Spider (British band)

Last updated

Spider
Origin Liverpool, England
Genres Boogie rock, hard rock
Years active1976–1986
Labels RCA, A&M, Pye
Past membersDave "Sniffa" Bryce (guitar)
Colin Harkness (vocals)
Brian Burrows (bass
Rob E Burrows (drums)

Spider were a British band from Liverpool, England, that formed in 1976 and were part of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM).

Contents

The band, who were often compared to Status Quo, offered an upbeat sound, which was described as boogie rock. [1] Spider released three albums in the 10 years they were together, titled Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies (1982) [2] Rough Justice (1984) [3] and Raise the Banner (For Rock 'n' Roll) (1986) [4]

The band split in 1986.

Career

Spider formed in 1976, consisted of four young men from Wallasey, including two brothers, none of whom had played in bands before.

After releasing "Children of the Street" on the Alien Record Label, Spider were playing, on average 20 dates a month, which included a support slot on the Uriah Heep 1980 Winter Tour. [5]

1982 proved to be the band's most lucrative year. It began in late 1981 when the band were contracted to record for BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show. [6] The producer, Tony Wilson, introduced them to Maggi Farren, who set up a recording deal with Creole Records as well as getting the band a support slot on the 1981 Slade Winter Tour.

Spider released the single "Talkin' 'bout Rock 'n' Roll" with Creole, which featured as part of BBC Radio 1's play list. [6] They then went into the studio to begin recording their first album Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies, [2] to be released on the Creole label also. However RCA, who had made a late bid for the band, and after negotiations, Spider signed a six-year recording contract with the record label.

1982 continued with Spider packing out the Marquee Club once a month. They supported Alice Cooper on the British leg of his Special Forces Tour. They played at the Reading Festival on Sunday 29 August 1982, [7] as well as securing a support slot on the mammoth Gillan Tour in coincidence with the release of their first album.

Dave Bryce, guitarist, currently plays with London rock band AWOL.

On 22 July 2022 it was announced on the bands Facebook page that Colin Harkness had died, at the age of 62.

Band members

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum NameFormat
1982Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies12" vinyl
1984Rough Justice12" vinyl
1986Raise the Banner (For Rock 'n' Roll)12" vinyl
2007Rock 'n' Roll GypsiesCD
Rough JusticeCD
2011The Singles CollectionCD box set
2012The Complete AnthologyCD box set

Singles

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup consists of guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 55-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Former members of the band are vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman, and Peter Goalby; bassists Paul Newton, Mark Clarke, Gary Thain, John Wetton, Trevor Bolder, and Bob Daisley; drummers Alex Napier, Nigel Olsson, Keith Baker, Iain Clark, Lee Kerslake, and Chris Slade; and keyboardists Ken Hensley, Gregg Dechert, and John Sinclair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saxon (band)</span> British heavy metal band

Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in Barnsley in 1975. As leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), they had eight UK Top 40 albums during the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. They had numerous hit singles on the UK Singles Chart and experienced success all over Europe, South America and Japan, as well as in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Hensley</span> English musician (1945–2020)

Kenneth William David Hensley was an English musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Byron</span> British singer (1947–1985)

David Garrick, better known by his stage name David Byron, was a British singer, who was best known in the early 1970s as the original lead vocalist of the rock band Uriah Heep. Byron possessed a powerful operatic voice and a flamboyant stage presence.

Spice were a British pop rock and rhythm and blues band featuring David Byron (vocals), Mick Box (guitar), Paul Newton, Alex Napier (drums) and Colin Wood (keyboards)..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lawton (singer)</span> British singer (1946–2021)

John Cooper Lawton was a British rock and blues vocalist best known for his work with Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep and the Les Humphries Singers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Kerslake</span> English drummer (1947–2020)

Lee Gary Kerslake was an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep and for his work with Ozzy Osbourne in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Thain</span> New Zealand bassist (1948–1975)

Gary Mervin Thain was a New Zealand bassist, best known for his work with British rock band Uriah Heep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Bolder</span> English rock bassist, musician, songwriter and record producer

Trevor Bolder was an English rock musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his long association with Uriah Heep and his tenure with the Spiders from Mars, the backing band for David Bowie, although he also played alongside a variety of musicians from the early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Shaw</span> Canadian-English singer

Bernard Shaw is a Canadian-English singer, and since 1986, the lead vocalist of British rock band Uriah Heep.

<i>Abominog</i> 1982 studio album by Uriah Heep

Abominog is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in April 1982 by Bronze Records in the UK, and on 12 July 1982 by Mercury Records in the US. It was their first album without keyboardist Ken Hensley. The album was critically acclaimed and fairly commercially successful, due in part to the band retooling and updating their sound to a contemporary style and delivering a "punchier, more pop metal era-appropriate effort.

<i>Head First</i> (Uriah Heep album) 1983 studio album by Uriah Heep

Head First is the fifteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep. It was released in May 1983 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. It is Uriah Heep's last album released by Bronze Records.

<i>Equator</i> (Uriah Heep album) 1985 studio album by Uriah Heep

Equator is the sixteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1985. It marked the studio return of bassist Trevor Bolder, who had rejoined the band for the Head First tour. The band also had a new record label, Portrait Records, a subsidiary of CBS. Equator was also the last Uriah Heep album to feature vocalist Peter Goalby & keyboardist John Sinclair.

John Anthony David Sloman is a Welsh singer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist for Welsh band Lone Star during 1977/78 and classic rockers Uriah Heep from 1979 to 1981, as well as briefly recording with hard rock band UFO in 1980 and Irish guitarist Gary Moore's band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Ballard</span> English musician (born 1945)

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English rock singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer. Originally rising to prominence as the lead singer and guitarist of the band Argent, Ballard became a prolific songwriter and producer by the late 1970s. His compositions "New York Groove", "You Can Do Magic", "Since You Been Gone", "I Surrender", "Liar", "Winning", "I Know There's Something Going On", "Can't Shake Loose", "So You Win Again" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" became hits for other artists during the 1970s and 1980s. He also scored several minor hits under his own name in the early and mid-1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praying Mantis (band)</span> English heavy metal band

Praying Mantis are an English heavy metal band. Although a part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries Iron Maiden and Saxon.

<i>...Very Eavy ...Very Umble</i> 1970 studio album by Uriah Heep

...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep. It is recognized as a foundational album in heavy metal music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy (Uriah Heep song)</span> 1970 single by Uriah Heep

"Gypsy" is the debut single by British progressive rock/hard rock band Uriah Heep. It is the opening track on their first album, …Very 'Eavy …Very 'Umble, released in 1970. "Gypsy" was written by Mick Box and David Byron. The album version of "Gypsy" lasts more than six and half minutes, while the single version lasts less than three minutes. The song is structured with an intro, outro and three verses with no chorus. It is a staple of the band's live performances.

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.

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 336. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
  2. 1 2 "IronMaid's NWOBHM space: Spider - Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies (160kbps) - 1982". Nwobhmstuff.blogspot.com. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  3. "IronMaid's NWOBHM space: Spider - Rough Justice (192kbps) - 1984". Nwobhmstuff.blogspot.com. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  4. "IronMaid's NWOBHM space: Spider - Raise the Banner (320kbps) - 1986". Nwobhmstuff.blogspot.com. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  5. "Official Uriah Heep Homepage". Uriah Heep . Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 Archived September 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Reading Rock Festival 1982". Ukrockfestivals.com. Retrieved 25 July 2014.