Man (band)

Man
Origin Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
Genres Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, pub rock, hard rock, jam rock
Years active 1968–1976, 1983–present
Website manband.co.uk
Members
  • Martin Ace
  • Josh Ace
  • James Beck
  • Rene Robrahn
Past members

Man are a rock band from South Wales whose style is a mixture of West Coast psychedelia, progressive rock, blues and pub rock. Formed in 1968 as a reincarnation of Welsh rock harmony group ‘’The Bystanders’’, Man are renowned for the extended jams in their live performances.

The Bystanders

Man evolved out of The Bystanders, a successful close harmony pop group from Merthyr Tydfil who played numerous club residencies in Wales, often playing several clubs a night. The Bystanders issued eight singles, including "98.6" (#45 in UK Singles Chart, in February 1967)[1] which featured in the 2009 film, The Boat That Rocked (although Keith's version was the bigger hit, reaching No. 24 in the UK) and "When Jesamine Goes", written by their manager Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde under the pseudonyms of Frere Manston and Jack Gellar, which was later covered by The Casuals as "Jesamine" and got to No. 2 in the UK Chart. They also recorded sessions of cover versions for the BBC as rules restricting needle time required "live" performances between the records during the 1960s;[2] becoming regulars on the ’’Jimmy Young Show’’, "The David Symonds Show" and others.

When formed in 1962 The Bystanders included Owen Money, then known as Gerry Braden,[3] but he was replaced by Vic Oakley, giving the classic line up of Micky Jones (guitar), Ray Williams (bass), Jeff Jones (drums), Clive John (aka Clint Space) (keyboards) and Vic Oakley (vocals). By 1968 the other members wanted to change musical direction to a more psychedelic/American west-coast guitar sound, so Oakley left, to be replaced by Deke Leonard; and the band changed its name to Man.[4]

Pye years

Man were initially signed to Pye Records, for whom they recorded their first two albums:- Revelation noted for the simulated orgasm on "Erotica", which received a UK ban,[5] and 2 Ozs of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle. Whilst mixing the second album, Leonard left, and was replaced by Martin Ace from Leonard’s previous band, Dream. At this time, Man were recording three demo sessions a week for Leeds Music, including Down the Dustpipe which they taught to Status Quo.[6]

Man then toured Europe, predominantly Germany, where they supported Chicago, but on their return, were stopped as suspected terrorists, then jailed for drugs offences in Belgium. Leonard then rejoined, but Ace stayed on as a multi-instrumentalist. Shortly after, Ray Williams and Jeff Jones were fired, with Terry Williams joining on drums and Ace moving to bass. Leonard, Ace and Terry Williams having been together in "Dream", this was seen by some as a take-over.[6]

A bootleg of the first gig by this line up, October 1970 in Hamburg, was issued as To Live for to Die and was later re-bootlegged by the band.[7] Despite good reviews in Britain Two Ounces of Plastic ... was more popular in Germany, so the band spent a year in Germany, where, having to play 4–5 hours a night, most numbers became extended jams.

United Artists years

Their manager, Barrie Marshall, obtained a new record contract with Andrew Lauder of United Artists Records, for whom the band recorded the eponymous Man album, which received mixed reviews. Their media break came when outperforming Soft Machine, Yes and Family at a concert in Berlin, but they continued to play on the continent.[8] Having appeared on the United Artists sampler album, All Good Clean Fun, they undertook a tour of Switzerland, to promote the album, together with Help Yourself and Leicester band Gypsy.

The next album Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? recorded at Rockfield Studios by Kingsley Ward, received good reviews, and the band played German TV and Iceland with Badfinger.[9] Constant touring was creating internal pressures, and in January 1972, John left the band, to form "Iowerth Pritchard and the Neutrons" with Phil Ryan and Will Youatt.

The new four piece supported Hawkwind and Brinsley Schwarz at a charity gig at The Roundhouse on 13 February 1972, recorded and issued as Greasy Truckers Party, a limited edition double album which rapidly became a collectors' item.[10] United Artists' A&R man, Andrew Lauder, persuaded them to follow this up with a live album.[11] Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth was recorded on 8 April 1972. It was sold at a reduced price and only 8000 copies were pressed, which sold out in a week, making it No 1 in the "budget" album chart.[12]

The band then tried to write a new studio album, but lacked inspiration. Martin Ace left, to form "The Flying Aces" with his wife George, so Micky Jones and Terry Williams sacked Leonard, and John rejoined together with his new band members, Ryan (keyboards) and Youatt (bass).[13] The new band recorded the first of Man's three Peel Sessions on 29 August 1972, (the others being 18 September 1973 & 31 October 1974).[14] They then recorded Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day which received good reviews. A party on 19 December 1972, with Dave Edmunds, Help Yourself, The Flying Aces and others, was issued as Christmas at the Patti, a double 10" album, which again topped the "budget" album chart, but on tour John fell out with Micky Jones, and left again.

The four-piece started to record Back Into The Future, but felt the need for a second guitarist, so Alan "Tweke" Lewis joined from Wild Turkey. On 24 June 1973 they recorded the live half of this double album at Man’s spiritual London home, The Roundhouse, backed by the Gwalia Male Choir, who had previously sung with Man at The Oval,[15] when they supported Frank Zappa. The album initially sold well, rising to No 23,[16] and again, this was tipped to be album that would make the band, but pressing was restricted by a lack of plastic during the oil crisis. The follow-up tour had Deke Leonard’s Iceberg as support. During the tour, Micky Jones and Leonard discussed a new Man line-up, so when Ryan and Youatt left to form The Neutrons in December 1973, Leonard disbanded Iceberg and rejoined Man along with two former members of Help Yourself; Malcolm Morley (keyboards) and Ken Whaley (bass), who had also played in Iceberg.[8]

The next album Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, noted for his work with Queen, and spent 4 weeks in the UK album chart, peaking at No 24.[16] In March/April 1974 Man supported Hawkwind on The 1999 Party, a 5-week US tour. At the Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go on 12 March, Jim Horn joined on saxophone, which was issued as a bonus disc with the reissue of the Rhinos ... Album in 2007. The 21 April gig in Chicago was recorded for radio and issued on CD in 1997 as The 1999 Party Tour, but omits Morley from the credits, although he is on the recording.

Morley left the day before recording started on the next album Slow Motion. Before the album was released, the band toured the UK (again with Badfinger) and USA in August–October 1974. They returned to the USA in March 1975, to promote the album by touring with REO Speedwagon and New Riders of the Purple Sage, but the tour collapsed on the first night. A new US tour, with REO Speedwagon and Blue Öyster Cult broke up two-thirds of the way through.[8] Additional dates were arranged, but most were cancelled when Micky Jones developed pneumonia, so the final gigs were to be at the San Francisco Winterland. These were a great success, and promoter Bill Graham paid them a bonus, and rebooked them, but Whaley had had enough, and left.[17]

Martin Ace flew out as a stand in, and the band met and rehearsed with John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, who played with them at Winterland, and agreed to play a UK tour. On this tour, the Roundhouse gig was recorded for commercial release, and although Buckley and Ellingham state that it is rumoured that Micky Jones had to over-dub Cipollina’s guitar,[18] it was only the track "Bananas" on which his playing was replaced: "Everything on Maximum Darkness which sounds like "Cipollina is Cipollina", per Deke Leonard."Micky Jones tribute" The album eventually reaching no 25 in the UK album chart.[16] and Martin Ace continued as "stand in" bassist, until the end of a French tour, with Hawkwind, Gong and Magma, when he returned to the Flying Aces.

MCA

The band changed label to MCA Records, Ryan rejoined on keyboards, but as no bass players they knew were available, the band had to audition for the first time in their history. Auditions went badly, until the final audition, of John McKenzie of Global Village Trucking Company, who was immediately offered the job.[19] They then recorded The Welsh Connection which reached No 40 in the UK Album Chart[16] and was toured in March/April 1976 in Britain and June/July in the US. During the US tour differences arose again, and on the subsequent European tour Ryan and McKenzie announced they would be leaving, and the rest of the band agreed to call it a day.[19] The MCA record deal, however, was for 3 albums, but nobody was willing to contribute new material, and their attempts at covers were poor, so MCA eventually agreed to a live farewell album. All's Well That Ends Well was recorded at the Roundhouse on 11–13 December, although the final gig was in Slough on 16 December 1976. The band agreed that they "would never, ever, be one of those bands who reformed in a futile attempt to recapture past glories ...".[20]

Interval

After the 1976 break up, band members undertook numerous projects, often with other former members.

Martin Ace

Ace left Man before The Welsh Connection to reform The Flying Aces with his wife George (guitar), Mickey Gee (guitar), Phil Ryan (keyboards) and Stuart Halliday (drums). Ryan returned to Man and Halliday joined ‘’Alkatraz’’ being replaced first by Dave Charles, (ex Help Yourself) and then Mike Gibbins (ex Badfinger)

In the 1980s Ace & Micky Jones occasionally backed Welsh Elvis impersonator, Peter Singh in The Screaming Pakistanis and Ace also played with guitarist David Tipton with John 'Pugwash' Weathers (ex Gentle Giant) on drums.[21]

Micky Jones

Shortly after the break-up, Micky Jones recorded some demos with John McKenzie (bass), Malcolm Morley (guitar & keyboards) and Derek Ballard (drums). In 1978 he formed the Micky Jones Band, with Tweke Lewis (guitar), Steve Dixon (drums), Al McLaine (bass) and Steve Gurl (ex Wild Turkey & Babe Ruth) (keyboards).

Lewis & Gurl left, so Jones, Dixon & McLaine continued as three-piece Manipulator occasionally known as ‘’The Acidtones’’. In 1981 Jones disbanded Manipulator and formed The Flying Pigs with Mick Hawksworth (bass) and Phil Little (drums).[22]

Deke Leonard

Leonard reformed Iceberg, with Lincoln Carr (bass) and Terry Williams (when not playing with Rockpile). He still had a record contract and initially recorded with Martin Ace and Terry Williams, but needed two attempts to complete the album ‘'Before Your Very Eyes’', release of which was delayed for five years, when EMI took over United Artists.[23] A later line up included 2 musicians Leonard had played with in Help Yourself, Richard Treece (guitar & bass) and B.J. Cole (pedal steel guitar), plus Reg Isadore (drums). Leonard took up writing, and briefly moved to the USA, where he worked on a Walter Egan album.

Leonard formed The Force with Sean Tyla (ex Ducks Deluxe) (guitar), Micky Groome (bass) and Paul Simmons (drums). Their album Force's First also included Terry Williams and Martin Ace. The Force disbanded after Tyla suffered severe stage fright in 1982, and Leonard reformed the band as another Iceberg[23]

John McKenzie

McKenzie initially joined Ryan and Pete Brown, before joining Steve Hillage appearing on some tracks of the ‘'Live Herald'’ album. He then became a session/backing musician, touring with Dr John, Albert Lee, Davy Spillane, The Christians, Seal, Alison Moyet and Everything but the Girl and recording with Bob Dylan, The Pretenders, Eurythmics, David Bowie, Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Moya Brennan, Andrea Corr, Damien Rice, and Wham.

Phil Ryan

Ryan rejoined his former Piblokto partner Pete Brown and briefly formed The Brown & Ryan Band with McKenzie (bass), Taff Williams (ex Neutrons) (guitar) and Steve Jones (drums). A second line up of Pete Brown, Phil Ryan, Taff Williams, Dill Katz (bass) and Jeff Seopardie (drums) known as both ‘’Pete Brown and the Interoceters’’ and ‘’Ray Gammond and the Interoceters’’ recorded some tracks issued on Pete Brown’s 1984 album ‘’Party in the Rain’’. He also played a few gigs with the Flying Aces.[21]

Ryan then moved to Denmark, where his wife Bolette came from, and wrote music for films and TV. He died in April 2016.[24]

Terry Williams

On the breakup of Man, Williams immediately joined Rockpile with Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner. They continued until 1982, issuing several successful albums & singles and touring the USA and Europe. Williams briefly worked with Meat Loaf, before receiving an offer from Dire Straits, who he was still working with, when Man reformed.[21]

Reformed

The band reformed in 1983, with a line-up of Micky Jones and Deke Leonard on guitars, Martin Ace on bass and John "Pugwash" Weathers (formerly of Gentle Giant) on drums. This line-up was to stay constant until 1996, except from a short spell, when Weathers was unwell, and Rick Martinez temporarily took over.

After rehearsals, their first gig was on All Fools Day at the Marquee Club in London, and in June they recorded Friday 13th (Picasso PIK 001) at The Marquee, but this comprised old numbers, not new material. Not having a recording contract to promote them, albums were issued on several labels, e.g. Friday 13th was also issued as Live at the Marquee (Great Expectations PIPCD 055) and Talk about a Morning (Dressed to Kill DRESS 600). Later that year, they played the Reading Festival which was recorded for Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show and released as Live At Reading '83 in 1993.[25]

In 1983, they also recorded an album of new material in Germany, but fell out with the producer, who was also the album’s promoter, so the album was never issued.[26] The first studio album to be issued, The Twang Dynasty, was issued in 1992 and included the track "Fast and Dangerous", which was used on trailers for Paul Whitehouse’s Fast Show, although the band were not paid for this.[26]

Their performance at 1994’s Glastonbury Festival was issued as Live 1994 - Official Bootleg (and reissued as Live Official Bootleg), and in 1995 they recorded Call Down The Moon issued on the Hypertension label, and produced by the band and Ron Sanchez – a US musician and DJ, who had long championed their cause.

Weathers left in 1996, allegedly because Gentle Giant were about to reform,[27] and was replaced by returning drummer Terry Williams, who in the interim, had served in bands such as Dire Straits. Williams recorded some tracks, later released on the Undrugged album, and then Leonard suffered a minor stroke, so the band played a few gigs as a three-piece. When Leonard returned in 1997, Williams left, to be replaced by drummer Bob Richards, formerly of The Wild Family and The Adrian Smith Band.

Former keyboardist Phil Ryan returned in 1998, taking the band back to the classic five-piece line-up, which recorded a live double album at The Star Club, Oberhausen, West Germany, in March that year. Ryan played a major role in producing 2000's Endangered Species, but then had to withdraw from the band for personal reasons. Ryan was replaced by Gareth Llewellyn Thorrington, who missed the recording of Down Town Live at the Down Town Blues Club, Hamburg, in May 2001, as his flight was cancelled due a bomb-scare, but appeared on part of the Undrugged album (an "unplugged" album with a twist in the title), which had been started in 1996, and was finally issued in 2002. Undrugged has some classic covers, including "Sail on, Sailor" by the Beach Boys and Ray Charles's "Georgia On My Mind", both lead vocals being by Micky Jones.

In 2002, Micky Jones was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to take time off for treatment. Jones's place was temporarily taken by his son George Jones, but when Micky had recovered enough to rejoin, in 2004, Leonard decided to leave, again, so George became a permanent member of the band. In 2005, Micky Jones' health deteriorated due to the re-occurrence of his brain tumour[22] and he was replaced by Martin Ace's son Josh Ace.

In 2006, the album Diamonds and Coal was released, after which Thorrington was sacked, and the band continued as a four-piece. The 40th anniversary tour in 2008 saw the return of Ryan on keyboards, giving a multi-generational line-up, with two early members (Martin Ace and Phil Ryan), two sons of early members (George Jones and Josh Ace) and Bob Richards, who had been in the band since 1997. This line-up also recorded a studio album, but before it was mixed, the band split.[28] Josh Ace, Martin Ace and Phil Ryan recruited James Beck (guitar, vocals) and Rene Robrahn (drums, vocals) to the new line-up and wiped parts of the album to replace George Jones. Bob Richards's parts were kept on as they were unable to record over them, due to the lack of a click track. This album, Kingdom of Noise, was finally released in June 2009.[29]

Since 2011 Man have been based in Germany, where they still perform occasionally, including autumn tours in 2012 and 2013.[30]

George Jones and Bob Richards formed a new band "Son of Man", together with Richie Galloni (vocals), Marco James (keyboards) and Ray Jones (bass) from Welsh band Sassafras and Glenn Quinn (guitar) from Tigertailz. As of 2015 they are continuing to play Man's music at gigs around England and Wales.

After leaving Man, Micky Jones continued to perform for a while, but was then diagnosed with another tumour; he spent the next year and a half in and out of hospital; his health meant he remained at a care home in Swansea for the next three years until he died peacefully, at the age of 63, on 10 March 2010.[31][32][33] Fans paid tribute to Micky Jones online,[34] calling Man the greatest Welsh band of all time.

Clive John, AKA Clint Space, another of the founding members, died after a long fight against emphysema on 24 August 2011 in Hanover Street, Swansea, aged 66.[35]

Former bassist Ken Whaley died from lung cancer on 8 May 2013, aged 66.[36]

A new album, Reanimated Memories, was launched at a gig at The Half Moon, Putney on 22 February 2015, the band's first performance in the UK since October 2011, before its official release on 23 February.[37]

In 2015 Swansea Museum mounted an exhibition The Evolution of Man 1965-2014, Acid Rock from Wales featuring Man memorabilia from the last 50 years, from the collection of local fan, John Bannon.[38]

Phil Ryan remained in the band until his death on 30 April 2016, aged 69.[24]

Discography

Main article: Man discography

For a full discography see "The Manband Archive". In March 2016 this listed 423 releases, on 75 labels, in 24 countries.[39]

Band member timeline

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic biography of The Bystanders, by Richie Unterberger Retrieved 11 November 2008
  2. ↑ Sleevenotes by Nigel Lees to "Shapes and Sounds 2 - Shades of Deepest Purple from the BBC Archives 1967-1971" - Top Sounds TSSCD 003 (2008)
  3. ↑ Welsh Icons - The Bystanders Retrieved 11 November 2008 Archived 6 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Joynson, Vernon (2006). The Tapestry of Delights Revisited - The Bystanders (1st ed.). Telford: Borderline productions. p. 138. ISBN 1-899855-15-7.
  5. ↑ BBC Wales Biography Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  6. 1 2 Leonard, Deke (1996). Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics: The legend of Man a rock'n'roll band (1st ed.). Borden, Hants: Northdown Publishing Ltd. pp. 18–27. ISBN 1-900711-00-1.
  7. ↑ Sleeve notes to To Live for to Die Point 1997 re-release
  8. 1 2 3 The Manband Archive - The UA Years Retrieved 17 March 2009
  9. ↑ Sleeve Notes to 2007 CD Re-Release of Do you like it here now, Are you settling In?
  10. ↑ Sleeve Notes to 2007 CD Re-Release of Greasy Truckers Party
  11. ↑ Allmusic Biography of Man by Bruce Elder Retrieved 13 March 2009
  12. ↑ Sleeve Notes to 2007 CD Re-Release of Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth
  13. ↑ NME Biography of Man Retrieved 13 March 2009
  14. ↑ The Peel sessions, BBC Radio 1 Retrieved 13 March 2009
  15. ↑ Joynson, Vernon (2006). The Tapestry of Delights Revisited - Man (1st ed.). Telford: Borderline productions. pp. 531–532. ISBN 1-899855-15-7.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Chart Stats for Man Albums Retrieved 17 March 2009
  17. ↑ Leonard, Deke (1996). Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics: The legend of Man a rock'n'roll band (1st ed.). Borden, Hants: Northdown Publishing Ltd. pp. 126–136. ISBN 1-900711-00-1.
  18. ↑ Buckley, Jonathan; Ellingham, Mark, eds. (1996). Rock: The Rough Guide - Man (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 539–540. ISBN 1-85828-201-2.
  19. 1 2 The Manband Archive - The MCA Years Retrieved 17 March 2009
  20. ↑ Leonard, Deke (1996). Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics: The legend of Man a rock'n'roll band (1st ed.). Borden, Hants: Northdown Publishing Ltd. p. 160. ISBN 1-900711-00-1.
  21. 1 2 3 Manband Archive - The Missing Years Retrieved 16 March 2009
  22. 1 2 "Biography". Micky Jones.co. Archived from the original on 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  23. 1 2 Deke Leonard,com - background retrieved 16 March 2009
  24. 1 2 "Phil Ryan of Welsh Group Man 1946-2016 R.I.P.". Blurt. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  25. ↑ Sleevenotes to Live at Reading ‘83
  26. 1 2 Sleevenotes to The Twang Dynasty - Point 1997 re-release
  27. ↑ "Review of Call Down The Moon". Harvard GSD. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  28. ↑ Announcements on the Manboard Forum Retrieved 26 November 2008
  29. ↑ Allmusic review of Kingdom of Noise, retrieved 21 December 2009
  30. ↑ Index of concerts at the Manband Archive Retrieved 9 October 2013
  31. ↑ "MICKY JONES 1946-2010". Manband-archive.com. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  32. ↑ "Man guitarist Jones dies, aged 63". BBC News. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  33. ↑ "WalesOnline - Lifestyle - Showbiz - Man guitarist Micky Jones dies at 63". WalesOnline website. Media Wales Ltd. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  34. ↑ "Lasting Tribute to Micky Jones". Associated Northcliffe Digital. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  35. ↑ "JOHN Clive Stuart (Clint Space, Manband, Bystanders and Tremblin Knees) : Obituary". South Wales Evening Post. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  36. ↑ Ultimate Classic Rock - MAN BASSIST KEN WHALEY DIES AT 66
  37. ↑ "Reanimated Memories". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  38. ↑ "The Evolution of Man 1965-2014, Acid Rock from Wales". Swansea Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  39. ↑ Discography Stats on the Manband Archive Retrieved 6 March 2016

Further reading

External links

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