Mogul Thrash

Last updated

Mogul Thrash
OriginEngland
Genres Progressive rock, jazz fusion, experimental rock
Years active1971
Labels RCA Records
Past members James Litherland
Roger Ball
Malcolm Duncan
Bill Harrison
Michael Rosen
John Wetton

Mogul Thrash were an English progressive rock band, active in the early 1970s.

Contents

Biography

British jazz-rock band Mogul Thrash evolved from James Litherland's Brotherhood, which in addition to guitarist Litherland (an alumnus of Colosseum who was a founding member of the group in 1969) also featured guitarist/reedist Michael Rosen (previously of Eclection, not the children's poet/author), drummer Bill Harrison and the so-called "Dundee Horns"—saxophonists Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan. With the addition of singer/bassist John Wetton, formerly of short-lived London band Splinter (not to be confused with the vocal duo from South Shields), the group rechristened itself Mogul Thrash:

There was a TV programme that everybody used to watch on a Saturday night called the Michael Miles Show and he had on it a game called the “Yes No Interlude” where he would ask contestants questions very quickly, and they would have to answer without using either Yes or No. If they did, a man standing next to them would hit a gong and the contestant was out. The late great Spike Milligan had his own show and it was hilarious and the band would watch it every week without fail, sometimes we would be in tears of laughter. He did a sketch of the Michael Miles Show wearing a false nose and called him Mogul Thrash.

[1]

Debuting in 1970 with the single "Sleeping in the Kitchen"; their self-titled RCA album appeared the following year, going largely unnoticed at home but finding favor throughout much of Europe. However, faced with legal problems with their management, Mogul Thrash was forced to disband shortly after the record's release; while Wetton went on to join Family and later King Crimson, UK, and Asia, Duncan and Ball soon reunited in Average White Band.

Mogul Thrash released just the one album, Mogul Thrash (1971), [2] produced by Brian Auger who also played piano on one of the tracks.

The group were also mentioned in the Half Man Half Biscuit song "The Best Things in Life" from the ACD album. [3]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Crimson</span> English progressive rock band

King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experimental music and new wave. They exerted a strong influence on the early 1970s progressive rock movement, including on contemporaries such as Yes and Genesis, and continue to inspire subsequent generations of artists across multiple genres. The band earned a large cult following.

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

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful line-up was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands who had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes and drummer Carl Palmer. Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their bestselling album and went to number one in several countries. Billboard listed it as the top album in the U.S. in 1982. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets. It peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>Asia</i> (Asia album) 1982 studio album by Asia

Asia is the debut studio album by English rock supergroup Asia, released in 1982. According to both Billboard and Cashbox, it was the #1 album in the United States for the year 1982. It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Banks</span> British musician

Peter William Brockbanks, known professionally as Peter Banks, was a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. He was the original guitarist in the rock band Yes, and also the Syn, Flash, and Empire. Former Sniffin' Glue and NME journalist Danny Baker described Banks as "the architect of progressive music".

<i>Larks Tongues in Aspic</i> 1973 studio album by King Crimson

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973 through Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, featuring co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp along with four new members: bass guitarist and vocalist John Wetton, violinist and keyboardist David Cross, percussionist Jamie Muir, and drummer Bill Bruford. It is a key album in the band's evolution, drawing on Eastern European classical music and European free improvisation as central influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Howe</span> English guitarist

Stephen James Howe is an English musician, best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to learn the instrument himself at age 12. He embarked on a music career in 1964, first playing in several London-based blues, covers, and psychedelic rock bands for six years, including the Syndicats, Tomorrow, and Bodast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.K. (band)</span> British progressive rock supergroup

U.K. were a British progressive rock supergroup originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band was founded by bass guitarist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford, formerly the rhythm section of King Crimson. The band was rounded out by violinist/keyboardist Eddie Jobson, and guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Bruford and Holdsworth left in 1978, and Bruford was replaced by drummer Terry Bozzio. Jobson, Wetton and Bozzio reformed U.K. for a world tour in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Auger</span> English jazz rock and rock musician

Brian Albert Gordon Auger is an English jazz rock and rock music keyboardist who specialises in the Hammond organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wetton</span> British musician

John Kenneth Wetton was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s, when he joined King Crimson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Sherwood</span> American singer and multi-instrumentalist

William Wyman Sherwood is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, record producer and mixing engineer. He is best known for his tenures in the English progressive rock band Yes as guitarist and keyboardist in 1994 and from 1997 to 2000 and as bassist since 2015, following the death of original bassist Chris Squire. He is also known for working with former and current Yes members on other projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colosseum (band)</span> British jazz-rock band

Colosseum are an English jazz rock band, mixing blues, rock and jazz-based improvisation. Colin Larkin wrote that "the commercial acceptance of jazz rock in the UK" was mainly due to the band. Between 1975 and 1978 a separate band Colosseum II existed playing progressive rock.

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

Family were an English rock band, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such as folk, psychedelia, acid rock, jazz fusion, and rock and roll. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours, and appearances at festivals.

<i>Valentyne Suite</i> 1969 studio album by Colosseum

Valentyne Suite is the second album released by the band Colosseum. It was Vertigo Records' first album release, and reached number 15 in the UK Albums Chart in 1969. The album peaked at number 18 in Australia in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Downes</span> English keyboardist

Geoffrey Downes is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group the Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia.

Edwards Hand was a musical group formed by Welshman Rod Edwards and Englishman Roger Hand. After a 1968 album released under their former name, in 1969 Edwards Hand released an eponymous album produced by George Martin who, taking a break from working on The Beatles' White Album, described their music as "exceptional". The online CD vendors Freak Emporium (UK) and Forced Exposure (US) tentatively compare it to certain works by Kaleidoscope and Fairfield Parlour.

<i>Mogul Thrash</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Mogul Thrash

Mogul Thrash is the sole album by English progressive rock band Mogul Thrash, released in 1971 by RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Litherland</span> Musical artist

James Litherland is an English singer and guitarist best known as a founding member of the progressive rock band Colosseum. He was born in Salford, Lancashire, England. He is the father of singer and producer James Blake, who adapted his father's song "Where to Turn" into "The Wilhelm Scream".

This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 1970–1979.

This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 1980 - 1989.

<i>Caught in the Crossfire</i> (album) 1980 studio album by John Wetton

Caught in the Crossfire is the debut solo album by the English rock musician John Wetton, released in 1980 by E.G. Records. Featuring guitarist Martin Barre, drummer Simon Kirke, as well as saxophonist Malcolm Duncan, whom Wetton had played with in Mogul Thrash. The album's release took place during a transitional period in Wetton’s career, after he had left U.K. but before he joined Wishbone Ash and then formed Asia.

References

  1. Métens, Sébastien (30 November 2012). "Colosseum and Mogul Thrash interview". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine . Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revised, The Comprehensive Guide To British Music Of The Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963 - 1976, 2006 Edition (Borderline Productions, Reprinted 2008), ISBN   1-899855-15-7, p. 575
  3. Stewart Mason. "ACD - Half Man Half Biscuit | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 May 2020.