Cold River Lady
Encyclopedia
Cold River Lady was a rock band that was formed in 1970 in Hereford
in the Welsh Marches
of England
. Their music however drew on far wider influences. With its eclectic mix of acoustic guitar, lazy rural rhythms and a sharp electric edge and strong melodies and lyrics, it combined rock, folk and blues influences, with sophisticated flavours from the likes of Arthur Lee
, Tim Buckley
and Caravan
. The music of the band developed with the various changes of personnel and evolving musical times, whilst keeping its unique “Hereford” feel, until it finally wound up in 1976 when the punk era took a grip. The final twist in the life of this band was that forty years after it was formed its first album Better Late Than Never
was released in 2010.
in 1970. Will and Mike had also been in the same primary school (Tupsley VA School). Phil had played in one band previously called Carcass on rhythm guitar, with brothers Kevin Williams (vocals) and Ian “Ernie” Williams (lead guitar), Pete Farndon
(bass) (much later of The Pretenders
) and Paul "Jazz" Jones (drums), playing mostly covers of then current rock bands. Kevin, Ian and Pete were all also at the Cathedral School. After this band Phil started writing original material on 12 string acoustic and his infamous “cocklecaster guitar” with Will playing a variety of recorders. Mike had been persuaded to take up bass and started to contribute lyrics to compliment Phil’s strong melody lines. The first rehearsals were carried out at their homes. With two final recruits being made from the thriving and hip Hereford scene of the early 70’s, Paul “Griff” Griffiths (6 string acoustic) and Pedro Brown (Drums and percussion), the line up started formal rehearsing.
Rehearsals took place at the local YMCA on Aylestone Hill where there happened to be an old harmonium lying around. Will, as the only one having had a few brief piano lessons incorporated this into the band, amplifying it with a microphone fed through a wah-wah peddle, and also commenced providing material writing on piano. Pedro had played in a few local bands and was the most experienced musician amongst the band at that time. Early influences on the song writing side were US West Coast bands such as Arthur Lee
and Love
, Tim Buckley
and Spirit
, and from England, Caravan and folk music generally. The style of music also reflected the rural environment and would possibly fall into the “folk rock” genre. The name Cold River Lady was taken from a poem by Paul "Jazz" Jones the drummer from Carcass.
The first gig took place at Brown’s Club of Clubs, a converted cinema in Knighton
on the Welsh border in spring 1971 supporting Pete Brown
and Piblokto
! and local Hereford band Sam Gamgee. Pete Brown
, (who was a poet and had written many of the lyrics for Cream
with Jack Bruce
) and Phil Ryan
(Pete’s then organist and song writing partner, later of Welsh band Man
) both enjoyed CRL’s set with Pete volunteering to help in bringing the band to the notice of record companies. The band at that stage was in a loose form and Phil, Will and Mike all went off to University, only all to give up within the year with a view to taking the band more seriously.
1972 was the start of the main song writing period of the band based on the core output from Phil and Mike. Will had kept in contact with Pete Brown who wanted little excuse to leave London for the odd weekend in Hereford. Pete persuaded Polydor Records
to make the first demos of the band with Pete producing. Four songs were recorded of which, from this session, “Far in the Fields” and “Sauna Bath Blues” are included on the 2010 release Better Late than Never
. Also present on this session was Paul “Chesh” Cheshire (from the band Sam Gamgee) who added some electric guitar on three of the songs. Paul had been in Hunderton primary school with Griff and had recommended Griff for the band to Phil Will and Mike. Sam Gamgee was Chesh (guitar & vocals), Kelvin Wilson (bass & vocals), Tic Taylor (drums) and Ian "Ernie" Williams (guitar) (former member of Carcass). Chesh, Kelvin and Tic had all previously been members of the young schoolboy band, The Phantoms, who had made winning TV appearances at the age of 12 on Stubby Kaye
’s Silver Star Show (ATVs ‘60s equivalent of Opportunity Knocks / X-Factor
) as well as gigging regularly on the local village hall circuit - a circuit also frequented by the Silence and Doc Thomas Band who were later to mutate into Mott the Hoople
.
(drums) (later of the Pretenders) to form Karakorum Mk III, which lasted only briefly. Chesh then joined up with CRL as lead guitarist and vocalist as well as becoming the third songwriter in the band, while Martin and Kelvin hooked up with Verden Allen
, Mott The Hoople's recently departed organist, to form Cheeks, the line up of which was completed by James Honeyman-Scott
(also later of The Pretenders).
During this period CRL played gigs locally and increasingly worked further a field in the Midlands and occasionally London. The regular rehearsal venue was Will and Mike’s old school at Tupsley where the headmaster Wally Davies, whose house was on the school site, stoically put up with highly amplified music three nights a week. CRL with the six piece line up, then recorded more demos at Pathway Studios
in London. From these four songs, Soft Spot Rest and Something are included on Better Late than Never. Helen Hardy also provided backing vocals on the Pathway sessions. Helen had moved from Dorset to Hereford in 1972 and started singing with another local band, Helen Heavens, also featuring Chesh on lead guitar. CRL by then used the same rehearsal space in Hereford - Norman Rose’s Bridge Street Studios. Despite interest from various record companies CRL remained unsigned. Their most notable gig of this period was the Windsor Free Festival
where Pete Farndon roadied and the CRL set on the main stage was played to the accompaniment of police helicopters buzzing the running skirmishes between the police and the hippies.
and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band at Malvern Winter Gardens. Consequently his choice of bass was a Rickenbacker
. Pete was playing in a band with Tic and Chesh and also joined forces with Chesh, Geoff Townsend and Mark Anderson in a band called the Dingos (Chesh’s services in Hereford as a lead guitarist frequently being in demand). So logic suggested taking both Pete and Tic into CRL to beef up the sound with two drummers and turn CRL into a more electric rock band. The final recruit into this line-up was Helen who was prised away from Helen Heavens.
Pete Brown had been acting as a part time manager for the band but was glad to hand over this role to the redoubtable Duncan Ferguson, who ran the Greyhound in Fulham, a famed music venue of the time, where Pete had got the band a residency. Duncan finally turned them professional and sent them off to Europe. This the most active line up of the band in terms of gigging and with the first professional management allowing the band to turn pro. Many one nighters throughout England and Wales followed as well as tours of Holland and Germany. Most weeks found the band playing in London at one of the many gigs which still existed in this era such as the Marquee
, Dingwalls
and the Greyhound and positive reviews appeared in the music press. This line up recorded both the Travellers and Routing in the Quagmire as a single at Dennis Weinreich’s studio, Scorpio Sound, but still, despite getting very close to a record deal especially with Island Records
, nothing was released.
The music business being what it is, 1992 was still the wrong time for the release of the album and nobody wanted to know. Then in 2009 Pete Brown still with the tapes of the 1992 session met Peter Purnell of Angel Air
records and told him about the record. Pete Purnell loved it and came on board to release in August 2010 the CRL album Better Late Than Never
.
) and James Williams (guitar, piano and vocals), both ex Karakorum, plus Mark Thompson of Buzz Music (sax). Chesh and Pedro worked together in several other bands including Manyana and The John Shane Band. Chesh also played with a band called Red Sails including the talented young drummer Clive Jenner who later became drummer with Groove Armada
and The Proclaimers
. Chesh continues to play regularly and ply his craft in many bands as well as writing songs and doing sessions. Phil, in addition to the Banque and Friends also formed a duo called Double Trouble with Richie Downes and then followed that with another duo 'The Meanies' with Ian Clifford (guitar and vocals, and ex-Cluster and Alvin Stardust
drummer). For the past ten years Phil has gigged regularly as a solo artist and continues to write and record.
Pedro Brown continues to work full time as a percussionist, and play drums with many bands. He has also released three solo albums featuring his saxophone playing as well as his drumming - Windswept, Long Journey and Out of the Storm. Pedro is also an accomplished photographer who has had several exhibitions. Tic Taylor went on to play drums in several bands including Love Manoeuvres and The Cruise.
Will moved to London in 1976 and after some years as a full time player, eventually used the financial side of his skills to become a successful banker. He gigged regularly in London with various bands till the late 1990s, including Lee Fardon's Legionnaires, Cheap Perfume, and providing the material for an instrumental band including brothers, bassist Steve Lewinson and drummer Pete Lewinson who went on to form Simply Red
's rhythm section as well as being much in demand session players. Will now lives in Italy.
On leaving CRL Helen became professional and joined Pete Brown’s Back to the Front between 1976 and 1977and then Roger Chapman’s Shortlist, with whom she continues to work. She has also toured the UK, Japan and Australia with Gilbert O'Sullivan. She has also worked with the Arthur Louis
band (along with John MacKenzie and Blair Cunningham) providing backing vocals with Noel McCalla
and also sings on Pete Brown and Phil Ryan's new album due for release in 2010 as well as doing regular session work.
Pete Farndon joined The Bushwackers, an Australian country music band, while they were in London and followed them back to Australia for a year then joined up with the first line up of the Pretenders
with Chrissie Hynde
and Tom Edwards on drums (another Hereford Cathedral School friend). Pete was then instrumental in persuading James Honeyman-Scott
and Martin Chambers
to join the Pretenders. Pete attained considerable success with The Pretenders before his tragically premature death in April 1983.
Paul Griffiths and Mike Lawley maintain an active interest in music but ceased performing in bands after CRL. Paul lives in Neath and is a talented watercolourist and painter. Mike lives in Cardiff.
Mk I: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar & cocklecaster), Will Wright (descant, treble & tenor recorders, harmonium, piano), Mike Lawley (bass), Paul Griffiths (6 string acoustic guitar, backing vocals). Pedro Brown (drums, percussion).
1973 - 1974
Mk II: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar ), Will Wright (recorders, organ, electric piano) Mick Lawley (bass), Paul Griffiths (6 string acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Pedro Brown (drums, percussion), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, vocals).
1974 - 1976
Mk III: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar and 12 string electric guitar), Will Wright (recorders, Hammond C3 organ, electric
piano ), Pedro Brown (drums), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, electric piano, vocals), Pete Farndon (Bass), Tic Taylor (drums), Helen Hardy (vocals).
1976
Mk IV: Will Wright (recorders, Hammond C3 organ, electric piano ), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, electric piano, vocals), Pete Farndon (Bass), Helen Hardy (vocals), John Clarke (drums).
1992
Mk V: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar, 6 string electric guitar), Will Wright (descant & tenor recorders, Hammond C3
organ, electric piano, synthesiser), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, vocals), Helen Hardy (vocals). Honorary ladies: John MacKenzie (bass), Bob Jenkins (Drums).
(CD, Angel Air Records)
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
in the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Their music however drew on far wider influences. With its eclectic mix of acoustic guitar, lazy rural rhythms and a sharp electric edge and strong melodies and lyrics, it combined rock, folk and blues influences, with sophisticated flavours from the likes of Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee may refer to:*Arthur Lee , U.S. envoy to France*Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham , British soldier and diplomat*Arthur Lee , American psychedelic-rock musician...
, Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
and Caravan
Caravan (band)
Caravan are an English band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Caravan rose to success over a period of several years from 1968 onwards into the 1970s as part of the Canterbury scene, blending...
. The music of the band developed with the various changes of personnel and evolving musical times, whilst keeping its unique “Hereford” feel, until it finally wound up in 1976 when the punk era took a grip. The final twist in the life of this band was that forty years after it was formed its first album Better Late Than Never
Better Late Than Never (Cold River Lady album)
Better Late Than Never is the first studio album by Cold River Lady. It was recorded in 1992, with Pete Brown producing, and mixed by Pete Kerr....
was released in 2010.
Formation and CRL Mk I
CRL was formed initially by Phil Weaver, Will Wright and Mike Lawley, when they were all together at Hereford Cathedral SchoolHereford Cathedral School
Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school, with around 520 pupils aged between the ages of 11 and 18. It has four houses, named Langford , Stuart , Somerset and Cornwall Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school, with around 520 pupils aged...
in 1970. Will and Mike had also been in the same primary school (Tupsley VA School). Phil had played in one band previously called Carcass on rhythm guitar, with brothers Kevin Williams (vocals) and Ian “Ernie” Williams (lead guitar), Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon was an English bassist and founding member of the rock band The Pretenders. Farndon attended Hereford Cathedral School in his home town of Hereford, before embarking on his musical legacy with The Pretenders...
(bass) (much later of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
) and Paul "Jazz" Jones (drums), playing mostly covers of then current rock bands. Kevin, Ian and Pete were all also at the Cathedral School. After this band Phil started writing original material on 12 string acoustic and his infamous “cocklecaster guitar” with Will playing a variety of recorders. Mike had been persuaded to take up bass and started to contribute lyrics to compliment Phil’s strong melody lines. The first rehearsals were carried out at their homes. With two final recruits being made from the thriving and hip Hereford scene of the early 70’s, Paul “Griff” Griffiths (6 string acoustic) and Pedro Brown (Drums and percussion), the line up started formal rehearsing.
Rehearsals took place at the local YMCA on Aylestone Hill where there happened to be an old harmonium lying around. Will, as the only one having had a few brief piano lessons incorporated this into the band, amplifying it with a microphone fed through a wah-wah peddle, and also commenced providing material writing on piano. Pedro had played in a few local bands and was the most experienced musician amongst the band at that time. Early influences on the song writing side were US West Coast bands such as Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee may refer to:*Arthur Lee , U.S. envoy to France*Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham , British soldier and diplomat*Arthur Lee , American psychedelic-rock musician...
and Love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
, Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
and Spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
, and from England, Caravan and folk music generally. The style of music also reflected the rural environment and would possibly fall into the “folk rock” genre. The name Cold River Lady was taken from a poem by Paul "Jazz" Jones the drummer from Carcass.
The first gig took place at Brown’s Club of Clubs, a converted cinema in Knighton
Knighton
Knighton may mean:* Knighton, Powys a market town on the English/Welsh border**Knighton railway station serving the above town**Knighton Town F.C., its football club* Knighton, Leicestershire, a suburb of Leicester, England* In Staffordshire:...
on the Welsh border in spring 1971 supporting Pete Brown
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown is an English performance poet and lyricist.Best known for his collaborations with Jack Bruce, Brown also worked with The Battered Ornaments, formed his own group Pete Brown & Piblokto!, and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scores and formed a film...
and Piblokto
Piblokto
Piblokto, Pibloktoq or Arctic hysteria is a condition exclusively appearing in Inughuit societies living within the Arctic Circle. Appearing most prevalently in winter, it is considered to be a form of a culture-bound syndrome, although more recent studies question whether it exists at...
! and local Hereford band Sam Gamgee. Pete Brown
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown is an English performance poet and lyricist.Best known for his collaborations with Jack Bruce, Brown also worked with The Battered Ornaments, formed his own group Pete Brown & Piblokto!, and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scores and formed a film...
, (who was a poet and had written many of the lyrics for Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
with Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
) and Phil Ryan
Phil Ryan (musician)
Phil Ryan is a Welsh keyboardist and composer, best known for his work with Man and Pete Brown-Early career:...
(Pete’s then organist and song writing partner, later of Welsh band Man
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
) both enjoyed CRL’s set with Pete volunteering to help in bringing the band to the notice of record companies. The band at that stage was in a loose form and Phil, Will and Mike all went off to University, only all to give up within the year with a view to taking the band more seriously.
1972 was the start of the main song writing period of the band based on the core output from Phil and Mike. Will had kept in contact with Pete Brown who wanted little excuse to leave London for the odd weekend in Hereford. Pete persuaded Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
to make the first demos of the band with Pete producing. Four songs were recorded of which, from this session, “Far in the Fields” and “Sauna Bath Blues” are included on the 2010 release Better Late than Never
Better Late Than Never
Better Late Than Never is the debut full-length album by the ska/reggae band The Slackers, originally released in 1996 on Moon Ska Records...
. Also present on this session was Paul “Chesh” Cheshire (from the band Sam Gamgee) who added some electric guitar on three of the songs. Paul had been in Hunderton primary school with Griff and had recommended Griff for the band to Phil Will and Mike. Sam Gamgee was Chesh (guitar & vocals), Kelvin Wilson (bass & vocals), Tic Taylor (drums) and Ian "Ernie" Williams (guitar) (former member of Carcass). Chesh, Kelvin and Tic had all previously been members of the young schoolboy band, The Phantoms, who had made winning TV appearances at the age of 12 on Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye was an American comic actor. He was born Bernard Kotzin in New York City on the last day of the First World War, at West 114th Street in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan to first generation Jewish-Americans originally from Russia and Austria...
’s Silver Star Show (ATVs ‘60s equivalent of Opportunity Knocks / X-Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
) as well as gigging regularly on the local village hall circuit - a circuit also frequented by the Silence and Doc Thomas Band who were later to mutate into Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
.
CRL Mk II
After Ian "Ernie" Williams left Sam Gamgee, Chesh, Kelvin and Tic joined forces with the remnants of Karakorum (a well-respected Hereford progressive rock band), James Williams (guitar & vocals), Richard Edwards (guitar) and Martin ChambersMartin Chambers
Martin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band, The Pretenders. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals and plays percussion...
(drums) (later of the Pretenders) to form Karakorum Mk III, which lasted only briefly. Chesh then joined up with CRL as lead guitarist and vocalist as well as becoming the third songwriter in the band, while Martin and Kelvin hooked up with Verden Allen
Verden Allen
Verden Allen is an organ player and founding member of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople...
, Mott The Hoople's recently departed organist, to form Cheeks, the line up of which was completed by James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott , commonly referred to as "Jimmy", was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders....
(also later of The Pretenders).
During this period CRL played gigs locally and increasingly worked further a field in the Midlands and occasionally London. The regular rehearsal venue was Will and Mike’s old school at Tupsley where the headmaster Wally Davies, whose house was on the school site, stoically put up with highly amplified music three nights a week. CRL with the six piece line up, then recorded more demos at Pathway Studios
Pathway Studios
Pathway Studios was a North London studio in Islington run by producer Mike Finesilver for many years. Among the well-known artists who made their early recordings at Pathway Studios are Madness, Elvis Costello, The Police, Squeeze, Haircut One Hundred and John Foxx...
in London. From these four songs, Soft Spot Rest and Something are included on Better Late than Never. Helen Hardy also provided backing vocals on the Pathway sessions. Helen had moved from Dorset to Hereford in 1972 and started singing with another local band, Helen Heavens, also featuring Chesh on lead guitar. CRL by then used the same rehearsal space in Hereford - Norman Rose’s Bridge Street Studios. Despite interest from various record companies CRL remained unsigned. Their most notable gig of this period was the Windsor Free Festival
Windsor Free Festival
The Windsor Free Festival was a British Free Festival held in Windsor Great Park from 1972 to 1974. Organised by some London commune dwellers, notably Ubi Dwyer and Sid Rawle, it was in many ways the forerunner of the Stonehenge Free Festival, particularly in the brutality of its final suppression...
where Pete Farndon roadied and the CRL set on the main stage was played to the accompaniment of police helicopters buzzing the running skirmishes between the police and the hippies.
CRL Mk III
In the summer of 1974 Mike and Griff after some soul searching left CRL to go to Reading University and Sussex University respectively, although Mike continued to contribute lyrics for Phil’s melodies for the next few years. The obvious choice for replacement bass player was Pete Farndon who, after playing with Phil in Carcass and hanging out on the London and Hereford scene, had been inspired to take up playing bass again after seeing both Thin LizzyThin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band at Malvern Winter Gardens. Consequently his choice of bass was a Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
. Pete was playing in a band with Tic and Chesh and also joined forces with Chesh, Geoff Townsend and Mark Anderson in a band called the Dingos (Chesh’s services in Hereford as a lead guitarist frequently being in demand). So logic suggested taking both Pete and Tic into CRL to beef up the sound with two drummers and turn CRL into a more electric rock band. The final recruit into this line-up was Helen who was prised away from Helen Heavens.
Pete Brown had been acting as a part time manager for the band but was glad to hand over this role to the redoubtable Duncan Ferguson, who ran the Greyhound in Fulham, a famed music venue of the time, where Pete had got the band a residency. Duncan finally turned them professional and sent them off to Europe. This the most active line up of the band in terms of gigging and with the first professional management allowing the band to turn pro. Many one nighters throughout England and Wales followed as well as tours of Holland and Germany. Most weeks found the band playing in London at one of the many gigs which still existed in this era such as the Marquee
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
, Dingwalls
Dingwalls
Dingwalls is a venue adjacent to Camden Lock in London, England. It houses bars, cafes, clubs . The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, T.E...
and the Greyhound and positive reviews appeared in the music press. This line up recorded both the Travellers and Routing in the Quagmire as a single at Dennis Weinreich’s studio, Scorpio Sound, but still, despite getting very close to a record deal especially with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, nothing was released.
CRL Mk IV
By early 1976 CRL was running out of steam and Phil decided that life on the road was not really his favourite occupation, preferring just to write songs for the band. Pedro and Tic also left. Chesh, Pete, Will and Helen decided to give it one more go using John Clarke from Kirkaldy in Scotland whom Pete Brown suggested to CRL. There was a real feeling of renewed energy initially but after rehearsals, a couple of new songs, a couple of gigs and failed new management auditions, there was a general consensus that the band had run its course and it was time to call it a day in 1976.1992 studio recording and 2010 release
This could have been the end of CRL except that Pete Brown still had faith and a fondness for the CRL songs and in 1992 suggested he would like to finance and make an album with Phil, Will Chesh and Helen. The rhythm section used for this recording John MacKenzie, one of the UKʼs top session bassists who had become a good friend of both Helen and Will (as well as having worked with Pete Brown many times) and Bob Jenkins (also a top UK drummer) who was a friend of Helenʼs as well as a regular session partner of Johnʼs. The rhythm tracks were recorded in Stoke on Trent, with over-dubs at Pete Kerrʼs studio in east London and mixed in Stoke by Pete Kerr, Pete Brown and Will Wright. Pete Brown produced the album and Pete Kerr engineered.The music business being what it is, 1992 was still the wrong time for the release of the album and nobody wanted to know. Then in 2009 Pete Brown still with the tapes of the 1992 session met Peter Purnell of Angel Air
Angel Air
Angel Airlines, trading as Angel Air, was an airline based in Bangkok, Thailand, which was operational between 1997 and 2006.-Fleet:Over the years, Angel Airlines operated the following aircraft types:...
records and told him about the record. Pete Purnell loved it and came on board to release in August 2010 the CRL album Better Late Than Never
Better Late Than Never (Cold River Lady album)
Better Late Than Never is the first studio album by Cold River Lady. It was recorded in 1992, with Pete Brown producing, and mixed by Pete Kerr....
.
Post CRL
After CRL Chesh, Phil, Pedro and Tic all remained living in or around Hereford. Chesh and Phil continued to write together and played in two bands along with Pedro - The Banque with Richie Downes on bass, and Friends featuring Paul Cobbold (bass) (who was also at the Cathedral School and went on to be a noted recording engineer and producer at Rockfield StudiosRockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
) and James Williams (guitar, piano and vocals), both ex Karakorum, plus Mark Thompson of Buzz Music (sax). Chesh and Pedro worked together in several other bands including Manyana and The John Shane Band. Chesh also played with a band called Red Sails including the talented young drummer Clive Jenner who later became drummer with Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
and The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid . They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be ". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents...
. Chesh continues to play regularly and ply his craft in many bands as well as writing songs and doing sessions. Phil, in addition to the Banque and Friends also formed a duo called Double Trouble with Richie Downes and then followed that with another duo 'The Meanies' with Ian Clifford (guitar and vocals, and ex-Cluster and Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:...
drummer). For the past ten years Phil has gigged regularly as a solo artist and continues to write and record.
Pedro Brown continues to work full time as a percussionist, and play drums with many bands. He has also released three solo albums featuring his saxophone playing as well as his drumming - Windswept, Long Journey and Out of the Storm. Pedro is also an accomplished photographer who has had several exhibitions. Tic Taylor went on to play drums in several bands including Love Manoeuvres and The Cruise.
Will moved to London in 1976 and after some years as a full time player, eventually used the financial side of his skills to become a successful banker. He gigged regularly in London with various bands till the late 1990s, including Lee Fardon's Legionnaires, Cheap Perfume, and providing the material for an instrumental band including brothers, bassist Steve Lewinson and drummer Pete Lewinson who went on to form Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
's rhythm section as well as being much in demand session players. Will now lives in Italy.
On leaving CRL Helen became professional and joined Pete Brown’s Back to the Front between 1976 and 1977and then Roger Chapman’s Shortlist, with whom she continues to work. She has also toured the UK, Japan and Australia with Gilbert O'Sullivan. She has also worked with the Arthur Louis
Arthur Louis
Arthur Louis is of British nationality. His surname is pronounced as luːɪs in British and American English and he is known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. In his late teens he attended Michigan State University where he joined and toured extensivly withTerminal Stations...
band (along with John MacKenzie and Blair Cunningham) providing backing vocals with Noel McCalla
Noel McCalla
Noel McCalla is a British rock singer. He was the lead vocalist for the rock group Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1991 until September 2009, when his mutually accepted departure was announced...
and also sings on Pete Brown and Phil Ryan's new album due for release in 2010 as well as doing regular session work.
Pete Farndon joined The Bushwackers, an Australian country music band, while they were in London and followed them back to Australia for a year then joined up with the first line up of the Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
with Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
and Tom Edwards on drums (another Hereford Cathedral School friend). Pete was then instrumental in persuading James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott , commonly referred to as "Jimmy", was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders....
and Martin Chambers
Martin Chambers
Martin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band, The Pretenders. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals and plays percussion...
to join the Pretenders. Pete attained considerable success with The Pretenders before his tragically premature death in April 1983.
Paul Griffiths and Mike Lawley maintain an active interest in music but ceased performing in bands after CRL. Paul lives in Neath and is a talented watercolourist and painter. Mike lives in Cardiff.
CRL - line ups
1971 - 1973Mk I: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar & cocklecaster), Will Wright (descant, treble & tenor recorders, harmonium, piano), Mike Lawley (bass), Paul Griffiths (6 string acoustic guitar, backing vocals). Pedro Brown (drums, percussion).
1973 - 1974
Mk II: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar ), Will Wright (recorders, organ, electric piano) Mick Lawley (bass), Paul Griffiths (6 string acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Pedro Brown (drums, percussion), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, vocals).
1974 - 1976
Mk III: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar and 12 string electric guitar), Will Wright (recorders, Hammond C3 organ, electric
piano ), Pedro Brown (drums), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, electric piano, vocals), Pete Farndon (Bass), Tic Taylor (drums), Helen Hardy (vocals).
1976
Mk IV: Will Wright (recorders, Hammond C3 organ, electric piano ), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, electric piano, vocals), Pete Farndon (Bass), Helen Hardy (vocals), John Clarke (drums).
1992
Mk V: Phil Weaver (vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar, 6 string electric guitar), Will Wright (descant & tenor recorders, Hammond C3
organ, electric piano, synthesiser), Paul Cheshire (lead guitar, vocals), Helen Hardy (vocals). Honorary ladies: John MacKenzie (bass), Bob Jenkins (Drums).
Studio Albums
2010: Better Late Than NeverBetter Late Than Never (Cold River Lady album)
Better Late Than Never is the first studio album by Cold River Lady. It was recorded in 1992, with Pete Brown producing, and mixed by Pete Kerr....
(CD, Angel Air Records)