| Andy Ellison | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 July 1946 Finchley, North London |
| Genres | Freakbeat, psychedelic rock, proto-punk, pop rock, new wave |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Track Records etc. |
| Associated acts | John's Children, Jet, Radio Stars |
| Website | [http://www.johnschildren.co.uk |
Andrew "Andy" Ellison (born 5 July 1946, Finchley, North London) is a musician and vocalist best known as the frontman in John's Children, Jet and Radio Stars.
During the height of John's Children's popularity, he carried a pillowcase stuffed with feathers, throwing them around the stage. On the group's (in)famous 1967 tour with The Who, Ellison threw feathers around the stage so much that Roger Daltrey could not sing.
A song sung by Ellison, "It's Been A Long Time," appears on the soundtrack - better known for its contributions from The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic - to the film, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. "It's Been A Long Time" also featured on the compilation album, Backtrack 1, a Track Records release featuring The Who and Jimi Hendrix amongst others.
Radio Stars,[1] a new wave band, had one UK Top 40 hit, "Nervous Wreck" in early 1978. It peaked at #39. The b-side to the single was a cover of Marc Bolan's "Horrible Breath", a John's Children staple.
In the 1990s, Ellison fronted a reformed version of John's Children. Radio Stars reformed for a one-off gig in London in 2008 to mark the release of their Something For the Weekend live release on Radiant Future Records.
Stories and myths abound around the legendary, cult, pop-art, mod, 60's band JOHN'S CHILDREN. Known for their wild stage act and some say the fore-runners and godfathers of punk.
In their all white outfits and school boy looks they seemed the epitome of angelic charm........ until the four of them took to the stage!
On a German tour with the WHO in 1967, they caused such riots that the Police were forced to bring in water canons to the 12,000 seater stadium. The WHO were upstaged and couldn't play. Consequently they were thrown off the tour, had all their equipment confiscated and were ceremoniously deported.
They were managed by 60's maestro SIMON NAPIER BELL, who introduced a young mod by the name of MARC BOLAN to the band. The band then introduced a world of mayhem to their new young guitarist, handing him his first electric guitar and a wall of 20 Jordan amplifiers, the loudest in the world shipped over from the USA and made by NASA.
They owned their own club, 'The Johnschildren Club' in Surrey, were protected by 'The Richardsons,' (a well know South London rival firm of gangsters to 'The Krays)', and drove around in AL CAPONE'S original white Oldsmobile convertible car, (specially shipped over from the Chicago), and in a strange dichotomy, (Mods verses Rockers), were escorted from gig to gig by an entourage of Hells Angels!
Their first album ORGASM was banned in America, as were a string of singles. the first being DESDEMONA written by MARC and banned by the BBC. Another single A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SCENE, is now one of the most sought after singles ever, the last copy exchanging hands for £6,000.
www.johnschildren.co.uk