Armageddon (British band)

Last updated

Armageddon
Origin England
Genres Hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Years active1974–1976
Labels A&M
Past members Bobby Caldwell
Louis Cennamo
Martin Pugh
Keith Relf

Armageddon were an English hard rock band formed in 1974. Their self-titled debut, Armageddon , was recorded in England and released in the United States on A&M Records. The albums' original liner notes use the term "supergroup", as their personnel were drummer Bobby Caldwell (previously a member of Captain Beyond), singer Keith Relf (who had fronted the band the Yardbirds and was a co-founder of Renaissance), guitarist Martin Pugh (from Steamhammer), and bassist Louis Cennamo (also formerly of Renaissance and Steamhammer).

Contents

History

Keith Relf had helped with post production of the final Steamhammer LP, Speech, in 1971/72. [1] Steamhammer's dissolution took place the same year of the album's release, as they had undergone numerous personnel changes since their inception, not the least of which was the death of drummer Mick Bradley in February 1972. [2] The remaining Steamhammer alumni, Pugh and Cennamo, shared a flat and were asked by Keith Relf to move to Los Angeles with him early in 1974 with a view of forming a new band. They set out to recruit a drummer and happened across Bobby Caldwell (who had also been suggested to the band by Aynsley Dunbar) at The Rainbow in Hollywood; they began rehearsing together in late 1974/early 1975. Cennamo's old friend, Peter Frampton, was also now in Los Angeles and helped them to make contact with his management and record label. [3]

Armageddon was managed initially by Dee Anthony (Peter Frampton, Humble Pie, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and later Jerry Weintraub (Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan), but the band never toured (they played only two live shows during their existence: in July 1975 at the Starwood in Hollywood, California, [4] ) so it is likely they were negatively impacted by the consequent reduced exposure level and record sales. [5]

Break-up

In a 2001 interview, drummer Caldwell mentioned that the band's management became increasingly more difficult to communicate with; consequently they were not being promoted properly. Bassist Cennamo stated in liner notes of the CD re-release of the album on the Repertoire label in 1999 that Caldwell and Pugh's drug problems (heroin) [5] had created difficulties within the band, which apparently ran at cross purposes with the fact that the record received good reviews and significant FM radio attention, and was selling reasonably well. Cennamo also states that Relf's long-time asthma problems were turning into emphysema (making it increasingly hard for Relf to draw air into his lungs to sing), and the band had dissolved many months prior to the sudden death of Keith Relf in May 1976.

Post-Armageddon

After Armageddon folded, bassist Cennamo reunited with his Renaissance bandmates under the name Illusion, and later worked with Jim McCarty in the bands Stairway and Renaissance Illusion. Drummer Caldwell returned to Captain Beyond for an album and tour. [6]

There was an attempt in the 1980s by Pugh and Caldwell to re-form the band, as they had secured some interest from Capitol Records — vocalist Jeff Fenholt was auditioned for the band, but was eventually found to be musically unsuitable. [7] Further auditions did not result in an acceptable replacement, and the idea to reform was shelved. Apart from that, guitarist Pugh appears to have retired from music after 1975, though he did emerge to play guitar on sessions alongside American rock guitarist Geoff Thorpe [8] of Vicious Rumors in American band 7th Order [9] on their debut CD, The Lake of Memory , released on the Big Island Sounds label in 2007. [10]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance (band)</span> English progressive rock band

Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, best known for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia", and "Ashes Are Burning". They developed a unique sound, combining a female lead vocal with a fusion of classical, folk, rock, and jazz influences. Characteristic elements of the Renaissance sound are Annie Haslam's wide vocal range, prominent piano accompaniment, orchestral arrangements and vocal harmonies.

<i>Little Games</i> 1967 studio album by the Yardbirds

Little Games is the fourth American album by the English rock band the Yardbirds. Recorded and released in 1967, it was their first album recorded after becoming a quartet with Jimmy Page as the sole guitarist and Chris Dreja switching to bass. It was also the only Yardbirds album produced by Mickie Most.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Relf</span> English musician (1943–1976)

William Keith Relf was an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist and harmonica player for rock band the Yardbirds. He then formed the band Renaissance with his sister Jane Relf, the Yardbirds ex-drummer Jim McCarty and ex-The Nashville Teens keyboardist John Hawken.

Bobby Caldwell is an American drummer, songwriter, producer and arranger who co-founded the rock bands Captain Beyond and Armageddon during the early 1970s. Prior to these projects he played on seminal Johnny Winter albums such as Live Johnny Winter And and Saints and Sinners. Caldwell was also the drummer on Rick Derringer's All American Boy, which produced the classic-rock radio staple "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"; a song originally written by Derringer and recorded by the band, Johnny Winter and, with Derringer's brother, Randy Z on drums. He also played with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, The Allman Brothers Band, and Eric Clapton. Caldwell and Derringer recorded "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" at Caribou Ranch in Colorado.

Illusion were a British progressive rock band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist (1977) and Illusion (1978) on Island Records, before folding in 1979. A third release titled Enchanted Caress was released in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hawken</span> British keyboardist (1940–2024)

John Christopher Hawken was an English keyboard player, best known as a member of The Nashville Teens, Renaissance, and the Strawbs. He also played in Spooky Tooth, Third World War, Vinegar Joe and Illusion, as well as being a session musician.

<i>An Old Raincoat Wont Ever Let You Down</i> 1969 studio album by Rod Stewart

An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down is the debut solo studio album by Rod Stewart. First released in the United States in November 1969 as The Rod Stewart Album, the album peaked at No. 139 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. It was later released in the United Kingdom with the modified title in February 1970. Stewart's Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood and Ian McLagan also appear on the album, along with Keith Emerson, Jeff Beck Group drummer Micky Waller and guitarists Martin Pugh and Martin Quittenton.

Jane Relf is a British singer, best known as the original vocalist for the progressive rock band Renaissance. She is the younger sister of Keith Relf of the Yardbirds.

Louis David Cennamo is an English bass guitarist, who has recorded and/or toured with a number of important British rock/blues/progressive bands, including The Herd, Renaissance and Colosseum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steamhammer (band)</span> English rock band

Steamhammer are an English rock band from Worthing, England, that were formed in 1968 by vocalist Kieran White, guitarists Martin Quittenton and Martin Pugh, bassist Steve Davy, and drummer Michael Rushton.

<i>Armageddon</i> (Armageddon album) 1975 studio album by Armageddon

Armageddon was the only album released by British/American progressive rock group Armageddon in 1975. It features vocalist Keith Relf, Martin Pugh, Louis Cennamo, and Bobby Caldwell.

Michael Waller was an English drummer, who played with many of the biggest names on the UK rock and blues scene, after he became a professional musician in 1960. In addition to being a member, albeit sometimes briefly, of some of the seminal bands of the 1960s, Waller played as a session musician with a host of UK and US artists.

<i>Illusion</i> (Renaissance album) 1971 studio album by Renaissance

Illusion is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in 1971. It was originally released only in Germany and did not receive a wider release until 1973. It was first released in the UK in 1977, with a cover that had the original front and rear cover artwork swapped.

Martin John Pugh is a British guitarist who came to prominence after joining blues-rock band Steamhammer in 1968, staying with that band through 5 years and 4 albums. The debut Steamhammer album, also known as Steamhammer, was released in 1969 and yielded a minor hit record in Europe, "Junior's Wailing". Pugh also played on the first Rod Stewart solo album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down.

<i>Speech</i> (Steamhammer album) 1972 studio album by Steamhammer

Speech is the fourth album by the British rock band Steamhammer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Order</span> American rock & roll band

7th Order is an American rock & roll band whose debut extended play CD release, The Lake of Memory, was issued on the Big Island Sounds label in 2007 . The band is led by vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter Daniel Jones and is notable for having been assisted by veteran British guitarist Martin Pugh, drummer Tim Kelliher,, and guitarist Geoff Thorpe. Reviewers have recognized their particular sound as reminiscent of blues-rock bands like The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds, with progressive undertones ala Led Zeppelin.

Fuzzy Duck were an English progressive rock/ hard rock group from London, formed in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Yardbirds</span> English blues and psychedelic rock band

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band's other members during 1963–1968 were vocalist/harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, with Dreja switching to bass when Samwell-Smith departed in 1966. The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things", and "Over Under Sideways Down".

References

  1. ↑ "Keith Relf Articles". Mnbvcxzl.tripod.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Steamhammer". Dinosaurdays.co.za. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Yardbirds, Renaissance, Medicine Head, Steamhammer, Armageddon". Keithrelf.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Yardbirds, Renaissance, Medicine Head, Steamhammer, Armageddon". Keithrelf.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Northern Lights - The Renaissance Fan Site". Nlightsweb.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Archived 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Armageddon (Official Thread) - Classic Rock Forum". Classicrockforums.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Archived 6 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Brian Currin. ":: The RockIt Scientist on Radio Today :: PLAYLISTS". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "7th Order | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.