Hard Stuff
Encyclopedia
Hard Stuff was an English
hard rock
(possibly a heavy metal
predecessor) group
, which included John Du Cann
and Paul Hammond
, formerly of Atomic Rooster
. Also in the line-up were vocalist Harry Shaw, formerly of Curiosity Shoppe and latterly Export, and John Gustafson
, formerly of Quatermass
.
Du Cann and Hammond had left Atomic Rooster due to disagreements with Vincent Crane
over the increasingly bluesy, soulful direction he wanted to take that band in. Consequently, compared with Atomic Rooster's more progressive
leanings, Hard Stuff were based more heavily on aggressive guitar
.
Originally, Du Cann, Hammond and Shaw had formed a band provisionally entitled Daemon, with the intention of eventually touring and recording under the name Atomic Rooster. Gustafson was invited to join them on that basis, but after finding out that Crane retained the rights to the Atomic Rooster name, the quartet decided to continue anyway, but under the name Bullet instead.
As Bullet, the band released one single, "Hobo", the first on Deep Purple's Purple Records
label. Following that release, however, they were prompted to change their name yet again, this time to Hard Stuff, due to a legal threat from a US band also called Bullet
.
Hard Stuff toured heavily across Europe, particularly in Germany and Italy, often as support to Deep Purple and Uriah Heep
. Their career was curtailed by a car crash in which Du Cann and Hammond were badly injured. Although the release of a second album went ahead, the band were soon to fold.
Hard Stuff's first album featured Shaw, but he had left the band by the time of its release and was uncredited.
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...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
(possibly a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
predecessor) group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, which included John Du Cann
John Du Cann
John William Cann , later known by his stage name John Du Cann, was a British guitarist primarily known through his work in the 1970s band, Atomic Rooster...
and Paul Hammond
Paul Hammond (musician)
Paul Hammond was an English rock drummer, best known for his time with the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster.-Career:Born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, Hammond began playing drums aged 12, and joined his first band, The Farm, after winning a competition in the Melody Maker music newspaper...
, formerly of Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
. Also in the line-up were vocalist Harry Shaw, formerly of Curiosity Shoppe and latterly Export, and John Gustafson
John Gustafson (musician)
John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson is an influential bass player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career...
, formerly of Quatermass
Quatermass (band)
Quatermass was a British progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969. Lauded as a band of the future on the release of their debut album and supplementing single, "Black Sheep of the Family", major commercial success eluded the band throughout its brief duration.-Career:The...
.
Du Cann and Hammond had left Atomic Rooster due to disagreements with Vincent Crane
Vincent Crane
Vincent Crane was a self-taught pianist, who studied theory and composition at Trinity College of Music, and graduated in 1964...
over the increasingly bluesy, soulful direction he wanted to take that band in. Consequently, compared with Atomic Rooster's more progressive
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
leanings, Hard Stuff were based more heavily on aggressive guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
Originally, Du Cann, Hammond and Shaw had formed a band provisionally entitled Daemon, with the intention of eventually touring and recording under the name Atomic Rooster. Gustafson was invited to join them on that basis, but after finding out that Crane retained the rights to the Atomic Rooster name, the quartet decided to continue anyway, but under the name Bullet instead.
As Bullet, the band released one single, "Hobo", the first on Deep Purple's Purple Records
Purple Records
Purple Records is a record label established in 1971 by Deep Purple's management. Their releases were distributed by EMI. The label was run until 1979. In 1997 Simon Robinson from RPM Records established a second label releasing rare and previously unissued recordings...
label. Following that release, however, they were prompted to change their name yet again, this time to Hard Stuff, due to a legal threat from a US band also called Bullet
Bullet (band)
Bullet was a one-hit wonder American rock band. Its only hit, "White Lies, Blue Eyes", peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1972. Band member Roget Pontbriand went on to play with K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Wild Cherry...
.
Hard Stuff toured heavily across Europe, particularly in Germany and Italy, often as support to Deep Purple and Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
. Their career was curtailed by a car crash in which Du Cann and Hammond were badly injured. Although the release of a second album went ahead, the band were soon to fold.
Hard Stuff's first album featured Shaw, but he had left the band by the time of its release and was uncredited.
Bullet/Hard Stuff discography (all on Purple Records)
- "Hobo" / "Sinister Minister" (as Bullet, 1971)
- "Jay Time" / "The Orchestrator" (1972)
- BulletproofBulletproof (Hard Stuff album)Bulletproof is the first album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band. It was released on Purple Records, the Deep Purple-related record label.It also featured vocalist Al Shaw, but he had left the band by the time of its release and was uncredited....
(1972) - "Inside Your Life" / "How Do You do It?" (1972)
- Bolex DementiaBolex DementiaBolex Dementia is the second and final album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band.-Track listing:# "Sick n' Tired" – 4:04# "Mermany" – 5:58# "Jumpin' Thumpin' " – 2:55# "Dazzle Dizzy" – 3:41# "Bolex Dementia" – 3:41...
(1973)