The Flies (English band)

Last updated

The Flies
Also known as
  • No Flies on Us
  • The In-Sect
Origin London, England
Genres
Years active1965 (1965)–1968 (1968)
Labels
Past members
  • Robin Hunt
  • Ian Baldwin
  • George Haywood
  • John Da Costa
  • Brian Gill
  • Stu Calver
  • Peter Dunton
  • Chris Manders
  • David Phimister
  • Stu Calver
  • Andrew Bown

The Flies, also known as No Flies on Us, were an English psychedelic pop band formed in London in 1965. Releasing three singles during their recording career, the group is best-remembered for a cover version of "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone". Although the Flies' rendition of the song was not too commercially successful, it, along with the band's other material, has since received notice as a result of "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone"'s appearance on the early psychedelic compilation album Chocolate Soup for Diabetics, Volume 1.

History

Originally known as the Rebs, the group's line-up featured Robin Hunt (lead vocals, drums), Ian Baldwin (bass), George Haywood (lead guitar), Brian Gill (lead guitar) John Da Costa (rhythm guitar, keyboards), and Peter Dunton (drums). [1] In 1966, the band recorded a British Invasion-exploitation album on RCA Records, Introducing the In-Sect Direct from London, under the name In-Sect, with all but one of the tracks on the piece being cover versions of contemporary pop hits. [2] Later in the year, the group, then known as No Flies on Us, auditioned for Decca Records by presenting them two demos of songs with one later appearing on the band's debut single: a rendition of Paul Revere and the Raiders' tune "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" and "Just Won't Do". The Decca label negotiated a record deal with No Flies on Us after they agreed to shorten their moniker to the Flies. [3]

In October 1966, the band re-recorded a psychedelic pop-oriented cover of "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone", along with the new composition "Talk to Me" for the respective A-side and B-side of their debut single. The record became a regional hit, peaking at number 11 on the Wonderful Radio London Fab 40 charts. [4] With a substantial following circulating around the Flies, the group was picked up as the opening live act for popular English bands such as the Move, the Who, and the Moody Blues. [1] In addition, the Flies held a prominent slot alongside the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the popular club, the Roundhouse, in February 1967. The band became notorious for their sometimes outrageous stage acts, particularly their April 1967 appearance at the 14-Hour Technicolor Dream psychedelic festival where the group arranged hundreds of bags of flour to explode and consequently cover the unsuspecting audience. [5] They also heckled Pink Floyd as "sell outs" during the latter's sets at the UFO Club. [6] By way of retaliation, Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett included the line "I see the Flies" in out-take solo song "Birdie Hop" (eventually released on compilation album Opel) and used a painting of flies as the cover art for his second solo album.

A follow-up single in mid-1967 included the heavy rocker "House of Love" and the pop standard "It Had to Be You", which, according to AllMusic website reviewer Lindsay Planer, "made the band sound more like Sopwith Camel or the New Vaudeville Band than the acid-laced garage rockers associated with their earlier sides". [3] In addition, Hunt, working in a solo project called Alexander Bell, issued the single "Alexander Bell Theme", which featured guest musician Jimmy Page. [3] The Flies recorded one final single "The Magic Train", this time for RCA Records, in 1968, but it went largely unnoticed. Although the group was beginning to experiment in several unreleased demos with an ethereal organ-driven sound, the Flies disbanded by the end of the year. [2]

Although the Flies' material was not particularly unique to the English psychedelic scene, the band has continued to gain attention for their version of "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone"'s appearance on the 1980 compilation album Chocolate Soup for Diabetics, Volume 1, which is one of the earliest collections of rare English psychedelic music. Other works the song is featured includes The British Psychedelic Trip: 1966 - 1969, The Electric Crayon Set, and Rubble, Volume 3. [7] In 2002, Won-Sin Records released The Complete Collection: 1965 - 1968, an album compiling released material, alternate versions, demos, and tracks from the In-Sect's 1965 cover album. [8]

Related Research Articles

The Moody Blues English band

The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The group came to prominence playing rhythm and blues. They made some changes in musicians but settled on a line-up of Pinder, Thomas, Edge, guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge, who stayed together for most of the band's "classic era" into the early 1970s. Edge was the group’s sole continuous member throughout their entire history.

The Zombies English rock band

The Zombies are an English rock band formed in the early 1960s in St Albans and led by keyboardist and vocalist Rod Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group had a British and American hit in 1964 with "She's Not There". In the US, two further singles—"Tell Her No" in 1965 and "Time of the Season" in 1968—were also successful. Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle was ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and number 243 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list. The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

The Beatles' bootleg recordings are recordings of performances by the Beatles that have attained some level of public circulation without being available as a legal release. The term most often refers to audio recordings, but also includes video performances. Starting with vinyl releases in the 1970s, through CD issues in the late 1980s, and continuing with digital downloads starting in the mid 1990s, the Beatles have been, and continue to be, among the most bootlegged artists.

The Beau Brummels American rock band

The Beau Brummels was an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino, Ron Elliott, Ron Meagher, Declan Mulligan, and John Petersen (drums). They were discovered by local disc jockeys who were looking to sign acts to their new label, Autumn Records, where Sylvester Stewart—later known as Sly Stone—produced the group's early recording sessions. Initially, the band's musical style blended beat music and folk music and typically drew comparisons to the Beatles, while their later work incorporated other music genres such as psychedelic rock and country rock.

The Chocolate Watchband American garage rock band

The Chocolate Watchband is an American garage rock band that formed in 1965 in Los Altos, California. The band went through several lineup changes during its existence. Combining psychedelic and garage rock components, their sound was marked by David Aguilar's lead vocals, songwriting, as well as proto-punk musical arrangements. The band's rebellious musical posture made them one of the harder-edged groups of the period with many critics labeling them as America's answer to the Rolling Stones.

<i>Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds</i> 1965 studio album / live album by the Yardbirds

Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds, or simply Having a Rave Up, is the second American album by English rock group the Yardbirds. It was released in November 1965, eight months after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton on guitar. It includes songs with both guitarists and reflects the group's blues rock roots and their early experimentations with psychedelic and hard rock. The title refers to the driving "rave up" arrangement the band used in several of their songs.

I Wanna Be Your Man Lennon–McCartney song first recorded by the Rolling Stones

"I Wanna Be Your Man" is a Lennon–McCartney-penned song recorded and released as a single by the Rolling Stones, and then recorded by the Beatles. The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney, and finished by Lennon and McCartney in the corner of a Richmond club while Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were talking.

<i>Metamorphosis</i> (Rolling Stones album) 1975 compilation album by the Rolling Stones

Metamorphosis is the third compilation album of the Rolling Stones music released by former manager Allen Klein's ABKCO Records after the band's departure from Decca and Klein. Released in 1975, Metamorphosis centres on outtakes and alternate versions of well-known songs recorded from 1964 to 1970.

The Creation was an English rock band, formed in 1966. Their best-known songs are "Making Time", which was one of the first rock songs to feature a guitar played with a bow, and "Painter Man", which made the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1966, and reached No. 8 in the German chart in April 1967. It was covered by Boney M in 1979, and reached the No. 10 position in the UK chart. "Making Time" was used in the movie Rushmore, and as the theme song from season 2 onwards of The Great Pottery Throw Down.

Giles, Giles and Fripp were an English rock group, formed in Bournemouth, Dorset in August 1967. It featured brothers Michael Giles on drums and vocals and Peter Giles on bass guitar and vocals, and Robert Fripp on guitar. The band's music showed an eclectic mix of pop, psychedelic rock, folk, jazz, and classical influences. The group eventually evolved into pioneering progressive rock band King Crimson.

<i>Forever Now</i> (The Psychedelic Furs album) 1982 studio album by The Psychedelic Furs

Forever Now is the third studio album by English rock band the Psychedelic Furs. The 10-song album, including the hit single "Love My Way", was recorded in the spring of 1982 and released on 25 September of that year by Columbia/CBS. A 20th-anniversary reissue included six related bonus tracks.

Orange Bicycle was an English psychedelic pop band, which existed between 1967 and 1971. The band played a style influenced by The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the hippie counter culture. Previously, they acted as support, and backing band for the duo Paul and Barry Ryan as well as completing sessions for other vocalists, recording over 100 BBC Radio One sessions and appearing on UK TV.

Decca Studios was a recording facility at 165 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, North London, England, controlled by Decca Records from 1937 to 1980. The building was once West Hampstead Town Hall, and had been converted to a recording studio by Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing in 1928.

Tintern Abbey were a British psychedelic rock band that were formed in late 1966 and professionally active between 1967 and 1968. The band are best remembered for their single "Vacuum Cleaner," which has been included on several compilation albums over the years.

Tell Me (Rolling Stones song) 1964 single by the Rolling Stones

"Tell Me " is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, featured on their 1964 self-titled album. It became the first A-side single written by Jagger/Richards to be released, although not in the United Kingdom. The single reached number 24 in the United States and the top 40 in several other countries.

Chris Demetriou born in Paphos, Cyprus, is a songwriter, musician, and record producer. A cover of a song he co-wrote with John Kongos, He's Gonna Step On You Again, appears in Q Magazine's top hundred singles of all time.

Onyx (Cornish band)

The Onyx or Onyx were a psychedelic rock band formed in Wadebridge, Cornwall, England in 1965. Out of the ashes of Rick & The Hayseeds the band came to be known as The Onyx Set, named after an Onyx ring owned by original band member Mike Black-Borow. After various changes in the line-up they shortened their name to The Onyx and the classic line-up was formed. The band members were: guitarist Alan Hodge, who had previously played with various local bands such as The Buccaneers and The Fabulous Jaguars, vocalist Tony Priest, bassist Dick Bland, keyboard player Steve Cotton and drummer Roger Dell.

The Yardbirds English blues and psychedelic rock band

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things" and "Over Under Sideways Down".

Bohemian Vendetta American rock band

Bohemian Vendetta was an American garage rock and psychedelic band from Long Island, New York, who were active from 1966-1968. In addition to recording two officially released singles and several previously unissued demos, they cut a self-titled album, Bohemian Vendetta, released by Mainstream Records in 1968.

Leave Me Be 1964 single by the Zombies

"Leave Me Be" is a song written by British bassist Chris White and recorded by his band the Zombies. Following the release of their debut single "She's Not There" in July 1964, White wrote a handful of songs in between performances during the band's heavy schedule. Most of the work on the song occurred in August 1964, when the Zombies recorded both a demo and the backing track for it. The instrumentation largely differs from both earlier and later Zombies records; it features electric organ played by Rod Argent, compared to his previous usage of the electric piano. Together with record producer Ken Jones, they returned in September to finish the vocal track, which was disliked by most band members for its similarity to "She's Not There"; the vocals would eventually be re-recorded a few months later.

References

  1. 1 2 Blackham, David (2006). Complete Collection: 1965-1968 (CD booklet). Acme Records.
  2. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "The Flies - Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Planer, Lindsay. "Complete Collection: 1965 - 1968". allmusic.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Record Details". 45cat.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Flies "Complete Collection 1965 - 1968". lionproductions.org. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Dark Globe Julian Palacios, Plexus Publishing 2015
  7. ↑ "The Flies: Discography". discogs.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Complete Collection: 1965 - 1968". lightintheattic.net. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.