The Grease Band was a rock band that started out as Joe Cocker's backing band. They recorded two albums in the 1970s. They are probably most widely known for their performance of The Beatles song, "With a Little Help from My Friends", with Joe Cocker at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. With respect to their self-titled first album, reviewer Joe Viglione said "...though this is far from commercial, it is important to have this document of the guys who made magic behind Joe Cocker in 1969 and Marianne Faithfull in the mid-'70s. ...Recorded in London, it is vintage stuff, and 100 years from its making will no doubt be respected for the historic and studious record that it is."^[1]

The keyboard player was Chris Stainton, another Sheffield born man (known to his friends as Robin) who went on to tour extensively with Eric Clapton. The bassist was Alan Spenner, who went on to play in the UK white soul outfit Kokomo, with rhythm guitarist Neil Hubbard. Drummer Bruce Rowland later joined Fairport Convention from 1975 through 1979. Henry McCullough was the lead guitarist, a role he later occupied in Paul McCartney's Wings, and continues today as a solo artist.^[2] Rowland, Spenner, Hubbard and McCullough all played on the Jesus Christ Superstar album.

Discography[link]

• The Grease Band (Shelter, 1971)
• Amazing Grease (Goodear, 1975)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Profile of The Grease Band by Alex Gitlin: www.alexgitlin.com.

This article on a United Kingdom rock music band is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker in 2008
Background information
Birth name	John Robert Cocker
Also known as	Vance Arnold, "The Sheffield Soul Shouter"
Born	(1944-05-20) 20 May 1944 (age 68) Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
Genres	Blues, rock, blues-rock, blue-eyed soul
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, actor
Instruments	Vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Regal Zonophone A&M Capitol EMI Decca
Associated acts	The Grease Band
Website	www.cocker.com www.columbia.de/joecocker/

John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles.

He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his #1 hit "Up Where We Belong", a duet he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list.^[1]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Cocker was born on 20 May 1944 at 38 Tasker Road, Crookes, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. He is the youngest son of a civil servant, Harold Cocker, and Madge Cocker. According to differing family stories, Cocker received his nickname of Joe either from playing a childhood game called "Cowboy Joe" or from a local window cleaner named Joe.

Cocker's main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Cocker's first experience singing in public was at age 12 when his elder brother Victor invited him on stage to sing during a gig of his skiffle group. In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, the Cavaliers. For the group's first performance at a youth club, they were required to pay the price of admission before entering. The Cavaliers eventually broke up after a year and Cocker left school to become an apprentice gasfitter while he pursued a career in music.^[2]

Early career (1961–1966)[link]

In 1961, under the stage name Vance Arnold, Cocker continued his career with a new group, Vance Arnold and the Avengers.^[3] The name was a combination of Vince Everett, Elvis Presley's character in Jailhouse Rock, (which Cocker misheard as Vance) and country singer Eddy Arnold.^[4] The group mostly played in the pubs of Sheffield,^[3] performing covers of Chuck Berry and Ray Charles songs. In 1963, they booked their first significant gig when they supported the Rolling Stones at Sheffield City Hall. In 1964, Cocker signed a recording contract as a solo act with Decca and released his first single, a cover of the Beatles' "I'll Cry Instead" (with Jimmy Page playing backup guitar). Despite extensive promotion from Decca lauding his youth and working class roots, the record was a flop and his recording contract with Decca lapsed at the end of 1964.^[5] After Cocker recorded the single, he dropped his stage name and formed a new group, Joe Cocker's Big Blues. There is only one known recording of Joe Cocker's and Big Blues on an EP given out by Sheffield College during Rag Week and called Rag Goes Mad at the Mojo. It contained a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "I've Been Trying" and a track of "Saved".^{[citation needed]}

The Grease Band (1966–1969)[link]

In 1966, after a year-long hiatus from music, Cocker teamed up with Chris Stainton, whom he had met several years before, to form the Grease Band.^[3] The Grease Band was named after Cocker read an interview with jazz musician Jimmy Smith, where Smith described another musician as "having a lot of grease". Like the Avengers, Cocker's group mostly played in pubs in and around Sheffield. The Grease Band came to the attention of Denny Cordell, the producer of Procol Harum, the Moody Blues and Georgie Fame. Cocker recorded the single "Marjorine" without the Grease Band for Cordell in a London studio. He then moved to London with Chris Stainton, and the Grease Band was dissolved. Cordell set Cocker up with a residency at the Marquee Club in London, and a "new" Grease Band was formed with Stainton and keyboardist Tommy Eyre.^[6]

After minor success in the US with the single "Marjorine", Cocker entered the big time with a groundbreaking rearrangement of "With a Little Help from My Friends", another Beatles cover, which, many years later, was used as the opening theme for The Wonder Years. The recording features lead guitar from Jimmy Page, drumming by BJ Wilson, backing vocals from Sue and Sunny, and Tommy Eyre on organ. The single made the Top Ten on the British charts, remaining there for thirteen weeks and eventually reaching number one, on 9 November 1968.^[7] It also reached number 68 on the US charts.^[8]

The new touring line-up of Cocker's Grease Band featured Henry McCullough on lead guitar, who would go on to briefly play with McCartney's Wings. After touring the UK with the Who in autumn 1968^[9] and Gene Pitney and Marmalade in early winter 1969, the Grease Band embarked on their first tour of the US in spring 1969. Cocker's album With a Little Help from My Friends was released soon after their arrival and made number 35 on the American charts, eventually going gold.^[10]

Joe Cocker at Woodstock (1969)

During his US tour, Cocker played at several large festivals, including the Newport Rock Festival and the Denver Pop Festival. In August, Denny Cordell heard about the planned concert in Woodstock, New York and convinced organiser Artie Kornfeld to book Cocker and the Grease Band for the Woodstock Festival. The group had to be flown into the festival by helicopter due to the large crowds. They performed several songs, including "Delta Lady", "Something's Comin' On", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "I Shall Be Released", and "With a Little Help from My Friends". Cocker would later say that the experience was "like an eclipse... it was a very special day."^[11]

Directly after Woodstock, Cocker released his second album, Joe Cocker!. Impressed by his cover of "With a Little Help from My Friends", Paul McCartney and George Harrison allowed Cocker to use their songs "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" and "Something" for the album.^[12] Recorded during a break in touring in the spring and summer, the album reached number 11 on the US charts and garnered a second UK hit with the Leon Russell song, "Delta Lady".

Throughout 1969 he was featured on variety TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and This Is Tom Jones. Onstage, he exhibited an idiosyncratic physical intensity, flailing his arms and playing air guitar, occasionally giving superfluous cues to his band.^{[citation needed]} At the end of the year Cocker was unwilling to embark on another US tour, so he dissolved the Grease Band.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1969–1971)[link]

Cocker in 1970.

Despite Cocker's reluctance to venture out on the road again, an American tour had already been booked so he had to quickly form a new band in order to fulfil his contractual obligations. It proved to be a large group of more than 30 musicians, including pianist and bandleader Leon Russell, three drummers, and backing vocalists Rita Coolidge and Claudia Lennear. The new band was christened "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" by Denny Cordell after the Noël Coward song of the same name. His music at this time evolved into a more bluesy type of rock, often compared to that of the Rolling Stones. During the ensuing Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour (later described by drummer Jim Keltner as "a big, wild party"),^[13] Cocker toured 48 cities, recorded a live album, and received very positive reviews from Time and Life for his performances. However, the pace of the tour was exhausting. Russell and Cocker had personal problems and Cocker became depressed and began drinking excessively as the tour wound down in May 1970. Meanwhile, he enjoyed several chart entries in the US with "Cry Me a River" and "Feelin' Alright" by Dave Mason. His cover of the Box Tops' hit "The Letter", which appeared on the live album and film, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, became his first US Top Ten hit. After spending several months in Los Angeles, Cocker returned home to Sheffield where his family became increasingly concerned with his deteriorating physical and mental health.^[14] In the summer of 1971 the A&M Records single release appeared in the US of "High Time We Went". This became a hit, reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but was not issued on an album until November 1972 on the Joe Cocker album.

On the road (1972–1982)[link]

In early 1972, after nearly two years away from music, Cocker went on tour with a group that Chris Stainton had formed. He opened with a performance in Madison Square Garden which was attended by about 20,000 people. After touring the US, he embarked on a European tour where he played to large audiences in Milan, Italy and Germany. He then returned to the US for another tour in autumn 1972. During these tours the group cut the songs that would be part of his newest album, Joe Cocker. A mixture of live songs and studio recordings, the album peaked at number 30 on the US charts.^[15]

Cocker performing on 16 October 1980 in the National Stadium, Dublin.

In October 1972, when Cocker toured Australia, he and six members of his entourage were arrested in Adelaide by police for possession of marijuana. The next day in Melbourne, assault charges were laid after a brawl at the Commodore Chateau Hotel,^[16] and Cocker was given 48 hours to leave the country by the Australian Federal Police. This caused huge public outcry in Australia, as Cocker was a high-profile overseas artist and had a strong support base, especially amongst the baby boomers who were coming of age and able to vote for the first time. It sparked hefty debate about the use and legalisation of marijuana in Australia and gained Cocker the nickname of "the Mad Dog".^[17] Shortly after the Australian tour, Stainton retired from his music career to establish his own recording studio. After his friend's departure and estrangement from longtime producer Denny Cordell, Cocker sank into depression and began using heroin. In June 1973 he kicked the habit, but continued to drink heavily.^[18]

At the end of 1973, Cocker returned to the studio to record a new album, I Can Stand A Little Rain. The album, released in August 1974, was number 11 on the US charts and one single, a cover of Billy Preston's You Are So Beautiful, reached the number 5 slot.^[19] Despite positive reviews for the album, Cocker struggled with live performances, largely due to his problems with alcohol. One such instance was reported in a 1974 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, saying during two West Coast performances in October of that year he threw up on stage.^[20]

In January 1975, he released a second album that had been recorded at the same time as I Can Stand a Little Rain, Jamaica Say You Will. To promote his new album, Cocker embarked on another tour of Australia, made possible by the country's new Labor government. In late 1975, he contributed vocals on a number of the tracks on Bo Diddley's The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album. He also recorded a new album in a Kingston, Jamaica studio, Stingray. However, record sales were disappointing; the album reached only number 70 on the US charts.^[21]

In 1976, Cocker performed "Feelin' Alright" on Saturday Night Live. John Belushi joined him on stage doing his famous impersonation of Cocker's stage movements. At the time, Cocker was $800,000 in debt to A&M Records and struggling with alcoholism. Several months later, he met producer Michael Lang, who agreed to manage him on the condition that he stay sober. With a new band, Cocker embarked on a tour of New Zealand, Australia and South America. He then recorded a new album with session work by Steve Gadd and Chuck Rainey, and a new, young bassist from Scotland, Rob Hartley. Hartley also toured briefly with Cocker's friends in 1977. In the autumn of 1978, he went on a North American tour promoting his album, Luxury You Can Afford. Despite this effort, it received mixed reviews and only sold around 300,000 copies.^[22]

In 1979, Cocker joined the "Woodstock in Europe" tour, which featured musicians like Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens who had played at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. He also performed in New York's Central Park to an audience of 20,000 people. The concert was recorded and released as the live album, Live in New York.^[23] He also toured Europe and appeared on the German television recording amphitheatre, Rockpalast, the first of many performances on the show. In 1982, Cocker recorded a song with jazz group the Crusaders on their album Standing Tall. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and Cocker performed it with the Crusaders at the awards ceremony. Cocker then released a new reggae-influenced album, Sheffield Steel, recorded with the Compass Point All Stars, produced by Chris Blackwell and Alex Sadkin.

Later career (1982–present)[link]

Cocker performing in Hallandale, Florida in 2003

In 1982, at the behest of producer Stewart Levine, Cocker recorded the duet "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes for the soundtrack of the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. The song was an international hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and winning a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo. The duet also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Cocker and Warnes performed the song at the awards ceremony. Several days later, he was invited to perform "You Are So Beautiful" with Ray Charles in a television tribute to the musician. He then joined singer Ronnie Lane's 1983 tour to raise money for the London-based organisation Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis, in particular because Lane was beginning to suffer from the degenerative disease. Musicians such as Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Chris Stainton also participated in the tour which included a performance at Madison Square Garden. While on another tour that year, Cocker was arrested by Austrian police after refusing to perform because of inadequate sound equipment. The charges were eventually dropped and Cocker was released.^[24] Shortly after the incident, he released his ninth studio album, Civilized Man. His next album Cocker was dedicated to his mother, Madge, who died when he was recording in the studio. A track from the album, "You Can Leave Your Hat On" was featured in the 1986 film 9½ Weeks. The album eventually went Platinum on the European charts.^[25] His 1987 album Unchain My Heart was nominated for a Grammy Award, although it did not win. One Night of Sin was also a commercial success, surpassing Unchain My Heart in sales.

Throughout the 1980s, Cocker continued to tour around the world, playing to large audiences in Europe, Australia and the United States. In 1988, he performed at London's Royal Albert Hall and appeared on The Tonight Show.^[26] He also performed for President George Bush Snr. at an inauguration concert in February 1989. In 1992, his version of Bryan Adams' "Feels Like Forever" made the UK Top 40.^[27]

Cocker performed the opening set at Woodstock '94 as one of the few alumni who played at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969 and was very well received.

In 2007, Cocker appeared playing minor characters in the film Across the Universe, as the lead singer on another Beatles' hit, "Come Together".^[28] Cocker was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to music.^[29] To celebrate receiving his award in mid December 2007, Cocker played two concerts in London and in his home town of Sheffield.

Cocker performing in 2007

In April and May 2009, Cocker conducted a North American tour in support of his album Hymn for My Soul.

He sang the vocals on Little Wing for the Carlos Santana album, Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, released on 21 September 2010. In the autumn of 2010, Cocker toured Europe promoting his studio album Hard Knocks.

Cocker returned to Australia in 2008 and again in 2011, the latter of which featured George Thorogood and the Destroyers as an opening act.^[30]

His recent live band consists of Mike Finnigan (Hammond B3), Nick Milo (piano, keyboard), Norbert Fimpel (saxophone, harmonica, accordion, percussion), Gene Black (guitar), Oneida James-Rebeccu (bass) and Jack Bruno (drums).

Personal life[link]

In 1963, Cocker began dating Eileen Webster, also a resident of Sheffield. The couple dated intermittently for the next thirteen years, separating permanently in 1976. In 1978, Cocker moved onto a ranch owned by Jane Fonda in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Pam Baker, a local summer camp director and fan of Cocker's music convinced the actress to rent the house to Cocker. Baker began dating Cocker and they eventually married on 11 October 1987.^[31] The couple reside on the Mad Dog Ranch in Crawford, Colorado, United States.

Cocker is not related to fellow Sheffield-born musician Jarvis Cocker, despite this being a rumour (particularly in Australia, where Jarvis' father Mac Cocker was a radio DJ who allowed listeners to believe he was Joe Cocker's brother).^[32][33]

Discography[link]

For a comprehensive list of recordings see Joe Cocker discography.

Studio albums[link]

• With a Little Help from My Friends (1969)
• Joe Cocker! (1969)
• Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1970)
• Joe Cocker (1972/EU: 1973)
• I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974)
• Jamaica Say You Will (1975)
• Stingray (1976)
• Luxury You Can Afford (1978)
• Sheffield Steel (1982)
• Civilized Man (1984)
• Cocker (1986)
• Unchain My Heart (1987)
• One Night of Sin (1989)
• Night Calls (1991/US: 1992)
• Have a Little Faith (1994)
• Organic (1996)
• Across from Midnight (1997)
• No Ordinary World (1999/US: 2000)
• Respect Yourself (2002)
• Heart & Soul (2004/US: 2005)
• Hymn for My Soul (2007/US: 2008)
• Hard Knocks (2010/US: 2012)

Notes[link]

References[link]

• The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4.
• Bean, Julian P. (2003). Joe Cocker: The Authorised Biography. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 1-85227-043-8. 

Further reading[link]

• Guinness Book of British Hit Singles – 16th Edition – ISBN 0-85112-190-X
• The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits – ISBN 0-85112-250-7
• Guinness Book of British Hit Albums – 7th Edition – ISBN 0-85112-619-7
• Guinness Rockopedia – ISBN 0-85112-072-5
• The Great Rock Discography – 5th Edition – ISBN 1-84195-017-3

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joe Cocker

• The Official Website of Joe Cocker
• Photos taken by photographer Linda Wolf, one of the two official photographers of the Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, 1970

Glenn Phillips is a guitarist and composer with a dozen albums released under his own name. He has also played on many other recordings, including those by his first group, the obscure Hampton Grease Band. Phillips was a founding member, guitarist and songwriter for the Grease Band, which formed in 1967. Their double LP Music to Eat was released on Columbia Records in 1971 and went on to become a much sought after collector's item. It was also cited as an influence by later groups like Widespread Panic, Phish, and Pere Ubu. In 1996, it was rereleased by Sony to a great deal of acclaim (In June 1996, Spin magazine gave it a 9 out 10 "Near Perfect" rating). Over the course of the band's six year career, they played with a wide variety of groups, including the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band and Frank Zappa. Zappa was a big fan of the band, and they played with him at the Fillmore East; Phillips jammed with Zappa that evening, as did John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Phillips' solo career began in 1973. He frequently sat in with Little Feat back then, and in an interview, Lowell George called him "the most amazing guitarist I've ever seen." Phillips' first solo LP, Lost at Sea came out in 1975, and he recorded it in his home and put it out himself. The record both predated and influenced the do-it-yourself movement that later overtook rock music. The highly influential British DJ John Peel played the LP regularly on the BBC, and it came in second in a reader's poll held by London's leading music paper, Melody Maker. At that point, Phillips was contacted by the head of Virgin Records, Richard Branson (later known as the head of many other companies, including Virgin Atlantic Airways). Branson signed Phillips, who then toured extensively overseas, including a show at London's famous Rainbow Theater.

Since then, Phillips has toured frequently, and the fact that his music fits into no particular niche has led to a wide spectrum of double-bills over the years with groups as varied as Captain Beefheart, Eric Johnson, Bo Diddley, Patti Smith, Roy Buchanan, Talking Heads, Albert King, Joe Satriani and The Ventures. During that time, his albums have garnered a great deal of critical acclaim, and those reviews focus on the unique, unclassifiable nature of his music; its intensely emotional impact; and his seemingly limitless virtuosity. Guitar World (Nov. 1983) compared him to Hendrix and Jeff Beck, and his double-CD retrospective Echoes received a 4-star review in Rolling Stone (Jan. 21, 1993), as did his Supreme Court album with Jeff Calder (of the Swimming Pool Q's).

Phillips has also collaborated with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and Pete Buck of R.E.M., who said this about him in Musician magazine: "One of the reasons I don't play solos is because I grew up listening to Glenn Phillips. He never ceases to amaze me." He's also recorded several albums with Henry Kaiser (one of which received San Francisco's coveted Bammy award), and Phillips' music has regularly been played on NPR since 1990.

Selected discography[link]

Solo recordings[link]

• Lost at Sea (1975 Snow Star 1 in U.S. & Caroline 1519/Virgin overseas)
• Swim in the Wind (1977 Virgin 2087)
• Steve Hillage/Glenn Phillips (1977 Virgin VDJ 23, promotional tour single contains "Lies" from album)
• Dark Lights (1980 Snow Star 3)
• Flyback/She Don't Know (1980 Snow Star 3.1, single from album)
• Razor Pocket (1982 Snow Star 4)
• St. Valentine's Day (1984 Snow Star 5)
• Live (1985 Shanachie 82006)
• Elevator (1987 SST 136)
• No Age Compilation (1987 SST 102, contains "Vista Cruiser" from album)
• Scratched by the Rabbit (1990 ESD 80432 in U.S. & Demon Records fiend cd 180 overseas)
• Echoes 1975-1985 (1992 ESD in U.S. & Virgin overseas, double CD compilation)
• Walking through Walls (1996 Shotput/Sony WK3700)
• Angel Sparks (2003 Gaff Music)

With HAMPTON GREASE BAND[link]

• Music to Eat (1971 Columbia 30581 & 30582, double album)
• Playback (1971 Columbia AS 23, promotional ep contains "Maria" from album)
• Music to Eat Double CD reissue (1996 Shotput/Sony/Legacy C2K 67483)
• Audio Rumbles Vol. 1 (1997 Ptolemaic Terrascope, on "Live Impro 1970")

With SUPREME COURT[link]

• The Supreme Court Goes Electric (1993 DB Recs, DB156)

With BOB WIER and HENRY KAISER:

• "If 6 Was 9" A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (1990 Communion 18 in U.S. & Imaginary overseas, on title track)
• Guitar Party (2003 Gaff Music)

With HENRY KAISER[link]

• Marrying for Money (1986 Minor Music 1010 in Germany, on "Murder One")
• Remarrying for Money (1988 SST 222, same track as previous)
• Those Who Know History Are Doomed to Repeat It (1988 SST 198, on "Dark Star/The Other One")
• Passed Normal Vol. 6 & 7 (1993 FOT Records, FOT PN67, on "Cobra")

With HELEN WHEELS[link]

• Helen Wheels and the Skeleton Crew (2001 Jargon Records JRCD 1101).

References[link]

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009)

Rolling Stone - by Parke Puterbaugh, Aug. 20, 1981
Rolling Stone- by Errol Somay, March 17, 1983
Rolling Stone- by David Fricke, Nov. 15, 1990
Rolling Stone- by Parke Puterbaugh, Jan. 21, 1993
Rolling Stone- by Parke Puterbaugh, Feb 10, 1994
Rolling Stone- by David Fricke, March 21, 1996
Rolling Stone- by David Fricke, June 12, 2003
Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll by Ritchie Unterberger, 1998, Miller Freeman Books ISBN-0-87930-534-7
Men's Journal - by Anthony DeCurtis, Dec. 1996
Guitar Player - by Jim Schwartz, Aug. 1981
Guitar Player- by Mike Varney, Aug. 1982
Guitar Player- by Tom Mulhern, Sept. 1983
Guitar Player- by Tom Mulhern, Aug. 1984
Guitar Player- by Bruce Malamut, Jan. 1986
Guitar Player- Glenn Phillips: Have Guitar, Will Flail by Mark Dery, March 1988
Guitar Player- by Jim Ferguson, May 1991
Guitar Player- Glenn Phillips' Voice In the Night, May 1992
Guitar Player- June 1996
Guitar Player- Sept. 2003
Spin Magazine - by Byron Cooley, June 1996
Stereo Review - Dec. 1996
Stereo Review- November 1990
Musician Magazine - Glenn Phillips' Psycho-Guitar: The Triumphs & Trials of Being Yourself by David Fricke, Feb. 1983
Musician Magazine- by David Fricke, Aug. 1984
Musician Magazine- by Jon Young, Jan., 1986
Musician Magazine- April 1991
Relix - by Mick Skidmore, May 1992
Relix - by Mick Skidmore, Nov. 1993
Relix - by Mick Skidmore, June 1996
Relix - Glenn Phillips: Independently Minded, by Mick Skidmore, June 1997
Relix - by Mick Skidmore, April/May 2003
Guitar World - by Bruce Malamut, Nov. 1983
Guitar World - by Bruce Malamut, Nov. 1984
Guitar World - by Tom Mulhern, Jan. 1986
Guitar World - July 1988
Mix Magazine - Glenn Phillips: Tales Of The Unknown Guitar Hero by Bill Milkowski, June 1988 Guitar - June 1996
Vintage Guitar Magazine - Glenn Phillips: On His Own Terms by Willie G. Moseley, March 1998
Vintage Guitar Magazine - by Ken Johnson, July 2003
Goldmine Magazine - Interview with Glenn Phillips by Russell Hall, 1996
The Hartford Advocate -- by Alan Bisport, July 2003
Metroland (New York) - by David Greenberger, Sept. 2003
New Musical Express (UK) - by John Lober, July 10, 1976
Sounds (UK) - by Tony Mitchell, Nov. 5, 1977
Melody Maker (UK) - July, 1976

External links[link]

• Official Glenn Phillips site
• Official Hampton Grease Band page
• Official Supreme Court page

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2009)

Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland) is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He turned up in many different places as sideman or a performer in his own right. In 2008, he recorded Poor Man's Moon, featuring the single, "Too Late to Worry."

Early career[link]

McCullough first came to prominence in the early 1960s as the teenage lead guitarist with The Skyrockets showband from Enniskillen. In 1964, with three other members of The Skyrockets, he left and formed a new showband fronted by South African born vocalist Gene Chetty, which they named Gene and The Gents.

In 1967 McCullough moved to Belfast where he joined Chris Stewart (bass), Ernie Graham (vocals) and Dave Lutton (drums) to form the psychedelic band The People. Later that year the band moved to London and were signed by Chas Chandler's management team, who changed the group’s name to Éire Apparent. Under Chandler's guidance, despite only having one single released, they toured with groups such as Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, The Move and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Things went well until, in Vancouver, Canada in mid February 1968, McCullough was busted for possession of marijuana and sent back to Ireland (officially because of 'visa problems'), and Mick Cox flew out to take his place in the band.^[1]

Back in Ireland McCullough joined what was primarily a folk group called Sweeney's Men, by May 1968.^[2] Under his influence, however, they soon began to mix folk and rock, and are often regarded as the innovators of the folk/rock genre. After a year in Ireland, McCullough returned to London to work with Joe Cocker as a member of his backing group, the Grease Band. With Cocker he toured the U.S. and performed at the Woodstock Festival.

McCullough played on The Grease Band's eponymous album after splitting with Cocker, and during his time with the band he also appeared as lead guitarist on the original 1970 recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and on the progressive Spooky Tooth album The Last Puff.

1970s[link]

In 1971 Paul McCartney asked McCullough to join his new band, Wings, alongside Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell. His guitar solo on "My Love" is regarded by many as one of rock music’s greatest solos.^[3] Musical differences with McCartney, however, saw McCullough move on the eve of the "Band on the Run" sessions. He spent two years in the band, playing lead guitar on "Hi Hi Hi", "Live and Let Die" as well as "My Love".

McCullough's spoken words "I don't know; I was really drunk at the time" can be heard on Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon, at the end of the song "Money". He was recalling a fight he had the night before with his wife.

McCullough landed from his Wings experience into another two year gig alongside his friend Chris Stewart, keyboard player Mick "Wynder K. Frog" Weaver and drummer Stu Perry into the ironically very Joe Cocker sounding Frankie Miller Band. Miller's "Ain't Got No Money" featuring McCullough's guitar work inspired Bob Seger to write and record "The Fire Down Below".(cited Frankie Miller Band, "The Rock", Chrysalis Records 1975), Bob Seger (countless interviews, Capitol Records Publicity Department 1977-1979)

In 1975, McCullough released Mind Your Own Business, his only album on George Harrison's Dark Horse label.

McCullough then did some session work, and played concerts with Roy Harper, Frankie Miller, Eric Burdon, Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Lane and Donovan. In 1977 he temporarily joined Dr. Feelgood, following the departure of Wilko Johnson.^[4]

1980s[link]

Recovering from an injury to his hand while visiting his family in 1980, McCullough decided to stay in Ireland. He began to sit in with some old friends, The Fleadh Cowboys, at their Sunday afternoon residency in The Lower Deck in Dublin, and soon decided to move back to Portstewart and put a new band together. He was joined by Percy Robinson on pedal steel guitar, Roe Butcher on bass and Liam Bradley on drums.

1990s[link]

In 1998 McCullough went to Poland, where he rehearsed with a band of Polish musicians for an upcoming tour. After the tour, they went into a recording studio and recorded a 'live' album which was released as Blue Sunset. This was followed by a further Polish tour. On returning home, McCullough recorded and released "Failed Christian", a song that has since been covered by Nick Lowe on his album, Dig My Mood.

2000-2010[link]

McCullough continued to record and perform and released solo material, including Belfast To Boston (2001) and Unfinished Business (2003). The latter contained his 1998 single, "Failed Christian". McCullough performed at concerts in Northern Ireland and Scotland, playing with a backing band (featuring Stephen Quinn on drums and Sean McCarron on saxophone).

McCullough contributed guitar on and organized the band for the Alaskan musician, The Rev Neil Down's, 2003 release, When A Wrong Turns Right.

The Henry McCullough Band - FBI Live was released in 2007 on Mundell music, from a recording at The Famous Bein Inn in 2006.

In 2007, Over the Rhine covered "Failed Christian" on their album, Live from Nowhere, Vol. II.

In late 2007 McCullough teamed up with Dave Sharp (ex Alarm) and together they enlisted Zoot Money on keyboards; Gary Fletcher on bass guitar; and Colin Allen on drums. In January 2008 The Hard Travelers performed their debut gig at The Cellars, Portsmouth.

In 2008 McCullough recorded Poor Man's Moon at Amberville Studios and it was released in Ireland only on 5 September 2008. It featured new McCullough compositions, and a number of songs co-written with poet Eamon Carr (of Horslips) including the single, "Too Late to Worry". Among the musicians featured on the album were James Delaney on keyboards; Roe Butcher on electric bass guitar; Nicky Scott on double bass and electric bass guitar; Enda Walsh on keyboards; Adie McIlduff on drums; Percy Robinson on dobro and pedal steel guitar and Peter McKinney on drums/sequencing.

McCullough attended Paul McCartney's concert at the O2 in Dublin on 20 December 2009. McCartney publicly acknowledged McCullough's contribution to Wings.

On the 13 March 2010, McCullough played the Fifestock Festival at the Inn at Lathones, Scotland. This festival was the last one undertaken at that venue, and McCullough's band headlined the event.

2011-Present[link]

Henry McCullough still active in the European music scene. He plays regular live gigs with artists such as Ed Deane, James Delaney, Noel Bridgeman, and John Quearney, among others.

Discography[link]

• Gene and The Gents - "Puppet On A String" / "Sweet Little Sixteen" (1965)
• Éire Apparent - "Follow Me" / "Here I Go Again" (January 1968)
• Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends (April 1969, on four songs)
• Joe Cocker - Joe Cocker! (November 1969)
• Spooky Tooth - The Last Puff (July 1970)
• Jesus Christ Superstar (October 1970)
• The Grease Band - The Grease Band (1971)
• The Grease Band - Amazing Grease (1975, recorded 1970-71)
• Wings - "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (February 1972)
• Wings - "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love" (May 1972)
• Wings - "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon" (December 1972)
• Wings - "My Love" / "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" (March 1973)
• Wings - Red Rose Speedway (April 1973, on seven songs)
• Wings - "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around" (June 1973)
• Wings - "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer" (October 1973, B-side only)
• Joe Cocker - I Can Stand a Little Rain (August 1974, on two songs)
• Joe Cocker - Jamaica Say You Will (August 1975, on one song)
• Roy Harper - Bullinamingvase (1977)

Solo:

• Mind Your Own Business (1975)
• All Shook Up (1982, maxi single)
• Hell of A Record (May 1984)
• Cut (1987)
• Get In The Hole (1989, live)
• Blue Sunset (1998)
• Belfast To Boston (August 2001)
• Unfinished Business (November 2002)
• Live at the FBI (2007)
• Poor Man's Moon (September 2008)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Henry McCullough biography at Irish Rock Discography
• Culture Northern Ireland