String Driven Thing

Last updated

String Driven Thing
Origin Scotland
Genres Folk rock, progressive folk
Years active1967–1975
1991
2001–present
LabelsConcord Records
Charisma Records
ozit morpheus Records
Backshop Records
MembersPauline Adams
Graham Smith
Robin Adams
Andy Allan
Dick Drake
Past membersChris Adams
John Mannion
Colin Wilson
Billy Fairley
Bill Hatje
Colin Fairley
Kim Beacon
Andy Roberts
James Exell
George Tucker
John Bradley
Bob Cairns
Website www.stringdriventhing.co.uk

String Driven Thing are a Scottish folk rock band, [1] formed in Glasgow in 1967 and led by married couple Chris and Pauline Adams, with the electric violin of Graham Smith. [2]

Contents

History

Formation

String Driven Thing formed in Glasgow in 1967 as a three-part harmony folk band with the Adamses and guitarist John Mannion. After paying their dues on the Scottish folk circuit they put out an eponymous album on the independent Concord label (copies of which are collectable and difficult to find) although a long way from their later Charisma label output. The group moved to London in 1972 and Chris Adams began to steer the band towards the electric folk-rock genre where his songwriting abilities, which often feature hard-bitten and bitter observations capturing the harsher side of life, would be seen to better effect. By 1972, he had recruited classically trained violinist Graham Smith and guitarist Colin Wilson on bass, but soon afterwards Mannion left, citing musical differences.

Record deal and touring

Adams then secured a deal with Tony Stratton Smith's Charisma label [3] and another eponymous album came out, produced by Shel Talmy at London's IBC Studios, with the songs "Circus", "Jack Diamond" and "Easy To Be Free" among the standout tracks. With Smith's high octane violin and Pauline Adams' distinctive lispy vocals, the band toured the UK and Europe with Charisma stablemates Lindisfarne and Genesis. This exposure raised their profile and led to TV appearances and an American tour. A second album, The Machine That Cried, was recorded in February 1973 at IBC, but now with the addition of a drummer, Billy "The Kid" Fairley. [4] Standout tracks included "Heartfeeder", "The Machine That Cried" and "Sold Down The River". The song "Night Club", which opened side two, was inspired by the cover of their first Charisma album, designed by Hipgnosis. Recorded while Chris Adams was suffering health problems, including a collapsed lung and depression, the album is on the whole a dark affair. Despite its cult status, it did not sell well at the time.

By 1974, the constant touring was taking its toll and Wilson was replaced by Bill Hatje on bass, then Billy Fairley gave way to Colin Fairley (former Beggars Opera but no relation.) [4] Soon afterwards, disillusioned with life on the road, the Adamses quit and returned to their native Glasgow. [4] With their departure the band disintegrated, but Charisma recruited three musicians to continue touring with Smith and Fairley. Singer Kim Beacon, guitarist Andy Roberts and bassist James Exel joined the band, with Roberts and Exel collaborating for much of the songwriting, including the single "Cruel To Fool" produced by Shel Talmy. Two albums followed. Please Mind Your Head, recorded by engineer Tony Taverner at Escape Studios in Kent, and Keep Yer A'nd On It, produced by Andy Johns at Island's Basing Street studios. [4] Following the release of Keep Yer A'nd On It keyboardist Derek Beauchemin joined the band after violinist Graham Smith left.

String Driven Thing put out a number of singles on the Charisma label, some of which are not on any of the vinyl albums but appear as bonus tracks on Ozit Records CDs. Two of these are the Chris Adams compositions "It's a Game" and "Eddie". "It's A Game" was covered by the Bay City Rollers in 1977 and became a chart hit in the US, Japan and Germany. Chris and Pauline Adams put out a few singles on the Charisma label both as "Chris and Pauline Adams" and just "Adams". The b-side of their first single, "The City at Night", features Graham Smith. Colin Wilson went on to put out a solo folk album called Cloudburst on the Tabitha label which is also hard to find and has recently been reissued. The Chris Adams/Graham Smith String Driven Thing line up has reconvened on several occasions, most notably in 1991, 2001 and in 2004 which also saw an appearance from Pauline Adams.

Break up

The American tour of 1975 highlighted issues which the new line-up had with continuity and finding an appropriate audience.[ citation needed ] In October that year, they opened for Lou Reed, after which drummer Colin Fairley left the band and Charisma withdrew their support. Fairley went on to have a career as a studio engineer and record producer, for Elvis Costello and The Bluebells among others. Andy Roberts became guitar tech for Jeff Beck and Stevie Winwood, while Jimmy Exell still plays in Denmark. Beacon sang lead on Tony Banks' solo debut, A Curious Feeling , in 1979 and also had solo material issued. He died in 2001.

In 1978, Jimmy Exell played with a number of "session" bands, notably at the Baron's Court Tavern in Baron's Court, London, where he was a regular and a favourite of Alex Sanders' (then known as "The King of the Witches")

Violinist Graham Smith joined Charisma labelmates Van der Graaf in 1977, [4] and also featured on some Peter Hammill albums. He later joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and put out three solo albums in Iceland, later reissued on CD by specialist progressive label Ozit Morpheus Records. Smith guested on the 2021 Spirits Burning album Evolution Ritual.

Reformation and second career

After 15 years of silence, Chris Adams released a solo album, The Damage, in 1991 and subsequently reformed String Driven Thing for a German tour, the Berlin leg of which was released on Ozit as $uicide, Live in Berlin. Variations of that band toured sporadically throughout the 1990s, but since 2001 the line-up has stabilised, with Andy Allan on bass, Dick Drake on drums and either George Tucker or Chris' son Robin Adams on guitar, with Pauline Adams and Graham Smith occasionally joining them in concert.

In 2007, the band released Moments of Truth, their first studio album in over 30 years, featuring twelve new Adams songs. April 2009 brought the Americana-tinged Songs From Another Country (released for contractual reasons as String Driven) on Backshop Records. The new material was first heard publicly at Fifestock in March 2009 and a new website stringdriventhing.co.uk was launched at the same time as the album release. In 2010, the Adamses gigged with original member John Mannion to celebrate the first album's 40th anniversary. As 2012 was the 40th anniversary of String Driven Thing's signing to Charisma and touring with Genesis, the band did some English gigs with Graham Smith and Pauline Adams.

On 15 June 2013, Robin Adams wrote and released a single with String Driven Thing titled Light The Way. The band regularly performed the song with Robin performing lead vocals in their live set.

Bass player Colin Wilson died in 2013 and founder and lead singer Chris Adams died on 7 October 2016. [5]

Personnel

Members

Lineups

1967–197219721972–19731973–1974
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • John Mannion - guitar
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • John Mannion - guitar
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Colin Wilson - bass
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Colin Wilson - bass
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Colin Wilson - bass
  • Billy "The Kid" Fairley - drums
197419741974–19751975
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Billy "The Kid" Fairley - drums
  • Bill Hatje - bass
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Bill Hatje - bass
  • Colin Fairley - drums
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Colin Fairley - drums
  • Kim Beacon - vocals
  • Andy Roberts - guitar
  • James Exel - bass
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Kim Beacon - vocals
  • Andy Roberts - guitar
  • James Exel - bass
1975–199119911991–20012001

Disbanded

  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin

Disbanded

  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
2001–200420042004–20122012

Disbanded

  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Andy Allan - bass
  • Dick Drake - drums
20122012–present
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Chris Adams - guitar, vocals
  • Pauline Adams - vocals, percussion
  • Graham Smith - violin
  • Robin Adams - guitar
  • Andy Allan - bass
  • Dick Drake - drums

Timeline

String Driven Thing

Discography

Albums

UK Singles

Demo/promo singles

Solo releases

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger McGuinn</span> American musician (b. 1942)

James Roger McGuinn is an American musician, best known for being the frontman and leader of the Byrds. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the Byrds. As a solo artist he has released 10 albums and collaborated with, among others, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Chris Hillman. The 12-string Rickenbacker guitar is his signature instrument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Colin Young</span> American musician

Perry Miller, known professionally as Jesse Colin Young, is an American singer and songwriter. He was a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s group the Youngbloods. After their dissolution in 1972, Young embarked on a solo career, releasing a series of albums through Warner Bros. Records, including Song for Juli (1973), Light Shine (1974), Songbird (1975) and the live album On the Road (1976). Young continued to release music in the 1980s with Elektra Records and Cypress Records, before deciding to release music through his personal label, Ridgetop Music, in 1993. After the Mount Vision Fire in 1995, Young relocated with his family to a coffee plantation in Hawaii, periodically releasing music. Young received a diagnosis of "chronic Lyme disease" in 2012, and decided to retire from music. He began performing again in 2016 with his son Tristan, releasing a new album Dreamers in 2019 through BMG.

<i>Trespass</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Genesis

Trespass is the second studio album by the English rock band Genesis. It was released on 23 October 1970 on Charisma Records, and is their last album with original guitarist Anthony Phillips and their only album with drummer John Mayhew.

<i>Foxtrot</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Genesis

Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Genesis, released on 15 September 1972 on Charisma Records. It features their longest recorded song, the 23-minute track "Supper's Ready".

<i>Genesis Live</i> 1973 album

Genesis Live is the first live album from the English rock band Genesis, released on 20 July 1973 on Charisma Records. Initially recorded for radio broadcast on the American rock program King Biscuit Flower Hour, the album is formed from the recordings of shows at Free Trade Hall, Manchester and De Montfort Hall, Leicester in February 1973 during the band's tour supporting their fourth studio album Foxtrot (1972).

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charisma Records</span> British record label

Charisma Records was a British record label founded in 1969 by former journalist Tony Stratton Smith. He had previously acted as manager for rock bands such as The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator. Gail Colson was label manager and joint managing director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Meloy</span> American musician (born 1974)

Colin Patrick Henry Meloy is an American musician, singer-songwriter and author best known as the frontman of the Portland, Oregon, indie folk rock band the Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica and percussion instruments.

<i>Voyage of the Acolyte</i> 1975 studio album by Steve Hackett

Voyage of the Acolyte is the first studio album by English guitarist, songwriter, and singer Steve Hackett, released in October 1975 on Charisma Records as his only album recorded and released while he was a member of Genesis. Hackett recorded the album during a break in group activity in mid-1975 and used guest musicians, including Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford and drummer Phil Collins, to play on the record. It has a loose concept with the title and lyrics of each track inspired by a Tarot card.

Audience was a cult British art rock band which existed from 1969 until 1972 and then from 2004 until 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Stratton Smith</span> British music executive (1933–1987)

Tony Stratton Smith was an English rock music manager, and entrepreneur. He founded the London-based record label Charisma Records in 1969 and managed rock groups such as the Nice, Van der Graaf Generator and Genesis.

<i>The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome</i> 1977 studio album by Van der Graaf


The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome is the eighth album by British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Released in 1977, it was their last studio album before their 2005 reunion. The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late 1970s solo work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizz Jones</span> British musician (born 1939)

Raymond Ronald Jones, better-known as Wizz Jones, is an English acoustic guitarist, and singer-songwriter. He was born in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England and has been performing since the late 1950s and recording from 1965 to the present. He has worked with many of the notable guitarists of the British folk revival, such as John Renbourn and Bert Jansch.

<i>World Record</i> (Van der Graaf Generator album) 1976 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

World Record is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock group Van der Graaf Generator, originally released in 1976 on Charisma Records. Bonus tracks were added for the 2005 rerelease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Dylan and the Band 1974 Tour</span> 1974 concert tour by Bob Dylan

The Bob Dylan and the Band 1974 Tour – sometimes referred to as Tour '74 – was a two-month concert tour staged in arenas during early 1974 that featured Bob Dylan, in his first tour in eight years, performing with his old partners the Band. The tour generated intense fan and media interest and tickets for the shows, available only through mail order, were in great demand. Shows on the concert featured segments with Dylan and the Band together, the Band by themselves, and Dylan by himself. Accounts of the shows emphasized the sometimes drastic rearrangements that Dylan's well-known songs were presented with. A live double album, Before the Flood, was recorded during the tour and released later in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Parkinson</span> Australian singer (1946–2021)

Douglas John Parkinson was an Australian pop and rock singer. He led the bands Strings and Things/A Sound (1965), the Questions (1966–1968), Doug Parkinson in Focus, Fanny Adams (1970–1971), the Life Organisation (1973), Southern Star Band (1978–1980) and Doug Parkinson Band (1981–1983). Doug Parkinson in Focus's cover version of the Beatles' track "Dear Prudence" peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set National Top 40. The follow-up single, "Without You" / "Hair" (October), also reached No. 5. Parkinson released solo material and performed in musical theatre productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Jackson (bassist)</span> English bassist

Keith Anthony Joseph "Lee" Jackson is an English bass guitarist known for his work in the Nice, a progressive-rock band, as well as his own band formed after the Nice, Jackson Heights, and finally Refugee with Nice drummer Brian Davison and Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz. Jackson plays bass left handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian A. Anderson</span> English magazine editor, folk musician and broadcaster

Ian A. Anderson is an English magazine editor, folk musician and broadcaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Amidon</span> American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Vermont

Samuel Tear Amidon is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Ashley</span> British singer-songwriter

Steve Frank Ashley is an English singer-songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, writer and graphic designer. Ashley is best known as a songwriter and first gained public recognition for his work with his debut solo album, Stroll On. Taking his inspiration from English traditional songs, Ashley has developed a songwriting style which is contemporary in content while reflecting traditional influences in his melodies, poetry and vocal delivery.

References

  1. String Driven Thing at AllMusic
  2. Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: Van der Graaf Generator - The Book, p. 259. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. ISBN   0-9551337-0-X.
  3. "String Driven Thing". Dinosaurdays.co.za. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2407. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  5. "String Driven Thing". Stringdriventhing.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  6. "String Driven Thing - String Driven Thing". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. "String Driven Thing - Another Night In This Old City". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  8. "String Driven Thing – Are You A Rock And Roller (1973, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.