As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Copyright 2023 We didnt know how people were going to react. Im convinced it would have been considered a Power Pop classic had it appeared just a few years later. Broadcast on 31st January 2021 for Soul Radio USA's Virtual 70's and 80's New Year's Eve Party, this is an exclusive Interview with Pete Phipps lead drummer . But, once inside and reveling within the meaty stomps and playful heartbreaks that were the band's raison d'etre once they were away from kingpin Gary Glitter, Rock 'n' Roll Dudes emerges at least as much fun as its predecessor and, in places, even more . "For me when we play we are carrying on the work and legacy of Mike Leander. Really brill piece paying tribute to a hugely underrated band that were never given the credit they deserved. Whew I had rather forgotten the Glitter band, except with He who shall not be named They were a terrific combo, and its a shame they couldnt really get past glitter but of course, punk aimed at disco, but killed glam, at least for a while. The Bostons carried on after Raven jumped on the glam bandwagon and became Gary Glitter. The year 2000 saw the founding of Santanarama, a six-piece tribute to Carlos Santana, and Glitz Blitz, a three-piece tribute to the 1970s. He was last year caged for 16 years over a string of child sex crimes. One of the identifying features of the glitter bands of the early Seventies was the drumming. They are the last living link to the brilliant producer Mike Leander, who created the Glitter Band sound which has influenced so many people in pop from The Fall to The Smiths to Marilyn Manson, Adam And The Ants, Bow Wow Wow and Killing Joke and anyone else who cops that droning guitar over a tribal beat. Thank you Joyce. A new album, recorded live at the London Marquee Club, appeared in 1985, while a succession of hits collections (several featuring newly re-recorded material) kept their name alive on the record shelves. The B-side of this single, the instrumental Tuna Biscuit deserves a mention as its the only track drummer Tony Leonard gets a songwriting credit on, together with Phipps and Ellison. I keep throwing names at him, I tell him to get Marilyn Manson to mix a track, Mark Smith to do something, Marco from the Ants on guitar - after all, these people have borrowed those Leander drums for excellent use of their own enough times. One of them is a superb player too - Peter Phipps - and the man is a living metronome. VBTS May 22, 2005 #7 Jean-Baptiste Clamence @ May 23 2005, 01:15 AM wrote: This article on a British drummer is a stub. Also included is a rather ill-advised cover of the Rolling Stones Sympathy For The Devil their first cover version since the Hey! The Glitter Men, as the group was originally known, was built around an idea that Glitter and Leander had first experimented with during the mid-'60s: a sprawling combo whose sound and visuals were based upon a core of two drummers and two saxophonists. Through 1983 and 1984 he was a member of The Eurythmics. Gill later spent three years with Motrhead, 1984 to 1987, recording four new tracks for the compilation No Remorse, The Birthday Party and one full album, Orgasmatron. After leaving school in 1969 he joined Black Velvet, a soul/funk band tours, recording and radio shows. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The funky Watch The Show is another Harvey Ellison composition and the only one which he sang lead on. A major creative departure, "Goodbye My Love" climbed to number two, while the group's abilities as songwriters received another boost when labelmates Hello scored a European hit with a cover of the Glitter Band's own "Game's Up." Your email address will not be published. It's a sound that is part of the fabric of British pop culture. The band did a great job replicating Leanders sound live. The G Band departed Bell Records for CBS and recorded an album called Paris Match, which despite being marketed with two different covers failed to do anything. The bands second album, Rock n Roll Dudes, followed later in 1975 and it consisted wholly of original material. Its ironic that the advent of punk washed them away, as Angel Face must have influenced most of the punks who replaced them in the charts later in the decade. Joyce tweets @northseacrashes and co-hosts @PsychoSundae featuring the best psych and garage tunes chosen by followers. If you love what we do, you can help tQ to continue bringing you the best in cultural criticism and new music by joining one of our subscription tiers. In 1974, when I was 10 years old, I bought my very first record with my own money. The single, written by Springate and Phipps, never made it past a few initial commercial pressings on the Epic label. It has a bit of a Starsky and Hutch theme tune vibe going on! Although the band was not physically present on any of Glitter's own hits (according to the singer, Mike Leander alone played every instrument himself), the Glitter Band not only accompanied Glitter on his tours and television appearances, they also racked up seven hits of their own, six of them making the Top Ten. The band only played with Glitter for two years before going alone and scoring a string of top ten hits. It was the twin drum's combined with Gerry's glitter 'Star' guitar with its . They originally came together in 1972, following Glitter's own breakthrough with the hit "Rock and Roll." And Rossall has gone on record to say if Leander could play brass neither he nor Ellison would have featured either. For tickets see the Alfie Bird website or Ticketweb. Gill was one of the two drummers in The Glitter Band, then formed part of the original line-up of Saxon in 1978. Unfortunately, although the band had moved on, their fans hadn't. It had the distinctive glitter sound and while not quite as strong as Angel Face, its still a great glam record. In 2009, drummer Pete Phipps (who had taken ownership of the name "The Glitter Band") and original bassist and vocalist John Springate put together a new version of the group with the addition of Dominic Rodgers on guitar and vocals, and Eddie Spence on keyboards and vocals. Mike used to get in the studio on his own with the engineer and play the drums for 20 minutes trying out different drum things and then say: 'Right, roll the tape. to the engineer and then record a section that he would then he would make a loop out of and copy it onto the 24 track. Shortly afterwards, bubblegum glam group and Bell Records label mates Hello recorded their own version of Tell Him using the Glitter Bands arrangement and took it into the UK top ten. Rossall brought with him guitarist Gerry Shephard, saxophonist Harvey Ellison, and bassist Ray Moxley, who was soon sacked for urinating in Glitters drink. Angel Face was followed up by another Rossall and Shephard composition, Just For You, which also cracked the UK top 10. i heard it was Mr Seago. The Glitter Band's second album might indeed have borne one of the era's most cringe-worthy titles, and a sleeve that wasn't much better. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Two further albums, Rock 'n' Roll Dudes and Listen to the Band, were equally courageous, with the group's ambition now so pronounced that they even brushed aside the first signs that their invincibility was cracking: the chart failure of the singles "Alone Again" and "Don't Make Promises." May 1977 saw the band release a final single as the Glitter Band, "She Was Alright". There are a few lowlights but it will allow you to hear the versatility of the band and that utterly distinctive hey! sound which made them famous. Support tQ's work by becoming a subscriber and enjoy the benefits of bonus essays, podcasts and exclusively-commissioned new music. In 2009, drummer Pete Phipps (who had taken ownership of the name "The Glitter Band") and original bassist and vocalist John Springate put together a new version of the group with the addition of Dominic Rodgers on guitar and vocals, and Eddie Spence on keyboards and vocals. Tours with Gary Glitter continued. Perrone, Pierre (2003) "Obituary: Gerry Shephard; Glitter Band guitarist and songwriter". The Glitter Band began its life as the backing group for now-disgraced rocker Gary Glitter, but soon established an identity of its own in the glam rock landscape. The band only played with Glitter for two years before going alone and scoring a string of top ten hits. no.4 in the UK charts, remaining there for 10 weeks. In the 70s Leander created the Glitter Band and one of the decades biggest pop stars Gary Glitter. The decision to launch the Glitter Band as a recording act in its own right was made in late 1973. Apple Inc. Bell Records signed the Glitter Band as a new artist, and Angel Face was released on 1st March 1974. 1979 saw Sheppard and drummer Pete Phipps hook up with former Sparks/Jet keyboard player Peter Oxendale for the album Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, credited to Oxendale & Sheppard and released in the U.S. only. The potential is there and the talent is there- could the Glitter Band be about to use rock & roll to excise the ghost of Gary Glitter the bacofoil god with feet of clay? (Hello also scored with another Hey-era staple, a cover of the Exciters' "Tell Him. Who else? The Glitter Band (originally - though briefly - called The Glittermen) were formed by producer Mike Leander in 1972 as backing and session musicians for Gary Glitter. In short, he was a pop genius and should be lauded in the way that Joe Meek is. The name of the other one escapes me.. I have their albums playing in my car still x, Your email address will not be published. In 2009, drummer Pete Phipps (who had taken ownership of the name "The Glitter Band") and original bassist and vocalist John Springate put together a new version of the group with the addition of Dominic Rodgers on guitar and vocals, and Eddie Spence on keyboards and vocals. Ultimately, the Glitter Band became almost as successful, and certainly as well-known, as Gary Glitter himself. The Glitter Band spent five years backing up the singer until they split away under Leanders steady tutelage to have their own hits which of course meant that they fell out with the leader of the gang in 1977 and have never spoken to him since then but his ghost is ever present. A dynamic combination". With John Rossall having quit for a solo career, the remaining members signed with CBS and, shortening their name to the G Band, set to work on their most ambitious collection yet, Paris Match. Written by John Rossall and Gerry Sheppard, their debut single, "Angel Face," was an obvious close relation to the Glitter sound, a pounding, stomping number that raced to number four in Britain in March 1974, but it unquestionably possessed a charm all of its own. However, in 1981, they reconvened with a little heard single, Until The Next Time. Their choice of bandleader also reached back to that earlier era -- baritone sax player John Rossall had previously played with Leander's own eponymous orchestra, and with Glitter in the subsequent Boston International. (of course), later in 1974. Pete Phipps still performs live as The Glitter Band. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Phipps was a founder member of The Glitter Band (originally known as The Glittermen), who started as Gary Glitter's backing band, and went on to success in their own right, having six top ten singles in the UK in the mid-1970s. In 2000 he teamed up once again with Shephard to pen the UKs Eurovision entry, Dont Play That Song Again, performed by French. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. I shall surely play them again now. [3] Shephard and Phipps had previously guested on Denim's Back In Denim (1992).[11]. Phipps was then asked to join Random Hold, a band he had already worked with a year or two before. Every day he would be in the studio producing session after session. Springate and Shephard also wrote the UK's 2000 Eurovision Song Contest entry, "Don't Play That Song Again" performed by Nicki French.[13]. It became their biggest hit in early 1975, reaching No.2. Their cover of The Exciters Tell Him (previously covered in the UK by Billie Davis) was actually pressed up as a single by their record company, but the band, who didnt want to be known as a covers act, demanded they be destroyed. "The Glitter Band" started life in 1972 as backing and session musicians for Gary Glitter, providing the backing music not only for Gary's chartbusters but also providing 'The Leader' with the unique powerful, and gutsy big beat for his concerts around the world. Gary Glitter Modest Mouse Angels of Light The Melvins Frank Zappa Tortoise Hidden Orchestra Dananananaykroyd Kylesa Godsmack, occasionally Do Make Say Think Tornavalanche Mushroomhead Black Eyes U.S. Christmas The Fall 1981-1984; 1993-1997 (occasional) NoMeansNo 1993-1997 Radiohead The Roots Pavement Arcade Fire Levon Helm during the '80s Shes been buying records for over 40 years and going to gigs since the 70s (just!) Trevor Horn played bass guitar for the band in this era. In recent years the Glitter Band have been considered guilty by association for having had the temerity to start out backing the disgraced Gary Glitter. The band switched to CBS Records and later Epic Records, and changed their name to The G Band to disassociate themselves from Glitter, but failed to find another hit single. The bands third album, Listen To The Band, followed at the end of 1975. And while the band's original sound was firmly cut in the style of their namesake, by the end of their career, they'd developed into a wholly original and utterly captivating act in their own right. He then rejoined Gary Glitter for UK, Middle East and US tours. Lets Get Together Again was the next official Glitter Band single and was another chart hit. [5] They regrouped as The Glitter Band in 1980 with the addition of Eddy Spence on keyboards and Brian Jones replacing Harvey on sax. With his first major concert tour looming, Glitter and producer/co-conspirator Mike Leander needed a full-time backing band for live work. In December 2013, John Rossall released a new single, a Glitter styled version of the classic "White Christmas". Fond memories of the 70s come to mind. Two further albums, Rock 'n' Roll Dudes and Listen to the Band, were equally courageous, with the group's ambition now so pronounced that they even brushed aside the first signs that their invincibility was cracking: the chart failure of the singles "Alone Again" and "Don't Make Promises.". A year later, he toured with the Elgins. Between 1992 and 1996, whilst remaining in the Glitter Band, Phipps joined Denim, a band formed by Lawrence Hayward. They guested on Denims glam rock themed 1992 album, Back In Denim with Shephard and his star guitar featuring in the video for Middle Of The Road. After Rossall was taken to court in 1983, an injunction banned him from using Glitter in his band name; a second legal ruling in 1997, after Rossall had persistently breached the first order, resulted in him receiving a one-year suspended prison sentence which would come into force if he used the Glitter name again. Sadly Gerry Shephard passed away on May 6th 2003. People come to the gigs and they understand that the band and the songs are quite separate from the whole situation.". All rights reserved. Pete Gill detoxed in 2004 after having a problem with alcohol for two years, and is unable to play anymore due to severe arthritis which "has spread to my hands and my legs and my back".[5]. Great band, great music. Evidence that the Glitter Band were capable of meeting greater challenges than the Glitter sound normally set was delivered in early 1975 with their fourth single, the soft rock ballad "Goodbye My Love." Rossall is even talking of making a new album. In 1981, the group released a new single, "Until the Next Time," maintaining a steady stream of further releases over the next five years. The Glitter Band sound was what attracted me to them back in the day. Although the band was not physically present on any of Glitter's own hits (according to the singer, Mike Leander alone played every instrument himself), the Glitter Band not only accompanied Glitter on his tours and television appearances, they also racked up seven hits of their own, six of them making the Top Ten. Yeah thats right the sick dog of pop Gary Glitter, the fallen star, the convicted paedophile whose every movement is the concern of the tabloids. He called Rossall, who took him up on the offer, on the understanding that at some point his band would get to record their own material. Peter Gill (born 9 June 1951) is an English former heavy metal drummer, formerly a member of The Glitter Band, Saxon and Motrhead . CUSTOM COMMISSIONS NOW OPEN! Producer Mike Leander kept the distinctive sound on many of the songs, but there is evidence of a slicker sound on a few of the tracks. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary Glitter from 1972 to 1973. Their next single, Goodbye My Love, was something of a departure from their earlier singles. Currently taking Commissions to begin in Early 2023. The Glitterband certainly did use 2 drummers. Glitter Band bass player John Rossall co-wrote some of the songs and continues the band to this day, but he knows his place in the scheme of things. Experimenting in the studio one night Leander did one of those rare things: he synthesised a whole new pop sound from some unlikely sources. As well as The Tears I Cried which kept to the Leander sound, it also included their first non-charting single, the ballad, Alone Again. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. - Great Drum solo from Pete Phipps 88,719 views Dec 12, 2010 366 Dislike Share Save Description ggspotter 286 subscribers The Glitter Band performing on their. The next year, Phipps played with the Legendary Purple Helmets a Stranglers offshoot. Petridis, Alexis (2006) "Film & Music: Rock & pop reviews: Pop reissue: Denim Back in Denim", Band biography on official fan club website, The Official Glitter Band Website - The Glitter Band, The Official Website for Pete Phipps and The Glitter Band, John Rossall's Official Website + Detailed History of the Boston Showband/Glitter Band, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Glitter_Band&oldid=1137106185, Pete Phipps drummer, keyboardist (19731979, 1985present), Dominic Rodgers guitarist (2001present), John Rossall trombonist, saxophonist (19731974); died 2021, Harvey Ellison saxophonist, guitarist, pianist, backing vocals (19731977); died 2017, Gerry Shephard guitarist, lead and backing vocals (1973-1979, 19812001); died 2003, John Springate bassist, lead and backing vocals (19731979, 19811987, 20092019), Tony Leonard drummer (19731977, 19811985), Eddy Spence keyboardist (19811987, 20092019), This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 20:59. 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