I Love 2 Rock: Rock Revival • Zaterdag 18 februari 2012 Grenslandhallen (Studio) Hasselt
Wie geregeld de vermaarde Vosterstfeesten in Bree bezoekt, weet dat de organisator Xavier, net als velen onder ons, nog steeds een passie heeft voor de goede muziek uit de jaren zestig / zeventig. Waarom, omdat dit nog steeds muziek is die je zelfs na 100 jaar kunt beluisteren en zeker niet outdated klinkt. Dat konden we niet zeggen van toen wij jong waren want de muziek uit de jaren veertig klonk voor ons al oubollig… wat ook voor een stuk waarheid was. Het was met de komst van The Beatles dat de muziekwereld een harde (positieve) klap kreeg, voeg daar de beginperiode van de Rolling Stones aan toe en je komt uit op bands die de jaren zestig / zeventig mee onveilig maakten. Zo onveilig dat we ons steeds zéér goed in ons vel voelden. Dit kwam natuurlijk door de fantastische muziek maar ook door bepaalde producten waar je harde valuta voor moest betalen om net iets meer in ‘hogere regionen’ van de sixties / seventies sound te geraken.
Op 18 februari, en laat ons maar zeggen als hét antwoord op de The Golden Years, dat nog steeds ieder jaar in December plaatsvindt in het Sportpaleis van Antwerpen, stelt de organisator nu zijn ‘I Love 2 Rock’ show voor aan een groter publiek. Een show die we zeker niet aan ons mogen laten voorbijgaan…
Het programma bestaat uit:
Wie geregeld de vermaarde Vosterstfeesten in Bree bezoekt, weet dat de organisator Xavier, net als velen onder ons, nog steeds een passie heeft voor de goede muziek uit de jaren zestig / zeventig. Waarom, omdat dit nog steeds muziek is die je zelfs na 100 jaar kunt beluisteren en zeker niet outdated klinkt. Dat konden we niet zeggen van toen wij jong waren want de muziek uit de jaren veertig klonk voor ons al oubollig… wat ook voor een stuk waarheid was. Het was met de komst van The Beatles dat de muziekwereld een harde (positieve) klap kreeg, voeg daar de beginperiode van de Rolling Stones aan toe en je komt uit op bands die de jaren zestig / zeventig mee onveilig maakten. Zo onveilig dat we ons steeds zéér goed in ons vel voelden. Dit kwam natuurlijk door de fantastische muziek maar ook door bepaalde producten waar je harde valuta voor moest betalen om net iets meer in ‘hogere regionen’ van de sixties / seventies sound te geraken.
Op 18 februari, en laat ons maar zeggen als hét antwoord op de The Golden Years, dat nog steeds ieder jaar in December plaatsvindt in het Sportpaleis van Antwerpen, stelt de organisator nu zijn ‘I Love 2 Rock’ show voor aan een groter publiek. Een show die we zeker niet aan ons mogen laten voorbijgaan…
Het programma bestaat uit:
- The Fortunes (GB)
- Fischer-Z (GB)
- The Tremeloes (GB)
- The Swinging Blue Jeans (GB)
- The Animals (GB)
- John Coghlan’s Quo (ex-Status Quo drummer)
- The Eyes (NL)
- The Sham (B)
- Clearwater (B)
- Iron Foundation (B)
• THE ANIMALS
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London. Known for their gritty, bluesy sound and deep-voiced frontman Eric Burdon – as exemplified by their number one signature song "The House of the Rising Sun" as well as by hits such as "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "It's My Life" – the band balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm and blues-oriented album material. They became known in the United States as part of the British Invasion.
The Animals underwent numerous personnel changes in the mid-1960s and suffered from poor business management. Under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, they moved to California and achieved commercial success as a psychedelic rock band, before disbanding at the end of the decade. Altogether, the group had ten Top Twenty hits in both the UK and US.
The original lineup had a brief comeback in 1977 and 1983. There have been several partial regroupings of the original era members since then under various names.
Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass).
They were dubbed "animals" because of their wild stage act and the name stuck. The Animals' moderate success in their hometown and a connection with Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964, in time to be grouped with the British Invasion. They performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm and blues repertoire, covering songs by Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone, and others. Signed to Columbia Records' subsidiary of EMI, a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled "Baby Let Me Take You Home") was their first single.
It was followed in June 1964 by the transatlantic number one hit "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon's howling vocals and the dramatic arrangement created arguably the first folk rock hit. Whether the arrangement was inspired by versions by Bob Dylan, folk singer Dave Van Ronk, by blues singer Josh White (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949), or by singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 on Nina at the Village Gate, remains a dispute.
The Animals' two-year chart career, produced by Mickie Most, featured intense, gritty pop music covers such as Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" and the Nina Simone popularized number "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". In contrast, their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" and Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul" as notable examples.
In November 1964, the group was poised to make their American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show and began a short residency performing everyday in theatres across New York City. The group arrived at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport in a motorcade which featured each member of the band riding in the back seat of a Cadillac with a model. The group drove to their hotel with the occasional shriek of girls who had chased them down once they discovered who they were. The Animals sang "I'm Crying" and "House of the Rising Sun" to a packed audience of hysterical girls screaming throughout both performances. In December the MGM movie Get Yourself a College Girl was released with the Animals singing a Chuck Berry song, "Around and Around" headlining with The Dave Clark Five in the movie.
By May 1965 the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left due to personal and musical differences as well as fear of flying on tour; he went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mick Gallagher filled in for him on keyboards for a short time until Dave Rowberry replaced him and was on hand for the hit song "We Gotta Get out of This Place" and "It's My Life". Around that time, an Animals Big Band made a one-time appearance.
Many of The Animals' hits had come from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Most; the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this too restrictive. As 1965 ended, the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom. In early 1966 MGM Records, their American label, collected their hits on The Best of The Animals; it became their best-selling album in the US. In February 1966 Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins; a leftover cover of Goffin-King's "Don't Bring Me Down" was the last hit as The Animals. For the single "See See Rider" they changed the name into Eric Burdon & The Animals. In September they disbanded and Burdon recorded a solo album, called Eric Is Here.
By this time their business affairs "were in a total shambles" according to Chandler (who went on to manage Jimi Hendrix) and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day when artists tended to be financially naïve the Animals made very little money, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Michael Jeffery.
A group with Burdon, Jenkins, and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs (guitar/piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass) were formed under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals (or sometimes Eric Burdon and the New Animals) in December 1966 and changed direction. The hard driving blues was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia as the former heavy drinking Geordie (who later said he could never get used to Newcastle "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation.
Some of this group's hits included "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), and "Sky Pilot". Their sound was much heavier than the original group. Burdon screamed more and louder on live versions of "Paint it Black" and "Hey Gyp". In 1968 they had a more experimental sound on songs like "We Love You Lil" and the 19 minute record "New York 1963 - America 1968". The songs had a style of being silent at the beginning and then becoming psychedelic and raw straight to the end with screaming, strange lyrics and 'scrubbing' instruments.
There were further changes to this lineup: George Bruno (also known as Zoot Money, keyboards) was added in April 1968, and in July 1968 Andy Summers (guitar) - later of The Police - replaced Briggs and McCulloch.
By February 1969 these Animals had dissolved and the singles "Ring of Fire" and "River Deep Mountain High" were internationally released. Burdon joined forces with a Latin group from Long Beach, California, called War.
The original Animals line-up of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler, and Steel reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968 and reformed in late 1975 to record again. Burdon later said, nobody understood why they did this short reunion. They did a mini-tour in 1976 and shot a few videos of their new songs like "Lonely Avenue" and "Please send me someone to Love". They released the album in 1977 aptly called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. The album received critical praise and Burdon and Valentine also recorded some demos at that time, which were, however, never released.
On December 12, 1982, Burdon performed together with Alan Price and a complete line-up. They reunited again in 1983 for the album Ark and a world tour, supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards, Nippy Noya on percussion, Steve Gregory on saxophone and Steve Grant on guitar.
On September 9 they had their first gig in New York with a sold-out audience at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. The following tour included also a Wembley Stadium concert on December 31 which was released on the "Rip it To Shreds" live album in 1984 when they disbanded. The last concert at the Royal Oak Theatre in April 1984 was released on February 27, 2008 as "Last Live Show". They also shot a rare video of the reunion.
The first single "The Night" reached #48 at the US Pop Singles and #34 at the Mainstream Rock Charts. It was also a big hit in Greece. They released a second single called "Love Is For All Time". Their tour included also songs like "Heart Attack", "No More Elmore" (both released a year earlier by Burdon), "Oh Lucky Man" (from the 1973 album by Price), "It's Too Late", " and "Young Girls" (later released on Burdon's compilation, The Night). A film about the reunion tour was shot, but never released.
Chas Chandler died in 1996, putting an end to the full original line-up.
During the 1990s and 2000s there have been several groups calling themselves Animals in part:
In 1993 Hilton Valentine formed the Animals II and was joined by John Steel in 1994 and Dave Rowberry in 1999. Other members of this version of the band include Steve Hutchinson, Steve Dawson and Martin Bland. From 1999 until Valentine's departure in 2001 the band toured as The Animals.
After Valentine left these Animals in 2001, Steel and Rowberry continued on as Animals and Friends with Peter Barton, Jim Rodford and John Williamson. When Rowberry died in 2003, he was replaced by Mickey Gallagher (who had briefly replaced Alan Price in 1965). Animals and Friends is still around and frequently plays gigs on a Color Line ship that travels between Scandinavia and Germany.
In the 1990s Danny McCulloch, from the later-1960s Animals released several albums as The Animals, with a great deal of acceptance. The albums contained covers of some original Animals songs as well as new ones written by McCulloch.
Eric Burdon reformed the Animals with a new backing band in 1998 as Eric Burdon and the New Animals. This was actually just a rename of an existing band he had been touring with in various forms since 1990. Members of this new group included Dean Restum, Dave Meros, Neal Morse and Aynsley Dunbar. Martin Gerschwitz replaced Morse in 1999 and Dunbar was replaced by Bernie Pershey in 2001. In 2003 the band started touring as Eric Burdon and the Animals. After the line-up changed in 2006 original guitarist Hilton Valentine reunited with the group for its 2008 tours. The group also included Red Young, Paula O'Rourke and Tony Braunagle. After Burdon lost the rights to the name, he formed a new band with completely different musicians.
In 2008, an adjudicator determined that original Animals drummer John Steel owned "The Animals" name in England, by virtue of a trademark registration Steel had made in relation to the name. Eric Burdon had objected to the trademark registration, arguing that Burdon personally embodied any goodwill associated with "The Animals" name. Burdon's argument was rejected, in part based on the fact that he had billed himself as "Eric Burdon and The Animals" as early as 1967, thus separating the goodwill associated with his own name from that of the band.
The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Their influence can be heard in artists as varied as The Doors, The White Stripes, Joe Cocker, The Cult, Frijid Pink, The Chocolate Watchband, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Janis Joplin, David Johansen, and Fine Young Cannibals. In 2003, the band's version of "House of the Rising Sun" ranked #122 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Their 1965 hit single "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was ranked #233 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list that was compiled in 2004. Both songs are included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London. Known for their gritty, bluesy sound and deep-voiced frontman Eric Burdon – as exemplified by their number one signature song "The House of the Rising Sun" as well as by hits such as "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "It's My Life" – the band balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm and blues-oriented album material. They became known in the United States as part of the British Invasion.
The Animals underwent numerous personnel changes in the mid-1960s and suffered from poor business management. Under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, they moved to California and achieved commercial success as a psychedelic rock band, before disbanding at the end of the decade. Altogether, the group had ten Top Twenty hits in both the UK and US.
The original lineup had a brief comeback in 1977 and 1983. There have been several partial regroupings of the original era members since then under various names.
Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass).
They were dubbed "animals" because of their wild stage act and the name stuck. The Animals' moderate success in their hometown and a connection with Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964, in time to be grouped with the British Invasion. They performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm and blues repertoire, covering songs by Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone, and others. Signed to Columbia Records' subsidiary of EMI, a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled "Baby Let Me Take You Home") was their first single.
It was followed in June 1964 by the transatlantic number one hit "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon's howling vocals and the dramatic arrangement created arguably the first folk rock hit. Whether the arrangement was inspired by versions by Bob Dylan, folk singer Dave Van Ronk, by blues singer Josh White (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949), or by singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 on Nina at the Village Gate, remains a dispute.
The Animals' two-year chart career, produced by Mickie Most, featured intense, gritty pop music covers such as Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" and the Nina Simone popularized number "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". In contrast, their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" and Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul" as notable examples.
In November 1964, the group was poised to make their American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show and began a short residency performing everyday in theatres across New York City. The group arrived at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport in a motorcade which featured each member of the band riding in the back seat of a Cadillac with a model. The group drove to their hotel with the occasional shriek of girls who had chased them down once they discovered who they were. The Animals sang "I'm Crying" and "House of the Rising Sun" to a packed audience of hysterical girls screaming throughout both performances. In December the MGM movie Get Yourself a College Girl was released with the Animals singing a Chuck Berry song, "Around and Around" headlining with The Dave Clark Five in the movie.
By May 1965 the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left due to personal and musical differences as well as fear of flying on tour; he went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mick Gallagher filled in for him on keyboards for a short time until Dave Rowberry replaced him and was on hand for the hit song "We Gotta Get out of This Place" and "It's My Life". Around that time, an Animals Big Band made a one-time appearance.
Many of The Animals' hits had come from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Most; the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this too restrictive. As 1965 ended, the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom. In early 1966 MGM Records, their American label, collected their hits on The Best of The Animals; it became their best-selling album in the US. In February 1966 Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins; a leftover cover of Goffin-King's "Don't Bring Me Down" was the last hit as The Animals. For the single "See See Rider" they changed the name into Eric Burdon & The Animals. In September they disbanded and Burdon recorded a solo album, called Eric Is Here.
By this time their business affairs "were in a total shambles" according to Chandler (who went on to manage Jimi Hendrix) and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day when artists tended to be financially naïve the Animals made very little money, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Michael Jeffery.
A group with Burdon, Jenkins, and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs (guitar/piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass) were formed under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals (or sometimes Eric Burdon and the New Animals) in December 1966 and changed direction. The hard driving blues was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia as the former heavy drinking Geordie (who later said he could never get used to Newcastle "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation.
Some of this group's hits included "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), and "Sky Pilot". Their sound was much heavier than the original group. Burdon screamed more and louder on live versions of "Paint it Black" and "Hey Gyp". In 1968 they had a more experimental sound on songs like "We Love You Lil" and the 19 minute record "New York 1963 - America 1968". The songs had a style of being silent at the beginning and then becoming psychedelic and raw straight to the end with screaming, strange lyrics and 'scrubbing' instruments.
There were further changes to this lineup: George Bruno (also known as Zoot Money, keyboards) was added in April 1968, and in July 1968 Andy Summers (guitar) - later of The Police - replaced Briggs and McCulloch.
By February 1969 these Animals had dissolved and the singles "Ring of Fire" and "River Deep Mountain High" were internationally released. Burdon joined forces with a Latin group from Long Beach, California, called War.
The original Animals line-up of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler, and Steel reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968 and reformed in late 1975 to record again. Burdon later said, nobody understood why they did this short reunion. They did a mini-tour in 1976 and shot a few videos of their new songs like "Lonely Avenue" and "Please send me someone to Love". They released the album in 1977 aptly called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. The album received critical praise and Burdon and Valentine also recorded some demos at that time, which were, however, never released.
On December 12, 1982, Burdon performed together with Alan Price and a complete line-up. They reunited again in 1983 for the album Ark and a world tour, supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards, Nippy Noya on percussion, Steve Gregory on saxophone and Steve Grant on guitar.
On September 9 they had their first gig in New York with a sold-out audience at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. The following tour included also a Wembley Stadium concert on December 31 which was released on the "Rip it To Shreds" live album in 1984 when they disbanded. The last concert at the Royal Oak Theatre in April 1984 was released on February 27, 2008 as "Last Live Show". They also shot a rare video of the reunion.
The first single "The Night" reached #48 at the US Pop Singles and #34 at the Mainstream Rock Charts. It was also a big hit in Greece. They released a second single called "Love Is For All Time". Their tour included also songs like "Heart Attack", "No More Elmore" (both released a year earlier by Burdon), "Oh Lucky Man" (from the 1973 album by Price), "It's Too Late", " and "Young Girls" (later released on Burdon's compilation, The Night). A film about the reunion tour was shot, but never released.
Chas Chandler died in 1996, putting an end to the full original line-up.
During the 1990s and 2000s there have been several groups calling themselves Animals in part:
In 1993 Hilton Valentine formed the Animals II and was joined by John Steel in 1994 and Dave Rowberry in 1999. Other members of this version of the band include Steve Hutchinson, Steve Dawson and Martin Bland. From 1999 until Valentine's departure in 2001 the band toured as The Animals.
After Valentine left these Animals in 2001, Steel and Rowberry continued on as Animals and Friends with Peter Barton, Jim Rodford and John Williamson. When Rowberry died in 2003, he was replaced by Mickey Gallagher (who had briefly replaced Alan Price in 1965). Animals and Friends is still around and frequently plays gigs on a Color Line ship that travels between Scandinavia and Germany.
In the 1990s Danny McCulloch, from the later-1960s Animals released several albums as The Animals, with a great deal of acceptance. The albums contained covers of some original Animals songs as well as new ones written by McCulloch.
Eric Burdon reformed the Animals with a new backing band in 1998 as Eric Burdon and the New Animals. This was actually just a rename of an existing band he had been touring with in various forms since 1990. Members of this new group included Dean Restum, Dave Meros, Neal Morse and Aynsley Dunbar. Martin Gerschwitz replaced Morse in 1999 and Dunbar was replaced by Bernie Pershey in 2001. In 2003 the band started touring as Eric Burdon and the Animals. After the line-up changed in 2006 original guitarist Hilton Valentine reunited with the group for its 2008 tours. The group also included Red Young, Paula O'Rourke and Tony Braunagle. After Burdon lost the rights to the name, he formed a new band with completely different musicians.
In 2008, an adjudicator determined that original Animals drummer John Steel owned "The Animals" name in England, by virtue of a trademark registration Steel had made in relation to the name. Eric Burdon had objected to the trademark registration, arguing that Burdon personally embodied any goodwill associated with "The Animals" name. Burdon's argument was rejected, in part based on the fact that he had billed himself as "Eric Burdon and The Animals" as early as 1967, thus separating the goodwill associated with his own name from that of the band.
The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Their influence can be heard in artists as varied as The Doors, The White Stripes, Joe Cocker, The Cult, Frijid Pink, The Chocolate Watchband, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Janis Joplin, David Johansen, and Fine Young Cannibals. In 2003, the band's version of "House of the Rising Sun" ranked #122 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Their 1965 hit single "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was ranked #233 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list that was compiled in 2004. Both songs are included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
• THE FORTUNES
Michael Smitham
Born: 29/07/1951 Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Instrument: Guitar
Michael moved with his family from The Midlands to Whitehaven in Cumberland in 1955. Influenced by his brother Barry, with whom he later played in his first band, he soon developed an interest in music, taught himself guitar and was soon playing in local bands. One of these 'Heaven' went on to tour with Black Sabbath. Michael eventually moved south again in 1969 to pursue his musical career and played in lots of bands, a few of which included Paul Hooper & Bob Jackson.
He then turned professional in the early seventies with 'Eyes Of Blue' and served his musical apprenticeship for many years backing the likes of Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, PJ Proby, Percy Sledge, Johnny Tillotson, The Marvelettes, Anne Peebles, The Floaters, The Drifters amongst others, all over the world.
Michael was asked to join The Fortunes in the early 80's and since then has become the longest serving member of the band since it's formation in 1963.
Eddie Mooney
Born: Stoke-on-Trent, 1957
Instrument: Bass Guitar
Eddie started out in the early 70's in the Irish showband circuit as a member of teen pop group "Flame", based in Larne, Northern Ireland. In the mid 70's Eddie came to Manchester, where he formed progressive rock band The Accidents who toured the University circuit. By the late 70's, Eddie fronted new wave /punk act "Eddie Mooney and the Grave", whilst playing bass on several punk hit singles and sharing a record label with a young Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. (appearing on a recent CD and DVD compilations)
Eddie was also an occasional member of glam rock chart act "The Glitter Band". During the early to mid 80's, Eddie released several singles as a member of "Park Avenue", a "new romantic" outfit, that also had limited chart success. Eddie joined the Dakotas in the late 80's, and was lead vocalist and bassist for longer than anyone else in the band's history.
In recent years, he has presented 60's music programmes for BBC Radio in Liverpool and hosting his own 60s and 70s music radio show on Manchester's ALL FM station. In addition to being vocalist and bassist on six of the seven Dakotas albums, Eddie has also been recording solo material for release on the internet. In 2005, Eddie appeared with John Walker as an honorary member of the Walker Brothers for an American music TV documentary and DVD.
Bob Jackson
Born: 6/1 /1949 Coventry, England
Instrument: Keyboards, Vocals and Guitar
Bob's first professional band was Indian Summer. Before he joined The Fortunes, he played and recorded with a variety of other bands, including Badfinger (Come and Get It, etc.), David Byron (Uriah Heep), and many more.
In 1977, Bob formed The Dodgers, a band that also included Fortunes drummer Paul Hooper.
Session 'guestings' have included work with The Searchers, Pete Brown and Moon.
Bob is a talented songwriter, and has had 17 of his songs published, most recently 'Won't Forget You', 1998. This song was released with the biography 'Without You - The Tragic Story of Badfinger' by Dan Matovina (published by Francis Glover Books).
Paul Hooper
Born: 20/8/48, Wolverhampton, England
Instrument: Drums
Paul grew up in the Persian Gulf, and came back to boarding school in England where he learned to play drums at the age of 12.
His first professional band was called Indian Summer, formed with schoolfriend Bob Jackson. They released an album in 1970.
After playing in various bands, in 1977 Paul re-joined Bob Jackson in “The Dodgers” together with fellow members John Wilson and Ex Badfinger bass player Tommy Evans.
In the early 80s, longstanding friend and fellow musician Michael Smitham told Paul that The Fortunes required a drummer. He got the job...
In 1990 he moved from the Midlands to set up home with his partner Barbara on the North East coast of England (where the winds hit heavy on the borderline...)
Michael Smitham
Born: 29/07/1951 Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Instrument: Guitar
Michael moved with his family from The Midlands to Whitehaven in Cumberland in 1955. Influenced by his brother Barry, with whom he later played in his first band, he soon developed an interest in music, taught himself guitar and was soon playing in local bands. One of these 'Heaven' went on to tour with Black Sabbath. Michael eventually moved south again in 1969 to pursue his musical career and played in lots of bands, a few of which included Paul Hooper & Bob Jackson.
He then turned professional in the early seventies with 'Eyes Of Blue' and served his musical apprenticeship for many years backing the likes of Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, PJ Proby, Percy Sledge, Johnny Tillotson, The Marvelettes, Anne Peebles, The Floaters, The Drifters amongst others, all over the world.
Michael was asked to join The Fortunes in the early 80's and since then has become the longest serving member of the band since it's formation in 1963.
Eddie Mooney
Born: Stoke-on-Trent, 1957
Instrument: Bass Guitar
Eddie started out in the early 70's in the Irish showband circuit as a member of teen pop group "Flame", based in Larne, Northern Ireland. In the mid 70's Eddie came to Manchester, where he formed progressive rock band The Accidents who toured the University circuit. By the late 70's, Eddie fronted new wave /punk act "Eddie Mooney and the Grave", whilst playing bass on several punk hit singles and sharing a record label with a young Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. (appearing on a recent CD and DVD compilations)
Eddie was also an occasional member of glam rock chart act "The Glitter Band". During the early to mid 80's, Eddie released several singles as a member of "Park Avenue", a "new romantic" outfit, that also had limited chart success. Eddie joined the Dakotas in the late 80's, and was lead vocalist and bassist for longer than anyone else in the band's history.
In recent years, he has presented 60's music programmes for BBC Radio in Liverpool and hosting his own 60s and 70s music radio show on Manchester's ALL FM station. In addition to being vocalist and bassist on six of the seven Dakotas albums, Eddie has also been recording solo material for release on the internet. In 2005, Eddie appeared with John Walker as an honorary member of the Walker Brothers for an American music TV documentary and DVD.
Bob Jackson
Born: 6/1 /1949 Coventry, England
Instrument: Keyboards, Vocals and Guitar
Bob's first professional band was Indian Summer. Before he joined The Fortunes, he played and recorded with a variety of other bands, including Badfinger (Come and Get It, etc.), David Byron (Uriah Heep), and many more.
In 1977, Bob formed The Dodgers, a band that also included Fortunes drummer Paul Hooper.
Session 'guestings' have included work with The Searchers, Pete Brown and Moon.
Bob is a talented songwriter, and has had 17 of his songs published, most recently 'Won't Forget You', 1998. This song was released with the biography 'Without You - The Tragic Story of Badfinger' by Dan Matovina (published by Francis Glover Books).
Paul Hooper
Born: 20/8/48, Wolverhampton, England
Instrument: Drums
Paul grew up in the Persian Gulf, and came back to boarding school in England where he learned to play drums at the age of 12.
His first professional band was called Indian Summer, formed with schoolfriend Bob Jackson. They released an album in 1970.
After playing in various bands, in 1977 Paul re-joined Bob Jackson in “The Dodgers” together with fellow members John Wilson and Ex Badfinger bass player Tommy Evans.
In the early 80s, longstanding friend and fellow musician Michael Smitham told Paul that The Fortunes required a drummer. He got the job...
In 1990 he moved from the Midlands to set up home with his partner Barbara on the North East coast of England (where the winds hit heavy on the borderline...)
• THE TREMELOES
Als Brian Poole & The Tremeloes scoorden zij in Engeland vanaf 1961 een reeks hits, waarvan ‘Do you love me?’ in 1963 aldaar de eerste plaats van de hitparade bereikte. Nadat het niet meer boterde tussen de leden van de begeleidingsband en hun voorman gingen ze in 1965 elk hun eigen weg. Brian Poole verdween al snel in de anonimiteit. De Tremeloes (Alan Blakely, Len 'Chip' Hawkes, Rick West(wood) en Dave Munden) waren echter regelmatig in de internationale hitparades te vinden.
The Tremeloes begonnen in 1967 aan een half decennium van hits, te beginnen bij het door Cat Stevens geschreven ‘Here comes my baby’. Er volgden meer successen, waarvan ‘Silence is Golden’ (1967) en ‘My Little Lady’ (1968) de grootste waren. De groep kenmerkte zich voornamelijk door pretentieloze uptempo songs, zoals ‘Even the bad times are good’ (1967), ‘Helule Helule’ (1968) en ‘Once on a Sunday morning’ (1969). Het nummer ‘Yellow River’ werd hen aangeboden door componist Jeff Christie, maar brachten ze aanvankelijk niet zelf uit. De band Christie - rond Jeff Christie en de broer van gitarist Alan Blakely - werd speciaal gevormd om het nummer uit te brengen, waarbij de zangpartij van Jeff Christie werd toegevoegd aan de reeds ingespeelde begeleiding van The Tremeloes. Het resulteerde in 1970 in een grote hit. The Tremeloes zongen ook ‘You’ en ‘What Can I Do?’ van Raymond O'Sullivan (die later bekend zou worden als Gilbert O'Sullivan). Begin jaren zeventig probeerden The Tremeloes een iets 'ruiger' imago aan te meten met rockachtige singles als 'Blue Suede Tie'. De laatste hit is ook uit die tijd, maar toch meer 'poppie' 'I Like it That way' (1972). Net als veel andere bands uit de jaren ‘60 en ‘70 zijn ook The Tremeloes steeds op revivaloptredens terug te vinden. Dave Munden is in al die jaren de enige constante factor geweest, hoewel tegenwoordig ook Rick West (die zich weer Rick Westwood noemt) deel uitmaakt van de groep. Chip Hawkes heeft de groep een paar keer verlaten om vervolgens weer terug te keren, maar hij maakt de laatste jaren deel uit van de groep Class of '64 met ex-leden van Smokie en The Rubettes.
Alan Blakely (54) overleed op 10 juni 1996.
Toch nog enkele noemenswaardige songs van The Tremeloes waren ‘Come On Home’, ‘As You Are’, ‘Call Me Number One’ uit hun ‘What State I’m In’-langspeler. De meeste diehardfans vinden dit laatste nummer hun allerbeste alhoewel ik dit tegenspreek. Maar ook niet te versmaden zijn hun versies van ‘Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles) en Dylans ‘I Shall Be Released’. Nog enkeel prachtige songs zijn ‘By The Way’ en ‘Hello World’. Hopelijk zal Dave en zijn kompanen de sixties spirit weer voor de geest halen.
Als Brian Poole & The Tremeloes scoorden zij in Engeland vanaf 1961 een reeks hits, waarvan ‘Do you love me?’ in 1963 aldaar de eerste plaats van de hitparade bereikte. Nadat het niet meer boterde tussen de leden van de begeleidingsband en hun voorman gingen ze in 1965 elk hun eigen weg. Brian Poole verdween al snel in de anonimiteit. De Tremeloes (Alan Blakely, Len 'Chip' Hawkes, Rick West(wood) en Dave Munden) waren echter regelmatig in de internationale hitparades te vinden.
The Tremeloes begonnen in 1967 aan een half decennium van hits, te beginnen bij het door Cat Stevens geschreven ‘Here comes my baby’. Er volgden meer successen, waarvan ‘Silence is Golden’ (1967) en ‘My Little Lady’ (1968) de grootste waren. De groep kenmerkte zich voornamelijk door pretentieloze uptempo songs, zoals ‘Even the bad times are good’ (1967), ‘Helule Helule’ (1968) en ‘Once on a Sunday morning’ (1969). Het nummer ‘Yellow River’ werd hen aangeboden door componist Jeff Christie, maar brachten ze aanvankelijk niet zelf uit. De band Christie - rond Jeff Christie en de broer van gitarist Alan Blakely - werd speciaal gevormd om het nummer uit te brengen, waarbij de zangpartij van Jeff Christie werd toegevoegd aan de reeds ingespeelde begeleiding van The Tremeloes. Het resulteerde in 1970 in een grote hit. The Tremeloes zongen ook ‘You’ en ‘What Can I Do?’ van Raymond O'Sullivan (die later bekend zou worden als Gilbert O'Sullivan). Begin jaren zeventig probeerden The Tremeloes een iets 'ruiger' imago aan te meten met rockachtige singles als 'Blue Suede Tie'. De laatste hit is ook uit die tijd, maar toch meer 'poppie' 'I Like it That way' (1972). Net als veel andere bands uit de jaren ‘60 en ‘70 zijn ook The Tremeloes steeds op revivaloptredens terug te vinden. Dave Munden is in al die jaren de enige constante factor geweest, hoewel tegenwoordig ook Rick West (die zich weer Rick Westwood noemt) deel uitmaakt van de groep. Chip Hawkes heeft de groep een paar keer verlaten om vervolgens weer terug te keren, maar hij maakt de laatste jaren deel uit van de groep Class of '64 met ex-leden van Smokie en The Rubettes.
Alan Blakely (54) overleed op 10 juni 1996.
Toch nog enkele noemenswaardige songs van The Tremeloes waren ‘Come On Home’, ‘As You Are’, ‘Call Me Number One’ uit hun ‘What State I’m In’-langspeler. De meeste diehardfans vinden dit laatste nummer hun allerbeste alhoewel ik dit tegenspreek. Maar ook niet te versmaden zijn hun versies van ‘Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles) en Dylans ‘I Shall Be Released’. Nog enkeel prachtige songs zijn ‘By The Way’ en ‘Hello World’. Hopelijk zal Dave en zijn kompanen de sixties spirit weer voor de geest halen.
• THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS
The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the group's most enduring achievement. But subsequent singles released that year and the next made no impression. In 1966 their version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Don't Make Me Over" peaked at #31 in the UK Singles Chart, but the group never charted again.
The group was founded by Ray Ennis and Les Braid in 1957, as a jazz influenced skiffle sextet group, called the Blue Genes. The skiffle group line-up included Bruce McCaskill on guitar and vocals, Tommy Hughes on banjo, Norman Kuhlke on washboard, and Spud Ward on oil drum bass. Ralph Ellis later joined on guitar, and Ward moved to Rory Storm's band, and eventually Les Braid took over the bassist spot. Hughes and McCaskill left, the former for the army and the latter over personal disagreements, replaced by Johnny Carter and Paul Moss, respectively. By 1962, they were working full-time and playing skiffle at venues in Liverpool and at the Star Club in Hamburg. However the German audiences booed them off the stage, and the group rapidly changed direction and focus.
They switched to rock and roll, and with a name change to reflect their attire, to the Swinging Blue Jeans. This earned them a recording contract with HMV with record producer, Walter Ridley. With the departure of banjo player Paul Moss soon after, they were left as a quartet comprising Ray Ennis (rhythm guitar, vocals), Les Braid (bass, keyboards), Ralph Ellis (lead guitar), and Norman Kuhlke (drums). Nevertheless, they made their recording debut as a quintet, with an Ennis penned original, "It's Too Late Now," which made the UK Top 40.
The Swinging Blue Jeans performed on many popular TV shows in the United Kingdom and Europe, appearing with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, and The Merseybeats. The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard Shadows line-up of two guitars, a bass guitar and drums and achieved local fame with their appearances at the Cavern Club. They had a three year spell of success, rising and falling with Merseybeat itself.
An album Hippy Hippy Shake was released in 1964 by EMI on their HMV label. In Canada it was issued by Capitol Records (T6069), and in the US on Imperial Records (LP-9261). A second album, Blue Jeans a' Swinging was also released.
Ralph Ellis who, with Ray Ennis was one of the two songwriters in the group, left in early 1966, and was succeeded by Terry Sylvester from The Escorts. Finding themselves trying to keep up with the rapidly changing times, the band recorded a second album at Abbey Road during early 1966 which was ultimately left on the shelf though given a very limited release in Canada. The band drifted into a more polite middle of the road direction which failed to bring them any success. In 1967, the band's producer Wally J. Ridley decided to try and transform Ray Ennis into a solo star, cutting the disc "Tremblin'" with session musicians and vocal back up by Madeline Bell and Kiki Dee, but it was ultimately released under the bands name. June 1968 saw a one off disc credited to "Ray Ennis and The Blue Jeans" but this failed to bring any change in fortune and Terry Sylvester left at the end of 1968 to replace Graham Nash in The Hollies. neither did "Hey Mrs Housewife" credited to The Blue Jeans in April 1969 after which they were dropped by EMI. The band then changed their name to Music Motor for a one off single on Deram, "Happy b/w Where Am I Going" after which they reverted back to The Swinging Blue Jeans name and the band eventually retired to the cabaret circuit.
The Swinging Blue Jeans, continued with Ray Ennis and Les Braid until Braid's death in 2006, leaving Ennis as the sole original member. In early 2010, after 53 years as an active member, Ray Ennis announced he would retire after the bands next tour which is due to end back where it all began, in Liverpool on May 30th 2010.
The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the group's most enduring achievement. But subsequent singles released that year and the next made no impression. In 1966 their version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Don't Make Me Over" peaked at #31 in the UK Singles Chart, but the group never charted again.
The group was founded by Ray Ennis and Les Braid in 1957, as a jazz influenced skiffle sextet group, called the Blue Genes. The skiffle group line-up included Bruce McCaskill on guitar and vocals, Tommy Hughes on banjo, Norman Kuhlke on washboard, and Spud Ward on oil drum bass. Ralph Ellis later joined on guitar, and Ward moved to Rory Storm's band, and eventually Les Braid took over the bassist spot. Hughes and McCaskill left, the former for the army and the latter over personal disagreements, replaced by Johnny Carter and Paul Moss, respectively. By 1962, they were working full-time and playing skiffle at venues in Liverpool and at the Star Club in Hamburg. However the German audiences booed them off the stage, and the group rapidly changed direction and focus.
They switched to rock and roll, and with a name change to reflect their attire, to the Swinging Blue Jeans. This earned them a recording contract with HMV with record producer, Walter Ridley. With the departure of banjo player Paul Moss soon after, they were left as a quartet comprising Ray Ennis (rhythm guitar, vocals), Les Braid (bass, keyboards), Ralph Ellis (lead guitar), and Norman Kuhlke (drums). Nevertheless, they made their recording debut as a quintet, with an Ennis penned original, "It's Too Late Now," which made the UK Top 40.
The Swinging Blue Jeans performed on many popular TV shows in the United Kingdom and Europe, appearing with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, and The Merseybeats. The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard Shadows line-up of two guitars, a bass guitar and drums and achieved local fame with their appearances at the Cavern Club. They had a three year spell of success, rising and falling with Merseybeat itself.
An album Hippy Hippy Shake was released in 1964 by EMI on their HMV label. In Canada it was issued by Capitol Records (T6069), and in the US on Imperial Records (LP-9261). A second album, Blue Jeans a' Swinging was also released.
Ralph Ellis who, with Ray Ennis was one of the two songwriters in the group, left in early 1966, and was succeeded by Terry Sylvester from The Escorts. Finding themselves trying to keep up with the rapidly changing times, the band recorded a second album at Abbey Road during early 1966 which was ultimately left on the shelf though given a very limited release in Canada. The band drifted into a more polite middle of the road direction which failed to bring them any success. In 1967, the band's producer Wally J. Ridley decided to try and transform Ray Ennis into a solo star, cutting the disc "Tremblin'" with session musicians and vocal back up by Madeline Bell and Kiki Dee, but it was ultimately released under the bands name. June 1968 saw a one off disc credited to "Ray Ennis and The Blue Jeans" but this failed to bring any change in fortune and Terry Sylvester left at the end of 1968 to replace Graham Nash in The Hollies. neither did "Hey Mrs Housewife" credited to The Blue Jeans in April 1969 after which they were dropped by EMI. The band then changed their name to Music Motor for a one off single on Deram, "Happy b/w Where Am I Going" after which they reverted back to The Swinging Blue Jeans name and the band eventually retired to the cabaret circuit.
The Swinging Blue Jeans, continued with Ray Ennis and Les Braid until Braid's death in 2006, leaving Ennis as the sole original member. In early 2010, after 53 years as an active member, Ray Ennis announced he would retire after the bands next tour which is due to end back where it all began, in Liverpool on May 30th 2010.
• FISCHER-Z
Fronted by the enigmatic John Watts (vocals/guitar), Fischer-Z leaped onto the music scene in 1979 with their quirky debut album, Word Salad. This quartet (also featuring Steve Skolnick on keyboards, Steve Liddle on drums and David Graham on bass) played a rough-and-tumble form of new wave that was equal parts Roxy Music and Talking Heads with art-pop and prog-rock leanings. Watts' vocals were extremely distinctive, veering from a low baritone to a higher register that was not unlike Pete Townsend on helium. Although this schizophrenic debut didn't set the charts on fire, they did score a few minor hits with "The Worker" and "First Impressions (Pretty Paracetamol)" (a tamer re-recording of the album's opening track). Their second album, 1980's Going Deaf for a Living, was a far more cohesive effort, less prog-rock and more melodic than their debut.
It even contained a bona-fide hit in "So Long" which even drifted over to the U.S. and garnered impressive radio play. By the time Red Skies Over Paradise was released in 1981, Skolnick was gone and Watts' musical vision was more direct and less arty than before. Although European sales for this album were FZ's strongest yet, it was passed up for release in the U.S. (as has been the case with all of the subsequent FZ albums). Realising that his musical vision belonged to him and only him, Watts chose to end FZ on a high note and continue as a solo artist. Watts released One More Twist in 1982 then the slickly produced The Iceberg Model the following year, neither living up to the huge sales of the last FZ album. After EMI let him slip away, Watts formed the Cry (with Graham back on board) and released an album on Arista before quietly slipping out of sight.
Reforming Fischer-Z in 1987 (with Watts being the only original member, although Skolnick makes a cameo), FZ hit big in Europe and Australia with the single "The Perfect Day" and the album Reveal. Though the album sounded nothing like the Fischer-Z of old, Watts took his finely tuned talents and presented them to a much wider audience. Fish's Head (1989) was more of the same, albeit a bit heavier. With yet another line-up change, Watts and FZ released the absolutely stunning Destination Paradise in 1992, their best effort yet. This touching and beautiful album featured more acoustic guitars than ever before and focused on Watts' songwriting skills and passionate, earthy vocals (which had dropped an octave or so since their debut).
Trying to capitalise on the success of Destination Paradise, FZ quickly issued the rougher Kamikaze Shirt in 1993, mixing their softer side with an edge (and, in some cases, a dance beat). Two years later, FZ issued Stream, a close second to Destination Paradise as FZ's finest. Realizing he was at another crossroad, Watts laid FZ to rest again and began pursuing his solo career in earnest. His first solo album under his 'new' monicker, JM Watts, 1997's Thirteen Stories High, continued where Stream left off. With a new solo album due in late 1998 or early 1999, it's unclear whether FZ are gone for good or just on sabbatical. No matter what Watts does, FZ's spirit lives on in his music.
Fronted by the enigmatic John Watts (vocals/guitar), Fischer-Z leaped onto the music scene in 1979 with their quirky debut album, Word Salad. This quartet (also featuring Steve Skolnick on keyboards, Steve Liddle on drums and David Graham on bass) played a rough-and-tumble form of new wave that was equal parts Roxy Music and Talking Heads with art-pop and prog-rock leanings. Watts' vocals were extremely distinctive, veering from a low baritone to a higher register that was not unlike Pete Townsend on helium. Although this schizophrenic debut didn't set the charts on fire, they did score a few minor hits with "The Worker" and "First Impressions (Pretty Paracetamol)" (a tamer re-recording of the album's opening track). Their second album, 1980's Going Deaf for a Living, was a far more cohesive effort, less prog-rock and more melodic than their debut.
It even contained a bona-fide hit in "So Long" which even drifted over to the U.S. and garnered impressive radio play. By the time Red Skies Over Paradise was released in 1981, Skolnick was gone and Watts' musical vision was more direct and less arty than before. Although European sales for this album were FZ's strongest yet, it was passed up for release in the U.S. (as has been the case with all of the subsequent FZ albums). Realising that his musical vision belonged to him and only him, Watts chose to end FZ on a high note and continue as a solo artist. Watts released One More Twist in 1982 then the slickly produced The Iceberg Model the following year, neither living up to the huge sales of the last FZ album. After EMI let him slip away, Watts formed the Cry (with Graham back on board) and released an album on Arista before quietly slipping out of sight.
Reforming Fischer-Z in 1987 (with Watts being the only original member, although Skolnick makes a cameo), FZ hit big in Europe and Australia with the single "The Perfect Day" and the album Reveal. Though the album sounded nothing like the Fischer-Z of old, Watts took his finely tuned talents and presented them to a much wider audience. Fish's Head (1989) was more of the same, albeit a bit heavier. With yet another line-up change, Watts and FZ released the absolutely stunning Destination Paradise in 1992, their best effort yet. This touching and beautiful album featured more acoustic guitars than ever before and focused on Watts' songwriting skills and passionate, earthy vocals (which had dropped an octave or so since their debut).
Trying to capitalise on the success of Destination Paradise, FZ quickly issued the rougher Kamikaze Shirt in 1993, mixing their softer side with an edge (and, in some cases, a dance beat). Two years later, FZ issued Stream, a close second to Destination Paradise as FZ's finest. Realizing he was at another crossroad, Watts laid FZ to rest again and began pursuing his solo career in earnest. His first solo album under his 'new' monicker, JM Watts, 1997's Thirteen Stories High, continued where Stream left off. With a new solo album due in late 1998 or early 1999, it's unclear whether FZ are gone for good or just on sabbatical. No matter what Watts does, FZ's spirit lives on in his music.
• JOHN COCHLAN’S QUO
For many years, John was the bedrock of the British Rock group Status Quo. Playing on drums from the beginning through to 1981. Literally touring and rocking all over the world. Since then he's played in many bands and still appears on the touring circuit today throughout the UK and Europe.
John Coghlan joined Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in their newly-formed band in 1962 and the group went through a series of names, including Traffic Jam, before meeting up with Rick Parfitt and becoming Status Quo in the late 60s. A long string of hit records, successful worldwide tours and television appearance followed for the next 20 years: the hits included Pictures of Matchstick Men; Down Down; Caroline; Rain; Rockin' All Over the World, and many more.
When John Coghlan left Status Quo in the latter months of 1981 - during rehearsals of new material for the band's 20th Anniversary album in Switzerland, he decided to turn his attention to his own band Diesel. Coghlan had continued to revive his band, on a part time basis since his first performance as John Coghlan's Diesel Band, with a group of friends at the Marquee Club in London back in 1977. The line up for this debut show had consisted of Coghlan on Drums, with Bob Young on harmonica and backing vocals, Andy Bown playing bass, Gordon Edwards (ex-Pretty Things) on keyboards, guitarists John Fiddler (ex-Medicine Head) and Micky Moody (then with Whitesnake), and vocalist and all-round front man Jackie Lynton. The show was a great success, with the band actually playing for some three hours - although they had actually only prepared and rehearsed a 90 minute set!
By 1983, having left Status Quo, John decided it was time to put together a new band as a full-time project. The name chosen for this venture was Stranger - a four-piece band whose line up featured a fine selection of respected musicians, comprising; John Coghlan on drums, guitarist Ray Majors (ex-Mott and British Lions), bass player Ian Ellis (ex-Savoy Brown and Steamhammer), and keyboard player Jeff Banister. The band's potential was obvious from the start and they began their career on a positive note, writing and rehearsing their own original material.
Later on in the year John Coghlan teamed up with a trio of other well-known musicians in what was described as a 'side-line' project, called Rockers. The four man line up boasted Coghlan on drums, Phil Lynott (the late great front man from Thin Lizzy) on bass, guitar and vocals, Chas Hodges (from Chas 'n' Dave) on keyboards and Roy Wood (ex Wizzard, ELO and The Move) on guitar and just about everything else - including vocals. This all-star band negotiated a record deal with CBS for the release of a single comprising a medley of rock 'n' roll classic songs - where the individual segments of each number were edited together and coupled with a Roy Wood original composition entitled 'We Are The Boys (Who Make All The Noise)'. The completed medley was issued as either a seven inch or extended twelve inch single under the umbrella title of Wood's own 'We Are The Boys....' title in late November of 1983.
Coghlan's next musical project saw him once again working with guitarist Ray Majors, (who had previously worked with The Kinks and Mott the Hoople amongst other bands); Coghlan and Majors were introduced to three musicians with a view to the formation of a completely new line up. With the addition of a change of name to Partners In Crime (inspired by an Agatha Christie novel), the band began working on demo material in the early months of 1994. In addition to both John Coghlan and Ray Majors the line of the new band comprised; Mac McCaffrey on bass, Mark De Vanchque (aka Mark Booty - formerly with a band called Wildlife) on keyboards and vocalist Noel McCalla (ex-Moon and Jody Street).
The first Partners In Crime release was a single issued in October 1984 entitled 'Hold On', written by Trevor Rabin and previously recorded by 'Yes' on their 1983 album '90125'. Shortly after the release of this single the band played their first ever live show, at the Marquee Club in London on November 13th. The material included in this live set was a showcase for the tracks which would appear on their debut album. The band actually performed nine of the ten songs from the forthcoming album - playing one song called 'Gypsy Tricks' twice (the second time as an encore). Only one song which the 'Partners' performed on the night would remain unreleased throughout their career - '(Don't Let It) Slip Slide Away'.
The Partners In Crime album 'Organised Crime' was finally released in May 1985 and received favourable reviews throughout the music media, who basically hailed the band as a new AOR sensation. However, despite this increasing popularity the record company never seemed to provide the band with the support they clearly deserved - with the result that their album suffered a similar fate to the three singles that had preceded it. Although sales had steadily increased with each new record release, sadly none were destined to reach the charts. No doubt this lack of success was ultimately a major factor in the untimely demise of the band, some months after the release of the 'Organised Crime' album.
Coghlan continued to tour regularly with Diesel - featuring an ever-changing line up of musicians, throughout the next three years. Playing mainly pub and club venues the band enjoyed great success as a live band, never failing to satisfy their audiences with a mixture of hard rocking blues based material. Some of the most notable musicians to have passed through the Diesel band during this three year period included; Charlie McCracken (ex-Rory Gallagher), Dave Lloyd (ex-Nutz and Rage), and guitarists Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody and Ray Minhinnett (the two latter men having also worked with Bob Young on various projects for many years).
The following month of August saw John Coghlan re-emerge with a new Diesel Band line up, whom it was rumoured had negotiated a record deal with a small UK label for the release of the band's first ever single. The track was entitled 'Licensed To Rock' and was scheduled for release during September of 1988. The line up of the band that would feature on the record was Coghlan on drums, John Verity on guitar and vocals, Jeff Brown on bass and guitarist Ray Minhinnett.
Having completed the tour dates with Diesel, John Coghlan decided to put the band on hold once again to enable him to fly to Australia where he would once again work with Alan Lancaster. Lancaster - who had recently departed the successful band Party Boys, had invited Coghlan to join a new band he was putting together with Australian guitarist John Brewster, called the Bombers. John worked happily with The Bombers for a year, but was glad to get back to the UK in 1990.
After Australia, in the early 90s, the Diesel line up once again included former Status Quo road manager and songwriter Bob Young. Together with Coghlan the band also featured vocalist Phil May (ex-Pretty Things), guitarist Ray Minhinnett, Chris Stewart (ex-Frankie Miller and Joe Cocker) on bass, and keyboard player Hilly Briggs. The band toured regularly and performed a varied selection of material which included both cover versions as well as several original compositions, written by the band members themselves. On a typical night their live show would include such covers as; 'Big Boss Man', 'Steamy Windows', 'Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor Doctor)', accompanied by self penned tracks including; 'Turn Me Loose', 'Ain't Got No Money' and 'One Way To Roll'.
John Coghlan started working with his own band, John Coghlan's Quo, during the late 1990s. The band has since toured Europe and the UK successfully for several years with various line-ups, which include Paul Carr, Mike Grady, Jon Bowers and a variety of bass players - the band performs all the Status Quo hits and favourites from the Coghlan years: 1962 - 1982.
For many years, John was the bedrock of the British Rock group Status Quo. Playing on drums from the beginning through to 1981. Literally touring and rocking all over the world. Since then he's played in many bands and still appears on the touring circuit today throughout the UK and Europe.
John Coghlan joined Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in their newly-formed band in 1962 and the group went through a series of names, including Traffic Jam, before meeting up with Rick Parfitt and becoming Status Quo in the late 60s. A long string of hit records, successful worldwide tours and television appearance followed for the next 20 years: the hits included Pictures of Matchstick Men; Down Down; Caroline; Rain; Rockin' All Over the World, and many more.
When John Coghlan left Status Quo in the latter months of 1981 - during rehearsals of new material for the band's 20th Anniversary album in Switzerland, he decided to turn his attention to his own band Diesel. Coghlan had continued to revive his band, on a part time basis since his first performance as John Coghlan's Diesel Band, with a group of friends at the Marquee Club in London back in 1977. The line up for this debut show had consisted of Coghlan on Drums, with Bob Young on harmonica and backing vocals, Andy Bown playing bass, Gordon Edwards (ex-Pretty Things) on keyboards, guitarists John Fiddler (ex-Medicine Head) and Micky Moody (then with Whitesnake), and vocalist and all-round front man Jackie Lynton. The show was a great success, with the band actually playing for some three hours - although they had actually only prepared and rehearsed a 90 minute set!
By 1983, having left Status Quo, John decided it was time to put together a new band as a full-time project. The name chosen for this venture was Stranger - a four-piece band whose line up featured a fine selection of respected musicians, comprising; John Coghlan on drums, guitarist Ray Majors (ex-Mott and British Lions), bass player Ian Ellis (ex-Savoy Brown and Steamhammer), and keyboard player Jeff Banister. The band's potential was obvious from the start and they began their career on a positive note, writing and rehearsing their own original material.
Later on in the year John Coghlan teamed up with a trio of other well-known musicians in what was described as a 'side-line' project, called Rockers. The four man line up boasted Coghlan on drums, Phil Lynott (the late great front man from Thin Lizzy) on bass, guitar and vocals, Chas Hodges (from Chas 'n' Dave) on keyboards and Roy Wood (ex Wizzard, ELO and The Move) on guitar and just about everything else - including vocals. This all-star band negotiated a record deal with CBS for the release of a single comprising a medley of rock 'n' roll classic songs - where the individual segments of each number were edited together and coupled with a Roy Wood original composition entitled 'We Are The Boys (Who Make All The Noise)'. The completed medley was issued as either a seven inch or extended twelve inch single under the umbrella title of Wood's own 'We Are The Boys....' title in late November of 1983.
Coghlan's next musical project saw him once again working with guitarist Ray Majors, (who had previously worked with The Kinks and Mott the Hoople amongst other bands); Coghlan and Majors were introduced to three musicians with a view to the formation of a completely new line up. With the addition of a change of name to Partners In Crime (inspired by an Agatha Christie novel), the band began working on demo material in the early months of 1994. In addition to both John Coghlan and Ray Majors the line of the new band comprised; Mac McCaffrey on bass, Mark De Vanchque (aka Mark Booty - formerly with a band called Wildlife) on keyboards and vocalist Noel McCalla (ex-Moon and Jody Street).
The first Partners In Crime release was a single issued in October 1984 entitled 'Hold On', written by Trevor Rabin and previously recorded by 'Yes' on their 1983 album '90125'. Shortly after the release of this single the band played their first ever live show, at the Marquee Club in London on November 13th. The material included in this live set was a showcase for the tracks which would appear on their debut album. The band actually performed nine of the ten songs from the forthcoming album - playing one song called 'Gypsy Tricks' twice (the second time as an encore). Only one song which the 'Partners' performed on the night would remain unreleased throughout their career - '(Don't Let It) Slip Slide Away'.
The Partners In Crime album 'Organised Crime' was finally released in May 1985 and received favourable reviews throughout the music media, who basically hailed the band as a new AOR sensation. However, despite this increasing popularity the record company never seemed to provide the band with the support they clearly deserved - with the result that their album suffered a similar fate to the three singles that had preceded it. Although sales had steadily increased with each new record release, sadly none were destined to reach the charts. No doubt this lack of success was ultimately a major factor in the untimely demise of the band, some months after the release of the 'Organised Crime' album.
Coghlan continued to tour regularly with Diesel - featuring an ever-changing line up of musicians, throughout the next three years. Playing mainly pub and club venues the band enjoyed great success as a live band, never failing to satisfy their audiences with a mixture of hard rocking blues based material. Some of the most notable musicians to have passed through the Diesel band during this three year period included; Charlie McCracken (ex-Rory Gallagher), Dave Lloyd (ex-Nutz and Rage), and guitarists Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody and Ray Minhinnett (the two latter men having also worked with Bob Young on various projects for many years).
The following month of August saw John Coghlan re-emerge with a new Diesel Band line up, whom it was rumoured had negotiated a record deal with a small UK label for the release of the band's first ever single. The track was entitled 'Licensed To Rock' and was scheduled for release during September of 1988. The line up of the band that would feature on the record was Coghlan on drums, John Verity on guitar and vocals, Jeff Brown on bass and guitarist Ray Minhinnett.
Having completed the tour dates with Diesel, John Coghlan decided to put the band on hold once again to enable him to fly to Australia where he would once again work with Alan Lancaster. Lancaster - who had recently departed the successful band Party Boys, had invited Coghlan to join a new band he was putting together with Australian guitarist John Brewster, called the Bombers. John worked happily with The Bombers for a year, but was glad to get back to the UK in 1990.
After Australia, in the early 90s, the Diesel line up once again included former Status Quo road manager and songwriter Bob Young. Together with Coghlan the band also featured vocalist Phil May (ex-Pretty Things), guitarist Ray Minhinnett, Chris Stewart (ex-Frankie Miller and Joe Cocker) on bass, and keyboard player Hilly Briggs. The band toured regularly and performed a varied selection of material which included both cover versions as well as several original compositions, written by the band members themselves. On a typical night their live show would include such covers as; 'Big Boss Man', 'Steamy Windows', 'Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor Doctor)', accompanied by self penned tracks including; 'Turn Me Loose', 'Ain't Got No Money' and 'One Way To Roll'.
John Coghlan started working with his own band, John Coghlan's Quo, during the late 1990s. The band has since toured Europe and the UK successfully for several years with various line-ups, which include Paul Carr, Mike Grady, Jon Bowers and a variety of bass players - the band performs all the Status Quo hits and favourites from the Coghlan years: 1962 - 1982.
• IRON FOUNDATION
Iron Foundation werd op gericht in 1975 door Nico Neyens. De band bestond uit Nico Neyens (gitaar), Bart Gielen (lead gitaar), Art Lemkens (bas), Patrick Hilven (toetsen) en Lode Palmers (drums). De groep zette zijn eerste schuchtere stappen op de Eerste Breese Popmeeting, de voorloper van het Breekend Festival.
In de loop van 1978 vervoegde zanger Dirk Hermans de band en werd een eigen repertoire uiitgebouwd. In 1979 nam Iron Foundation deel aan het Limburgs Orkesten Festival en behaalde de finale. Dat resulteerde in twee tracks op de LOF-elpee: Nathalie en Ways.
Iets later verlieten Bart Gielen en Art Lemkens de groep en werden vervangen door Jos Janssen en Rudi Reyners die in Limburg al naam gemaakt hadden als het akoestische duo Second Edition. Met hun inbreng steeg het muzikale niveau van de groep met een flink stuk. Iron Foundation speelde diverse concerten in Limburgse en Antwerpse jeugdclubs, in het Casino van Beringen tijdens een showcase en op een internationaal motortreffen in Bruhl bij Keulen.
Begin 1981 nam de groep de singel See my baby cry op, met een tekst die verwees naar de moord op John Lennon, enkele maanden voordien.
In 1983 zorgden muzikale meningsverschillen ervoor dat de groep besloot ermee te stoppen. Na een denderend afscheidsconcert in Bree werd Iron Foundation opgedoekt. Jos Janssen, Rudi Reyners, Lode Palmers en Patrick Hilven gingen verder onder de naam Occupé. Dirk Hermans en Nico Neyens hadden het op dat moment te druk met het Breekend Festival en hingen de stembanden en gitaar voorlopig aan de wilgen.
In 2003 besloot men om Nico Neyens voor zijn 50ste verjaardag en zijn huwelijksfeest een verrassingsoptreden te bezorgen. Het klikte opnieuw zo goed en de reacties waren zo positief dat besloten werd om af en toe nog eens samen te concerteren. Dat resulteerde in een concert op de 50ste verjaardag van zanger Dirk Hermans met o.a. Louis Tijskens (ex Experto Credo Roberto) en Guy Peeters (Schmutz) achter de microfoon. Tijdens de 2de Breese Popmeeting op 4 juni 2005 gingen de 450 aanwezigen uit hun dak tijdens het concert van IF en ook het concert tijdens het herdenkingsoptreden voor Jos Janssen (leadgitarist die een jaar eerder gestorven was) viel goed in de smaak.
Volgden nog een concert samen met de harmonie Verenigde Vrienden en een optreden als opener op het Vostert Rock Festival van 2009 waar ze openden voor onder andere Mud, The Rubettes en Suzy Quattro. De groep was toen uitgebreid met Paul en Lennert Janssen (broer en zoon van Jos), Bart Weyens en Wim Leurs. Het concert was zo goed bevallen bij organisatie en publiek dat de groep voor 2010 opnieuw gevraagd werd. Op 23 augustus speelde Iron Foundation voor zo'n 3000 bezoekers ná The Animals en Fortunes en voor The Sweet. Met een 10-koppige bezetting (saxofonist Bart Fets had de line-up van 2009 vervolledigd) speelden ze het beste concert uit hun carrière.
Iron Foundation werd op gericht in 1975 door Nico Neyens. De band bestond uit Nico Neyens (gitaar), Bart Gielen (lead gitaar), Art Lemkens (bas), Patrick Hilven (toetsen) en Lode Palmers (drums). De groep zette zijn eerste schuchtere stappen op de Eerste Breese Popmeeting, de voorloper van het Breekend Festival.
In de loop van 1978 vervoegde zanger Dirk Hermans de band en werd een eigen repertoire uiitgebouwd. In 1979 nam Iron Foundation deel aan het Limburgs Orkesten Festival en behaalde de finale. Dat resulteerde in twee tracks op de LOF-elpee: Nathalie en Ways.
Iets later verlieten Bart Gielen en Art Lemkens de groep en werden vervangen door Jos Janssen en Rudi Reyners die in Limburg al naam gemaakt hadden als het akoestische duo Second Edition. Met hun inbreng steeg het muzikale niveau van de groep met een flink stuk. Iron Foundation speelde diverse concerten in Limburgse en Antwerpse jeugdclubs, in het Casino van Beringen tijdens een showcase en op een internationaal motortreffen in Bruhl bij Keulen.
Begin 1981 nam de groep de singel See my baby cry op, met een tekst die verwees naar de moord op John Lennon, enkele maanden voordien.
In 1983 zorgden muzikale meningsverschillen ervoor dat de groep besloot ermee te stoppen. Na een denderend afscheidsconcert in Bree werd Iron Foundation opgedoekt. Jos Janssen, Rudi Reyners, Lode Palmers en Patrick Hilven gingen verder onder de naam Occupé. Dirk Hermans en Nico Neyens hadden het op dat moment te druk met het Breekend Festival en hingen de stembanden en gitaar voorlopig aan de wilgen.
In 2003 besloot men om Nico Neyens voor zijn 50ste verjaardag en zijn huwelijksfeest een verrassingsoptreden te bezorgen. Het klikte opnieuw zo goed en de reacties waren zo positief dat besloten werd om af en toe nog eens samen te concerteren. Dat resulteerde in een concert op de 50ste verjaardag van zanger Dirk Hermans met o.a. Louis Tijskens (ex Experto Credo Roberto) en Guy Peeters (Schmutz) achter de microfoon. Tijdens de 2de Breese Popmeeting op 4 juni 2005 gingen de 450 aanwezigen uit hun dak tijdens het concert van IF en ook het concert tijdens het herdenkingsoptreden voor Jos Janssen (leadgitarist die een jaar eerder gestorven was) viel goed in de smaak.
Volgden nog een concert samen met de harmonie Verenigde Vrienden en een optreden als opener op het Vostert Rock Festival van 2009 waar ze openden voor onder andere Mud, The Rubettes en Suzy Quattro. De groep was toen uitgebreid met Paul en Lennert Janssen (broer en zoon van Jos), Bart Weyens en Wim Leurs. Het concert was zo goed bevallen bij organisatie en publiek dat de groep voor 2010 opnieuw gevraagd werd. Op 23 augustus speelde Iron Foundation voor zo'n 3000 bezoekers ná The Animals en Fortunes en voor The Sweet. Met een 10-koppige bezetting (saxofonist Bart Fets had de line-up van 2009 vervolledigd) speelden ze het beste concert uit hun carrière.
• THE SHAM
• THE EYES
• CLEARWATER (CCR Tribute Band)(foto's onder)
• THE EYES
• CLEARWATER (CCR Tribute Band)(foto's onder)
Tickets • The Animals • The Fortunes • The Tremeloes • The Swinging Blue Jeans • Fischer-Z • John Coghlan's Quo •
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