Trapeze (band)
Encyclopedia
Trapeze were an English rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...

 formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (who named the band), with guitarist Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland
Dave Holland (drummer)
Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

. The band had a fairly fluid line up, finally dissolving in 1994, and although they never found commercial success themselves, several members went on to join better known bands, including 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...

, 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...

, 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...

, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

, 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...

.

The core and most familiar line-up of the band was Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

, and Dave Holland
Dave Holland (drummer)
Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

. After Glenn Hughes' departure in June 1973, Galley and Holland kept the band together with constantly varying members until 1979, when Holland went on to join Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

. Holland tried to revive the band in 1990, after leaving Priest, but the band finally broke up in 1994. Their first three albums remain their best known and most commercially successful.

Origin

Trapeze was formed in 1969 by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (both former members of the band 'Montanas') with guitarist Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland
Dave Holland (drummer)
Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

. Trapeze issued its self-titled debut album Trapeze
Trapeze (1970 album)
Trapeze is the 1970 debut rock album by the band Trapeze. The album was produced by John Lodge, of Moody Blues fame. The sound on this particular album is a far cry from the blues-based hard rock the band would become well-known for....

 in 1970, but early that year Jones and Rowley returned to Montanas. In late 1970 the more familiar trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland surfaced for the first time with the album Medusa
Medusa (Trapeze album)
Medusa is a 1970 album by the rock band Trapeze.-Track listing:# "Black Cloud" – 6:13# "Jury" – 8:10# "Your Love Is Alright" – 4:54# "Touch My Life" – 4:06...

. Trapeze would tour as this trio until early 1973. The band toured mostly in the UK
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...

  and the Southern U.S. Their commercial success was minimal up to this point. You Are the Music...We're Just the Band
You Are the Music...We're Just the Band
You Are the Music...We're Just the Band is an album by the rock band Trapeze.-Track listing:#"Keepin' Time " – 3:41#"Coast To Coast " – 3:56#"What Is A Woman's Role? " – 5:39...

 was released in 1972. Glenn Hughes left the band after the 1973 tour to replace Roger Glover
Roger 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:...

 in 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...

. After the departure of Hughes the band's profile and sales grew, mostly based on the first three albums with Hughes; but their concert base grew as well, with them playing small arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...

s all over the U.S.

1974 - 1977

In 1974 the band released The Final Swing
The Final Swing
The Final Swing is a compilation album by the rock band Trapeze released in 1974. It features songs from the original line-up of Mel Galley, Glenn Hughes, and Dave Holland.-Track listing:# Send Me No More Letters# Your Love Is Alright# Black Cloud...

 a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...

 that had two previously unreleased tracks "Good Love" and "Dat's It", which had been a fan favorite at concerts for many years prior. Guitarist Rob Kendrick
Rob Kendrick
Rob Kendrick is best known as guitarist for the English band, Trapeze. Trapeze had major musical success in the 1970s and early 1980s with their hit single, "Black Cloud".The original band, Trapeze, broke up in the 80's...

 and bassist Pete Wright signed on for Trapeze's 1974 album Hot Wire, followed by a second self-titled album, Trapeze
Trapeze (1976 album)
Trapeze is the 1976 self-titled album by Trapeze. It is also the title of their 1970 debut album; see Trapeze .- Track listing :# "Star Breaker"# "It's Alright"# "Chances"# "The Raid"# "On the Sunny Side of the Street"# "Gimmie Good Love"...

, in 1976.

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reunited for a short time in late 1976. It was to be a full-fledged reunion with an album of new songs, but Hughes again left the band before the album could be produced. Hughes' 1977 solo album called Play Me Out
Play Me Out
Play Me Out is the first solo record by former Deep Purple and Trapeze bassist/ vocalist Glenn Hughes. It was first released in July 1977. The album marked a definite change in style to Hughes’ hard rock albums with Deep Purple, moving into a funk and soul inspired direction...

 had two new songs, "LA Cut-Off" and "Space High", that Hughes had written for the aborted Trapeze album, and that Galley and Holland had played with him on the short 1976 reunion tour.

1978 - 1982

Hold On
Hold On (Trapeze album)
Hold on is an album by the band Trapeze made in 1978 and was also released under the name Running and has a different album cover.-Side one:# "Don't Ask Me How I Know" – 2:48# "Take Good Care" – 3:34...

 also called Running
Running (album)
Running is an album by the band Trapeze released only for the Germany market in 1979 and is also called Hold On that was released in 1978.-Track listing:# Running# Livin' On Love# Don't Ask Me How I Know# Take Good Care Of Me# Time Will Heal...

 was released in late 1978, and again featured Pete Wright in addition to new guitarist and singer Pete Goalby. The 1981 live album Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos
Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos
Live In Texas: Dead Armadillos is a 1981 live album by the band Trapeze.-Track listing:# Back Street Love# Hold On# Midnight Flyer# You Are The Music# Black Cloud# Way Back To The Bone-Trapeze:* Mel Galley - guitars, vocals...

 featured new drummer Steve Bray, Dave Holland
Dave Holland
Dave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....

 was playing with Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

 as of late 1979. Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

 toured one last time after Pete Goalby left to sing for 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...

 in 1981, then went on to play for 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...

, leaving Trapeze disbanded by late 1982.

1991

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed again in 1991, joined by Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...

's and Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

's keyboard player, Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...

, for a small tour. They released a live album of the reunion show in 1993, called Welcome to the Real World
Welcome to the Real World (Trapeze album)
Welcome to the real world is an album by the band Trapeze released in 1993. This album is from the reunion tour of 1991 of the original line-up of Trapeze of Mel Galley, Glenn Hughes & Dave Holland with the addition of Asia's and Yes's keyboard player, Geoff Downes.-Track listing:# You Are The...

.

1994

In February 1994 Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed again, playing in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 in a tribute concert for vocalist, Ray Gillen
Ray Gillen
Raymond A. "Ray" Gillen was an American rock singer, best known for his work with Badlands, in addition to his stint with Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s and recording most of the vocals on Phenomena's classic Dreamrunner album....

 of Badlands
Badlands (band)
Badlands was a short-lived rock band founded by former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee and former Black Sabbath members Ray Gillen and Eric Singer. Badlands also featured bassist Greg Chaisson. After the first Badlands album, Eric Singer was replaced by Jeff Martin...

 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...

 fame. This led to other dates, kicking off in the UK in March 1994 at the 'Robin R'n'B Club' in their home town of the West Midlands region
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...

, and in April in the U.S., with veteran blues guitarist Craig Erickson accompanying Hughes on both lead and rhythm guitar.

Post band history

1989 saw "The Loser" appear on Time-Life's Lost 70s Guitar Classics. The 23-track best-of compilation On the Highwire
On the Highwire
On The Highwire is a 2003 live/studio compilation album by the 1970s English rock band Trapeze. Featuring songs spanning the band's entire history from 1970 - 1994, the CD has 9 studio tracks and 14 live tracks, making it the biggest single-album Trapeze collection.-Track listing:# Don't Ask Me...

 came out in 2003, featuring the tracks "Black Cloud", "Way Back To The Bone", "Keepin' Time", "Your Love is Alright" and "Back Street Love". In 2004 ex-Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...

 guitarist Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...

 paid homage by covering "Way Back To The Bone" on his album of 70s covers. In 2006 Pat Travers
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...

 also paid homage by covering "You Are The Music" on his album of 70s covers called P.T. Power Trio 2.

Guitarist Mel Galley died of esophagus cancer on 1 July 2008 at the age of 60.

Many Trapeze songs have been performed live by Glenn Hughes over the last 20 years.

1969 - 1973

Trapeze band members
1969
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - lead and bass guitars
  • Glenn Hughes - bass guitar, six-string guitar, piano, trombone, vocals
  • Dave Holland
    Dave Holland (drummer)
    Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

     - drums
  • John Jones - vocals, trumpet
  • Terry Rowley - organ, guitar, piano, flute
1970–1973
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - guitars, vocals
  • Glenn Hughes - bass guitar, piano, lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (live 1973)
  • Dave Holland
    Dave Holland (drummer)
    Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

     - drums, percussion
  • Pete MacKie - bass (live 1973)
  • 1974–1976
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - guitars, lead vocals
  • Dave Holland
    Dave Holland (drummer)
    Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

     - drums, percussion
  • Rob Kendrick
    Rob Kendrick
    Rob Kendrick is best known as guitarist for the English band, Trapeze. Trapeze had major musical success in the 1970s and early 1980s with their hit single, "Black Cloud".The original band, Trapeze, broke up in the 80's...

     - guitars
  • Pete Wright - bass
  • 1978–1979
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - guitars, vocals
  • Dave Holland
    Dave Holland (drummer)
    Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

     - drums, percussion
  • Pete Goalby - lead vocals, guitar
  • Pete Wright - bass
  • 1980–1981
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - guitars, vocals
  • Pete Goalby - lead vocals, guitar
  • Pete Wright - bass
  • Steve Bray - drums
  • 1982
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - guitars, vocals
  • Steve Bray - drums
  • Mervyn 'Spam' Spence - bass, vocals
  • Richard Bailey - keyboards
  • 1991 / 1994
  • Mel Galley
    Mel Galley
    Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...

     - lead, some rhythm and bass guitars, vocals
  • Glenn Hughes - bass guitar, six-string guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, trombone, vocals
  • Dave Holland
    Dave Holland (drummer)
    Dave Holland is an English rock drummer, best remembered from his stint with Judas Priest between 1979 and 1989. He served time in prison for attempted rape of a 17-year-old boy...

     - drums, percussion
  • Geoff Downes
    Geoff Downes
    Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...

     - keyboard (1991)
  • Craig Erickson - guitars (1994)

  • Discography

    • Trapeze
      Trapeze (1970 album)
      Trapeze is the 1970 debut rock album by the band Trapeze. The album was produced by John Lodge, of Moody Blues fame. The sound on this particular album is a far cry from the blues-based hard rock the band would become well-known for....

       (1970)
    • Medusa
      Medusa (Trapeze album)
      Medusa is a 1970 album by the rock band Trapeze.-Track listing:# "Black Cloud" – 6:13# "Jury" – 8:10# "Your Love Is Alright" – 4:54# "Touch My Life" – 4:06...

       (1970)
    • You Are the Music...We're Just the Band
      You Are the Music...We're Just the Band
      You Are the Music...We're Just the Band is an album by the rock band Trapeze.-Track listing:#"Keepin' Time " – 3:41#"Coast To Coast " – 3:56#"What Is A Woman's Role? " – 5:39...

       (1972)
    • The Final Swing
      The Final Swing
      The Final Swing is a compilation album by the rock band Trapeze released in 1974. It features songs from the original line-up of Mel Galley, Glenn Hughes, and Dave Holland.-Track listing:# Send Me No More Letters# Your Love Is Alright# Black Cloud...

       (1974)
    • Hot Wire (1974)
    • Live At The Boat Club
      Live at the Boat Club
      Live At The Boat Club is an album by the rock band Trapeze.Recorded live at the Boat Club in Nottingham for a UK live radio broadcast featuring tracks from their four mid-70's albums Medusa, You Are The Music We're Just The Band, Hot Wire, and Trapeze...

       (1975)
    • Trapeze
      Trapeze (1976 album)
      Trapeze is the 1976 self-titled album by Trapeze. It is also the title of their 1970 debut album; see Trapeze .- Track listing :# "Star Breaker"# "It's Alright"# "Chances"# "The Raid"# "On the Sunny Side of the Street"# "Gimmie Good Love"...

       (1976)
    • Hold On
      Hold On (Trapeze album)
      Hold on is an album by the band Trapeze made in 1978 and was also released under the name Running and has a different album cover.-Side one:# "Don't Ask Me How I Know" – 2:48# "Take Good Care" – 3:34...

       also called Running
      Running (album)
      Running is an album by the band Trapeze released only for the Germany market in 1979 and is also called Hold On that was released in 1978.-Track listing:# Running# Livin' On Love# Don't Ask Me How I Know# Take Good Care Of Me# Time Will Heal...

        (1979)
    • Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos
      Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos
      Live In Texas: Dead Armadillos is a 1981 live album by the band Trapeze.-Track listing:# Back Street Love# Hold On# Midnight Flyer# You Are The Music# Black Cloud# Way Back To The Bone-Trapeze:* Mel Galley - guitars, vocals...

       (1981)
    • Welcome to the Real World - live 1992
      Welcome to the Real World (Trapeze album)
      Welcome to the real world is an album by the band Trapeze released in 1993. This album is from the reunion tour of 1991 of the original line-up of Trapeze of Mel Galley, Glenn Hughes & Dave Holland with the addition of Asia's and Yes's keyboard player, Geoff Downes.-Track listing:# You Are The...

        (1993)
    • High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze
      High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze
      High Flyers is a compilation album by the band Trapeze with the original line up of Galley, Holland, and Hughes.-Track listing:# Send Me No More Letters# Your Love Is Alright# Black Cloud# Medusa# Coast To Coast# Will Our Love End...

       - Best of Studio 1970-1974 ( 1996 )
    • Way Back to the Bone
      Way Back to the Bone
      Way Back to the Bone is an album by the band Trapeze of previously unreleased live material from 1970-1992. It features only songs from the original line-up of Mel Galley, Glenn Hughes & Dave Holland.-Track listing:# Coast To Coast# Loser...

       - Best of Live 1970-1992 (1998 )
    • On the Highwire
      On the Highwire
      On The Highwire is a 2003 live/studio compilation album by the 1970s English rock band Trapeze. Featuring songs spanning the band's entire history from 1970 - 1994, the CD has 9 studio tracks and 14 live tracks, making it the biggest single-album Trapeze collection.-Track listing:# Don't Ask Me...

      - Best of 1970-1992 (2003)

    External links

    The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
     
    x
    OK