May Blitz
Encyclopedia
May Blitz is a British heavy rock power trio
that was active in the early 1970s.
The group was formed in 1969 by bassist Terry Poole and drummer Keith Baker
, the rhythm section of the blues-rock
trio
Bakerloo
, both of whom left the group when guitarist Clem Clempson
departed to join Colosseum
. Jamie Black joined the group on vocals and guitars but both Poole and Baker left this group as well before it recorded anything, Poole joining Vinegar Joe
and Baker Uriah Heep
. Black then added fellow Canadian Reid Hudson on bass and Tony Newman
, who had played with Jeff Beck
, The Hollies
and Sounds Incorporated
, on drums.
After some time playing pubs in the UK, the group signed with Vertigo Records
(in the US they were on Paramount Records
- not generally known for releasing hard rock) and released their debut album in 1970. A second album followed early in 1971 but the group did not see success quickly and decided to disband late in 1971. Black and Hudson, both originally from Canada
, returned to their native country while Newman went on to join Three Man Army
.
The worldwide rights to both of their albums are now owned by Universal Music Group
.
May Blitz's first album was produced by Tony Visconti at Trident studio, situated between the famous "Ship" pub and the "Marquee Club" on Wardour Street in Soho London.
Follow-up album "The 2nd of May" was one of the first albums to be recorded at George Martin's AIR Studio. May Blitz toured in Europe and had a huge following in Germany. On one tour, they opened for Rod Stewart and the Faces in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Baden Baden, Stuttgart. In the 2 years that May Blitz played they opened for and headlined many concerts in Belgum and Holland and throughout England.
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
that was active in the early 1970s.
The group was formed in 1969 by bassist Terry Poole and drummer Keith Baker
Keith Baker (musician)
Keith Baker is a drummer. He played for Bakerloo, but left the group following the release of its only album. Baker became a member of Uriah Heep prior to their second album Salisbury, replacing Nigel Olsson when he joined Elton John as a drummer...
, the rhythm section of the blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
Bakerloo
Bakerloo (Blues Line)
Bakerloo was an English heavy blues-rock trio, established by Staffordshire guitarist David "Clem" Clempson, Terry Poole and others in the late 1960s, at the high point of the influence of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream...
, both of whom left the group when guitarist Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
departed to join Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
. Jamie Black joined the group on vocals and guitars but both Poole and Baker left this group as well before it recorded anything, Poole joining Vinegar Joe
Vinegar Joe (band)
Vinegar Joe were a British R&B band. They issued three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer.-History:...
and Baker 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...
. Black then added fellow Canadian Reid Hudson on bass and Tony Newman
Tony Newman (drummer)
Richard Anthony 'Tony' Newman is an English rock drummer. He was at various times a member of the bands Sounds Incorporated, May Blitz, Three Man Army and T...
, who had played with Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
and Sounds Incorporated
Sounds Incorporated
Sounds Incorporated, later known as Sounds Inc., were a British instrumental pop group who recorded extensively in the 1960s.-Career:The group formed in 1961, in Dartford, Kent, and gained a local reputation in nearby South London for the fullness of their saxophone-led instrumental sound...
, on drums.
After some time playing pubs in the UK, the group signed with 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...
(in the US they were on Paramount Records
Paramount Records (1969)
Paramount Records was a record label started in 1969 by Paramount Pictures after acquiring the rights to the name from George H. Buck. The previous label with the same name had been unconnected to Paramount Pictures. The new Paramount label reissued pop releases by sister label Dot Records, which...
- not generally known for releasing hard rock) and released their debut album in 1970. A second album followed early in 1971 but the group did not see success quickly and decided to disband late in 1971. Black and Hudson, both originally from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, returned to their native country while Newman went on to join Three Man Army
Three Man Army
Three Man Army was a British hard rock band active in the first half of the 1970s.-History:The group was formed by Adrian Gurvitz and Paul Gurvitz, formerly of The Gun. Following the band's dissolution, Adrian played with Buddy Miles and Paul played with Parrish & Gurvitz, then reunited as Three...
.
The worldwide rights to both of their albums are now owned by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
Discography
- May Blitz (Vertigo RecordsVertigo RecordsVertigo 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...
, 1970) - The 2nd of May (Vertigo RecordsVertigo RecordsVertigo 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...
6360037, 1971)
May Blitz's first album was produced by Tony Visconti at Trident studio, situated between the famous "Ship" pub and the "Marquee Club" on Wardour Street in Soho London.
Follow-up album "The 2nd of May" was one of the first albums to be recorded at George Martin's AIR Studio. May Blitz toured in Europe and had a huge following in Germany. On one tour, they opened for Rod Stewart and the Faces in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Baden Baden, Stuttgart. In the 2 years that May Blitz played they opened for and headlined many concerts in Belgum and Holland and throughout England.