Deep Purple are an English hard-rock band formed in 1967. They emerged at the height of psychedelia and played a key role in the development of heavy metal during the early 1970s. Their most well-known songs include “Hush,” “Smoke On the Water,” and “Woman from Tokyo.” The first Deep Purple lineup released the 1968 albums […]
Led Zeppelin was an English rock band, formed in 1968 and active till 1980. Guitarist Jimmy Page formed the band from the ashes of the Yardbirds. They emerged as standard bearers for a new generation of hard-rock performers, fronting a movement that soon included Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Nazareth, and Budgie. Across the […]
Uriah Heep are an English hard-rock band that released twenty-five albums between 1970 and 2023. They emerged in London’s post-psych boom with the 1970–71 Vertigo albums …Very ‘eavy…Very ‘umble and Salisbury, followed by thirteen studio albums through 1983 on Bronze Records. Guitarist mainstay Mick Box formed Uriah Heep in 1969 with singer David Byron and […]
Spooky Tooth was an English rock band that was active for two separate periods during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band released four albums on Island between 1968 and 1970 before their initial breakup. A reformed lineup of the band released three further albums during 1973 and 1974. Due to numerous changes in […]
Sharks were an English hard-rock band that released the 1973–74 Island albums First Water and Jab It in Yore Eye. Guitarist Chris Spedding formed the band with ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser, who went solo after the first album. Singer Steve Parsons later joined Baker Gurvitz Army and recorded under the moniker Snips. Members: Andy Fraser […]
Detective was an English-American hard-rock band that released the 1977 albums Detective and It Takes One to Know One, both on Led Zeppelin‘s Swan Song label. The band featured former Silverhead vocalist Michael Des Barres, one-time Steppenwolf guitarist Michael Monarch, and ex-Yes/Badger keyboardist Tony Kaye. Members: Michael Des Barres (lead vocals), Michael Monarch (guitar), Bobby […]
Three Man Army was an English hard-rock trio that released the album A Third of a Lifetime on Pegasus in 1971, followed by two self-titled albums on Reprise. They featured guitarist/vocalist Adrian Gurvitz and his bassist brother Paul Gurvitz, the team behind ’60s psych-rockers Gun. The trio first included drummer Mike Kellie (Spooky Tooth, The […]
Tempest was an English hard-rock supergroup on Bronze that released a self-titled album in 1973 with guitarist Allan Holdsworth, followed in 1974 by Living in Fear with Patto–Boxer guitarist Ollie Halsall. Drummer Jon Hiseman directed the band between his time in Colosseum and Colosseum II. Members: Allan Holdsworth (guitar, violin, vocals, 1972-73), Mark Clarke (bass, […]
England was an English rock trio that released a self-titled album in 1976 on the UK custom-press Deroy. Members: Olly Alcock (guitar, lead vocals), Mike Kidson, John Waite, Ben Eggleston (bass, vocals), John Clark, Paul Rossiter (saxophone), Kenny Hopper (drums), Dave Ross (flute, saxophone), Phil Cook (drums) For the band that released the 1977 album […]
Free was an English hard-rock band that released six studio albums and a live set between 1969 and 1973. Their first two albums, Tons of Sobs and Free, appeared in 1969 on Island. They reached their popular peak with the 1970 albums Fire and Water and Highway. After a brief pause where guitarist Paul Kossoff […]
Shanghai was an English hard-rock/blues band that released a self-titled album on Warner Bros. in 1974, followed by Fallen Heroes on Thunderbird in 1976. The second album features veteran rock vocalist Cliff Bennett (The Rebel Rousers, Toe Fat) and ex-Trifle bassist Patrick King, who next appeared in the 1978–80 lineup of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. […]
Boxer was an English hard-rock supergroup that released two albums on Virgin and a third-recorded title on Epic between 1975 and 1979. The band marked the third pairing between vocalist Mike Patto and guitarist Ollie Halsall, who had previously played together in the bands Timebox and Patto. Members: Mike Patto (vocals, keyboards), Ollie Halsall (guitar, […]
Alkatraz were a Welsh funk-rock band of the mid-1970s fronted by ex-Quicksand guitarist Jimmy Davies alongside erstwhile Neutrons members. The band’s singular album, Doing a Moonlight, was released in 1976 on Rockfield Records. Members: Jimmy Davies (vocals, guitar), Stuart Halliday (drums), Jeff Singer (bass), Will Youatt (guitar, vocals) Discography: Doing a Moonlight (1976)
Budgie was a Welsh hard-rock band that released 10 albums between 1971 and 1982 on MCA, A&M, and RCA Victor. The one constant member throughout that time was bassist/vocalist Burke Shelley, who resurrected the nameplate in the 21st century. Members: Burke Shelley (lead vocals, bass), Tony Bourge (guitar, 1967-78), Ray Phillips (drums, 1967-73), Pete Boot […]
Lone Star were a Welsh hard-rock band that issued two albums on CBS/Columbia between 1976 and 1977. Members: Pete Hurley (bass), Tony Smith (guitar, 1975-78), Dixie Lee (drums, 1975-78), Rik Worsnop (keyboards, 1975-78), Paul Chapman (guitar, 1975-78), Kenny Driscoll (vocals, 1975-77, 1979), John Sloman (vocals, 1977-78) Discography: Lone Star (1976) Firing on All Six (1977)
Flying Squad were a Scottish hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on Epic in 1978. Members: Ian Muir (vocals), Alex Calder (guitar), Monty McMonagle (guitar), George Crossan (bass), Jim Kelly (drums) Discography: Flying Squad (1978)
Nazareth are a Scottish hard-rock band from Dunfermline, formed in 1968. The band released a pair of albums on Pegasus/Peg in 1971/72, followed by a sting of albums on Mooncrest and Mountain between 1973 and 1980. A further run of titles appeared on NEMS and Vertigo during the 1980s. Members: Pete Agnew (bass, vocals), Dan […]
Fancy were an English funk-rock band that released the album Wild Thing on WEA-subsidiary Antic in 1974, followed by Turns You On on RCA Victor in 1976. Members: Ray Fenwick (guitar), Helen Court (vocals), Henry Spinetti (drums), Alan Hawkshaw (keyboards), Mo Foster (bass), Les Binks (drums), Annie Cavanagh (vocals) Discography: Wild Thing (1974) Turns You […]
Quartz were an English hard-rock/metal band from Birmingham that released a self-titled album on Jet Records in 1977, followed by Stand Up and Fight on MCA in 1980. The band’s intended third album, recorded circa 1981/82, was ultimately released more than three decades later as Too Hot to Handle. In 1983, the band released Against […]
Blue Goose were an English hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on Anchor in 1975. Members: Eddie Clarke (guitar), Allan Callan (guitar), Nicky Hogarth (keyboard), Chris Perry (drums) Discography: Blue Goose (1975)
Axis Point was an English hard-rock/blues supergroup that released two albums on RCA between 1978 and 1980. The band featured the seasoned talents of guitarist Charlie Whitney (Family, Streetwalkers), bassist Charlie McCracken (Taste, Stud), and keyboardist/singer Eddie Hardin (Hardin & York). McCracken and Hardin first interacted during a 1973–74 reboot of the Spencer Davis Group. […]
Mr. Big were an English hard-rock/art-rock band from Oxford that released a trio of singles on Epic circa 1974/75, followed by the album Sweet Silence on EMI in 1975. In 1976, the band recorded a second album in Los Angeles that was half-released stateside, along with select cuts from the debut, on the Arista album […]
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 […]
Life was 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 […]
Strider was an English hard-rock band from London that released the 1973/74 albums Exposed and Misunderstood on GM. The second features ex-Second Hand singer Rob Elliott and ex-Spontaneous Combustion drummer Tony Brock, who went on to The Babys. Keyboardist Ian Kewley cut two mid-70s albums in rustic rockers Limey and later backed Paul Young. Guitarist […]
Sassafras were a Welsh hard-rock/boogie band from Caerdydd that released the album Expecting Company on Polydor in 1973, followed by two on Chrysalis between 1975 and 1976. The band formed in 1970 and gigged for more than three decades after their brief cluster of recorded activity. One of their concerts from 1978 was issued on […]
The Ian Gillan Band was an English hard-rock/funk group that released the album Child in Time on Polydor in 1976, followed by the 1977 Island releases Clear Air Turbulence and Scarabus. Their namesake frontman, once-and-future Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan, retained the services of keyboardist/co-writer Colin Towns in the followup act Gillan. Members: Ian Gillan […]
Charlie was an English rock band, formed in 1971. After five years on the live circuit, they signed with Polydor and released eight albums, starting with the 1976 release Fantasy Girls. They drew attention with the provocative models that graced the covers of their 1977–79 albums No Second Chance, Lines, and Fight Dirty. Musically, Charlie […]
The Babys were an English rock band that released the 1976–77 Chrysalis albums The Babys and Broken Heart. They moved stateside and changed members for the 1978–80 albums Head First, Union Jacks, and On the Edge. They charted with two songs co-written by American singer Ray Kennedy: “Isn’t It Time” and “Every Time I Think […]
Nutz was an English hard rock band from Liverpool that released the 1974–76 A&M albums Nutz, Nutz Two, and Hard Nutz, followed by the 1977 concert disc Live Cutz. When the New Wave of British Heavy Metal arrived, Nutz reconstituted as Rage for the 1981–83 Carrere albums Out of Control, Nice ‘n’ Dirty, and Run […]
Whitesnake are an English hard-rock band that released seven albums and a live double-LP on UA/Liberty between 1978 and 1984, followed by two albums on EMI International during the late 1980s. The project originated from a namesake solo album by frontman David Coverdale, who previously sung in the mid-1970s lineup of Deep Purple. Members: David […]
UFO are an English hard-rock band from Enfield, Middlesex, that released two albums on Beacon in 1970 and 1971, followed by a live album on Decca. Between 1974 and 1985, the band released 10 studio albums and a live double-LP on Chrysalis. Members: Phil Mogg (vocals), Pete Way (bass, 1969-82, 1988-2010), Mick Bolton (guitar, 1969-72), […]
Foghat was an English hard-rock/blues band that released 12 studio albums and a live disc on Bearsville between 1972 and 1983. Members: Roger Earl (drums), Lonesome Dave Peverett (vocals, guitar, 1971-84, 1993-2000), Rod Price (guitar, 1971-80, 1990-99), Tony Stevens (bass, 1971-75, 1993-2005), Nick Jameson (bass, keyboards, 1975-76, 1982-83), Craig MacGregor (bass, 1975-83, 1984-86, 2005-present), Erik […]
Dog Soldier was an English hard-rock supergroup from Preston, Lancashire, that released a 1975 self-titled album on United Artists. They marked the second team-up between Scottish guitarist–songwriter Miller Anderson and drummer Keef Hartley, both veterans of the Keef Hartley Band. Concurrent to Dog Soldier, the two played in hard-rockers Broken Glass. Bassist Paul Bliss resurfaced […]
Dirty Tricks were an English hard-rock band that released the 1975–77 Polydor albums Dirty Tricks, Night Man, and Hit & Run. Members: Kenny Stewart (vocals), Johnny Fraser-Binnie (guitar, keyboards), Terry Horbury (bass), John Lee (drums), Andy Bierne (drums) Dirty Tricks Dirty Tricks released their self-titled debut album in 1975 on Polydor. It features two songs […]
Strife were an English hard-rock band from Bootle, Merseyside, that released the album Rush on Chrysalis in 1975, followed by Back to Thunder on Gull in 1978. Guitarist John Reid hailed from the late-1960s beat-psych combo The Klubs. Bassist Gordon Rowley became a mainstay of Nightwing during the 1980s. Members: Paul Ellson (drums, 1969-77), Peter […]
Stretch was an English hard-rock band that released the 1975–77 Anchor albums Elastique, You Can’t Beat Your Brain for Entertainment, and Lifeblood, followed by the 1978 Hot Wax release Forget the Past. Prior to their album run, they cut a 1973 single as Legs on Warner Bros. and posed as Fleetwood Mac in a touring […]
The Streetwalkers were an English hard-rock band that evolved from a 1974 namesake album by the erstwhile frontal team of Family: vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John “Charlie” Whitney. The band itself released three albums on Vertigo (U.K.) and Mercury (U.S.) between 1975 and 1977, plus an additional live release that final year on the […]
Tiger were an English hard-rock ensemble of the mid-1970s. Led by veteran session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, the band issued back-to-back albums on EMI in 1976. Members: Big Jim Sullivan (guitar), Nicky Moore (vocals), Les Walker (vocals), Ray Flacke (guitar), Phil Curtis (bass), Billy Rankin (drums), Dave MacRae (keyboards), Bill McGillivray (guitar, keyboards), Alan Park […]
Robin Trower (born March 9, 1945) is an English rock/blues guitarist with a musical career that dates back to the early 1960s. He first rose to prominence as a member of Procol Harum, with whom he played from 1967 to 1971. He made his solo debut with the 1973 release Twice Removed from Yesterday and […]
Crawler were an English/American hard-rock band that evolved out of Back Street Crawler following the death of guitarist Paul Kossoff. Under the truncated nameplate, the band released two albums on Epic between 1977 and 1978. Members: Terry Wilson-Slesser (vocals, bass), Mike Montgomery (keyboards), Tony Braunagel (drums), John “Rabbit” Bundrick (keyboards), Geoff Whitehorn (guitar) Discography: Crawler […]
Broken Glass were an English hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on Capitol in 1975. The band featured Chicken Shack alumni Stan Webb and Robbie Blunt alongside Keef Hartley Band guitarist/songwriter Miller Anderson and drummer/namesake Keef Hartley. Concurrent to this release, the latter pair also recorded a one-off with Dog Soldier. Members: Stan Webb […]
City Boy was an English art-rock sextet from Birmingham that released seven albums on Vertigo between 1976 and 1981. The band was noted for its theatrical stage shows and harmonized, multisectional material. Their first five albums were produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who developed his later-famous surround-sound techniques while working with the band. Members: […]
Trapeze was an English hard-rock band that released three albums on Threshold between 1970 and 1972. After the departure of bassist/singer Glenn Hughes for Deep Purple, guitarist Mel Galley led Trapeze for two albums on Warner in 1974/75 and a final on Aura in 1978. Galley later worked with Cozy Powell and Whitesnake and re-teamed […]
Nobody’s Business were an English hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on Nippon Columbia in 1978. The band featured the seasoned talents of vocalist Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum, Freedom, Snafu), guitarist Joe Jammer (Stealers Wheel, Olympic Runners), and bassist Tony Stevens (Foghat, Rock Follies). Harrison assembled the band after the completion of his 1975 […]
Bandit was an English hard-rock/funk band that released a self-titled album in 1976 on Arista, followed by a second effort in 1978 with a revised lineup on Ariola. Members: Danny McIntosh (guitar, vocals), Graham Broad (drums, 1976-?), Jim Diamond (lead vocals, 1976-?), James Litherland (guitar, 1976-?), Cliff Williams (bass, 1976-77), Tony Lester (bass, vocals, ?-1978), […]
Baker Gurvitz Army was an English hard-rock supergroup that released three albums on Atco/Vertigo between 1974 and 1976. They consisted of brothers Paul and Adrian Gurvitz (Gun, Three Man Army) and former Cream drummer Ginger Baker. Members: Adrian Gurvitz (guitar, vocals), Paul Gurvitz (bass, vocals), Ginger Baker (drums), Pete Lemer (keyboards), Snips (vocals) Background The […]
Bad Company were an English hard-rock supergroup that released six albums on Swan Song between 1974 and 1982, followed by four further albums on Atlantic/Atco between 1986 and 1992. Members: Simon Kirke (drums), Mick Ralphs (guitar, 1973-2000, 2008-present), Paul Rodgers (vocals, keyboards, guitar, 1973-82, 1998-present), Boz Burrell (bass, 1973-86, 1998-99), Brian Howe (vocals, 1986-94), Steve […]
Back Street Crawler was an English/American hard-rock band that released two albums on Atco in 1975 and 1976. The band took its name from a 1973 solo album by ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff, who formed the group with members of Houston rockers Bloontz. After Kossoff’s death in early 1976, the remaining members carried on as […]
Armageddon was an English hard-rock band that released a 1975 self-titled album on A&M. The band featured ex-Yardbirds and Renaissance frontman Keith Relf with former members of Steamhammer and Captain Beyond. Members: Keith Relf (vocals, harmonica), Martin Pugh (guitar), Bobby Caldwell (drums), Louis Cennamo (bass) Armageddon formed in late 1974 when Keith Relf teamed with […]
Paice Ashton Lord was an English hard-rock band that released the album Malice in Wonderland on Oyster/Polydor in 1977. They centered on the super-trinity of vocalist Tony Ashton, organist Jon Lord, and drummer Ian Paice, the latter two of once-and-future Deep Purple fame. The project evolved from the 1974 album First of the Big Bands, […]
Status Quo was an English hard-rock/boogie band from London that initially cut three beat singles as The Spectres circa 1966/67, followed by a fourth as The Traffic Jam in 1967. After settling on the name Status Quo, the band released four albums on Pye between 1968 and 1971, followed by 16 further studio albums on […]
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 […]
Rough Diamond was an English hard-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1977 on Island Records. Singer David Byron formed the band after his dismissal from Uriah Heep. They included guitarist Clem Clempson (Colosseum, Humble Pie) and drummer Geoff Britton (East of Eden, Wings). After Bryon left for a solo career, the others carried […]
The Spiders From Mars were an English hard-rock band formed in 1971 as the backing band for David Bowie. Guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick “Woody” Woodmansey backed the singer on the 1969–70 albums Man of Words, Man of Music and The Man Who Sold the World. With the addition of bassist Trevor Bolder, they […]
Strapps were an English hard-rock band that released three albums on Harvest between 1976 and 1978, followed by a fourth on Eastworld in 1979. The band featured veteran drummer Mick Underwood (Episode Six, Quatermass, Sammy), who subsequently joined Gillan. Members: Ross Stagg (guitar, vocals), Joe Read (bass, vocals), Mick Underwood (drums), Noel Scott (keyboards, 1974-?), […]
