Baker Gurvitz Army
Baker Gurvitz Army | |
---|---|
Origin | England |
Genres | Hard rock, progressive rock[1][2] |
Years active | 1974–1976 |
Labels |
Repertoire Janus Records Major League Productions (MLP) |
Past members |
Ginger Baker Adrian Gurvitz Paul Gurvitz |
Baker Gurvitz Army were an English rock group. Their self-titled debut album featured a blend of hard rock laced with Ginger Baker's drumming. The lengthy "Mad Jack" was that album's outstanding track, and the album hit the US Billboard 200 chart, and peaked at number 22 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] The two following albums contained similar material, although neither charted in the UK nor the US.
History
Former The Gun and Three Man Army members Paul and Adrian Gurvitz joined forces with ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker in 1974. Things had not been going too well for Ginger Baker since the demise of his own band Ginger Baker's Air Force. The Gurvitz Brothers, too, were looking for a new way ahead after the early success of their band The Gun.
When Cream split up in 1968, Baker was invited to join Blind Faith, which formed the following year. This was not such a successful venture and following its demise, Baker put together his own outfit, Ginger Baker's Air Force, in 1970. This band included many of his friends and musicians such as Graham Bond, Phil Seamen, Denny Laine and Steve Winwood. The band recorded two albums in 1970, one live and one studio album.
After their debut, the band recorded two more studio albums, Elysian Encounter and Hearts On Fire. However, the death of their manager led to the band breaking up in 1976. In the aftermath Baker briefly led a band called Energy, and was associated with Atomic Rooster and Hawkwind. In 2003, a compilation album, Flying In And Out Of Stardom, was released with four new live songs.
Discography
Studio albums
- Baker Gurvitz Army (1974)
- Elysian Encounter (1975)
- Hearts On Fire (1976)
Live albums
- Live In Derby '75 (1975)
- Live Live Live (2005)
- Still Alive (2008)
Other release
- Flying In And Out Of Stardom (2003) (compilation)
Members
- Ginger Baker: drums
- Adrian Gurvitz: guitar, vocals
- Paul Gurvitz: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mr Snips a.k.a. Steve Parsons: lead vocals
- Peter Lemer: keyboards
References
- ↑ http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6700
- ↑ http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/baker_gurvitz_army
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 40. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.