Chris Glen

Last updated

Chris Glen
Guitare en Scene 2019 - Michael Schenker Fest (48282020737) cropped.jpg
Glen performing with Michael Schenker Fest in 2019
Background information
Birth nameChristopher John Glen
Born (1950-11-06) November 6, 1950 (age 73)
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Origin Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Bassist
Years active1969–present
Labels
Website http://www.chrisglen.co.uk/

Christopher John Glen (born 6 November 1950), known simply as Chris Glen, is a Scottish rock musician. He is best known for playing with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band from 1972 to 1977, and The Michael Schenker Group from 1980 to 1984, 2008 to 2010, and 2016 to 2020. [1] He also performed with Michael Schenker Fest, featuring original MSG band members.

Contents

Early career and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Glen began his career as bassist for a band known as The Jade in 1969. That band changed their name to Mustard, which eventually was composed of Eddie Campbell (keyboards), Zal Cleminson (guitar), Glen (bass, vocals), Gilson Lavis (drums) and Andi Mulvey (vocals). After changing their name to Tear Gas, Mulvey was replaced by David Batchelor, and Lavis was replaced by Richard Munro. This lineup recorded their first album Piggy Go Getter in 1970. Eventually another personnel change saw Campbell leave and Ted McKenna and his cousin Hugh McKenna take over for Munro and Batchelor (who went on to produce several SAHB albums). They recorded a second album Tear Gas in 1971. [2] Neither album sold well.

In 1972, fellow Scotsman Alex Harvey joined forces with Tear Gas and together they formed the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. They played with the lineup of Harvey, Cleminson, Glen and the McKennas until a personnel change in 1976 which saw Hugh McKenna replaced by Tommy Eyre. Harvey who had left briefly in 1976, left the band for good in 1977. The band disbanded just before the release of the album Rock Drill. The band were due to start a European Tour which started in Stockholm, Sweden but Alex left the rehearsal studio early as he had seen a Purple Light which means you cannot cross water. Alex was very superstitious and told the band he could not cross water to start the tour and eventually left the band. The surviving members of SAHB formed several times between 1993 and 2008 with various vocalists.

John Martyn

Glen had a brief spell with guitarist John Martyn where he performed at Glastonbury in 1979. Glen was also part of Martyn's album Grace and Danger .

Michael Schenker Group (1980–1984)

After his record deal with Mountain Management expired, Glen was now a free agent to perform with other acts properly and it was around 1980 he was introduced to German rock guitarist Michael Schenker who shot to fame in Scorpions and UFO respectively. Glen performed on the albums Michael Schenker Group, Assault Attack , Built to Destroy and two live albums: Live at the Budokan with Cozy Powell on drums, and then a few years later Rock Will Never Die with Ted McKenna on drums. Glen left MSG in 1984 due to Schenker's erratic behaviour with drink and drugs.

GMT (Glen/Macaulay/Taylor) (1985)

Shortly after leaving MSG, Glen formed his first band GMT which consisted of Vocalist Robin MacAulay, ex Motorhead drummer Phil 'Philthy' Taylor, and Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson. The band released a 4 track EP called Wargames but disbanded shortly after that. Glen done session work for TV and Radio, as well as working as a bus driver in London.

Ian Gillan Band (1990)

In 1990, Glen was approached by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan to be part of the rhythm section of his solo band which would see him pair up once again with SAHB/MSG drummer Ted McKenna and they embarked on a world tour to promote Gillan's solo album Naked Thunder . This tour also released a live DVD from the tour which was filmed in Nottingham, England.

Reunions with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1992–2008)

Glen performing with SAHB in 2007. Chris Glen SAHB.JPG
Glen performing with SAHB in 2007.

In 1991, Ted McKenna formed The Party Boys which was a super group of musicians with guest vocalists which featured the likes Alan Thomson on Bass, Zal Cleminson on Guitar, Ronnie Leahy on Keyboards, and vocalists such as Stevie Doherty, Fish, and Dan McCafferty. This then changed when Ronnie and Alan were unable to do a handful of shows so Ted brought in Glen on bass and SAHB keyboardist Hugh McKenna.

This band lasted about 2 years before they decided to reform as SAHB as the line up was pretty much SAHB (Without Alex). They stuck with vocalist Stevie Doherty and had relative success in the UK and Europe and also released a live album called Live in Glasgow 93 .

This line-up of SAHB disbanded in 1995, before reforming in 2002 for a tribute night to Frankie Miller at The Barrowlands in Glasgow with ex Nazareth guitarist Billy Rankin on vocals. After a year 'Mad' Max Maxwell replaced Rankin on vocals.

SAHB released a live album titled Zalvation , which was their first official release since Rock Drill with Alex Harvey in 1977, and an autobiography called SAHBSTORY, written by former tour manager and author Martin Keilty. The band performed numerous tours and festivals across the UK, Europe, and Australia before once again disbanding in 2008 after the departure of Zal Cleminson on guitar. The band carried out a handful of shows that were pre-booked with guitarist Julian Hutson Saxby but after that, they decided to move on to separate projects.

Chris Glen & The Outfit (2008–2020)

In 2008, Glen has formed his own band Chris Glen and the Outfit which featured ex Rainbow vocalist Doogie White, SAHB Frontman Max Maxwell, ex Marianne Faithful guitarist Brian McFie, and ex Texas drummer Ross McFarlane.

The Outfit members changed a lot over the years and some of the musicians included: Davie Halley - Drums John McClelland - Drums Julian Hutson Saxby - Guitar Dave Cuthbert - Guitar Jon Morrison - Guitar Peter Higgins - Vocals Peter Scallan - Vocals Leon Gowrie - Vocals Stuart Clyde - Keyboards David Cowan Keyboards Sean McQueen - Keyboards and more..

This project consisted of material that Glen had been playing throughout his career from SAHB, Michael Schenker, and Ian Gillan. No original material was ever written or performed during this venture.

Michael Schenker Group (2008–2010)

Glen re-joined the Michael Schenker Group (MSG) to 2010 to promote the album, In the Midst of Beauty . That was Glen's first tour with MSG since he left in 1984 shortly after recording the Built to Destroy album. He has also performed on two tracks on Michael Schenker's 2010 album Temple of Rock . During this time Glen performed several tours in the UK, and Japan and selected dates in Europe. They played some notable festivals such as Hard Rock Hell. Glen would be invited into the line up periodically thereafter.

Gwyn Ashton / Paul Rose

Glen and Ted McKenna worked with Australian guitarist Gwyn Ashton, on an album called Prohibition in 2004 and performed shows to promote it. This was a brief project that both Glen and McKenna were involved in. Later in 2004, McKenna was working with Paul Rose and asked Glen to come in for some shows with the band but shortly left and was replaced by Alan Thomson. McKenna continued to work with Rose on and off until his passing in 2019.

Cafe Jacques

He is a member of the reformed 1970s band Cafe Jacques with drummer Davie Halley, keyboardist Stuart Clyde, and original vocalist/guitarist Chris Thomson. The band released a 3-track EP called Lifer before disbanding following the death of drummer Davie Halley.

Votadini

Glen was part of the 3 piece project composed mainly of rock standards with a twist. The band consisted of Chris Thomson on guitar and vocals, and Johnny 'Bohran' Watson.

Chris Slade Timeline / Steel Circle

Glen was asked by the legendary drummer Chris Slade to do a European Tour with his band Steel Circle, which was a band put together to perform the hits of Slade's career. This soon molded into Chris Slade's Timeline. Slade was a member of AC/DC as well as worked with David Gilmour, Manfred Mann, The Firm with Jimmy Page, Tom Jones and many more. This tour was for Slade's 50th anniversary in the music business.

Michael Schenker Fest

In 2016, Glen and Ted McKenna rejoined Michael Schenker for Michael Schenker Fest - a Celebration of the musical career of the rock guitar legend. They recorded in Tokyo the live DVD and double CD package Tokyo International Forum Hall A and 2018 their first studio album Resurrection. Ted McKenna died on 19 January 2019, and was replaced by Bodo Schopf. The band recorded 2019 their follow up studio album Revelation. In 2022 Michael Schenker Fest reverted to being MSG and the line up of the band changed and Glen was no longer involved.

The Bass Business

In and around 2018, Glen decided it was time to put all his stories and his experiences on paper so he collaborated with author and former SAHB Manager Martin Keilty to write a book called The Bass Business which received reasonable success and sales. There is talk of a second book as Glen has so many stories he could not fit them into the one book! Nothing has been confirmed on this as of yet.

The Outfit Featuring Chris Glen

Glen performs fairly regularly with a revised version of The Outfit mainly in the Glasgow and Edinburgh circuit. They are now known as The Outfit Featuring Chris Glen as opposed to Chris Glen & The Outfit. Lead guitarist Peter Higgins has taken the reins of the project and in 2022 the band recorded their first EP and are currently working on a debut studio album yet to be named. The band feature Peter Higgins on Guitar, Chris Aylward on Lead Vocals and Guitar, and John Clelland on Drums. Occasionally they use keyboards and it is known that they use local and respected players and former band members Stuart Clyde and David Cowan respectively when required. In recent gigs, The Outfit have shared the stage with SAHB tribute band The SAHB Experience as well as the reformed sin'dogs and Tyson Schenker (Michael Schenker's son) band MadreSun.

Currently

Due to health related issues, Glen is no longer able to tour extensively as he is currently awaiting surgery on his knees. Regardless of this, Glen has lived an incredible life and performed all over the world and is still regarded as one of the best players in the business. Glen still attends gigs as regularly as he can to support upcoming bands and is part of the Shock City Promotions team based in Glasgow who put on bands in various venues throughout the UK.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Harvey (musician)</span> Scottish rock musician (1935–1982)

Alexander James Harvey was a Scottish rock and blues musician. Although his career spanned almost three decades, he is best remembered as the frontman of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, with whom he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the era of glam rock in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schenker</span> German guitarist

Michael Schenker is a German guitarist. He played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker. In the mid-1970s, Schenker joined UFO, playing lead and rhythm guitar. He left the band in 1978 to briefly rejoin Scorpions for the recording of Lovedrive, and then to form MSG. He has rejoined UFO three times, producing an album each time. Schenker continues to perform and record. He has been called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1972. Fronted by Alex Harvey accompanied by Zal Cleminson on guitar, bassist Chris Glen, keyboard player Hugh McKenna and drummer Ted McKenna, their music was a blend of blues rock and hard rock, with cabaret elements. Their stage performances incorporated theatrical elements. The band were popular in continental Europe, and influential in Australia, most notably on AC/DC and on the young Nick Cave and his first band The Boys Next Door.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schenker Group</span> Multinational hard English rock band

The Michael Schenker Group is an English hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1993. Afterwards, in 1996, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed. After the release of their second live album, 1984's Rock Will Never Die, its members began to have serious discussions that caused a two-year hiatus, and Michael ended the band in 1986.

<i>Songs from the Mirror</i> 1993 studio album by Fish

Songs from the Mirror is the third solo album by Scottish singer-songwriter Fish, released in 1993 as his final album for Polydor. It does not contain any original material; instead it is a cover album featuring Fish's versions of songs by artists who inspired him before his career started. It reached 46 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zal Cleminson</span> Scottish guitarist

Alistair Macdonald "Zal" Cleminson is a Scottish guitarist, best known for his role in the Sensational Alex Harvey Band between 1972 and 1978. He was subsequently a member of Nazareth for three years. In 2017, Cleminson put together a new rock band - /sin'dogs/, which recorded and released a four-song CD and toured Scotland and England at the end of that year.

<i>Assault Attack</i> 1982 studio album by Michael Schenker Group

Assault Attack is the third studio album by the Michael Schenker Group, and the only album to feature former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet. The album was recorded in France at the Château d'Hérouville and was produced by Martin Birch.

<i>Next</i> (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band album) 1973 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Next is the second album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, released in 1973.

<i>The Impossible Dream</i> (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band album) 1974 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

The Impossible Dream was the third album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, released October 4, 1974. The album was released separately on CD but can be hard to find; however, the CD is widely available on a 2-in-1 album, the other album being Tomorrow Belongs to Me. It was the band's first release to chart, peaking at No. 16 on the UK Album Chart. "Anthem" was the last single released by SAHB in the U.S.

<i>Live</i> (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band album) 1975 live album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Live was the first live record by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, released in 1975. It features a cover version of the Tom Jones song "Delilah". Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic writes "Live is a double-triumph for the Sensational Alex Harvey Band because it functions both as a strong live souvenir for the group's fans and also as a solid introduction to the group's highlights for the novice".

<i>Tomorrow Belongs to Me</i> (album) 1975 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Tomorrow Belongs to Me is the fourth studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. It was released in 1975 on Vertigo Records. While no A-side singles were released from this album, three compositions were used as B-sides to other SAHB singles: "Soul in Chains", as a live version taken from the subsequent tour, "Shake That Thing" and "Snake Bite". The album's title track was a cover of a key song in the 1966 musical Cabaret and its 1972 film adaptation.

<i>The Penthouse Tapes</i> 1976 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

The Penthouse Tapes is the fifth studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Unlike previous releases comprising predominantly original compositions.The Penthouse Tapes consists largely of covers, ranging from The Osmonds' "Crazy Horses" and Alice Cooper's "School's Out" to Lead Belly's "Goodnight Irene". Of the three originals, "I Wanna Have You Back" and "Jungle Jenny" open side one; a third, "Say You're Mine", was written by Alex Harvey and appears on side two. The album was released in 1976 on Vertigo Records.

<i>SAHB Stories</i> 1976 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

SAHB Stories is the sixth studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, released in 1976. It features their hit single "Boston Tea Party", as well as a cover of the Jerry Reed song, "Amos Moses". Harvey left the band shortly after this album was released, but returned in 1977. The album was re-released in 1984 on the Sahara Records label.

<i>Fourplay</i> (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band album) 1977 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Fourplay is the seventh studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and the first of the group's albums to be made without Alex Harvey: the band was identified as "SAHB " on the album cover. Harvey had quit the group and was recording another album called Alex Harvey Presents: The Loch Ness Monster at the time. Most of the group had recorded two albums under the name Tear Gas in the early 1970s, and John Neil Munro states in his 2002 book The Sensational Alex Harvey that they had been planning to record without Harvey for at least a year prior to the split. Harvey helped to select songs for the album and contributed some production assistance. Some songs, such as "Smouldering" and "Outer Boogie" had been road-tested by the group during portions of shows for their 1976 tour of Europe during which Harvey was required to rest. In 2004, Ted McKenna told John Clarkson:

<i>Rock Drill</i> (album) 1978 studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band


Rock Drill is the eighth studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, which was released in Europe in 1977 and in the UK in 1978. The album includes Tommy Eyre on keyboards; the band's original keyboardist Hugh McKenna was absent due to an internal dispute - however, three songs from the album are co-credited to him. McKenna has since recorded his regrets at the dispute, given what lay ahead in the next five years.

<i>Zalvation</i> 2006 live album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Zalvation: Live In The 21st Century is a live album, released in 2006, which served as a The Sensational Alex Harvey Band reunion notwithstanding that Harvey himself had died in 1982. This was the third SAHB album to be made without Alex Harvey, the others being the band's seventh studio album, Fourplay and another reunion album Live in Glasgow 1993. This album features Max Maxwell on vocals, and sees the return of Hugh McKenna to the band, his last appearance being on the Fourplay album, for which he had been vocalist. The album commemorated a reunion tour, but was also intended as a farewell tour; however the tour had been so successful that the band decided to continue. The album release contains 2 CDs and comprises new versions of songs written or covered by the original SAHB. Although four fifths of the group on Zalvation were responsible for 1977's SAHB album Fourplay, no songs from this album are included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted McKenna</span> Scottish drummer (1950–2019)

Edward McKenna was a Scottish drummer who played with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher, The Greg Lake Band, and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with Ian Gillan for a short period of time in 1990, alongside fellow former SAHB member, bassist Chris Glen. He lectured in Applied Arts at North Glasgow College from 1996 to 2011.

Grand Prix were an English hard rock and pop rock band, active between 1978 and 1984 and notable for featuring two future members of Uriah Heep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Mann (English musician)</span> English musician and producer

Steve Mann is an English guitarist, keyboardist, record producer and engineer, best known as a member of Andy Scott's Sweet from 1989 to 1995 and as a member of many bands by German guitarist Michael Schenker.

References

  1. "Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian) On Bass – Michael Schenker Himself". michaelschenkerhimself.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. "Allmusic Biography - Tear Gas". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 June 2017.