Band of Joy
| Band of Joy | |
|---|---|
 Band of Joy fronted by Robert Plant, October 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genres |
Folk rock Blues rock (early) Progressive Rock |
| Years active | 1966–1968, 1977–1983, 2010-2011 |
| Associated acts | Led Zeppelin, The Honeydrippers |
| Members |
Robert Plant Patty Griffin Buddy Miller Darrell Scott Byron House Marco Giovino |
| Past members | John Bonham |
The Band of Joy (sometimes known as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy) is a rock band from England. Various lineups of the group performed from 1965 to 1968 and from 1977 to 1983. Robert Plant revived the band's name in 2010 for a concert tour of the United States and Europe.
The band is notable for including two musicians, Robert Plant and John Bonham,[1] who went on to join Led Zeppelin; and, to a lesser degree, because the band's one-time roadie was Noddy Holder, who later went on to front the band Slade.[2]
1966 - 1968
The Band of Joy was originally formed in 1966 in West Bromwich, near Birmingham, England by Chris Brown (keyboards), Vernon Pereira (guitar),[3] and singer Robert Plant. Conflicts with the band's management led to Plant leaving the group after a few months. He quickly tried to form his own Band of Joy, but it soon folded. A third incarnation of the band, including Plant's childhood friend John Bonham, lasted from 1967 to mid-1968. This lineup include Kevyn Gammond on guitar and Paul Lockey on bass. Their brand of soul and blues was popular with Birmingham mods. This lineup recorded a number of demo recordings in early 1968, but broke up in May 1968 when a recording contract failed to materialise.[4]
Albeit briefly, lead guitar duties were taken by Dave Pegg, who later played the bass guitar with Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull. Pegg rehearsed with Band of Joy but did not tour with them.[5]
For a 1968 tour of Scotland, Plant and Bonham co-opted bassist John Hill (ex-Uncle Joseph) and guitarist Mick Strode to fill out a temporary lineup.
1977 - 1978
In 1977 Gammond and Paul Lockey revived the Band of Joy, rounding out the lineup with John Pasternak, Peter Robinson, and keyboardist Michael Chetwood. Gammond, Lockey, Pasternak and Robinson had previously played in Bronco. The two albums recorded under this lineup went on to define the trademark cult sound of the band, with progressive melodies, blues hooks and experimentation with new sounds blending the sounds of the punk movement with classic genres of rock, blues and progressive influences. They invited Plant and Bonham to contribute to their 1978 self-titled album, but nothing came of it.[citation needed] The group released a second album in 1983 before breaking up.
Gammond later worked with Plant in his group "Priory of Brion".
2010 - 2011
In 2010 it was announced that Plant would form a new band and tour as Robert Plant & the Band of Joy.[6] This album was number 8 on Rolling Stone's list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010.[7]
Discography
- Band of Joy (1978)
- 24k (1983)
- Sixty Six to Timbuktu (2003) - Robert Plant retrospective album includes some Band of Joy recordings, "Hey Joe" and "For What It's Worth".
- Band of Joy (2010)
Lineups
- 1967 lineup
- John Bonham – drums
- Chris Brown – organ
- Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals
- Paul Lockey – bass guitar, guitar, vocals
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- 1968 lineup
- John Bonham – drums
- John Hill – bass guitar
- John Kelsey – keyboards
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- Mick Strode – lead guitar
- 1977 lineup
- Michael Chetwood – keyboards, vocals
- Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals
- Paul Lockey – guitar, vocals
- John Pasternak – bass, vocals
- Peter Robinson – drums
- 2010 lineup
- Marco Giovino – percussion[8]
- Patty Griffin – vocals and guitar
- Byron House – bass
- Buddy Miller – guitar and vocals
- Darrell Scott – vocals, mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel guitar, and banjo
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
See also
References
- ↑ By Patrick Doyle (2010-06-25). "Robert Plant Previews Upcoming Band of Joy Album". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ↑ "Band of Joy, Kidderminster". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ "Welcome to the Birmingham Music Archive – Band of Joy". Birminghammusicarchive.co.uk. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ Theakston, Rob. "((( Band of Joy > Overview )))". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ Cynthia Blair Webdesign. "Memories in Music". Memories in Music. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ Sean Michaels (2010-03-29). "Robert Plant to tour with new Band of Joy lineup | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ "The 30 Best Albums of 2010". Rolling Stone (December 25, 2010). Retrieved 2011-01-18
- ↑ "Achilles Last Stand". Led Zeppelin. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
Further reading
- Hornby, Laurie. Brum Rocked On! (Solihull: TGM Limited, 2003) ISBN 0-9536951-5-8
- Band of Joy interview — Achilles Last Stand (1992). (Retrieved August 18, 2005.)
- Yorke, Ritchie. Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography (London: Virgin, 1993) ISBN 0-86369-648-1
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