Bobby Tench

Robert Tench (born 21 September 1944), also known as Bob Tench, Bobby Tench and Bobby Gass is a British vocalist and guitarist. Originally a bass player he began singing with Gass influenced by artists such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. He is best known for working with Freddie King^[2] Jeff Beck and Van Morrison, also as a member of Gass, Hummingbird, Humble Pie and Streetwalkers.^[3]

At the start of his career he performed and recorded with his own band Gass and later also appeared with Gonzalez, before joining The Jeff Beck Group. He recorded with Ginger Baker before touring with Beck, Bogert & Appice as vocalist and recording sessions with Linda Lewis. Associations with Junior Marvin and the blues, rock guitarist Freddie King followed.

He signed to A&M Records and formed Hummingbird, later joining Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney in Streetwalkers as a parallel project. During this period he had brief associations with Boxer and Widowmaker, recording an album with each before working with Van Morrison. When his commitments with Morrison came to an end he moved on to work with Eric Burdon, also Axis Point, before Steve Marriott included him in a new lineup of Humble Pie.

More collaborations and associations followed with musicians such as Brian Robertson, Topper Headon, Roger Chapman, Ruby Turner and Alan Price. Tench was re-united with Humble Pie in the new millennium, when the band was re-formed by their drummer Jerry Shirley. The lineup he joined also featured Humble Pie's original bassist Greg Ridley. In the same year he appeared at the Steve Marriott Memorial Concert, held at the Astoria Theatre, London. In 2009, he was still involved with studio collaboration and production.^[2]

Career

Bobby Tench formed Gass in May 1965 and featured as vocalist and bass player. The band played the London Club circuit and were often accompanied on stage by guest musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Burdon.^[2] They recorded two singles for Parlophone and another for CBS with their original lineup,^[4] before taking a more progressive musical direction.^[5] Tench moved on with drummer Godfrey McLean forming a new lineup and were signed by Polydor Records in 1969. At this time Gass were already playing as the house band for Catch My Soul, a stage musical produced by Jack Good.^[6] Tench sang some parts for Othello and he featured with the band on the original UK cast recording of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello, released a year later.^[4][7]Gass recorded Juju (1970),^[8] which was removed from retail outlets and re-released as Gass.^[9] Juju featured the Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green^[10] on the tracks "Juju" and "Black Velvet". During this period Tench was also involved with Gonzalez,^[11] forming the original band with Godfrey McLean. The line up also included Gass band mates, bassist Delisle Harper and percussionist Lennox Langton.^[12]

At the end of May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group. Jeff Beck had signed a record deal with CBS in June 1971, having reformed The Jeff Beck Group. Vocals by Alex Ligertwood had been unexpectedly rejected by record company bosses, forcing Beck to find a replacement singer. Having heard Tench perform with Gass, "Upstairs" at Ronnie Scott's club in Soho London, he employed him as replacement vocalist. In their book about Beck Chris Hjort and Doug Hinman, mention this association and state: "Tench is also a proficient guitar player".^[13] He was given only a short time to add his vocals to Rough and Ready (1971), before mixing resumed on tracks previously recorded in London by Beck and the other band members including, drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Clive Chaman and keyboard player Max Middleton.^[14] When the album was released in Europe they toured Finland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany.^[13] Rough and Ready^[15] was released in USA eight months later and a sixteen date promotional tour followed. The album eventually reached #46 on the US album charts.^[16]

In January 1972 The Jeff Beck Group travelled to USA to join Beck at TMI studios in Memphis, Tennessee, where they recorded the album Jeff Beck Group (1972)^[17] with Steve Cropper as producer. The promotional tour which followed included an appearance on the BBC In Concert series, which was recorded on June 29, 1972 at the Paris Theatre, London. During this session Tench's guitar playing was featured on "Definitely Maybe",^[18] a rare occasion whilst he was associated with Beck. On July 24, 1972 The second Jeff Beck Group was officially disbanded and Beck's management released this statement:

In July 1972 he played guitar on Stratavarious (1972)^[19] with Cream drummer Ginger Baker.^[20] He was credited under the pseudonym Bobby Gass and appeared with Afro beat Pioneer Fela Ransome-Kuti, also appearing at live dates with Baker during this period.^[21] Stravarious was later re-issued, along with other tracks under the title of Do What You Like.^[22]

He was re-united with Jeff Beck during the summer of 1972. Beck was collaborating with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice and they began touring USA as Jeff Beck Group, on August 1, 1972. Tench was flown in from England to replace vocalist Kim Milford,^[11][14] in time for the Arie Crown concert in Chicago, on August 8.^[23] The tour concluded at the Paramount North West Theatre in Washington, on August 19, 1972 and Tench ended his association with Jeff Beck further to the formation of the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice.^[13]

Tench featured as guitarist on Fathoms Deep (1973), an album by Linda Lewis which followed her top twenty success with "Rock a Doodle Do", in the UK singles charts. He appeared alongside former Jeff Beck Group keyboardist Max Middleton, bassist Phil Chen and guitarist Jim Cregan, who also produced the album.^[24] In her review of Fathoms Deep for Allmusic, Amy Hanson wrote:

During February 1973 he joined Junior Marvin, who had appeared with Tench on the Gass album Juju three years previously credited as Junior Kerr,^[4][26] who had formed Hanson^[27] also known as Junior Marvin's Hanson^[28] and they recorded Now Hear This (1973).^[29] The lineup on this album included, drummer Conrad Isidore, bassist Clive Chaman who later joined Tench in Hummingbird and DeLisle Harper who also played bass and had been a member of Gass with Tench. Now Hear This fused rock with funk and was produced by Mario Medious^[30] also known as Big "M". ^[31]

Tench was recruited to appear on recordings with the blues rock guitarist Freddie King^[32] and record producer Mike Vernon.^[33] He also signed to A&M, in the same year and formed the rock and soul fusion band Hummingbird,^[34] whose lineup included members of the second Jeff Beck Group also second guitarist Bernie Holland and drummer Conrad Isidore.^[35] The band was produced by Ian Samwell^[36] for A&M Records and they recorded the first of three albums, Hummingbird (1974)^[37] About the band Hummingbird, respected music magazine Gramophone commented that:

In April 1975 he became a member of Streetwalkers.^[39][40] He had already already been part of a fluid line-up with Chapman and Whitney, performing as a member of Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers^[41] and had appeared with their touring band at concerts, such as at Hyde Park in London, the previous year^[42] and for television appearances, including Rockpalast in March 1975.^[43]

Tench recorded a second album with Hummingbird, We Can't Go On Meeting Like This, which was released in 1975 and was the first of two albums to feature drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. Streetwalkers first album Downtown Flyer was released in October in Europe and the United States, the same year.^[41] On June 8, 1976, he appeared on the BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions^[44] with Streetwalkers^[45] and they performed again for John Peel's show, on March 14, 1977.^[46] On the April 19, 1977, Streetwalkers appeared on Rockpalast for a final time and^[47] their set for this performance with Tench playing guitar and singing, included songs such as "Run for Cover".^[48] This song appeared on their groove heavy album, Red Card (1976),^[49] their most respected album.^[50] They went onto record one more studio album with him and he also appeared on their final release Live Streetwalkers (1977), before the band broke up.^[51] Tench and Hummingbird's final album Diamond Nights, was released the same year.

Tench moved on to work with former Mott the Hoople and Spooky Tooth guitarist Luther Grosvenor, who was also known as Ariel Bender. Grosvenor had formed Widowmaker (UK), which was considered as a potential supergroup,^[52] during 1975. Tench contributed guitar and vocals to their the band's first album Widowmaker (1976), which was recorded in 1975^[53][54] The lineup on this album also included Love Affair vocalist Steve Ellis, Hawkwind guitarist Hugh Lloyd-Langton, Chicken Shack bassist Bob Daisley and former Lindisfarne drummer Paul Nicholls.^[55]

Later in 1976 Tench contributed vocals to Bloodletting with Boxer, a band which had been formed by Mike Patto and Ollie Halsall the year before.^[56] Bloodletting was recorded at The Manor Studios in Oxfordshire and would eventually be released as the band's third album three years later.^[57] The first track from this album, Lennon and McCartney's "Hey Bulldog" was used as the A-side for a single released during 1976. Tench also appeared on stage with members of Boxer at the Crystal Palace Bowl on August 7 the same year, at a concert promoted by Harvey Goldsmith. The concert featured others such as Eric Clapton and Freddie King who appeared with guests Larry Coryell and Ronnie Wood, on the same bill.^[58] Freddie King died of a heart attack on December 29, 1976 aged 42^[59] and the compilation album Freddie King 1934-1976 (1977) was released several months later, featuring tracks Tench had contributed to on King's album Burglar, recorded four years previously.^[3]

He joined a new look Van Morrison band as the lead guitarist and a vocalist,^[60] in March 1978 to record the Wavelength (1978). He was recommended to Morrison by drummer Peter Van Hooke, after Hooke had seen him perform in Streetwalkers.^[61] In an interview with Johnny Rogan Tench stated, "I quite liked the songs "Natalia" and "Wavelength" because I had a lot to do with them. They came together quickly. He's a very quick worker and once it's there he doesn't see why you can't record it. He let us get on with it, really. It was a good band".^[61] He was credited with production assistance on this album, which became Morrison's best selling album at that time.^[62] He also contributed lead guitar and vocals to the promotional Wavelength tour which followed. The tour started in Santa Clara, California on September 30, 1978 and ended on March 1, 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. By the end of the tour he had appeared in Morrison's lineup sixty two times, before leaving.^[61][63] He appeared with Morrison at the Roxy, on November 26, 1978. This performance was recorded and released as the promotional album Live at the Roxy (1979).^[64] Tench also appeared in the video Van Morrison in Ireland, which was filmed in February 1979, when he was performing with Morrison on The Wavelength Tour and was released two years later. Of the bands performance on the video, Tony Stewart commented in the music newspaper NME, that:

During May 1978 Tench joined Eric Burdon to record the album Darkness Darkness,^[65][66] at Roundwood House in County Leix Ireland. The album was released nearly two years later. The album was recorded using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio and with a lineup also including guitarists Brian Robertson from Thin Lizzy and Henry McCullough recently departed from Wings, also Mick Weaver from Traffic. He also performed with Burdon at concerts during this time,^[67] before joining Streetwalkers guitarist Charlie Whitney's band Axis Point^[68] as a guitarist and vocalist to record Axis Point (1979).^[69]

He joined Humble Pie in 1980,^[70] further to a previously aborted attempt to enlist him.^[71] The lineup included founder member, guitarist and vocalist Steve Marriott, their original drummer Jerry Shirley and American bassist Anthony "Sooty" Jones. They recorded and submitted "Fool For a Pretty Face" which Marriott had written with Shirley earlier, to record companies. The song secured a recording contract with Atlantic subsidiary Atco in USA and Don Arden's Jet Records in UK.^[72] Tench remained with them and they recorded On To Victory (1980), which reached #60 in the Billboard 200 album charts and the single "Fool For a Pretty Face" reached #52 in the US singles charts. Tench toured with Humble Pie in USA, as part of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon Bill with Ted Nugent and Aerosmith and recorded Go for the Throat (1980). The band toured this album after its release^[71] During the tour, earlier scheduled appearances by the band were delayed and later Marriott became ill, forcing the cancellation of all further tour dates. Soon afterwards Humble Pie disbanded.^[72] after Go For The Throat was dropped due to contractual differences.^[71]

Tench recorded "Chain Gang" (1982) as a tribute to Sam Cooke, which was released as a single by the German label Line Records. "Looking For A Good Time" was featured on the B side, a song co-written by Tench and Peter Bardens. He later joined Topper Headon^[73] the drummer from The Clash, to record Waking Up (1984).^[74] Tracks from these sessions and others such were used for promotional and commercial vinyl releases. The lineup for these sessions included Headon, vocalist and guitarist Tench, vocalist Jimmy Helms, former Clash keyboard player Mick Gallagher and bassist Jerome Rimson.^[75]

In 1986 he recorded a cover of "Still in Love with You", as a tribute to Phil Lynott who died on January 4 the same year. The song was released as a single by the Stiff label, later that year.^[76] Tench featured alongside Brian Robertson.^[77] The B side "Heart Out Of Love" was co-written by Peter Bardens and Tench.^[76] In 1993, Tench sang lead vocals for An Evening With The Thin Lizzy Band, which featured former Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey, later member and guitarist Brian Robertson, guitarist Doish Nagle and bassist Dough Brookie. The band was formed to play a short tour of Ireland.^[78]

He played guitar and sang vocals with former Animals keyboardist Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company^[79] on Covers (1994).^[80] Later that year he recorded A Gigster's Life for Me^[81] with Alan Price and the Electric Blues Company. The album was recorded between July and August 1995 at Olympic Studios, London^[82] and released the next year as part of Sanctuary's Blues Masters Series.^[81] Thom Jurek hints at Tench's influence on the album, in his review for Allmusic:

During 1995 he contributed guitar and vocals to Rattlesnake Guitar. A tribute to Peter Green (1995).^[84] He joined Paul Jones and Max Middleton on "Whatcha Gonna Do" and Zoot Money on "Albatross", the album was released in October of the same year.^[85] In 1998 he played guitar and sang vocals on Ruby Turner's Call Me by My Name, appearing alongside Boz Burrell, Stan Webb and Zoot Money.^[86]

Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley reformed Humble Pie in UK during 2001, with a lineup including former member Tench, their original bassist Greg Ridley^[87] and a new rhythm guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell. They recorded Back on Track (2002). A brief tour of UK and Europe with Company of Snakes followed, but was curtailed due to Greg Ridley becoming ill.^[88] On April 14, 2001 Tench appeared at the Steve Marriott Tribute Concert, in a band which included Zak Starkey, Rabbit Bundrick and Rick Wills.^[89][90] Performances from this concert were released on various CDs^[91] and a DVD The Steve Marriott Astoria Memorial Concert 2001 was eventually released on October 5, 2004.^[92]

He has since been involved with studio collaborations and production,^[2] occasionally making appearances at live shows, such as with Roger Chapman, Arthur Louis and Jim Cregan.^[2] In 2009 he was a featured artist in the Maximum Rhythm and Blues Tour of thirty two UK theatres.^[93]

Discography

Singles

As Bobby Tench

With Gass

With The Jeff Beck Group

With Hanson (Junior Marvin)

With Streetwalkers

With Hummingbird

With Boxer
A side only

With Widowmaker (UK)

With Van Morrison

With Humble Pie

With Topper Headon

With Jeff Beck
"New Ways/Train Train" only

Albums

With other artists

DVD and video

• Van Morrison: Van Morrison in Ireland. Video (1981)^[94]
• Steve Marriott: Astoria Memorial Concert 2001. DVD (2004)^[95]

Notes

References

• Baker, Ginger and Ginette.Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Drummer, John Blake Publishing (2009). ISBN 978-1-84454-817-0
• Bogdanov, Bush, Woodstra, Erlewine. Allmusic guide to soul: the definitive guide to R&B and soul. Backbeat (2003). ISBN 978-087930-744-8
• Carson, Annette. Jeff Beck: Crazy Fingers. Backbeat (2001). ISBN 978-087930-632-8
• Burdon, Eric and Marshall Craig, Jeff. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Perseus Books Group (2002). ISBN 978-156025-448-5
• Celmins, Martin. Peter Green Founder of Fleetwood Mac, forward by BB King. Sanctuary Publishing, (1998) 2nd edition. ISBN 1-860-74233-5
• Collis, John. Van Morrison: Inarticulate Speech of the Heart. Da Capo Press. (1996). ISBN 978-030680-811-1
• Frame, Pete. Rock Family Trees. Omnibus Press (March 1993) ISBN 0-711-90465-0
• Graff, Gary. Music Hound Rock: The Essential Guide. Visible Ink Press, (1999). Cat no MH10008.
• Brock, Helander. The Rock Who's Who. Schirmer Books, (1996). 2nd edition. ISBN 0-028710-31-2
• Hewitt, Paulo and Hellier, John. Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful... Helter Skelter, (2004). ISBN 1-900-92444-7
• Hjort, Chris and Hinman, Doug. Jeff's book : A Chronology of Jeff Beck's Career 1965-1980 : From the Yardbirds to Jazz-Rock. Rock 'n' Roll Research Press, (2000). ISBN 0-964-10053-3
• Jasper, Tony and Oliver, Derek. The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock & Heavy metal. Facts on File (1985). Digitized (Aug 30, 2007). ISBN 978-081601-100-1
• Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976. Borderline (2006). Reprinted (2008). ISBN 189-98-55157
• Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness (1992). Item notes ver 2. Digitized (19 Jun 2007). ISBN 978-188226-702-6
• Madsen, Pete. Funk Guitar And Bass: Know the Players, Play the Music. Backbeat (2007). ISBN 978-087930-894-0
• Muise, Dan. Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower: Their lives and music. Hal Leonard Corporation (2002). ISBN 978-063402-956-1
• Putterford, Mark. Phil Lynott the Rocker. Omnibus Press (March 11, 2002). ISBN 071-199104-9
• Rees, Dafydd and Rampton, Luke. Rock Movers & Shakers. ABC-CLIO (1991) revised. Original from the University of Michigan. Digitized (Dec 29, 2006). ISBN 978-087436-661-7
• Rogan, Johnny. Van Morrison: No Surrender. Vintage Books. (2006). ISBN 0-099-43183-1
• Roberts, David. British Hit Singles & Albums 19th edition. London: Guinness World Records Limited, (2006). ISBN 1-904994-10-5
• Ruppli, Michel and the Atlantic Recording Corporation. Atlantic Records: A discography. Greenwood Press, (1979). Item notes ver 3. Digitized (Aug 29, 2007) ISBN 978-031321-174-4
• Rusch, Bob. Cadence. B. Rusch (1996). Item notes ver 22. Digitized (Jul 28, 2008)
• Strong, Martin Charles and Peel, John. The Great Rock Discography. Canongate US (2004). 7th edition. ISBN 978-184195-615-2
• York, William. Who's Who in Rock Music. Atomic Press (1978). Original from the University of Michigan. Digitized (Aug 30, 2007). ISBN 978-068417-343-6

External links

• Bobby Tench discography at Discogs
• Bobby Tench at the Internet Movie Database
• Bobby Tench at Allmusic Incomplete discography with reviews of albums (some inaccuracies)
• Stewart, Dick and Monthly, Lance. "Review of Jeff's Book... by Hjort, Chris and Hinman, Doug". rocknrollpress.com. http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=2155. 
• "Linda Lewis". allmusic.com. http://www.lindalewis.co.uk/biography/biog_1.html. 
• Wynn, Ron. "Bernard "Pretty" Purdie". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p116165. 
• "Hanson (UK)". juniormarvin.com. http://www.juniormarvin.com/hanson/hansonpressrelease.htm. 
• Glen Lockley. "Junior Marvin". bobmarleymagazine.com. http://www.bobmarleymagazine.com/forum_bmwm/showthread.php?t=21392. 
• "Bobby Tench, "Still in love with you"". stiff-records.com. http://www.stiff-records.com/flash.html. 
• Jurek, Thom. "Alan Price and The Electric Blues Band". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r233286. 
• Pato, Greg. "Topper Headon". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p85474. 
• "Rattlesnake Guitar". Fleetwoodmac.net. http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/discog/discog.php?pid=570. 
• Scott Kenemore. "Topper Headon All Talk and No Stick". popmatters.com. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/9466/all-talk-and-no-stick. 
• Kusic, Peter. "Ginger Baker, Stratavarious album". gingerbaker.com. http://www.ginger-baker.com. 
• Bangs, Lester. "Van Morison, Wavelength review". rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/167109/review/5945515/wavelength. 
• "Van Morrison Concert, Bottom Line (New York) November 1, 1978". wolfgangsvault.com. http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/van-morrison-concert/20050540-8350.html. 
• Musical Ramblings. "Jeff Beck Group/Ain't No Sunshine". harmonica.typepad.com. http://harmonica.typepad.com/harmonica_ramblings/2006/10/october_2006_ra.html. 
• Wyzanski, Richard. "Jeff Beck Bulletin issue #2". ainian.com. http://www.ainian.com/jb8.html#1.