Gass (band)
Gass |
Origin |
UK |
Genres |
Rock, Funk, Soul |
Years active |
1965–1971 |
Labels |
Polydor, CBS, Parlophone |
Associated acts |
Bobby Tench, Catch My Soul, The Jeff Beck Group, BBA, Hummingbird, Gonzalez |
Members |
Robert Tench, Godfrey McLean, Delisle Harper,Derek Austin, Michael Piggott |
Past members |
Alan Roskans, Frank Clark, Humphrey Okan, Lol Coxhill, Errol McLean |
Gass was a rock band[1] formed in May 1965[2] by Robert Tench, Godfrey and Errol McLean.[2] They were managed by The Active Management Group. The band fused inspired melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms.[3]
History
The original line up was Tench on bass guitar, percussionist Errol McLean, his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean, saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskans.[2] Tench soon become the band's vocalist[4] and as their music progressed the line up changed. They performed at fashionable music venues[5] in London's Soho, such as The Flamingo Club,[4] The Scotch of St.James where Eric Burdon sang with them and it was at The Bag O'Nails Jimi Hendrix joined the band for a jam session.[4] Gass became involved with Catch My Soul-Rock Othello produced by Jack Good[6] during 1969.
Their album Juju (1970)[7] featured guitarist Peter Green.[2][8] The band was featured on Catch My Soul (1971),[9] which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello.[2] Pete Masden mentions in his book Funk Guitar And Bass, that Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions with other musicians at Ronnie Scott's club. These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez.[10] In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group and Gass disbanded.[11] Delisle Harper appeared with Tench on Freddie King's Burglar (1974) also Larger than Life (1975).[12] Tench later moved on to play with The Jeff Beck Group, Hummingbird, Humble Pie, Streetwalkers and Van Morrison, amongst others. Godfrey McLean recorded End of the Game (1970) with Peter Green and appeared with Brian Auger and The Oblivion Express.[13]
Band members
1969-1971
- Robert Tench-bass, guitar, organ and vocals [2]
- Godfrey McLean-drums, congas, vocals and percussion[2]
- Delisle Harper-bass and percussion
- Derek Austin-organ, piano, flute and percussion
- Michael Piggott-violin and guitar
1965-1969
- Robert Tench-bass, guitar, organ and vocals[2]
- Godfrey McLean-drums, congas, vocals and percussion[2]
- Alan Roskans-lead guitar[2]
- Frank Clark-Organ
- Humphrey Okan-Saxophone[2]
- Errol McLean-Congas[2]
Discography
Albums
Singles
- "One Of These Days"/"I Don't Know Why" Parlophone R 5344(1965) [2]
- "The New Breed"/"In The City" Parlophone R 5456 (1966)[2]
- "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"/"Jitterbug Sid" CBS 2647(1967)[2]
- "Something's Got To Change Your Ways"/"Mr. Banana" Polydor 2058 147 (1971)[2]
Notes
- ^ Larkin, Colin. The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music. Guinness. p. 947.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras. Borderline. p. 325.
- ^ New Vitality London Management Team. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1971-11-13.
- ^ a b c Leslie Fran (October 2009). Interview with Bobby Tench. Blues In Britain. pp. 18, 19, 20 Vol 1 issue 94.
- ^ Cramp Nathaniel (2006-06-31). "It Happened Here". timeout.com. http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/1772/Ad_Lib_club-It_happened_here.html#articleAfterMpu. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ Vahimagi, Tise. "Jack Good". screenonline.org.uk. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/574989/index.html. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
- ^ "Gass album Juju". nme.com. http://www.nme.com/artists/gass. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Freedland, Jan and Fitzgerald, John. "Peter Green". fmlegacy.com. http://www.fmlegacy.com/Bios/biopeter.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Jack Good's Rock Othello-Catch My Soul". homeonline.com. http://home.online.no/~frodebye/dana_gillespie/lp_catch_my_soul.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Masden, Pete. Funk Guitar And Bass. p. 55.
- ^ Hjort, Chris and Hinman, Doug. Jeff's book: A Chronology of Jeff Beck's Career 1965-1980. p. 111.
- ^ "DeLisle Harper". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p84406. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Godfrey McLean". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p104484. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
References
- Celmins, Martin. Peter Green Founder of Fleetwood Mac, forward by BB King. Sanctuary Publishing, (1998) 2nd edition. ISBN 1860742335
- 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 0-9641005-3-3
- 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 1899855157
- Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness (1992). Item notes: v.2. Digitized (19 Jun 2007). ISBN 9781882267026
- Madsen, Pete. Funk Guitar and Bass: Know the Players, Play the Music. Backbeat (2007). ISBN 9780879308940
External links