The Gass

The Gass
Also known as Gass
Origin UK
Genres Rock, Funk, Soul
Years active 1965–1971
Labels Polydor, CBS, Parlophone
Associated acts Catch My Soul
Past members Bobby Tench
Godfrey McLean
Delisle Harper
Derek Austin
Michael Piggott
Alan Roskans
Frank Clark
Humphrey Okan
Errol McLean

The Gass was a rock band[1] formed in May 1965 by Bobby Tench, Godfrey McLean, and Errol McLean. They were managed by Rik Gunnell[2] and Active Management. The band fused melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms.[3]

History

1965-1969

The original line up was Bobby Tench on bass guitar (credited as Robert Tech), percussionist Errol McLean, his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean, saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskans.[2] Tench soon became the band's vocalist and lead guitarist[4] and between 1965 and 1967 they released singles on the Parlophone[5] and CBS labels and as their music progressed the line up changed.[2] They also played at clubs and venues in U.K and at fashionable music venues in London's Soho such as The Ad Lib club,[6] The Flamingo and the Bag O'Nails. Eric Burdon sang with them at The Scotch of St James where they were employed as the house band and Jimmy Hendrix jammed with them.[4] During 1968 they were supporting bands such as Led Zeppelin[7] and became the backing band for Catch My Soul-Rock Othello produced by Jack Good.[8] By this time they were known simply as Gass.

1970-1971

The band released their first album Juju (1970)[9] which featured guitarist Peter Green.[2][10] and in the same year Godfrey McLean appeared on Peter Green's End of the Game (1970). Gass were also featured on the album Catch My Soul (1971),[11] which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello.[2]

In 1971 the band recorded the single "Something's Got To Change Your Ways" which was released the Polydor label.[2] Pete Masden mentions in his book, Funk Guitar And Bass, that during this period Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions with other musicians at Ronnie Scott's club. These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez.[12]

Post disbanding

In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group and Gass finally disbanded.[13] Godfrey McLean recorded with Brian Auger and The Oblivion Express.[14] Delisle Harper who was the band's bass player in a later lineup appeared with Tench on Freddie King's Burglar (1974) also Larger than Life (1975).[15] Tench later moved on to become a member of The Jeff Beck Group, Hummingbird, Humble Pie, Streetwalkers and Van Morrison's band.

Band members

1969-1971

1965-1969

Discography

Albums

Singles as The Gass

Notes

  1. ↑ Larkin, Colin. The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music. Guinness. p. 947.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras. Borderline. p. 325.
  3. ↑ "New Vitality London Management Team". Billboard Vol. 83, No. 46. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1971-11-13. p. 52.
  4. 1 2 Leslie Fran (2009-01-28). Interview with Bobby Tench. Blues In Britain. pp. 18, 19, 20 Vol 1 issue 94.
  5. ↑ "The Gass discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  6. ↑ Cramp Nathaniel. "It Happened Here". timeout.com. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  7. ↑ "The University of Surrey was where Led Zeppelin first played...on 25 October 1968". personal.ph.surrey.ac.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  8. ↑ Vahimagi, Tise. "Jack Good". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  9. ↑ "Gass album Juju". nme.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  10. ↑ Freedland, Jan & Fitzgerald, John. "Peter Green". fmlegacy.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  11. ↑ "Jack Good's Rock Othello-Catch My Soul". homeonline.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  12. ↑ Masden, Pete. Funk Guitar And Bass. p. 55.
  13. ↑ Hjort, Chris & Hinman, Doug. Jeff's book: A Chronology of Jeff Beck's Career 1965-1980. p. 111.
  14. ↑ "Godfrey McLean". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  15. ↑ "DeLisle Harper". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.

References

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