Stone the Crows
| Stone The Crows | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genres | Blues |
| Years active | 1968–1973 |
| Past members | |
| Leslie Harvey Maggie Bell Colin Allen John McGinnis Jim Dewar Steve Thompson (bass, 1971) Ronnie Leahy (keyboards, 1971) Jimmy McCulloch (guitar, 1972) |
|
Stone the Crows were a blues band formed in Glasgow in late 1969.
Contents |
[edit] History
The band were formed after Maggie Bell was introduced to Les Harvey by his elder brother, Alex Harvey. After playing together in the Kinning Park Ramblers, they rejoined in a band Power, later renamed Stone the Crows (after a British/Australian English exclamation of surprise or shock) by Led Zeppelin's manager, Peter Grant.[1] The band was co-managed by Grant and Mark London. London was associated with Lulu as the co-writer of her signature song, "To Sir With Love" and was also married to Lulu's manager, Marion Massey. London had also managed the predecessor band Cartoone, which featured Les Harvey on guitar, and in which Peter Grant had a financial interest.[2]
[edit] Original line-up
- Maggie Bell, vocals (born Margaret Bell, 12 January 1945, Maryhill, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland).
- Les Harvey, guitar (born Leslie Cameron Harvey, 13 September 1944, Govan, Glasgow — died 2 May 1972).
- Colin Allen, drums (born Colin Eric Allen, 9 May 1938, Bournemouth, Dorset) (ex-Zoot Money's Big Roll Band and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers)
- James Dewar, bass (born James Dewer, 12 October 1942 Glasgow; died 16 May 2002). (Later with Robin Trower)
- John McGinnis, keyboards
The band's first two albums were recorded by the above line-up, with Bell's vocals "reminiscent of Janis Joplin".[3]
[edit] Second line-up
McGinnis and Dewar left in 1971, to be replaced by Ronnie Leahy and Steve Thompson. Dewar went on to have a successful career with Robin Trower as both bassist and lead singer. The death of Harvey (electrocuted by a live microphone on stage at Swansea's Top Rank Suite in May 1972) almost led to the breakup of the band.[4] The band brought in ex-Thunderclap Newman prodigy Jimmy McCulloch as lead guitarist.
Stone the Crows broke up in June 1973. Bell recorded two albums in the early 1970s, Queen of the Night and Suicide Sal and joined Rod Stewart on Every Picture Tells a Story. Meanwhile, McCulloch joined Paul McCartney's group, Wings, the following year in Nashville, Tennessee.
[edit] Discography
- Stone the Crows (1970)
- Ode to John Law (1970)
- Teenage Licks (1971)
- Ontinuous Performance (1972) - UK Number 33[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Welch, Chris (2002). Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin. p. 23. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.
- ^ Uncredited, Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand, Biography of Mark London. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ Logan, Nick &Woffinden, Bob (eds.) The New Musical Express Book of Rock, W.H. Allen &Co. Ltd (Star), 1973, p. 489-490. ISBN 0-352-39715-2.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. pp. 238. CN 5585.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 534. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
[edit] External links
- Stone the Crows biography from linernotes by Chris Welch at Alex Gitlin's website
