Blonde on Blonde (rock group)

Last updated

Blonde on Blonde
Origin Newport, Wales
Genres Psychedelic rock
Years active19671972
Past members
  • Ralph Denyer
  • Les Hicks
  • Richard Hopkins
  • Gareth Johnson
  • David Thomas
  • Graham Davis

Blonde on Blonde was a guitar-led psychedelic rock group from South Wales.

Contents

The band was formed in Newport in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Ralph Denyer, drummer Les Hicks, bassist/organist Richard Hopkins and guitarist/sitar player Gareth Johnson. [1] [2] The band was named after Bob Dylan's 1966 album of the same name.

In 1968 the quartet left Wales for London, and was joined by guitarist Simon Lawrance, playing clubs such as Middle Earth and appearing on the BBC TV series How Late It Is. [1] Signing to Pye Records, they released their first album, Contrasts, produced by Barry Murray, in 1969. The album included the Robin Williamson covers "No Sleep Blues" and "I Need My Friend", and a cover of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby". That summer they appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival. [1]

1970's Rebirth was released on Ember Records after a personnel change that saw Ralph Denyer joining Aquila and replaced by school friend David Thomas. [3] Thomas' introduction gave the band a tougher, rock-oriented sound. Their second album included Moody Blues-styled ballads ("Castles In The Sky"), progressive rock songs ("You'll Never Know Me/Release") and fuzz-guitar based rockers ("November").

In 1971 Richard Hopkins left and was replaced by Graham Davis. Blonde on Blonde's final album Reflections on a Life was released by Ember Records in 1971, but the band achieved only modest commercial success. They disbanded in early 1972.

Ralph Denyer went on to co-write The Guitar Handbook [4] with Isaac Guillory. He died in 2011.

Richard Hopkins died in late October 2022.

Les Hicks died 29 October 2022.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Related Research Articles

<i>Stand Up</i> (Jethro Tull album) 1969 studio album by Jethro Tull

Stand Up is the second studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in 1969. It was the first Jethro Tull album to feature guitarist Martin Barre, who would go on to become the band's longtime guitarist until its initial dissolution in 2012. Before recording sessions for the album began, the band's original guitarist Mick Abrahams departed from the band as a result of musical differences with frontman and primary songwriter Ian Anderson; Abrahams wanted to stay with the blues rock sound of their 1968 debut, This Was, while Anderson wished to add other musical influences such as folk rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Ralphs</span> English musician

Michael Geoffrey Ralphs is an English retired musician, vocalist and songwriter, who was a founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Green (musician)</span> English singer-songwriter and guitarist (1946–2020)

Peter Allen Greenbaum, known professionally as Peter Green, was an English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Green founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 after a stint in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and quickly established the new band as a popular live act in addition to a successful recording act, before departing in 1970. Green's songs, such as "Albatross", "Black Magic Woman", "Oh Well", "The Green Manalishi " and "Man of the World", appeared on singles charts, and several have been adapted by a variety of musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Pegg</span> English bass guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and record producer (born 1947)

Dave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, primarily a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of folk and rock groups including the Ian Campbell Folk Group and Jethro Tull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Miller Band</span> American rock band

The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group had a string of mid- to late-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock, as well as several earlier psychedelic rock albums. Miller left his first band to move to San Francisco and form the Steve Miller Blues Band. Shortly after Harvey Kornspan negotiated the band's contract with Capitol Records in 1967, the band shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. In February 1968, the band recorded its debut album, Children of the Future. It went on to produce the albums Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, Number 5, Rock Love, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams, among others. The band's Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Outlaws is an American Southern rock band from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" and extended guitar jam "Green Grass and High Tides" from their 1975 debut album, plus their 1980 cover of the Stan Jones classic "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Casady</span> American bass guitarist

John William Casady is an American bass guitarist, best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Jefferson Airplane became the first successful exponent of the San Francisco Sound. Singles including "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" charted in 1967 and 1968. Casady, along with the other members of Jefferson Airplane, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blues Image</span> American rock band

Blues Image was an American rock band. They had a hit in 1970 with "Ride Captain Ride", which reached No. 4 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savoy Brown</span> English blues rock band

Savoy Brown were a British blues rock band formed in Battersea, southwest London, in 1965. Part of the late 1960s blues rock movement, Savoy Brown primarily achieved success in the United States, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring. Founder, guitarist and primary songwriter Kim Simmonds was the sole constant member of the band from its formation in 1965 until his death in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Thompson</span> Musical artist

Daniel Henry Edward Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Martyn.

Richard John Whitney, also known as John "Charlie" Whitney, John Whitney and Charlie Whitney, is an English rock musician and a founder member of the bands Family, Streetwalkers and Axis Point.

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

Cactus is an American rock band formed in 1969. It is currently comprising Jimmy Kunes as lead singer, guitarist Paul Warren, drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Jimmy Caputo and Randy Pratt on harmonica.

Toe Fat were an English rock band active from June 1969 to 1971, notable for including two future members of Uriah Heep and of Jethro Tull. During their brief existence, they released two full-length studio albums.

John Weider is an English rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin. He is best known as the guitarist for the Animals from 1966 to 1968. He was also the bass player for Family from 1969 to 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blues Project</span> American rock band

The Blues Project was an American band formed in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood in 1965. The group's original iteration broke up in 1967. Their songs drew from a wide array of musical styles. They are most remembered as one of the most artful practitioners of pop music, influenced as it was by folk, blues, rhythm & blues, jazz and the pop music of the day.

Delivery was a British blues/progressive rock musical group, formed in the late 1960s. The band was one of the wellsprings of the progressive rock Canterbury scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Marsden</span> British guitarist (1951–2023)

Bernard John Marsden was an English rock and blues guitarist. He is primarily known for his work with Whitesnake, having written or co-written with David Coverdale many of the group's hit songs, such as "Fool for Your Loving", "Walking in the Shadow of the Blues", "Ready an' Willing", "Lovehunter", "Trouble", and "Here I Go Again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Rombola</span> American guitarist (born 1964)

Tony Rombola is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist for the Boston-based rock band Godsmack since the mid-1990s. Rombola has been cited as "an extraodinaire" in the guitar world by Guitar World magazine, and is cited to be the only guitarist to keep an "original soloing style" during the nu metal period, earning him the respect of the guitar industry. Rombola is also a guitarist for the side-project band Another Animal, formed at the beginning of 2007. The band released their self-titled debut album in October 2007 and played shows, whilst frontman Sully Erna did a small solo tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Reinhardt</span> Musical artist

Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt was an American rock guitarist who played with Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond. At one time Reinhardt was known by the nicknames "El Rhino" and "Ryno".

Seatrain was an American roots fusion band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed in 1969, subsequently drawing some members from the Blues Project when it broke up. Seatrain recorded four albums and disbanded in 1973.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Larkin C 'Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music' (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN   0-7535-0149-X) p22 – note: Larkin has Ralph Denyer erroneously as Ralph Denver throughout
  2. "Blonde on Blonde". Allmusic . Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  3. bassist Hopkins was credited on the album as 'Richard John'
  4. The Guitar Handbook, Pan Books; 2nd Revised edition, 1992, ISBN   0-330-32750-X Paperback; Knopf Publishing Group; Rev Sub edition (Dec 1992) ISBN   0-679-74275-1
  5. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Melody Maker. 28 June 1969. p. 20. Retrieved 15 September 2021.