User:Blackmetalbaz/Nutz (band)

Nutz was a rock band from England in the 1970s.

As this is intended to be an insight to a band (though a personalised view) that threatened great things in the rock World – playing all the major venues and festivals signing to major label yet little inspirational management decisions that cost them total stardom – Nutz’s career as a capsulated history of the band from their inception in late 1972 onwards is as interesting as their peers.

Nutz a rock band formed in Liverpool late 1972 were originally called Jiminy Cricket with band member changes and the addition of Dave Lloyd and John Mylett they became Harpoon. Their name was changed by record company A&M in 1973 to Nutz - the band members were John Mylett-drums, Mick Devonport-guitar, Dave Lloyd-vocals and Keith Mulholland-bass. Who knows where the name originally comes from though during the Battle of the bulge in WW2 an American commander sent a message back to the Germans after being asked to surrender, which just read ‘nutz’...

Colour me gone (part of Zeppelins management) Mike Clifford & Chris Trendgrove were very interested in signing the band and managed them during their first two albums.

They had management offers from Peter Grant (Zeppelins management who took over Bad Company)

They signed for David Oddie of Quarry Management who also managed Status Quo, Rory Gallagher and Graham Bonnet ‘.Alan Crux ( Quarry Accountant) first saw them on tour with ‘SNAFU’ who was also part of Quarry Oddie controversially stopped the band from going to USA where many people suggested they would have cleaned up...this management company took albums and tours with Status Quo & Black Sabbath. They released their first album entitled simply ‘Nutz One,’ the album cover was slightly controversial with a young lady bending over ‘legs a kimbo’, the lady in question was Linda Halpin. Linda was the sister of one of the World’s most famous Rock ‘n’ Roll photographer Ross Halpin. John Antony produced the album, who also produced Queen They released three further albums ‘Nutz Too’ and Hard Nutz ‘Nutz Live Cutz’ during which time they had played major festivals including ‘Reading Festival’, which they played twice. They eventually signed to John Arnison who took over management until they split when John Mylett died. During John Arnison’s management they changed their name to ‘Rage’ and added Terry Steers (guitar) to their lineup they then signed to French label Carerre records in 1981 and released three albums – the first being ‘Out of control’ , this album sold quite well Worldwide and received accolades including a 5 star review from the Kerrang magazine. They went on to record two further albums in 1982 called ‘Nice & Dirty’ and in 1983 they released ‘Run For the Night’ this saw a return to a good fan support that Nutz received throughout the 1970’s.

They had a good fanbase in the Midlands as well as London and much of the UK for that matter and when they played ‘Barbarellas’ in Birmingham they stormed it, this is when the radio station session came about. The live recordings of the session only came to light recently when Peter Muir of ‘Market Square Records’ discovered the tapes. John Mylett was tragically killed in Ibiza in 1984 this is when the band decided to split although they did continue to work together in different project for many years afterwards and Nutz have recently reformed to work on some new material with session drummer Paul Ryan?

Jeff Beck said of guitarist Mick Devonport after watching Nutz on the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ “the kid from Nutz can do it just as good as anyone” later Mick went on to play with ‘Lion’ in the US ( he was replaced by Robin Le’mesurier son of Hattie Jacques and John Le’Mesurier) he also formed a band with ex Bitter Sweet & Panza Division drummer Steve Mitchell called Fieldforce, Keith Mulholland went on to play in a band with Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) called Garth Rockett & the Moonshiners and Chris Norman of Smokie. John Mylett previous to his tragic accident played with the Weather Girls, was a cast member of children’s program ‘Our Back Yard’ and he also sessioned with many famous bands, including auditions for ACDC and Dave Lloyd recorded a demo with ex Diamond Head bassist Mervyn Goldsworthy, ex Samson guitarist Dave Colwell and drummer Pete Jupp prior to forming AOR orientated band 2AM with Mark Thomas before touring as vocalist on Uli Jon Roth’s American tour.