M between 1979 and 1981. Members: Simon Boswell (guitar, vocals, keyboards, 1980-81), Chris Cutler (guitar, 1979), Mike Edwards (vocals, guitar), German Gonzales (drums), Jeremy Meek (bass, vocals) Discography: Pick It Up (1979) No Fright (1980) Changes Mad (1981)
Linx were an English soul-funk band that released two albums on Chrysalis in 1981. Members: David Grant (vocals), Bob Carter (keyboards), Andy Duncan (drums), Canute Edwards [Canute] (guitar), Sketch Martin (bass) Discography: Intuition (1981) Go Ahead (1981)
Lindsay Cooper (March 3, 1951 — Sept. 18, 2013) was an English bassoonist, oboist, and composer who replaced Geoff Leigh as the chief woodwind player in Henry Cow, serving with the band on four studio albums between 1974 and 1978. In the two decades that followed, she released numerous soundtrack recordings and rock operas with […]
Linda Lewis (born Sept. 27, 1950) is an English vocalist who released two albums and five singles with soul-psych combo The Ferris Wheel between 1967 and 1970. As a solo singer, she released three albums on Reprise between 1971 and 1973, followed by two albums on Arista during the mid-1970s and further titles on Ariola […]
Linda Hoyle (born April 13, 1946) is an English jazz-rock/soul singer who sang for Affinity between 1968 and 1970, releasing a popular, eponymous album with the band. After departing the band, she released the album Pieces of Me on Vertigo in 1971. Discography: Pieces of Me (1971)
Light of the World were an English soul-funk band from London that released two albums on Ensign in 1979 and 1980, followed by a third on EMI in 1982. Members: Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick (guitar, vocals), Everton McCalla (drums), Paul “Tubs” Williams (bass, vocals), Neville “Breeze” McKreith (guitar, vocals), Chris Etienne (percussion, vocals), Peter Hinds […]
Life were an English hard-rock band that released the album Life After Death on Polydor in 1974. The prior year, three-fourths of the band cut two singles for Epic under the name Moonstone. Members: Roger Cotton (keyboards, vocals, guitar), Ian Gibbons (keyboards, flute), Richard Thorpe (bass, vocals), Paul Thorpe (drums, vocals) Discography: Life After Death […]
Level 42 were an English jazz-funk band from the Isle of Wight that released seven studio albums and a live double-LP on Polydor between 1981 and 1988. Members: Mark King (vocals, bass, percussion, guitar, keyboards), Mike Lindup (vocals, keyboards, percussion, 1980-94, 2006-present), Phil Gould (drums, vocals, keyboards, 1980-87, 1993-94), Boon Gould (guitar, saxophone, 1980-87), Gary […]
Lesley Duncan (Aug. 12, 1943 — March 12, 2010) was an English singer/songwriter from Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, who released two albums on CBS in 1971/72, followed by a second pair of albums on GM in 1974/75 and a fifth on MCA in 1977. Discography: Sing Children Sing (1971) Earth Mother (1972) Everything Changes (1974) Moon […]
Les Fleur de Lys were an English mod-psych band from Southampton that released a string of singles on Immediate, Polydor, and Atlantic between 1965 and 1969, including one apiece under the alternate names Shyster, Rupert’s People, and The Chocolate Frog. Bassist Gordon Haskell launched a seventies solo career amid brief memberships in King Crimson and […]
Leo Sayer is an English pop singer who released 10 studio albums between 1973 and 1983. Leo was born Gerard Hugh Sayer on May 21, 1948, to an English father and an Irish mother in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. He studied commercial art and graphic design at West Sussex College of Art and Design in Worthing. […]
Lene Lovich — aka Lili Marlene Premilovich (born March 30, 1949) — is an American-born New Wave/art-pop singer who cut several singles with English funk band The Diversions during the mid-1970s. Singed to Stiff as a solo artist, she released three albums and an EP on the label between 1978 and 1982. Stateless Lene Lovich […]
Leisure Process were an English sophisti-pop duo that released four singles on Epic between 1981 and 1983. Members: Gary Barnacle (keyboard, saxophone), Ross Middleton (vocals, guitar, bass) Discography: “Love Cascade” / “The Sun Turns Black” / “The Fluke” (1981) “A Way You’ll Never Be” / “Rachel Dreams” (1982) “Cashflow” / “The Emigre” (1982) “Anxiety” / […]
Samson was an English brass-psych band from Manchester that released the album Are You Samson on small-press Instant in 1969. Members: Les Jones (guitar), Norman Findley (organ), Paul Ford (trumpet), Les Olbinson (bass), Mike Delaney (drums), Ian Kewley (vocals, french horn) Samson were among a handful of acts (The Outer Limits, Twinkle, Copperfield, Gulliver’s Travels) […]
Beau is the performance moniker of John Trevor Midgley, an English singer-songwriter who released the 1969–71 albums Beau and Creation on Dandelion Records. The first of those spawned the European hit “1917 Revolution.” After 38 years of no releases, a compilation of 1972–85 recordings appeared in 2009 on Angel Air Records. A lost album from […]
Legend were an English hard-rock/metal band from St. Helier, Jersey, that released two albums and an EP on self-press Workshop between 1981 and 1982. Members: Mike Lezala (vocals), Peter Haworth (guitar), Marco Morosino (guitar, 1980-82), Eggy Aubert (bass, 1980-82, 2003-present), David Whitley (drums, 1980-84), Neil Haworth (bass, guitar 1982-84, 2011-present) Discography: Legend (1981) Death in […]
Leaf Hound was an English hard-rock band from London that released the album Growers of Mushroom on Decca in 1971. They sprouted from the final lineup of blues-rockers Black Cat Bones. Members: Peter French (vocals), Mick Halls (guitar, 1970-71), Derek Brooks (guitar, 1970-71), Stuart Brooks (bass, 1970-71), Keith George Young (drums, 1970-71), Ron Thomas (bass, […]
Le Mat were an English art-rock/folk band that released the album The Waltz of the Fool on Whaam! Records in 1983. Members: Gary Simpson (vocals), Pete Helmer (guitar), Paul Helmer (bass), Sav (drums), Mark Mifsud Bonnici (violin, keyboards) Discography: The Waltz of the Fool (1983)
Laurie Styvers was an American singer/songwriter who recorded an album with the London-based folk-pop band Justine in 1970. As a solo artist, she released two albums on Chrysalis/Warner between 1971 and 1973. Discography: Spilt Milk (1971) The Colorado Kid (1973)
Latin Quarter were an English sophisti-pop band that released two albums on Arista-subsidiary Rockin’ Horse Records between 1985 and 1987, followed by a pair of discs on RCA in 1989 and 1990. Members: Steve Skaith (vocals, guitar), Mike Jones (backing vocals), Richard Wright (guitar), Yona Dunsford (vocals, keyboards, 1983-90), Carol Douet (vocals, 1983-88), Steve Jeffries […]
Kissing the Pink were an English New Wave/synthpop band that released a standalone single on Virgin-imprint Martyrwell Music Co. in 1981, followed by three albums with accompanying singles on Magnet between 1983 and 1986. Members: Nicholas Whitecross (lead vocals, guitar), Jon Kingsley Hall (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals), Stephen Cusack (drums, percussion, vocals, 1980-88), George Stewart (keyboards, […]
Kingdom Come was an English psychedelic space-rock band that released the 1971–73 Polydor albums Galactic Zoo Dossier, Kingdom Come, and Journey. They spun from the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Singer Arthur Brown appears before the Kingdom Come name in certain media. Late-period keyboardist Victor Peraino later led a US-based Kingdom Come. Members: Arthur Brown […]
King Harry were an English art-rock band from Bridgwater, Somerset, that released the album Divided We Stand on EMI in 1977. Members: Alan Barry (guitar, bass, vocals), John Dickenson (keyboards, vocals), Tino Licinio (guitar, bass, vocals) Discography: Divided We Stand (1977)
Kim Wilde (born Nov. 18, 1960) is an English New Wave/dance-pop singer who released three albums on RAK between 1981 and 1983, followed by six further albums on MCA over the subsequent 11-year period. She is the daughter of late-1950s rock sensation Marty Wilde and the sister of musician, songwriter, and producer Ricky Wilde. Most […]
Kiki Dee — aka Pauline Matthews (born March 6, 1947) — is an English pop-rock vocalist from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who released a slew of singles on Fontana during the mid-1960s, culminating with an album on the label in 1968. After recording her sophomoric longplayer for Tamla Motown in 1970, she released four albums on […]
Kestrel was an English symphonic-rock band that released a self-titled album on Cube Records in 1975. Guitarist Dave Black promptly joined a resurrected Spiders from Mars for an eponymous album in 1976. Members: Dave Black (guitar, vocals), John Cook (guitar, synthesizer), Tom Knowles (vocals), Fenwick Moir (bass), Dave Whitaker (drums, percussion) Inception Kestrel came together […]
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 […]
Kajagoogoo were an English New Wave/synthpop band from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, that released two albums on EMI in 1983 and 1984, followed by a third on Parlophone under the abbreviated name Kaja in 1985. Vocalist Limahl left the band after the first album for a brief solo career. Members: Steve Askew (guitar), Nick Beggs (bass, […]
Lindisfarne was an English folk-rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne that released four albums and a live disc on Charisma between 1970 and 1973, followed by a fifth studio title on Elektra in 1974. After a mid-1970s disbandment where frontman Alan Hull recorded solo and the others formed Jack the Lad, the two parties reconvened […]
Jack the Lad were an English folk-rock band from Newcastle Upon Tyne that released three albums on Charisma during 1974 and 1975, followed by a fourth on United Artists in 1976. The band emerged from the initial breakup of Lindisfarne, retaining four members plus two new recruits. For their 1976 Jackpot tour, the band donned […]
Go West were an English modern-pop/rock combo from London that released three albums on Chrysalis between 1985 and 1992. The band was essentially a duo comprised of musicians Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, who both sang and played multiple instruments. Cox had previously fronted the Earth Band-spinoff Terra Nova. Members: Peter Cox (vocals, guitar, keyboards), […]
Vitamin Z were an English modern-pop trio from Sheffield that released the album Rites of Passage on Mercury in 1985, followed by Sharp Stone Rain on Phonogram in 1989. Vocalist Geoff Barradale appeared on the Alan Parson Project‘s 1987 release Gaudi. Members: Geoff Barradale (vocals), Nick Lockwood (bass, keyboards), David Rhodes (guitar) Discography: Rites of […]
Heaven was an English brass-rock band that played the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight festivals. In 1971, they made the double-album Brass Rock 1, released on CBS in a lavish six-fold sleeve. It features the talents of trombonist David Horler (Michael Gibbs, Garuda, Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass, Kenny Wheeler Big Band) and […]
Zakarrias was the alias of Austrian Robert Haumer, a singer-songwriter based in London. In 1971, he assembled a makeshift band of English musicians for a self-titled album on Deram. The album features appearances from journeyman keyboardist Peter Robinson (Ablution, Brand X, Quatermass, Sun Treader) and future-Henry Cow saxophonist Geoff Leigh. Members: Robert Haumer [Zakarrias] (vocals), […]
Jonesy was an English symphonic/hard-rock band that released three 1972/73 albums on Dawn: No Alternative, Keeping Up…, and Growing. Material for a fourth album, Sudden Prayers Make God Jump, appeared decades later as an archival disc. Members: John Evan-Jones (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Trevor Jones (violin, vocals, bass, keyboards, 1971, 1972-74), Bernard Hagley (saxophone, flute, 1971), […]
The Heavy Metal Kids were an English hard-rock/pop band from London that released a self-titled album on Atlantic in 1974. The following year, the band shortened its name to The Kids for a second Atlantic album, Anvil Chorus. In late 1976, the nameplate was reconstituted for a third album, Kitsch, on RAK. The band’s rhythm […]
Dr. Z was an English post-psych organ trio that released a standalone single on Fontana in 1970, followed by the album Three Parts to My Soul on the Vertigo “swirl” label in 1971. Members: Keith Morris [aka Keith Keyes] (keyboards, vocals), Bob Watkins (drums), Rob Watson (bass) Background Dr. Z was formed in 1969 by […]
Chad & Jeremy were an English pop duo that rose to fame as part of the British Invasion of 1964, scoring hits with “Yesterdays Gone,” “A Summer Song,” and “Willow Weep for Me.” Later in the decade, they embraced folk-psych on the albums Of Cabbages and Kings and The Ark. Members: Chad Stuart, Jeremy Clyde […]
Khan was an English space-rock band that released the album Space Shanty on Deram in 1972. This was the second recorded band with guitarist Steve Hillage and keyboardist Dave Stewart, who interacted earlier in Arzachel. Bassist Nicholas Greenwood released his only solo album, Cold Cuts, the same year as Space Shanty. A subsequent, unrecorded Khan […]
Joy Division was an English mood-rock/goth band from Salford, Greater Manchester, that issued an EP on self-press Enigma in 1978, followed by two albums and assorted singles on Factory Records during 1979 and 1980. Just as the band was breaking through in the U.K., frontman Ian Curtis took his own life on May 18, 1980. […]
