The Sons of Adam were an underrated freakbeat group from California headed by a blistering guitarist called Randy Holden. Randy Holden’s roots started with the Surfguitar band Fender IV comprising Randy on lead , Joe Kooken rhythm , Mike Port bass & drums Bruce Miller that put out the Dick Dale styled “Mar Gaya”/”You Better […] Continue reading →

Radio Caroline had reached Haight Ashbury spaces and decided to promote O’Rahilly’s new concept of “LA” (Loving Awareness), a far-eastern inspired philosophy of love and peace. Many stations were embarrassed at the idea of promoting love and peace on air, but Deejay Tony Allan developed a cult following among listeners as he also combined his […] Continue reading →

The Gothic drone of Bournemouth band Bram Stoker is singularly England’s most ignored Prog entity. The fundamental core of Bram Stoker was organist Tony Bronsdon who started out with Renaissance Fare in 1968 later fusing with ex Feel guitarist Pete Ballam and ex Feel drummer Rob Haines freshly defected from Freedom Village. A remarkable bassist […] Continue reading →

The elusive Jimmie Spheeris, a Greek poet started out in a traveling carnival called the Majick Empire that would strongly influence songsmith poems like “Lost in the Midway” and “Decatur Street”. Spheeris later moved to New York in the late 1960’s to further his songwriting career. Discovered by Richie Havens, Spheeris was introduced to ‘Columbia’ […] Continue reading →

Michael Chapman was an eclectic English singer songwriter in the same mould as Roy Harper and Wizz Jones. A former art & photography teacher, Chapman emerged from the folk scene in Yorkshire, gaining a reputation as one of England’s finest original singer-songwriters.He first appeared on the London and Cornwall folk music circuits in 1967, alongside […] Continue reading →

Bill Fay a UK based singer, songwriter and pianist, in hindsight an overlooked apocalyptic sage with a vision to the future. Ex-Them drummer Terry Noon helped Bill to sign a recording contract with ‘Decca’ putting out the oddly “Some Good Advice”/”Screams In The Ears” backed by Southend band The Fingers. This was followed by the […] Continue reading →

This is part of Shiloh Noone’s weekly write up of rare groups. Group write-ups you never hear of or little is known about. The Gothic Bram Stoker Cressida’s keyboard dominated style was not unlike the Gothic drone of Bournemouth band Bram Stoker, singularly England’s most ignored Prog entity. Bram Stoker who rose out of the […] Continue reading →

Roy Harper was a law unto himself -establishing himself as a flower warrior who took the responsibility of gauging the rising tide of the revolution with his fingerstyle poetry. Roy bled the system and washed the streets with shades of red that changed colour with every season. A leader in philosophy and a brilliant songwriter […] Continue reading →

The first crawl of Giant Crab was kickstarted by ex Emperors guitarist Ernie Oroscoe. Ernie & the Emperors debut bill was opening for the Isley Brothers at ‘Earl Warren Showgrounds’. The ‘Peppermint twist’ era gave way to acid days with Ernie and his brothers Raymond & Ruben forming Giant Crab with the brothers Fricia. The Crab’s final claws […] Continue reading →

Help Yourself transpired in 1969 as backup for Malcolm Morley, under the management of ‘Famepushers’. The completed Help Yourself comprised ex Monday Morning Glory Band Richard Treece (guitars/vox) ex Sam Apple Pie Dave Charles (drums/vox), ex Growth Ken Whaley (bass) & ex Sam Apple Pie Malcolm Morley (guitars/keyboards/vox). Help Yourself recorded their self titled 1971 […] Continue reading →