The Gass was a rock band[1] formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench, Godfrey McLean, and Errol McLean. They were managed by Rik Gunnell[2] and Active Management. The band fused melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms[3] with an eclectic mix of other influences.[4]
After forming in the early 1960 as The Senators then becoming the Creators[5][6] they became known as The Gass in 1965 with the original line up of Bobby Tench on bass guitar (credited as Robert Tench), percussionist Errol McLean, his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean,[5] with the addition of saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskams.[2] Tench soon became the band's vocalist and lead guitarist[7] and between 1965 and 1967 they released singles on the Parlophone[8] and CBS labels and as their music progressed the line up changed.[2] They also played at clubs and venues in U.K and at fashionable music venues in London's Soho[9] such as The Ad Lib club,[10]The Flamingo and the Bag O'Nails. Eric Burdon sang with them at The Scotch of St James where they were employed as the house band and Jimi Hendrix jammed with them.[7] During 1968 they were supporting bands such as Led Zeppelin.[11] In 1969 they became the band for the rock musical Catch My Soul-Rock Othello produced by Jack Good[12] and their participation was billed as 'music interpreted by Gass'.[13]
1970-1971edit
By this period the band were known simply as Gass[14] and they released their first album Juju (1970)[15] which featured guitarist Peter Green.[2][16] In the same year Godfrey McLean appeared on Peter Green's End of the Game (1970). Gass were also featured on the album Catch My Soul (1971),[17] which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello.[2]
In 1971 the band recorded the single "Something's Got To Change Your Ways" which was released the Polydor label.[2] Pete Masden mentions in his book Funk guitar and Bass, that during this period Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions with other musicians at Ronnie Scott's club. These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez.[18]
Post disbandingedit
In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group and Gass finally disbanded.[19] Godfrey McLean recorded with Brian Auger and The Oblivion Express.[20] Delisle Harper who was the band's bass player in a later lineup appeared with Tench on Freddie King's Burglar (1974) also Larger than Life (1975).[21] and Roskams moved on to work with Herbie Goins[22]
Juju featuring Peter Green Polydor 2485 003 (1970). Re-released as Gass in the same year with the same personnel, track listing and catalogue number.[2]
"Something's Got To Change Your Ways"/"Mr. Banana" Polydor 2058 147 (1971)[2]
Notesedit
^Larkin, Colin. The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music. Guinness. p. 947.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqJoynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras. Borderline. p. 325.
^"New Vitality London Management Team". Billboard Vol. 83, No. 46. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 13 November 1971. p. 52.
^ abMove to Acton said agent. Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush Gazette and Post. 28 January 2009.
^Jones, Peter (28 January 2009). Names and faces. Record Mirror.
Referencesedit
Celmins, Martin. Peter Green Founder of Fleetwood Mac, foreword by BB King. Sanctuary Publishing, (1998) 2nd edition. ISBN1-86074-233-5
Hjort, Chris and Hinman, Doug. Jeff's book : A Chronology of Jeff Beck's Career 1965-1980 : from the Yardbirds to Jazz-Rock. Rock 'n' Roll Research Press, (2000). ISBN0-9641005-3-3
Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976. Borderline (2006). Reprinted (2008). ISBN1-899855-15-7
Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness (1992). Item notes: v.2. Digitized (19 Jun 2007). ISBN978-1-882267-02-6
Madsen, Pete. Funk Guitar and Bass: Know the Players, Play the Music. Backbeat (2007). ISBN978-0-87930-894-0
External linksedit
Jack Good
New Vitality on London Management Scene. Billboard 13 November 1971
gass, rock, band, formed, 1965, robert, tench, godfrey, mclean, errol, mclean, they, were, managed, gunnell, active, management, band, fused, melodies, with, soul, latin, influences, blues, progressive, rock, often, employing, complex, rhythms, with, eclectic,. The Gass was a rock band 1 formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench Godfrey McLean and Errol McLean They were managed by Rik Gunnell 2 and Active Management The band fused melodies with soul Latin influences blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms 3 with an eclectic mix of other influences 4 The GassAlso known asGassOriginUKGenresRock Funk SoulYears active1965 1971LabelsPolydor CBS ParlophonePast membersRobert TenchGodfrey McLeanDelisle HarperDerek AustinMichael PiggottAlan RoskansFrank ClarkHumphrey OkanErrol McLean Contents 1 History 1 1 1960s 1969 1 2 1970 1971 1 3 Post disbanding 2 Band members 3 Discography 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit1960s 1969 edit After forming in the early 1960 as The Senators then becoming the Creators 5 6 they became known as The Gass in 1965 with the original line up of Bobby Tench on bass guitar credited as Robert Tench percussionist Errol McLean his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean 5 with the addition of saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskams 2 Tench soon became the band s vocalist and lead guitarist 7 and between 1965 and 1967 they released singles on the Parlophone 8 and CBS labels and as their music progressed the line up changed 2 They also played at clubs and venues in U K and at fashionable music venues in London s Soho 9 such as The Ad Lib club 10 The Flamingo and the Bag O Nails Eric Burdon sang with them at The Scotch of St James where they were employed as the house band and Jimi Hendrix jammed with them 7 During 1968 they were supporting bands such as Led Zeppelin 11 In 1969 they became the band for the rock musical Catch My Soul Rock Othello produced by Jack Good 12 and their participation was billed as music interpreted by Gass 13 1970 1971 edit By this period the band were known simply as Gass 14 and they released their first album Juju 1970 15 which featured guitarist Peter Green 2 16 In the same year Godfrey McLean appeared on Peter Green s End of the Game 1970 Gass were also featured on the album Catch My Soul 1971 17 which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul Rock Othello 2 In 1971 the band recorded the single Something s Got To Change Your Ways which was released the Polydor label 2 Pete Masden mentions in his book Funk guitar and Bass that during this period Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions with other musicians at Ronnie Scott s club These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez 18 Post disbanding edit In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group and Gass finally disbanded 19 Godfrey McLean recorded with Brian Auger and The Oblivion Express 20 Delisle Harper who was the band s bass player in a later lineup appeared with Tench on Freddie King s Burglar 1974 also Larger than Life 1975 21 and Roskams moved on to work with Herbie Goins 22 Band members edit1969 1971 Robert Tench bass guitar organ and vocals 2 Godfrey McLean drums congas vocals and percussion 2 Delisle Harper bass and percussion Derek Austin organ piano flute and percussion Michael Piggott violin and guitar1965 1969 Robert Tench bass guitar organ and vocals 2 Godfrey McLean drums congas vocals and percussion 2 Alan Roskams lead guitar 2 left in 1967 22 Stuart Cowell lead guitar left in 1967 4 Frank Clark Organ Humphrey Okan Saxophone 2 Errol McLean Congas 2 Discography editAlbums Supergroups Vol 2 1970 track 1 Black Velvet featuring Peter Green 2 Juju featuring Peter Green Polydor 2485 003 1970 Re released as Gass in the same year with the same personnel track listing and catalogue number 2 Catch My Soul Polydor 2383 035 1971 2 Singles as The Gass One Of These Days I Don t Know Why Parlophone R 5344 1965 The New Breed In The City Parlophone R 5456 1966 Dream Baby How Long Must I Dream Jitterbug Sid 23 CBS 2647 1967 Something s Got To Change Your Ways Mr Banana Polydor 2058 147 1971 2 Notes edit Larkin Colin The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music Guinness p 947 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Joynson Vernon The Tapestry of Delights The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat R amp B Psychedelic and Progressive Eras Borderline p 325 New Vitality London Management Team Billboard Vol 83 No 46 Nielsen Business Media Inc 13 November 1971 p 52 a b Move to Acton said agent Hammersmith and Shepherd s Bush Gazette and Post 28 January 2009 a b Warburton Nick Gass gigs 1966 68 garagehangover com Retrieved 6 November 2018 Jazz Rock Soul Artists and Albums of the 70s and 80s jazzrocksoul com Retrieved 5 April 2024 a b Leslie Fran 28 January 2009 Interview with Bobby Tench Blues In Britain pp 18 19 20 Vol 1 issue 94 The Gass discography 45cat com Retrieved 30 January 2015 Warburton Nick British rock music from the mid 60s onwards Mike Pigott Gass thestrangebrew co uk Retrieved 23 November 2018 Cramp Nathaniel It Happened Here timeout com Retrieved 28 January 2009 The University of Surrey was where Led Zeppelin first played on 25 October 1968 personal ph surrey ac uk Retrieved 13 January 2014 Vahimagi Tise Jack Good screenonline org uk Retrieved 18 April 2009 Kerr Emily The Roundhouse in pictures celebrating 50yrs Catch my Soul 50 roundhouse org uk Retrieved 1 May 2019 Hjort Christopher Strange Brew Eric Clapton amp the British Blues Boom 1965 1970 Jawbone Press 2007 p 315 ISBN 9781906002008 Gass album Juju nme com Retrieved 22 January 2009 Freedland Jan amp Fitzgerald John Peter Green fmlegacy com Archived from the original on 28 April 2009 Retrieved 22 January 2009 Jack Good s Rock Othello Catch My Soul homeonline com Archived from the original on 8 December 2011 Retrieved 22 January 2009 Masden Pete Funk Guitar And Bass p 55 Hjort Chris amp Hinman Doug Jeff s book A Chronology of Jeff Beck s Career 1965 1980 p 111 Godfrey McLean allmusic com Retrieved 22 January 2009 DeLisle Harper allmusic com Retrieved 22 January 2009 a b The Gass Melody Maker 28 January 2009 Jones Peter 28 January 2009 Names and faces Record Mirror References editCelmins Martin Peter Green Founder of Fleetwood Mac foreword by BB King Sanctuary Publishing 1998 2nd edition ISBN 1 86074 233 5 Hjort Chris and Hinman Doug Jeff s book A Chronology of Jeff Beck s Career 1965 1980 from the Yardbirds to Jazz Rock Rock n Roll Research Press 2000 ISBN 0 9641005 3 3 Joynson Vernon The Tapestry of Delights The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat R amp B Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963 1976 Borderline 2006 Reprinted 2008 ISBN 1 899855 15 7 Larkin Colin The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music Guinness 1992 Item notes v 2 Digitized 19 Jun 2007 ISBN 978 1 882267 02 6 Madsen Pete Funk Guitar and Bass Know the Players Play the Music Backbeat 2007 ISBN 978 0 87930 894 0External links editJack Good New Vitality on London Management Scene Billboard 13 November 1971 Nathaniel Ab Lib Club It happened here Time Out The Gass discography at Discogs The Gass at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Gass amp oldid 1218044342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
