History Trapeze (band)

1 history

1.1 1969–1973: formation , releases
1.2 1973–1976: hughes s departure , return
1.3 1978–1982: later years , disbandment
1.4 1991–1994: reunions , live releases

history
1969–1973: formation , releases

trapeze formed in march 1969, original lineup featuring former montanas members john jones (trumpet, vocals) , terry rowley (keyboards, guitar, flute), along former finders keepers members glenn hughes (bass, vocals, piano) mel galley (guitar, vocals) , dave holland (drums). 1 of band s performances filmed appearance on bbc2 show colour me pop, recorded on 5 july 1969 @ club lafayette in wolverhampton, @ performed song send me no more letters . local promoter tony perry described show 1 of outstanding nights @ [venue] , praising band s performance fantastic . later in year, trapeze signed first act on threshold records, record label founded moody blues , distributed in united states london records , elsewhere decca records. band reportedly declined offer join apple records, label founded beatles, believed have more creative freedom threshold.

the moody blues bassist john lodge produced first 2 albums trapeze, 1970 s trapeze , medusa.

working moody blues bassist john lodge producer, trapeze recorded self-titled debut album @ london s morgan studios , decca studios. despite jones being band s official lead singer, hughes performed vocals on release. hughes has revealed asked sing on album group s management, deemed him better of 2 vocalists. before end of year, rowley composition send me no more letters released band s first single, backed day (written galley, hughes , jones). trapeze released in may 1970. album well-received critics – billboard magazine described featuring strong rock personality , dubbed candidate big chart action , while journalist nigel williamson hailed classic period example of english prog, mixing pastoral whimsy, swirling psychedelia, rock guitars , pop harmonies . received significant airplay on bbc radio 1 djs such bob harris , pete drummond, , played in full station. trapeze promoted on string of shows in uk between january , july.

in august 1970, jones , rowley left trapeze, returning montanas. rather replacing departed members, hughes, galley , holland continued power trio, adopting style more akin hard rock , funk rock. on 13 november 1970, band released second album medusa in uk, issued in in march 1971. produced again lodge, album has since been highlighted multiple critics band s best release, 1 of decade s underrated hard rock albums. writing in booklet 1994 reissue of album, author john tracy claimed medusa greeted instant, , seemingly universal, acclaim . ultimate classic rock writer eduardo rivadavia credited album contributing development of heavy metal genre in 1970. black cloud , written galley brother tom, issued in single album backed love alright , written 3 band members.

trapeze toured extensively in promotion of medusa, in us, including stint in december 1970 supporting moody blues , numerous headline tours throughout 1971, before releasing third album music... re band on 1 december 1972. album written hughes (three tracks written galley brothers), produced neil slaven, , featured number of guest contributors including rod argent on piano , b. j. cole on steel guitar. album marked increase in softer, more melodic songs since medusa, praised highlights of collection multiple reviewers. billboard dubbed album fine set , while tracy described masterpiece . music... re band first trapeze album chart, peaking @ number 9 on billboard bubbling under chart, acts extension billboard 200. band toured throughout late 1972 , 1973 in promotion of album, including dates in , uk. prior show @ village east in december 1972, band s equipment stolen , forced play using hastily rented equipment .

1973–1976: hughes s departure , return

glenn hughes left band in 1973 join deep purple, although briefly returned tour in 1976.

in april 1973, deep purple members ritchie blackmore, jon lord , ian paice attended trapeze show @ whisky go go in los angeles, california, view asking hughes replace bassist roger glover in band. when approached @ show following month, hughes declined invitation in favour of remaining trapeze, claiming in very, different frame of mind musician @ time , dubbing deep purple basic rock me . however, due high-profile status of group @ time, combined prospect of working former free frontman paul rodgers, had been approached replace vocalist ian gillan, hughes reconsidered , agreed join band bassist , second vocalist. lineup change officially announced in music magazine melody maker on 14 july 1973. rodgers passed on opportunity join, focusing instead on formation of bad company. david coverdale brought in gillan s replacement later, after contacting group in response melody maker article, mentioned still looking new singer. hughes has since described choice leave trapeze horrible 1 make, dubbing band family , claiming in multiple interviews extent regrets leaving.

after brief hiatus, trapeze returned in 1974 galley on lead vocals, adding second guitarist rob kendrick , bassist pete wright lineup. in july announced band had signed warner bros. records, new album slated release later in year. threshold issued band s first compilation album final swing in october, featured tracks first 3 albums unreleased love , dats . album band s first chart, entering billboard 200 @ number 184 , peaking @ number 172. december saw release of band s fourth studio album hot wire, peaked @ number 146 on billboard 200, number 153 on cash box albums chart, , number 161 on record world albums chart in 1975. former keyboardist terry rowley featured guest contributor on album, performing synthesizers, organ, electric piano , backing vocals. rowley remained in touring lineup of band hot wire cycle , featured on album live @ boat club 1975, although again not credited group member.

later in 1975, trapeze released second self-titled album, on hughes returned perform vocals on 2 tracks. billboard praised trapeze example of tight, cooking, soul-tinged hard rock , although allmusic s dave thompson criticised dour little disc, desperately missing funk infusions of glenn hughes and, part, overshadowed disappointing predecessor . galley , holland briefly took break trapeze in november complete british concert tour justin hayward , john lodge, in promotion of collaboration album blue jays, released earlier in year. following year, after deep purple broke up, hughes temporarily reunited classic trio of trapeze appreciation tour, scheduled visit in august , uk in september. after short run of dates, hughes left again due off-stage problems caused drug abuse, particularly cocaine. speaking brief reunion in 2007, galley recalled hughes wasn t in state of mind @ time , suggesting if have carried electricity of shows on, have known no bounds . similarly, band s manager tony perry has recalled hughes [had] major problems @ time , difficult deal , adding , other members of band had discussed possibility of firing , replacing him during tour. during reunion, trio recorded number of new songs, including l.a. cut off , space high , both of later released on hughes s debut solo album play me out in 1977.

1978–1982: later years , disbandment

after hughes left band second time, trapeze returned in 1978 new frontman peter goalby , wright returning on bass. signing deal newly-formed label aura records, band released final studio album hold on in late 1979, produced jimmy miller. album, released in germany in 1978 under title running different track listing, hailed sounds magazine s graham neale culmination of band s obvious regenerated enthusiasm following recent challenges, while galley presented evolution in band s sound , style of songwriting. album received positive review billboard magazine, described noticeably strong ... lp takes strength tight vocal harmonies , solid original material , suggesting several of songs included here become aor staples . allmusic s steve huey hailed hold on quite possibly [trapeze] s best album, while colleague joe viglione praised songwriting , production qualities.

trapeze broke in 1982, when mel galley – then, remaining original member – joined whitesnake.

in august 1979, holland left trapeze join heavy metal band judas priest. replaced later steve bray band continued tour in support of hold on, including dates humble pie , stint supporting scottish band nazareth alongside swiss group krokus. band released first live album live in texas: dead armadillos in 1981, recorded on resulting tour in may 1981. time album released, goalby had left trapeze join uriah heep. mervyn spence (bass, lead vocals) , richard bailey (keyboards) joined band later in year, , in 1982 bray replaced kex gorin. trapeze officially came end in late 1982, when galley joined new lineup of whitesnake in time saints & sinners tour, commenced in october. final lineup of trapeze had begun recording material potential new album before galley left, material later adapted whitesnake , phenomena, project started tom galley.

1991–1994: reunions , live releases

hughes, galley , holland revived trapeze in 1991 concert tour featuring keyboardist geoff downes. in may 1992, band recorded live album welcome real world: live @ borderline, released in 1998. live album, live: way bone, released same year, featuring recordings earlier in band s career. trio reunited again in 1993, recording number of demos planned future release. on 9 february 1994, band performed @ irving plaza in new york city part of concert dedicated vocalist ray gillen, had died on 1 december 1993. followed later in year short string of shows in , uk, hughes described wonderful run , great experience . trio joined shows second guitarist craig erickson. live @ boat club 1975 released in 2006, before galley died on 1 july 2008, ending future chance of band returning again.