The End (UK band)

The End were a British band formed in 1965 by Dave Brown and Colin Griffin following the demise of The Innocents. Nick Graham and John Horton joined from Dickie Pride's backing group, The Original Topics, whilst Roger Groom, formerly of The Tuxedos, completed the lineup. The band was produced by Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, who arranged for them to tour with his group, as well as acts The Spencer Davis Group, The Moody Blues and Unit 4 + 2. After the tour, Grooms quit and was replaced by Hugh Atwooll, an old friend of Graham. Horton would also quit, but continued to work with the band on their second single, 'Shades of Orange', which featured the late Nicky Hopkins on harpsichord.

Following the single's release, Gordon Smith also left and was replaced by former Mode guitarist Terry Taylor. The band then decamped to Spain, where several singles were released domestically, including 'Why', a Top Five hit in April 1967. By Christmas 1968, both Colin Giffin and Hugh Attwooll had left, resulting in the addition of a new drummer, Paul Francis; however, with the arrival of another Mode band member, Jim Henderson, the band slowly metamorphosed into the more progressive-sounding Tucky Buzzard.

The band, nonetheless, to record a studio album for Decca, Introspection; however, due to the band's untimely breakup and The Rolling Stones' fallout with manager Allen Klein, the album was shelved until its official release a year later in December 1969. Although a commercial failure during the time of its release, the album is now viewed as one of the finest examples of British psychedelia.

External Links

• All Music Guide Entry
• Biography: 'Shades of the End'