The Stargazers (1980s group)
Encyclopedia
The Stargazers emerged in 1981, some time after the earlier band of the same name had folded. Work on the new band by founder members Ricky Lee Brawn and Peter Davenport began in August 1980 and following a series of auditions Anders Janes, John Wallace
and Danny Brittain were added to the line-up. After a succession of high profile concerts and gigs during 1981, Muff Winwood secured The Stargazers a major recording contract on the CBS Epic (now Sony) records. A total of four 7" records and one 12" album were released, with Groove Baby Groove (Davenport) reaching a chart high of 56, and a cover of the old Louis Prima song "Hey Marie" just breaking into the top 100. The group became very popular and well known in the UK for their performances of 1950s style rock and roll
. Offering a mixture of original song
s, artfully arranged standards and cover version
s of 1950s hits, particularly those of Bill Haley & His Comets
, after whom the group loosely patterned its appearance and performance style. Though it is difficult to pinpoint with any degree of certainty when the "revival" was born, the 1970s scene was dominated by a crowd typically attired in the unique and very English Teddyboy style, who were in general devotees of the aggressive, hard edged electric Rockabilly of Crazy Cavan
. With that in mind, it is safe to say that The Stargazers spearheaded the trend towards a more accurate and authentic mid '50s sound and look. Despite their triumphs, a run of bad luck, questionable management decisions and plain old fashioned "artistic differences" led to the end of the original line-up in 1983.
Several attempts at reformation were made during the mid eighties until a "reasonably" stable group was established in 1998/99. The line-up comprised Peter Davenport on guitar, Ricky Lee Brawn on drums, Chris Gardner on piano, Danny Brittain on lead vocals, John Wallace on sax and Tim "Trundle" Purkess (previously with the popular Kentish band Red Hot) on bass. Enough UK and international engagements were booked over the next few years to maintain the band's status as a top flight Rock'n'Roll act and they often headlined major Rock'n'Roll shows. Further releases on the Ace, Vinyl Japan and Blue Light labels were also well received and helped reinforce their reputation. These were indeed halcyon days for the band.
The Stargazers continue (albeit sporadically) to record, and make occasional live appearances in the UK, United States and Europe and although the line-up still changes from time to time, Brittain, Davenport and Purkess remain the stable nucleus of the band.
Ricky Lee Brawn parted company with The Stargazers in 1993 and formed a series of popular groups including The Big 6 (which again was to feature Anders Janes, and later Tim Purkess, on bass) and his "Astrobilly" creation, the Space Cadets. Original bassist Anders Janes went on to join singer/saxophonist Ray Gelato in the Chevalier Brothers and then The Ray Gelato Giants, both swing bands, using the stage name of 'Clark Kent'. He was also involved with the aforementioned Space Cadets. Finally leaving Ray Gelato in 2004, he now manages, and plays in, the Jazz Dynamos. John Wallace resigned in October 2007, to concentrate on his other projects (The Hep Chaps and Heavyshift
) and divides his spare time between freelance sessions and working as a driving instructor.
Stargazers' guitarist Davenport toured Great Britain
in the early 1990s as a guest member of the Original Comets (he played steel guitar
on the live album We're Gonna Party on Hydra Records). Around this time, Comets bass player Marshall Lytle
(who had earlier guested on the Stargazers album The Speaking Clock says Rock!) along with partner and drummer Ricky Lee Brawn recorded a solo album for the Vinyl Japan label backed by fellow Stargazers member John Wallace entitled Air Mail Special (the group took the name "Marshall and the Shooting Stars" for the album). Also during the mid '90s, Purkess, Brittain, Wallace and Davenport formed a light-hearted Stargazers spin-off quartet called The Four Chaps. This act had a very humorous, tongue-in-cheek aspect to it and the lads delighted in murdering ancient (mostly between the wars) jazz numbers whilst blatantly poking fun at themselves — and their audiences. Ricky Lee Brawn went on to produce the reunited Comets' 1997 album The House is Rockin for Rockstar Records. Several tracks on this release also features guest appearances from Purkess, as well as Brawn's wife, singer Helen Shadow. Ricky can also be heard playing drums on certain songs.
A major off-shoot trading under the name of "The Rock'n'Roll Society" and featuring Dan Brittain, Tim "Trundle" Purkess, Pete Davenport, Jimmy "DaHoof" Russell, Aaron Liddard and Henri Herbert is due to be launched in the autumn of 2008. This band has been created specifically to showcase mainstream '50s Rock and Roll party anthems, in a bold effort to stimulate new interest in the genre. On the "scene", the never-ending hunt for fresh material has led to a steady drift away from the big, powerhouse hits of the 1950s. This diversion, whilst understandable, is actually considered by some to have damaged the revival movement. The campaign for rare and obscure sounds has become something of an archaeological dig and as historically interesting as these vinyl relics may be, it is doubtful they hold that much appeal for the general public. It is hoped that by revisiting those songs which first gave rise to the global phenomenon of "teenage music", The Rock'n'Roll Society will, to some degree, be able to generate the same kind of interest again. Though the band intends to target club and festival promoters, they also aim to impress the "hit-hungry" corporate/party organisers, with an act that could almost be tailor made for that circuit.
In addition to The Stargazers and The Rock'n'Roll Society, Davenport works with the Bill Haley Orchestra in "Rock Around The Clock — The Bill Haley Story", a tribute revue based in Germany . Brittain runs his own well established music agency (DBBM) and gigs with his London band, The Wild Uncles. Purkess has a joinery firm (producing exhibition plinths and counters) and still does some session work for other outfits.
Other notable musicians who have at times worked with the band over the past 28 years include Alex Bland (sax), Aaron Liddard (sax), Simon Gilby (sax), Big Al Mumbray (sax), Clive Osborne (sax), Jim Russell (drums), Terry Doe (drums), Shaun O'Keefe (drums), John Dillon (drums), Gary Richardson (drums), Bobby Trimble (drums), Marc Breman (guitar), Jim Knowler (guitar), James Compton (piano) and Henri Herbert (piano).
In September 2011 a collectors edition CD of all the material recorded for Epic Records during the 1981-83 period, was released on Rhythm Rock-It Records, entitled "Epic Rock'n'Roll"
John Wallace (UK musician)
John Wallace is a British saxophonist/singer noted for his work in the Acid Jazz ensemble Heavyshift. Wallace has appeared in many various groups in the UK music scene including JoBoxers and The Stargazers...
and Danny Brittain were added to the line-up. After a succession of high profile concerts and gigs during 1981, Muff Winwood secured The Stargazers a major recording contract on the CBS Epic (now Sony) records. A total of four 7" records and one 12" album were released, with Groove Baby Groove (Davenport) reaching a chart high of 56, and a cover of the old Louis Prima song "Hey Marie" just breaking into the top 100. The group became very popular and well known in the UK for their performances of 1950s style rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. Offering a mixture of original song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, artfully arranged standards and cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of 1950s hits, particularly those of Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
, after whom the group loosely patterned its appearance and performance style. Though it is difficult to pinpoint with any degree of certainty when the "revival" was born, the 1970s scene was dominated by a crowd typically attired in the unique and very English Teddyboy style, who were in general devotees of the aggressive, hard edged electric Rockabilly of Crazy Cavan
Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers
Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers are a Teddy Boy band from South Wales...
. With that in mind, it is safe to say that The Stargazers spearheaded the trend towards a more accurate and authentic mid '50s sound and look. Despite their triumphs, a run of bad luck, questionable management decisions and plain old fashioned "artistic differences" led to the end of the original line-up in 1983.
Several attempts at reformation were made during the mid eighties until a "reasonably" stable group was established in 1998/99. The line-up comprised Peter Davenport on guitar, Ricky Lee Brawn on drums, Chris Gardner on piano, Danny Brittain on lead vocals, John Wallace on sax and Tim "Trundle" Purkess (previously with the popular Kentish band Red Hot) on bass. Enough UK and international engagements were booked over the next few years to maintain the band's status as a top flight Rock'n'Roll act and they often headlined major Rock'n'Roll shows. Further releases on the Ace, Vinyl Japan and Blue Light labels were also well received and helped reinforce their reputation. These were indeed halcyon days for the band.
The Stargazers continue (albeit sporadically) to record, and make occasional live appearances in the UK, United States and Europe and although the line-up still changes from time to time, Brittain, Davenport and Purkess remain the stable nucleus of the band.
Ricky Lee Brawn parted company with The Stargazers in 1993 and formed a series of popular groups including The Big 6 (which again was to feature Anders Janes, and later Tim Purkess, on bass) and his "Astrobilly" creation, the Space Cadets. Original bassist Anders Janes went on to join singer/saxophonist Ray Gelato in the Chevalier Brothers and then The Ray Gelato Giants, both swing bands, using the stage name of 'Clark Kent'. He was also involved with the aforementioned Space Cadets. Finally leaving Ray Gelato in 2004, he now manages, and plays in, the Jazz Dynamos. John Wallace resigned in October 2007, to concentrate on his other projects (The Hep Chaps and Heavyshift
Heavyshift
Heavyshift is the name of a British acid jazz trio composed of William South and John Wallace and Julian Fenton , who first met and started gigging together around 1994. They have so far released four albums...
) and divides his spare time between freelance sessions and working as a driving instructor.
Stargazers' guitarist Davenport toured Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the early 1990s as a guest member of the Original Comets (he played steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
on the live album We're Gonna Party on Hydra Records). Around this time, Comets bass player Marshall Lytle
Marshall Lytle
Marshall Lytle , who also goes by the name Tommy Page, is an American rock and roll musician, best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s.-Career:...
(who had earlier guested on the Stargazers album The Speaking Clock says Rock!) along with partner and drummer Ricky Lee Brawn recorded a solo album for the Vinyl Japan label backed by fellow Stargazers member John Wallace entitled Air Mail Special (the group took the name "Marshall and the Shooting Stars" for the album). Also during the mid '90s, Purkess, Brittain, Wallace and Davenport formed a light-hearted Stargazers spin-off quartet called The Four Chaps. This act had a very humorous, tongue-in-cheek aspect to it and the lads delighted in murdering ancient (mostly between the wars) jazz numbers whilst blatantly poking fun at themselves — and their audiences. Ricky Lee Brawn went on to produce the reunited Comets' 1997 album The House is Rockin for Rockstar Records. Several tracks on this release also features guest appearances from Purkess, as well as Brawn's wife, singer Helen Shadow. Ricky can also be heard playing drums on certain songs.
A major off-shoot trading under the name of "The Rock'n'Roll Society" and featuring Dan Brittain, Tim "Trundle" Purkess, Pete Davenport, Jimmy "DaHoof" Russell, Aaron Liddard and Henri Herbert is due to be launched in the autumn of 2008. This band has been created specifically to showcase mainstream '50s Rock and Roll party anthems, in a bold effort to stimulate new interest in the genre. On the "scene", the never-ending hunt for fresh material has led to a steady drift away from the big, powerhouse hits of the 1950s. This diversion, whilst understandable, is actually considered by some to have damaged the revival movement. The campaign for rare and obscure sounds has become something of an archaeological dig and as historically interesting as these vinyl relics may be, it is doubtful they hold that much appeal for the general public. It is hoped that by revisiting those songs which first gave rise to the global phenomenon of "teenage music", The Rock'n'Roll Society will, to some degree, be able to generate the same kind of interest again. Though the band intends to target club and festival promoters, they also aim to impress the "hit-hungry" corporate/party organisers, with an act that could almost be tailor made for that circuit.
In addition to The Stargazers and The Rock'n'Roll Society, Davenport works with the Bill Haley Orchestra in "Rock Around The Clock — The Bill Haley Story", a tribute revue based in Germany . Brittain runs his own well established music agency (DBBM) and gigs with his London band, The Wild Uncles. Purkess has a joinery firm (producing exhibition plinths and counters) and still does some session work for other outfits.
Other notable musicians who have at times worked with the band over the past 28 years include Alex Bland (sax), Aaron Liddard (sax), Simon Gilby (sax), Big Al Mumbray (sax), Clive Osborne (sax), Jim Russell (drums), Terry Doe (drums), Shaun O'Keefe (drums), John Dillon (drums), Gary Richardson (drums), Bobby Trimble (drums), Marc Breman (guitar), Jim Knowler (guitar), James Compton (piano) and Henri Herbert (piano).
In September 2011 a collectors edition CD of all the material recorded for Epic Records during the 1981-83 period, was released on Rhythm Rock-It Records, entitled "Epic Rock'n'Roll"
External links
- http://www.thestargazers.co.uk
- http://therocknrollsociety.com
- http://www.rhythmrock-it.com
- http://www.facebook.com/TheStargazers