Mick Underwood
Encyclopedia
Mick Underwood is a British
drummer
best known for his work with Episode Six
, Quatermass
and Gillan
. First playing drums at the age of 14, he was a professional musician
by the time he left school. He is currently the drummer for British rock band Raw Glory
.
and added a third-hand bass drum
shortly after. He received drum tuition
from Jim Marshall
, who went on to become the inventor and manufacturer of the Marshall amplifier
. During this period, Underwood met Ritchie Blackmore
(then known as Ricky Blackmore) and the two played together in a band called The Dominators, although Underwood was eventually asked to leave the band for "...playing too loud!"
His next band was The Satellites, until he was invited to join The Crescents, who were playing residencies at large ballroom
s. Underwood finally left school at 16 to work with Jet Harris
, and joined a tour of Britain with Sam Cooke
and Little Richard
. It was at the end of this tour that Screaming Lord Sutch
(in whose band, The Savages, Blackmore now played) suggested he approach independent record producer Joe Meek
for further session work.
, where he used a band called The Outlaws
as his permanent studio musicians, also allowing them to record material under their own name. When Underwood arrived to audition for Meek, The Outlaws were also recruiting for a lead guitarist and it was Underwood who suggested Ritchie Blackmore should fill the role, an invitation he duly accepted.
Between November 1962 and June 1965, The Outlaws released six single
s, as well as playing on hundreds of Meek's recording sessions with various artists. They also headline
d at the Star-Club
in Hamburg
with both Jerry Lee Lewis
and Gene Vincent
. In 1964 they appeared in the movie Live It Up!
performing their single "Law & Order".
A reviewer of Underwood's work at this time described his drumming style as "...coupling Charlie Watts
type steadiness with little Jim McCarty
style flourishes." Blackmore eventually moved to another of Meeks' bands, joining Heinz Burt's
backing band The Wild Boys, but he and Underwood still collaborated in recording sessions with Meek's engineer Derek Lawrence. One of the Derek Lawrence sessions produced Blackmore's first official release, the now highly sought after single "Get Away/Little Brown Jug", released in July 1965. They also recorded "Earthshaker" and "Satan's Holiday, " which were released on the Titan label, credited to The Lancasters. "Satan's Holiday, " was a fast, rock adaptation of Grieg's
"In the Hall of the Mountain King
", a tune that stayed in Blackmore's stage repertory right into the 1990s. Shortly afterwards, Underwood also left The Outlaws to take up an offer to join R&B
band The Herd
.
and Eel Pie Island. Despite their busy schedule and the release of two singles, Underwood grew increasingly frustrated at the band's lack of success, and in 1966 he resigned from the band and the music business. However, a year later he accepted an invitation from singer James Royal as a session drummer for a two week residency at Hatchets in London's West End
. At the end of the residency Underwood decided to stay with the band, the James Royal Set to tour with Johnny Cash
.
At the end of this tour Underwood spoke with Peter Grant, whom he knew from the time that Grant had been tour manager for Gene Vincent when The Outlaws had been his backing band. Grant explained that he was currently working with guitarist Jimmy Page
, and was recruiting musicians to form a new band around him. Underwood considered the offer, but instead accepted one to join established act Episode Six
. Grant had asked one of his other acts, singer Terry Reid
, to join the project, who had also turned down the offer. Undeterred, Grant went on to recruit two previously unknown musicians, the singer Robert Plant
and drummer John Bonham
, and the band became Led Zeppelin
.
, bass player for Episode Six, said of their new drummer: "Mick represented a step up for us because he had been around in other bands. The Herd had one fairly big hit so it was as if we had been connected with success." Also in the band was singer/keyboard player Ian Gillan
.
Despite numerous BBC sessions and two singles, commercial success never came for the band and there was a feeling that they were failing to move with the times as the music scene rapidly changed at the close of the 60s. Along with Ian Gillan, Underwood was drawn to the heavier sound of the emergent new bands, in particular Deep Purple
(Ritchie Blackmore's new band) and Led Zeppelin. When Blackmore contacted Underwood for a recommendation for a singer, he immediately gave them Ian Gillan's name. Along with Jon Lord
, Blackmore attended an Episode Six gig to listen to Gillan, and shortly afterwards recruited both him and Roger Glover into Deep Purple. Following this shake-up, bassist/singer John Gustafson
and keyboard player Peter Robinson were called in to shore up the band, but shortly afterwards the two newcomers left, along with Underwood, to form their own band Quatermass.
Air London company and began to put together their first album, using their own material plus several songs written by Steve Hammond. Recorded at EMI
's Abbey Road studios
the band's eponymous album
was released on EMI's progressive rock
label Harvest Records
. One of the Hammond tracks on the album was titled "Black Sheep Of The Family", later covered by Blackmore on the first Rainbow
album. To promote the album the band undertook a Europe
an tour, with performances on radio and T.V. timed to coincide with the release of the album in various countries. Despite wide critical acclaim, the project had insufficient financial backing however, and there were many problems on their subsequent tour of the United States
. It was not unusual for the band to have to ask for an advance against their fee from the venue promoters in order to collect the equipment from the airport. On their return to the UK the band dissolved.
Underwood began discussions with Paul Rodgers
who was looking to form a new band after the breakup of Free
, and along with bass player Stuart McDonald they formed the band Peace. Signed to Island Records
, Peace began to write material for a debut album and also embarked on a UK tour supporting Mott the Hoople
but within a year Free reformed, and Underwood formed another new band, called Sammy.
It was around this time that Underwood was offered the position of drummer with Hot Chocolate but after careful deliberation he declined and successfully recommended Tony Connor - who had recently left Audience (band) - for a position which was then held, temporarily, by session drummer Cozy Powell
.
Underwood called on Ian Gillan to produce their first single, and the band then went into rehearsals for their debut album, which was then recorded in a single 72-hour session. As in previous projects, there was little commercial success and Underwood dissolved the band, returning to session drumming.
His next band was Strapps, their eponymous debut album being recorded in 1976 at Ian Gillan's Kingsway Recorders studio in London, produced by former Episode Six colleague Roger Glover. They then toured as support act on Deep Purple's final tour of the UK, and went on to release three further albums.
Underwood worked again with Ian Gillan as the support act on the UK tour of the Ian Gillan Band
, whose line-up included former Quatermass colleague John Gustafson, on bass and backing vocals. Strapps straight-forward rock generally went down very well, while the jazz-rock fusion sound of Ian Gillan Band led to some confusion amongst fans. Underwood sometimes took the opportunity to view the show from within the audience after playing his own set, and recalled that he "really picked up this bewildered vibe. The fans just couldn't connect with the music, however well it was played."
Strapps fourth and final album Ball Of Fire was recorded at Ian Gillan's Kingsway studios and during recording Underwood was asked by Gillan if he could use a couple of hours of their studio time to lay down a vocal with his latest band, Gillan
. Several weeks later Gillan invited him to be the drummer in this new venture.
had also auditioned for Gillan but according to guitarist Bernie Torme
"...he had some difficulty after playing "Secret of the Dance" due to his only having one lung, and being a bit out of practice. He played it brilliantly but he had to lie down on the floor for five minutes afterwards. He did not want to join because of our fast tracks, he said he no longer wanted to play stuff like that. I think the fact that he had been offered to join Whitesnake
with his old friend Jon Lord made a big difference." Meeting Gillan again at the studio had obviously put Underwood's name on the list of potentials for the job, and as Torme revealed "...we finally found the magnificentally solid and under appreciated Mick Underwood." The day after he accepted the job, Underwood and the band began to record the Mr. Universe
album, released in October 1979.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
best known for his work with Episode Six
Episode Six
Episode Six was a British vocal pop-rock group during the mid 1960s. The band was not well known, but foreshadowed the arrival of Deep Purple in late 1960s...
, 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...
and Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
. First playing drums at the age of 14, he was a professional musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
by the time he left school. He is currently the drummer for British rock band Raw Glory
Raw Glory
Raw Glory is a British rock band, formed in 2006 as the vehicle for accomplished professional musicians Mick Underwood, Johhny Heywood and Cosmo....
.
Early years
At the age of 14 Underwood was given his first drum, a second-hand snare drumSnare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
and added a third-hand bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
shortly after. He received drum tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
from Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall (businessman)
James Charles "Jim" Marshall, OBE , known as The Father Of Loud, is a pioneer of guitar amplification. His company, Marshall Amplification continues to produce amplifiers with an iconic status.-Early Years:...
, who went on to become the inventor and manufacturer of the Marshall amplifier
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
. During this period, Underwood met Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
(then known as Ricky Blackmore) and the two played together in a band called The Dominators, although Underwood was eventually asked to leave the band for "...playing too loud!"
His next band was The Satellites, until he was invited to join The Crescents, who were playing residencies at large ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
s. Underwood finally left school at 16 to work with Jet Harris
Jet Harris
Jet Harris, MBE was an English musician. He was the bass guitarist of The Shadows until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer Tony Meehan....
, and joined a tour of Britain with Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
and Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
. It was at the end of this tour that Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
(in whose band, The Savages, Blackmore now played) suggested he approach independent record producer Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
for further session work.
1961—1965
Meek's studio, RGM Sound, was based in North LondonNorth London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, where he used a band called The Outlaws
The Outlaws (UK band)
The Outlaws were an English instrumental band that recorded in the early 1960s. One time members included Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Bobby Graham, Ken Lundgren, Mick Underwood, Reg Hawkins , Billy Kuy and others....
as his permanent studio musicians, also allowing them to record material under their own name. When Underwood arrived to audition for Meek, The Outlaws were also recruiting for a lead guitarist and it was Underwood who suggested Ritchie Blackmore should fill the role, an invitation he duly accepted.
Between November 1962 and June 1965, The Outlaws released six single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s, as well as playing on hundreds of Meek's recording sessions with various artists. They also headline
Headline
The headline is the text at the top of a newspaper article, indicating the nature of the article below it.It is sometimes termed a news hed, a deliberate misspelling that dates from production flow during hot type days, to notify the composing room that a written note from an editor concerned a...
d at the Star-Club
Star-Club
The Star-Club was a music club in Hamburg, Germany that opened Friday 13 April 1962 and was initially operated by Manfred Weissleder and Horst Fascher. In the sixties, many of the giants of rock music played at the club. The club closed on 31 December 1969 and the building it occupied was...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
with both Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
. In 1964 they appeared in the movie Live It Up!
Live It Up! (film)
Live It Up! is a British music-film released in 1963. It was filmed at Pinewood Film Studios in London, England and featured Gene Vincent, Jenny Moss, The Outlaws, Patsy Ann Noble, The Saints and Heinz Burt among others...
performing their single "Law & Order".
A reviewer of Underwood's work at this time described his drumming style as "...coupling Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
type steadiness with little Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
style flourishes." Blackmore eventually moved to another of Meeks' bands, joining Heinz Burt's
Heinz (singer)
Heinz was a bassist and singer.-Life:Heinz was born in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, where a road is named after him. His biggest solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran...
backing band The Wild Boys, but he and Underwood still collaborated in recording sessions with Meek's engineer Derek Lawrence. One of the Derek Lawrence sessions produced Blackmore's first official release, the now highly sought after single "Get Away/Little Brown Jug", released in July 1965. They also recorded "Earthshaker" and "Satan's Holiday, " which were released on the Titan label, credited to The Lancasters. "Satan's Holiday, " was a fast, rock adaptation of Grieg's
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
"In the Hall of the Mountain King
In the Hall of the Mountain King
In the Hall of the Mountain King is a piece of orchestral music composed by Edvard Grieg for the sixth scene of Act II in Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, which premiered in Christiania on February 24, 1876....
", a tune that stayed in Blackmore's stage repertory right into the 1990s. Shortly afterwards, Underwood also left The Outlaws to take up an offer to join R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band The Herd
The Herd (UK band)
The Herd were an English psychedelic rock group, founded in 1965, that came to prominence in the late 1960s. They launched the career of Peter Frampton and scored three UK top twenty hits.-Biography:...
.
1965—1968
With The Herd Underwood began playing at all the major venues on the circuit, such as the Marquee ClubMarquee 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....
and Eel Pie Island. Despite their busy schedule and the release of two singles, Underwood grew increasingly frustrated at the band's lack of success, and in 1966 he resigned from the band and the music business. However, a year later he accepted an invitation from singer James Royal as a session drummer for a two week residency at Hatchets in London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. At the end of the residency Underwood decided to stay with the band, the James Royal Set to tour with Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
.
At the end of this tour Underwood spoke with Peter Grant, whom he knew from the time that Grant had been tour manager for Gene Vincent when The Outlaws had been his backing band. Grant explained that he was currently working with guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, and was recruiting musicians to form a new band around him. Underwood considered the offer, but instead accepted one to join established act Episode Six
Episode Six
Episode Six was a British vocal pop-rock group during the mid 1960s. The band was not well known, but foreshadowed the arrival of Deep Purple in late 1960s...
. Grant had asked one of his other acts, singer Terry Reid
Terry Reid
Terry Reid is an English rock vocalist and guitarist. He has performed with high profile musicians, as a supporting act, a session musician, and sideman.- History :...
, to join the project, who had also turned down the offer. Undeterred, Grant went on to recruit two previously unknown musicians, the singer Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
and drummer John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, and the band became 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...
.
1968—1970
Roger GloverRoger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
, bass player for Episode Six, said of their new drummer: "Mick represented a step up for us because he had been around in other bands. The Herd had one fairly big hit so it was as if we had been connected with success." Also in the band was singer/keyboard player Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
.
Despite numerous BBC sessions and two singles, commercial success never came for the band and there was a feeling that they were failing to move with the times as the music scene rapidly changed at the close of the 60s. Along with Ian Gillan, Underwood was drawn to the heavier sound of the emergent new bands, in particular Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
(Ritchie Blackmore's new band) and Led Zeppelin. When Blackmore contacted Underwood for a recommendation for a singer, he immediately gave them Ian Gillan's name. Along with Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
, Blackmore attended an Episode Six gig to listen to Gillan, and shortly afterwards recruited both him and Roger Glover into Deep Purple. Following this shake-up, bassist/singer 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...
and keyboard player Peter Robinson were called in to shore up the band, but shortly afterwards the two newcomers left, along with Underwood, to form their own band Quatermass.
1970—1979
After several showcase gigs Quatermass were signed by George Martin'sGeorge Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
Air London company and began to put together their first album, using their own material plus several songs written by Steve Hammond. Recorded at EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Abbey Road studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
the band's eponymous album
Quatermass (album)
Quatermass is an album by British progressive rock band, Quatermass, first released in May 1970. It has been described as "a keyboard dominated chunk of heavy progressive rock.....
was released on EMI's 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...
label Harvest Records
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
. One of the Hammond tracks on the album was titled "Black Sheep Of The Family", later covered by Blackmore on the first 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...
album. To promote the album the band undertook a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tour, with performances on radio and T.V. timed to coincide with the release of the album in various countries. Despite wide critical acclaim, the project had insufficient financial backing however, and there were many problems on their subsequent tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was not unusual for the band to have to ask for an advance against their fee from the venue promoters in order to collect the equipment from the airport. On their return to the UK the band dissolved.
Underwood began discussions with Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
who was looking to form a new band after the breakup of Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
, and along with bass player Stuart McDonald they formed the band Peace. Signed to 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...
, Peace began to write material for a debut album and also embarked on a UK tour supporting 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...
but within a year Free reformed, and Underwood formed another new band, called Sammy.
It was around this time that Underwood was offered the position of drummer with Hot Chocolate but after careful deliberation he declined and successfully recommended Tony Connor - who had recently left Audience (band) - for a position which was then held, temporarily, by session drummer Cozy Powell
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
.
Underwood called on Ian Gillan to produce their first single, and the band then went into rehearsals for their debut album, which was then recorded in a single 72-hour session. As in previous projects, there was little commercial success and Underwood dissolved the band, returning to session drumming.
His next band was Strapps, their eponymous debut album being recorded in 1976 at Ian Gillan's Kingsway Recorders studio in London, produced by former Episode Six colleague Roger Glover. They then toured as support act on Deep Purple's final tour of the UK, and went on to release three further albums.
Underwood worked again with Ian Gillan as the support act on the UK tour of the Ian Gillan Band
Ian Gillan Band
The Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
, whose line-up included former Quatermass colleague John Gustafson, on bass and backing vocals. Strapps straight-forward rock generally went down very well, while the jazz-rock fusion sound of Ian Gillan Band led to some confusion amongst fans. Underwood sometimes took the opportunity to view the show from within the audience after playing his own set, and recalled that he "really picked up this bewildered vibe. The fans just couldn't connect with the music, however well it was played."
Strapps fourth and final album Ball Of Fire was recorded at Ian Gillan's Kingsway studios and during recording Underwood was asked by Gillan if he could use a couple of hours of their studio time to lay down a vocal with his latest band, Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
. Several weeks later Gillan invited him to be the drummer in this new venture.
1979—1982
Former Deep Purple drummer Ian PaiceIan Paice
Ian Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
had also auditioned for Gillan but according to guitarist Bernie Torme
Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé is a rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner.-Early career:...
"...he had some difficulty after playing "Secret of the Dance" due to his only having one lung, and being a bit out of practice. He played it brilliantly but he had to lie down on the floor for five minutes afterwards. He did not want to join because of our fast tracks, he said he no longer wanted to play stuff like that. I think the fact that he had been offered to join Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
with his old friend Jon Lord made a big difference." Meeting Gillan again at the studio had obviously put Underwood's name on the list of potentials for the job, and as Torme revealed "...we finally found the magnificentally solid and under appreciated Mick Underwood." The day after he accepted the job, Underwood and the band began to record the Mr. Universe
Mr. Universe (album)
Mr. Universe is the second album by the British rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Gillan, Towns, McCoy, Tormé and Underwood.Released in October 1979...
album, released in October 1979.
Discography
Underwood performed as a session musician on hundreds of recordings, and much of his catalogue of later works have been reissued on retrospective compilations of other artist's works. This discography covers the work of Underwood in his own bands.- With The Chaps
- "Poppin' (Part 1)"/"Poppin' (Part 2)" (single) (1962)
- With The OutlawsThe Outlaws (UK band)The Outlaws were an English instrumental band that recorded in the early 1960s. One time members included Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Bobby Graham, Ken Lundgren, Mick Underwood, Reg Hawkins , Billy Kuy and others....
- "The Return of the Outlaws"/"Texan Spiritual" (single) (1963)
- "That Set the Wild West Free"/"Hobo" (single) (1963) note : Underwood does not play on "Hobo")
- "Law and Order"/"Do-Da-Day" (single) (1963)
- "Keep a Knockin'"/"Shake with Me" (single) (1964)
- "Only for You"/"Don't Cry" (single) (1965)
- The Outlaws Ride Again (retrospective compilation album) (1990)
- With The HerdThe Herd (UK band)The Herd were an English psychedelic rock group, founded in 1965, that came to prominence in the late 1960s. They launched the career of Peter Frampton and scored three UK top twenty hits.-Biography:...
- "She Was Really Saying Something"/"Here Comes the Fool" (single) (1965)
- "So Much in Love"/"This Boy's Always Been True" (single) (1966)
- With Episode SixEpisode SixEpisode Six was a British vocal pop-rock group during the mid 1960s. The band was not well known, but foreshadowed the arrival of Deep Purple in late 1960s...
- "Lucky Sunday"/"Mr Universe" (single) (1968)
- "Mozart versus the Rest"/"Jack D'Or" (single) (1969)
- With QuatermassQuatermass (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...
- "One Blind Mice"/"Punting" (single) (1970)
- "Black Sheep of the Family"/"Good Lord Knows" (single) (1970)
- "Gemini"/"Black Sheep of the Family" (single) (1971)
- QuatermassQuatermass (album)Quatermass is an album by British progressive rock band, Quatermass, first released in May 1970. It has been described as "a keyboard dominated chunk of heavy progressive rock.....
(1970)
- Quatermass
- With Peace
- The Free Story (album) (1973) - Underwood performs on the track "Lady"
- Live at the BBC - (December 22, 1971)
- With Sammy
- "Goo Ger Woogie"/"Big Lovin' Woman" (single) (1972)
- "Sioux Eyed Lady"/"70 Days" (single) (1972)
- Sammy (1972)
- With Graham BonnetGraham BonnetGraham Bonnet is an English rock vocalist, and songwriter. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist, and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri.-Early days:Bonnet was born in Skegness in 1947...
- "No Bad Habits" (1976)
- With Strapps
- "All Thru the Night"/"Understand It" (single) (1977)
- "In Your Ear"/"Rita B" (single) (1977)
- "Child of the City"/"Soft Touch" (single) (1978)
- "Turn Out Alright"/"Take It Break It" (single) (1978)
- Strapps (1976)
- Secret Damage (1977)
- Prisoner of Your Love (1978)
- Ball of Fire (1979)
- Live At The Rainbow 1977 (2008)
- With GillanGillanGillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
- Mr. UniverseMr. Universe (album)Mr. Universe is the second album by the British rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Gillan, Towns, McCoy, Tormé and Underwood.Released in October 1979...
(1979) - Glory Road (1980)
- Future ShockFuture Shock (Gillan album)Future Shock is the fourth album by the British rock band Gillan. Released by Virgin in 1981, it reached number 2 in the UK album chart; this would remain the band's highest placing.The title is taken from Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock....
(1981) - Double TroubleDouble Trouble (Gillan album)Double Trouble is an album by the British rock band Gillan, released in 1981. It was released as a double album, the first disc containing studio material, and the second containing live recordings. It reached #12 in the UK charts. In 1989, Virgin re-released the album, with the same track listing,...
(1981) - MagicMagic (Gillan album)Magic is an album by British rock band Gillan, their final collaboration, released in 1982. It was reissued in 1989 with seven "bonus" tracks, including cover versions and B-sides. "South Africa" /"John" was a single Ian had written and recorded with guitarist Bernie Marsden.Although the album was...
(1982) - The Gillan Tapes Vol. 1 (1997)
- The Gillan Tapes Vol. 2 (1999)
- The Gillan Tapes Vol. 3 (2000)
- Triple Trouble (2009) (Recorded live 1981/1982)
- Mr. Universe
- As Mick Underwood
- "Earthquake at the Savoy"/"Redwatch" (single) (1980)
- With Ian GillanIan GillanIan Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
- What I Did On My VacationWhat I Did On My VacationWhat I Did On My Vacation is an official compilation album from Ian Gillan, released in 1986 in UK by 10 Records. The album covers Gillan's recordings between 1976 and 1982 and was made available in three formats: on vinyl as a double album, as a single CD and a cassette. All songs from the album...
(1986 ) - Cherkazoo and Other Stories (1992)
- What I Did On My Vacation
- With Quatermass II
- Long Road (1997)
- With Raw GloryRaw GloryRaw Glory is a British rock band, formed in 2006 as the vehicle for accomplished professional musicians Mick Underwood, Johhny Heywood and Cosmo....
- City Life (2007)
Audio files
External links
- Official website
- The Quatermass fansite
- [ Quatermass at Allmusic]