Lucifer's Friend
Encyclopedia
Lucifer's Friend was a 1970s German
Rock
band. Allmusic author, Eduardo Rivadavia, noted the group as, "early practitioners of heavy metal
and progressive rock
." They also incorporated elements of jazz
into their music. The band have also been cited as one of the pioneers of doom metal
.
was vocalist for a group called Stonewall. Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Peter Hesslein, and Joachim Reitenbach were members of a band called the German Bonds. The five joined together to record an album under the band name of Asterix
in 1970, then changed their name to Lucifer's Friend and continued under that name. Another group called the Pink Mice was a side project by some of the members in 1971 minus Lawton.
The early albums were released on the Vertigo Records
label in Europe, but in the United States those albums were released on a series of small independent record labels (Billingsgate, Janus, Passport), often a year or more after their release in Europe. Thus, despite airplay in some markets and a cult following, the band's albums were hard to find and commercial success eluded them. The band was finally signed to Elektra Records
in the late 1970s who released three albums with a more commercial pop oriented sound, but by then interest in the band had waned; those albums were even less successful than the earlier ones.
Lucifer's Friend was known for changing musical styles and influences on each album. The self-titled 1970 debut had dark lyrics and a stripped-down guitar and organ style and sounded similar to Led Zeppelin
and Black Sabbath
. That album is still sought after by fans of early heavy metal music
. The second album, Where the Groupies Killed the Blues, took an entirely different direction; it was a very experimental album of progressive and psychedelic
rock, mostly composed by John O'Brien Docker. On the third album, I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer, they changed direction again, this time in the straightforward rock style popularized by such groups as Grand Funk Railroad
, and gritty "life on the road" themes in the lyrics. Banquet featured extended, multi-layered jazz fusion
compositions and a 30-piece backup band, alternating with some shorter tracks reminiscent of Chicago
and Traffic
. Those first four albums are all concept albums of a sort and along with the self-titled Asterix album are the most sought after today.
Mind Exploding established a holding pattern and tried to combine the jazz of Banquet with the garage-rock of Rock & Roll Singer, but was not as well received as the earlier albums. Vocalist John Lawton
left in 1976 to join Uriah Heep
and was replaced by Mike Starrs, former vocalist with Colosseum II. John Lawton returned for the 1981 album Mean Machine. On the two albums without Lawton they moved to a more commercial sound, on 1978's Good Time Warrior and 1980s Sneak Me In.
John Lawton's 1980 solo album on RCA
, Heartbeat, was a Lucifer's Friend album in everything but name, with the lineup from Sneak Me In performing as backup musicians on that project. Lawton's official return, Mean Machine, found the band returning to heavy metal, this time in the vein of Rainbow
. The band officially broke up in 1982 but briefly reformed in the early 1990s to release a new CD, Sumo Grip.
As Lucifer's Friend II
Bokaj Retsiem (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards and Dieter Horns on Bass)
Asterix
(Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members)
Brother T & Family (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
Electric Food (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
Pink Mice (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
Hepp, Hahn and Huhn (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards and Dieter Horns on bass)
Okko Becker (Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
Propeller
(Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
Frankie Dymon (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards)
The Rattles
(Includes Herbert Bornhold on drums)
David Frank Selection (Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
John Lawton
(Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members)
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band. Allmusic author, Eduardo Rivadavia, noted the group as, "early practitioners of 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...
and progressive rock
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...
." They also incorporated elements of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
into their music. The band have also been cited as one of the pioneers of doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
.
History
The British-born John LawtonJohn Lawton (musician)
John Lawton is a rock and roll and blues vocalist best known for his work with Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep and the Les Humphries Singers.-Biography:...
was vocalist for a group called Stonewall. Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Peter Hesslein, and Joachim Reitenbach were members of a band called the German Bonds. The five joined together to record an album under the band name of Asterix
Asterix (band)
Asterix were a German rock group whose members would later go on to change their name and form the first line-up of Lucifer's Friend. During the band's short-lived time under this name they recorded one album in 1970 and released the single "Everybody"...
in 1970, then changed their name to Lucifer's Friend and continued under that name. Another group called the Pink Mice was a side project by some of the members in 1971 minus Lawton.
The early albums were released on the Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
label in Europe, but in the United States those albums were released on a series of small independent record labels (Billingsgate, Janus, Passport), often a year or more after their release in Europe. Thus, despite airplay in some markets and a cult following, the band's albums were hard to find and commercial success eluded them. The band was finally signed to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in the late 1970s who released three albums with a more commercial pop oriented sound, but by then interest in the band had waned; those albums were even less successful than the earlier ones.
Lucifer's Friend was known for changing musical styles and influences on each album. The self-titled 1970 debut had dark lyrics and a stripped-down guitar and organ style and sounded similar to Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. That album is still sought after by fans of early heavy metal music
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...
. The second album, Where the Groupies Killed the Blues, took an entirely different direction; it was a very experimental album of progressive and psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
rock, mostly composed by John O'Brien Docker. On the third album, I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer, they changed direction again, this time in the straightforward rock style popularized by such groups as Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
, and gritty "life on the road" themes in the lyrics. Banquet featured extended, multi-layered jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
compositions and a 30-piece backup band, alternating with some shorter tracks reminiscent of Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
and Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
. Those first four albums are all concept albums of a sort and along with the self-titled Asterix album are the most sought after today.
Mind Exploding established a holding pattern and tried to combine the jazz of Banquet with the garage-rock of Rock & Roll Singer, but was not as well received as the earlier albums. Vocalist John Lawton
John Lawton (musician)
John Lawton is a rock and roll and blues vocalist best known for his work with Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep and the Les Humphries Singers.-Biography:...
left in 1976 to join 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...
and was replaced by Mike Starrs, former vocalist with Colosseum II. John Lawton returned for the 1981 album Mean Machine. On the two albums without Lawton they moved to a more commercial sound, on 1978's Good Time Warrior and 1980s Sneak Me In.
John Lawton's 1980 solo album on RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, Heartbeat, was a Lucifer's Friend album in everything but name, with the lineup from Sneak Me In performing as backup musicians on that project. Lawton's official return, Mean Machine, found the band returning to heavy metal, this time in the vein of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
. The band officially broke up in 1982 but briefly reformed in the early 1990s to release a new CD, Sumo Grip.
Lucifer's Friend albums
- Lucifer's FriendLucifer's Friend (album)Lucifer's Friend is the first album by the band Lucifer's Friend, released in 1970.-Side one:# "Ride in the Sky" – 2:55# "Everybody's Clown" – 6:12# "Keep Goin'" – 5:26# "Toxic Shadows" – 7:00-Side two:...
(self-titled, 1970) - Where the Groupies Killed the BluesWhere the Groupies Killed the BluesWhere the Groupies Killed the Blues is the second album by progressive rock band Lucifer's Friend, released in 1972. Piano is prominent on most songs, and organ is used only on a few songs such as "Where the Groupies Killed the Blues", whereas on the debut album, Lucifer's Friend, organ and guitars...
(1972) - I'm Just a Rock & Roll SingerI'm Just a Rock & Roll SingerI'm Just A Rock 'n' Roll Singer is the third album released by progressive rock band Lucifer's Friend in 1973. This album marks the point where they completely turn away from the dark lyrics and heavy metal sound.-Side one:# "Groovin’ Stone" - 5:15...
(1973) - BanquetBanquet (album)Banquet is the fourth album by progressive rock band Lucifer's Friend, released in 1974. By this time there was no hard rock sound, it was now strictly progressive rock mixed with jazz fusion. The song "Our World Is A Rock N' Roll Band" was the opening track on some versions Banquet is the fourth...
(1974) - Mind ExplodingMind ExplodingMind Exploding is the fifth album by Lucifer's Friend. This album marks the point where they return to a more hard rock oriented style with less of a progressive rock sound. It is more or less the missing link between I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer and Banquet...
(1976) - The Devil's TouchThe Devil's TouchThe Devil's Touch is the first of two compilation albums by Lucifer's Friend. This compilation collects some of Lucifer's Friend's best songs from their first album Lucifer's Friend up to Mind Exploding...
(1976) (1970-1976 Compilation) - Good Time WarriorGood Time WarriorGood Time Warrior is the sixth album by Lucifer's Friend, an album in which Mike Starrs, formerly of Colosseum II, replaced John Lawton on vocals for the first time. This album and the following Sneak Me In were an attempt at a more commercial, mainstream style which met with limited commercial...
(1978) - Rock Heavies:Lucifer's FriendRock Heavies:Lucifer's FriendRock Heavies:Lucifer's Friend is the second of two compilation albums by Lucifer's Friend. This compilation collects some of Lucifer's Friend's best songs from their first album, Lucifer's Friend, third album I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer, and fifth album Mind Exploding. This compilation was...
(1980) (1970-1976 Compilation) - Sneak Me InSneak Me InSneak Me In is seventh album by Lucifer's Friend, an album in which Mike Starrs, formerly of Colosseum II, replaced John Lawton on vocals for a second time. This album and the previous Good Time Warrior were an attempt at a more commercial, accessible style which met with limited success...
(1980) - Mean MachineMean Machine (Lucifer's Friend album)Mean Machine is the eighth album by Lucifer's Friend. On this album the band returns to their heavy metal roots, albeit with less of the Hammond organ found on the first album. However, by this time the band had lost its core following years ago and it was too late to recover. Lucifer's Friend...
(1981)
As Lucifer's Friend II
- Sumo GripSumo GripSumo Grip is the ninth and final album by Lucifer's Friend. This album once again displays the wide variety of styles Lucifer's Friend is famous for throughout their previous albums, living up to the "no album is the same" moniker...
(1994)
Side projects and related bands
German Bonds (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards and Dieter Horns on Bass)- Sonata Facile b/w So Mystifying (1965)
- We are Out of Sight b/w Sing Hallelujah (1966)
- Skinny Eleonore b/w Birthday is Today (1969)
Bokaj Retsiem (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards and Dieter Horns on Bass)
- Psychedelic Underground (1968)
Asterix
Asterix (band)
Asterix were a German rock group whose members would later go on to change their name and form the first line-up of Lucifer's Friend. During the band's short-lived time under this name they recorded one album in 1970 and released the single "Everybody"...
(Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members)
- AsterixAsterix (album)Asterix is the only album by Asterix, a predecessor of the band Lucifer's Friend.-Track listing:#"Everybody"#"If I Could Fly"#"Look Out"#"Gone from My Life"#"Broken Home"#"Time Again"#"Jump into Action"#"Open Up Your Mind"#"Corner Street Girl"...
(Asterix album, 1970)
Brother T & Family (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
- Drillin' of the Rock (1970)
Electric Food (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
- Electric Food (Electric Food album, 1970)
- FlashFlash (Electric Food album)Flash is the second and final album by Electric Food. Soon after its release, the core of band formed Asterix and recorded one album: Asterix. Less than a year later Asterix would change their name to Lucifer's Friend. In 2004 Electric Food and Flash were released on one CD by Mason Records...
(Electric Food album, 1970)
Pink Mice (Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members, except John Lawton)
- In Action (1971)
- In Synthesized Sound (1971)
Hepp, Hahn and Huhn (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards and Dieter Horns on bass)
- Alive and Goodnight (1971)
Okko Becker (Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
- Sitar and Electronics (1971)
Propeller
Propeller (band)
Propeller is an Estonian punk band formed in March 1980.- Line-up :*Urmas Alender – vocals*Prince Peeter Volkonski – vocals...
(Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
- Let us Live Together (1971)
Frankie Dymon (Includes Peter Hecht on keyboards)
- Let it OutLet It OutLet It Out is a DVD released by the American alternative rock band Hoobastank on November 23, 2004. It features six music videos from the band's first two albums as well as five live tracks from their latest tour and a video showing how the members of Hoobastank live while on tour.-Track...
(1971)
The Rattles
The Rattles
The Rattles are a rock band from Germany. Their biggest selling record was their 1968 recorded song, "The Witch", which sold over one million copies globally.-Career:...
(Includes Herbert Bornhold on drums)
- The Witch (1972)
David Frank Selection (Includes Peter Hesslein on guitars)
- Blues & Electronics (1972)
John Lawton
John Lawton (musician)
John Lawton is a rock and roll and blues vocalist best known for his work with Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep and the Les Humphries Singers.-Biography:...
(Includes all original Lucifer's Friend members)
- Heartbeat (John Lawton solo album, 1980)