Beggars Opera (band)

Last updated

Beggars Opera
Genres Progressive rock
Years active1969 (1969)–1976 (1976)
Labels Vertigo Records
Past members
  • Ricky Gardiner
  • Alan Park
  • Raymond Wilson
  • Martin Griffiths
  • Marshall Erskine
  • Gordon Sellar
  • Pete Scott
  • Linnie Paterson
  • Virginia Scott
  • Mike Travis
  • Clem Cattini
Website www.beggarsopera.co.uk

Beggars Opera was a Scottish progressive rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner (born 31 August 1948, Edinburgh, Scotland), vocalist Martin Griffiths (born 8 October 1949, Newcastle upon Tyne), and bassist Marshall Erskine (bass/flute). After working together building parts of the M40 Motorway near Beaconsfield, the three lads moved back to Glasgow to look for an organist and drummer and recruited Alan Park (keyboards) (born 10 May 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) and Raymond Wilson (drums). After an intensive time in rehearsal, they took up residency at Burns Howff club/pub in West Regent Street in the centre of Glasgow. Tours of Europe followed and the band found success in Germany, appearing on German TV's legendary Beat-Club , then at the first British Rock Meeting in Speyer in September 1971. [1]

Contents

History

In 1970, after signing to Vertigo Records, the band recorded their first album Act One , and a single "Sarabande", which charted record in several European countries. [1] The following year, for their second album, Waters of Change , the band were joined by Virginia Scott (mellotron) and Gordon Sellar (bass) (born 13 June 1947, Glasgow, Scotland). [1] The single "Time Machine" from that album was successful in Germany, where the band toured extensively.

Erskine left the band before they recorded their third album, Pathfinder (1972), which included a cover version of Richard Harris' hit "MacArthur Park". [1] Several other personnel changes ensued, with Pete Scott replacing Griffiths in 1972, and Linnie Paterson replacing Pete Scott in 1973. By 1973's final album, Get Your Dog Off Me, Beggars Opera were reduced to a trio of Gardiner, Park and Sellar. [1]

In 1974/76 a new version of Beggars Opera recorded two albums for Jupiter Records in Germany: Sagittary, featuring Gardiner (guitar), Pete Scott (vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron) (born 1948, Glasgow,Scotland) and Mike Travis (drums), and Beggars Can't Be Choosers with Clem Cattini replacing Travis on drums.

Gardiner went on to play for David Bowie on the Low album, and with Iggy Pop on the Lust for Life album as well as his Idiot tour of 1976. He co-wrote "The Passenger" with Iggy Pop.

Alan Park (organist) worked with Cliff Richard for many years as musical director.

Griffiths sang and was compere in the working men's clubs in and around Manchester until he left for Germany in 1974. He went on tour and worked with Brian Auger, Osibisa, Ekseption, Klaus Doldinger, Ange and Can before signing a recording contract with Jupiter Records (Ralph Siegel) releasing three singles: "I’ll Be Coming Home", ”Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and "Israelites", which reached number 3 in the German Disco Charts in 1977.

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iggy Pop</span> American rock musician (born 1947)

James Newell Osterberg Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1967 and have disbanded and reunited many times since. Often called the "Godfather of Punk", he was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR. In 2010, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Stooges. Pop also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 for his solo work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Bruce</span> Scottish musician (1943–2014)

John Symon Asher Bruce was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of rock band Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a solo career and also played with several bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubeway Army</span> English new wave band

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. Formed at the height of punk rock in 1977 the band gradually changed to an electronic sound. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis (band)</span> Scottish band

Travis are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1990, composed of Fran Healy, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. The band's name comes from the character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas (1984). The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in January 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runrig</span> Scottish Celtic rock band

Runrig were a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. From its inception, the band's line-up included brothers and songwriters Rory MacDonald and Calum MacDonald (percussion). The line-up during most of the 1980s and 1990s also included Donnie Munro (vocals), Malcolm Jones (guitar), Iain Bayne (drums), and Pete Wishart (keyboards). Munro left the band in 1997 to pursue a career in politics and was replaced by Bruce Guthro. Wishart left in 2001, also to pursue a career in politics, and was replaced by Brian Hurren. The band released fourteen studio albums, with a number of their songs sung in Scottish Gaelic.

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

Marmalade are a Scottish pop rock band originating from the east end of Glasgow, originally formed in 1961 as The Gaylords, and then later billed as Dean Ford and the Gaylords, recording four singles for Columbia (EMI). In 1966 they changed the band's name to The Marmalade and were credited as such on all of their subsequent recorded releases with CBS Records and Decca Records until 1972. Their greatest chart success was between 1968 and 1972, placing ten songs on the UK Singles Chart, and many overseas territories, including international hits "Reflections of My Life", which reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart and No. 3 on the UK chart in January 1970, and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", which topped the UK chart in January 1969, the group becoming the first-ever Scottish artist to top that chart.

<i>Lust for Life</i> (Iggy Pop album) 1977 studio album by Iggy Pop

Lust for Life is the second solo studio album by the American musician Iggy Pop, released on September 9, 1977, through RCA Records. It was his second collaboration with English musician and friend David Bowie after The Idiot, released in March the same year. Shortly after Bowie released his own album Low in January, Pop went on a tour to support The Idiot with Bowie as his keyboardist. At the tour's conclusion, Pop and Bowie regrouped in Berlin to record the former's next solo album.

<i>The Idiot</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Iggy Pop

The Idiot is the debut studio album by the American musician Iggy Pop, released on March 18, 1977, through RCA Records. It was produced by David Bowie and primarily recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France. The album followed the break-up of Pop's band the Stooges in 1974 and a period of drug addiction for both Pop and Bowie, after which the two moved to Europe in an effort to kick their addictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Primrose (musician)</span> Scottish musician

Neil Primrose is the drummer of the Scottish rock quartet Travis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Asheton</span> American drummer (1949–2014)

Scott Randolph Asheton was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band the Stooges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Abercrombie (guitarist)</span> American jazz guitarist (1944–2017)

John Laird Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.

<i>S. F. Sorrow</i> 1968 studio album by Pretty Things

S. F. Sorrow is the fourth album by the English rock band Pretty Things. Released in 1968, it is known as one of the first rock operas ever released.

Ricky Gardiner was a Scottish guitarist and composer.

<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.

The Flying Hat Band were an early 1970s Birmingham, England rock act that, alongside Judas Priest, ranked as the Midlands' favourites to succeed. Despite not having released an album, the band proved a successful club act and eventually went on to support Deep Purple on one of their European tours.

Wally was an English progressive rock band, led by the singer-songwriter Roy Webber, which originated in the early 1970s.

<i>Act One</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Beggars Opera

Act One is the debut album of the Scottish progressive band Beggars Opera.

<i>Waters of Change</i> 1971 studio album by Beggars Opera

Waters of Change is the second album by the Scottish progressive band Beggars Opera, published in 1971.

<i>Pathfinder</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Beggars Opera

Pathfinder is the third album by the Scottish progressive band Beggars Opera, published in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Studies (band)</span> Music band

Modern Studies is a chamber pop band based between Scotland and Lancashire. The group has released four studio albums and a remix collaboration, all on Fire Records.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Larkin C Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN   0-7535-0149-X) p45
Bibliography