Ashton, Gardner and Dyke
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Ashton, Gardner and Dyke was a power rock trio, most popular in the early 1970s.
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[edit] History
Founding band member, Tony Ashton first met the drummer Roy Dyke, when playing with various Blackpool based groups.
Ashton was invited to join the Liverpool beat group, The Remo Four as organist/vocalist, whilst Roy Dyke became the group's drummer, having joined them in 1963. Their best work came in 1966 when they released their album Smile!. Before their break-up in 1968, they backed George Harrison on his album Wonderwall Music.
Ashton and Dyke then joined forces with the bass guitar playing Kim Gardner, who had previously played in minor British groups, The Birds and The Creation. The triad simply called themselves Ashton, Gardner and Dyke. Mick Liber played lead guitar with the group.
They released their first single "Maiden Voyage"/"See The Sun In My Eyes" on Polydor Records in 1969, but it flopped. However, their next single release on Capitol Records, made them household names. It was entitled "Resurrection Shuffle". They poached their brass section, Lyle Jenkins and Dave Caswell, from Birmingham band Galliard. It entered the UK singles chart on 16 January 1971, had a chart life of 14 weeks and peaked at Number 3. This one-off triumph ultimately garnered for them the tag of one-hit wonder.
Equally unfortunately, their follow-up single "Can You Get It" lacked the general boisterous appeal of "Resurrection Shuflle", and failed to chart. Nevertheless, Ashton Gardner and Dyke persevered and recorded three albums (see discography below).
Their last recording together was a collaboration with Jon Lord on the soundtrack for a b-movie called "The Last Rebel", starring former gridiron star, Joe Namath. Ashton also appeared on Jon Lord's first solo album Gemini Suite in 1972.
The trio finally split the same year.
[edit] Afterwards
After their demise, Tony Ashton went on to play for Medicine Head, and was briefly in Family before teaming up again with Deep Purple’s Jon Lord in Ashton & Lord. Later still he appeared with Lord and Purple’s drummer Ian Paice as Paice, Ashton & Lord. Dyke and then Gardner joined Badger.
Ashton died of cancer, on 28 May, 2001. Gardner also died of cancer in 2001, in Los Angeles on 24 October (also aged 55).
[edit] Album discography
- Ashton, Gardner And Dyke
(Polydor 583 081) (1969)
- The Worst Of Ashton, Gardner And Dyke
(Capitol EST 563) (1971)
- What A Bloody Long Day It's Been
(Capitol EST 862) (1972)
[edit] Band members
- Tony Ashton — (born Edward Anthony Ashton, 1 March 1946, in Blackburn; died 28 May 2001) — keyboardist.
- Kim Gardner — (born 27 January 1946, in Dulwich, London; died 24 October 2001) — bassist.
- Roy Dyke — (born 13 February 1945, in Liverpool) — drummer.
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
- Guinness Rockopedia - ISBN 0-85112-072-5
- The Great Rock Discography - 5th Edition - ISBN 1-84195-017-3
- The Dead Rock Stars website
