Family (band): Difference between revisions
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{{About|an English rock band|other bands with similar names|Family (disambiguation)#Groups}} |
{{About|an English rock band|other bands with similar names|Family (disambiguation)#Groups}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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| name |
| name = Family |
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| image |
| image = dollpic.jpg |
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| caption |
| caption = The original formation of the band. Left to right: [[John "Charlie" Whitney]] (guitars), [[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] (saxophones, vocals, harmonica), [[Rob Townsend]] (drums), [[Ric Grech]] (bass, vocals, violin), [[Roger Chapman]] (vocals) |
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| background |
| background = group_or_band |
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| origin |
| origin = [[Leicester]], England |
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| genre |
| genre = {{hlist|[[Progressive rock]]|[[hard rock]]|[[psychedelic rock]]|[[jazz rock]]}} |
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| years_active |
| years_active = {{hlist|1966–1973|2013–2016}} |
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| label |
| label = {{hlist|[[Liberty Records|Liberty]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]|Raft|[[United Artists Records|United Artists]]}} |
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| spinoffs = [[Streetwalkers]] |
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| current_members |
| current_members = |
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| past_members = *[[Roger Chapman]] |
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| past_members = [[John "Charlie" Whitney]]<br/>[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]]<br/>[[Ric Grech]]<br/>Harry Ovenall<br/>[[John Weider]]<br/>[[John Wetton]]<br/>[[Tony Ashton]] |
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⚫ | |||
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] |
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*[[Ric Grech]] |
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*Harry Ovenall |
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⚫ | |||
*[[John Weider]] |
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⚫ | |||
*[[John Wetton]] |
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⚫ | |||
*[[Tony Ashton]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Family''' |
'''Family''' were an English [[Rock music|rock]] band, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised as [[progressive rock]], as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such as [[folk music|folk]], [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]], [[acid rock]], [[jazz fusion]], and [[rock and roll]]. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours, and appearances at [[music festival|festivals]].<ref name="GS">{{cite web|url=http://starling.rinet.ru/music/family.htm|title=Family|website=Starling.rinet.ru|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="AMG">{{cite web|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/family-mn0000171133/biography|title=Artist Biography|first=John|last=Dougan}}</ref><ref name="SBIntro">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/intro.htm|title=Strange Band – a Family introduction|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="RYM">{{cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/family|title=Family discography|website=RateYourMusic.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> |
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Family's rotating membership |
Family's rotating membership during their relatively short existence led to a diversity of sound on their various albums, with lead vocalist [[Roger Chapman]] the only member who stayed in the band throughout its existence. The group have been described as an "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans".<ref name="AMG"/> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Early years (1966–1969)=== |
===Early years (1966–1969)=== |
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Family formed in late 1966 in [[Leicester]], England, from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinas<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="45RPM">{{cite web|url=http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirf/family.htm|title=Family|website=45-rpm.org.uk|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> and later briefly |
Family formed in late 1966 in [[Leicester]], England, from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinas<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="45RPM">{{cite web|url=http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirf/family.htm|title=Family|website=45-rpm.org.uk|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> and later briefly The Roaring Sixties, whose sound was grounded in [[rhythm and blues]]<ref name="SBHist">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/hist.htm|title=Strange Band – Family history|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> though they did not record under that name. The Farinas originally consisted of [[John "Charlie" Whitney]], Tim Kirchin (born around 1944, Birstall, Leicestershire died ''circa'' 2000), Harry Ovenall (born Richard Harry Ovenall, 12 September 1943, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire), and [[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]], forming at Leicester Art College in 1962. [[Ric Grech]] replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and [[Roger Chapman]] joined the following year on vocals. The American record producer [[Kim Fowley]] suggested they call themselves "The Family" as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves a [[mafia]] style appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour of a more casual dress code. |
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The group played the music club [[The Marquee]] regularly and other London clubs including [[The 100 Club]] and Sybilla's in [[Swallow Street]]. Through their friend, Mim Scala, they arranged [[Jimmy Miller]] to produce their first single |
The group played the music club [[The Marquee]] regularly and other London clubs including [[The 100 Club]] and Sybilla's in [[Swallow Street]]. Through their friend, Mim Scala, they arranged [[Jimmy Miller]] to produce their first single and met manager John Gilbert. Because of their association with Miller, [[Steve Winwood]] helped with the recording. Shortly afterwards, Ovenall became disillusioned with the group's move away from [[soul music]] towards [[psychedelia]] and was concerned about the management. He subsequently decided to leave the band. Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released by [[Liberty Records]] in October 1967 but was not a success. Ovenall was replaced by [[Rob Townsend]].<ref name="45RPM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> |
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The band signed with the [[Reprise Records]] label (the first UK band signed directly to UK and US Reprise) and their debut album ''[[Music in a Doll's House]]'', was recorded during early 1968.<ref name="SBHist"/> Miller was originally slated to produce it, but he was tied up with production of [[ |
The band signed with the [[Reprise Records]] label (the first UK band signed directly to UK and US Reprise) and their debut album ''[[Music in a Doll's House]]'', was recorded during early 1968.<ref name="SBHist"/> Miller was originally slated to produce it, but he was tied up with production of [[the Rolling Stones]]' album ''[[Beggars Banquet]]'' and he is credited as co-producer on only two tracks, "The Breeze" and "Peace of Mind". The bulk of the album was produced by former [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]] member [[Dave Mason]],<ref name="SBHist"/> and recorded at London's [[Olympic Studios]] with engineers [[Eddie Kramer]] and [[George Chkiantz]]. 18 year old [[Mike Batt]] arranged string and brass overdubs, notably on "The Chase", "Mellowing Grey" and "Old Songs, New Songs" but was uncredited. "Old Songs, New Songs" also included an uncredited tenor sax solo from [[Tubby Hayes]]. Mason also contributed one composition to the album, "Never Like This", the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member,<ref name="SBDoll">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/albums/doll.htm|title=Strange Band: Music from a Doll's House|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> and the group also backed Mason on "Little Woman", the B side of his February 1968 single "Just For You". |
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Alongside [[Pink Floyd]], [[Soft Machine]], [[The Move]], and [[The Nice]], Family quickly became one of the premier attractions on the burgeoning UK psychedelic/progressive "underground" scene. Their lifestyle and exploits during this period provided some of the inspiration for the 1969 novel ''Groupie'' by Jenny Fabian (who lived in the group's Chelsea house for some time) and to [[Johnny Byrne (writer)|Johnny Byrne]].<ref name="NME">Nik Logan & Bob Woffinden, ''The Illustrated New |
Alongside [[Pink Floyd]], [[Soft Machine]], [[The Move]], and [[The Nice]], Family quickly became one of the premier attractions on the burgeoning UK psychedelic/progressive "underground" scene. Their lifestyle and exploits during this period provided some of the inspiration for the 1969 novel ''Groupie'' by Jenny Fabian (who lived in the group's Chelsea house for some time) and to [[Johnny Byrne (writer)|Johnny Byrne]].<ref name="NME">Nik Logan & Bob Woffinden, ''The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock'', 1978 Edition (Salamander Books, 1977), pp. 79–80</ref> Family featured in the book under the pseudonym, 'Relation'.<ref name="GRP">{{cite web|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~edw/groupie/bands.htm|title=Bands in Groupie|website=Users.globalnet.co.uk|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> |
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''Music in a Doll's House'' was released in July 1968 and charted at number 35 in the UK to critical acclaim,<ref name="RYM"/> thanks to strong support from [[BBC Radio 1]]'s [[John Peel]].<ref name="SBHist"/> Now widely acknowledged as a classic of British [[psychedelic rock]], it showcased many of the stylistic and production features that are archetypal of the genre. The album's highly original<ref name="AMGDoll">{{cite web| |
''Music in a Doll's House'' was released in July 1968 and charted at number 35 in the UK to critical acclaim,<ref name="RYM"/> thanks to strong support from [[BBC Radio 1]]'s [[John Peel]].<ref name="SBHist"/> Now widely acknowledged as a classic of British [[psychedelic rock]], it showcased many of the stylistic and production features that are archetypal of the genre. The album's highly original<ref name="AMGDoll">{{cite web|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-in-a-dolls-house-mw0000523272|title=Music in a Doll's House Review|first=Lindsay|last=Planer}}</ref> sound was characterised by Chapman's vocals, rooted in the [[blues]] and R&B,<ref name="AMG"/> combined with several unusual instruments for a rock band, courtesy of the presence of multi-instrumentalists Grech and King, including saxophones, violin, cello, and harmonica.<ref name="AMGDoll"/> |
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Family's 1969 follow-up, ''[[Family Entertainment (Family album)|Family Entertainment]]'', toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering to some extent,<ref name="AMGEntertainment">{{cite web| |
Family's 1969 follow-up, ''[[Family Entertainment (Family album)|Family Entertainment]]'', toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering to some extent,<ref name="AMGEntertainment">{{cite web|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/family-entertainment-mw0000197887|title=Family Entertainment Review|first=Lindsay|last=Planer}}</ref> reaching number six in the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> and featured the single "[[The Weaver's Answer]]", although the group reportedly had no control over the mixing and choice of tracks, or the running order of the songs.<ref name="NME"/> |
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With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States in April 1969, but it was beset by problems. Halfway through the tour, Grech unexpectedly left the band to join the new supergroup [[Blind Faith]];<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> on the recommendation of tour manager [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]], Grech was replaced by [[John Weider]], previously of [[Eric Burdon]] and [[The Animals]].<ref name="SBWeider">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/circle/weid.htm|title=Strange Band: John Weider|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> A further setback occurred during their first concert at [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham's]] [[Fillmore East]], whilst sharing the bill with [[Ten Years After]] and [[The Nice]] – during his stage routine, Chapman lost control of his microphone stand, which flew in Graham's direction, an act Graham took to be deliberate;<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBFacts">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/fax.htm|title=Strange Band: Family facts|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> Chapman performed the following shows with his hands by his sides, and by the end of the tour, he had lost his voice; Family's reputation in the US never recovered and they ultimately never achieved great recognition there.<ref |
With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States in April 1969, but it was beset by problems. Halfway through the tour, Grech unexpectedly left the band to join the new supergroup [[Blind Faith]];<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> on the recommendation of tour manager [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]], Grech was replaced by [[John Weider]], previously of [[Eric Burdon]] and [[The Animals]].<ref name="SBWeider">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/circle/weid.htm|title=Strange Band: John Weider|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> A further setback occurred during their first concert at [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham's]] [[Fillmore East]], whilst sharing the bill with [[Ten Years After]] and [[The Nice]] – during his stage routine, Chapman lost control of his microphone stand, which flew in Graham's direction, an act Graham took to be deliberate;<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBFacts">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/fax.htm|title=Strange Band: Family facts|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> Chapman performed the following shows with his hands by his sides, and by the end of the tour, he had lost his voice; Family's reputation in the US never recovered and they ultimately never achieved great recognition there.<ref>cannygigs.com</ref> |
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Returning to the UK, the band performed at The Rolling Stones' [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] gig and the [[Isle of Wight Festival 1969|Isle of Wight Festival]] that summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist [[John "Poli" Palmer]].<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> |
Returning to the UK, the band performed at The Rolling Stones' [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] gig and the [[Isle of Wight Festival 1969|Isle of Wight Festival]] that summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist [[John "Poli" Palmer]].<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> |
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===Later years (1970–1973)=== |
===Later years (1970–1973)=== |
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In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in San Francisco and Boston. In early 1970, they released their third studio album, ''[[A Song for Me]]''; produced by the band, it became the highest-charting album the band had released, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBGigs">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/gigs.htm|title=Strange Band: Gigs|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> The album itself was a blend of [[hard rock]] and [[folk rock]].<ref name="AMGSFM">{{cite web| |
In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in San Francisco and Boston. In early 1970, they released their third studio album, ''[[A Song for Me]]''; produced by the band, it became the highest-charting album the band had released, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBGigs">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/gigs.htm|title=Strange Band: Gigs|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> The album itself was a blend of [[hard rock]] and [[folk rock]].<ref name="AMGSFM">{{cite web|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-song-for-me-mw0000653725|title=A Song for Me Review|first=John|last=Dougan}}</ref> Family's new line-up played at major rock festivals that summer, including the [[Kralingen Music Festival]] in the [[Netherlands]] and the [[Isle of Wight Festival 1970|Isle of Wight Festival]] for the second year in a row.<ref name="SBHist"/> The band appeared in the documentary film ''[[Message to Love]]'' about the latter festival.<ref name="MTL">{{cite web|url=https://www.artistdirect.com/|title=Artistdirect, Free Music Downloads, New Music Videos, International Online Music, Music CDs|website=Artistdirect.com|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114223831/https://www.artistdirect.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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Family's follow-up album ''[[Anyway (album)|Anyway]]'', released in late 1970, had its first half consist of new material recorded live at Fairfield |
Family's follow-up album ''[[Anyway (album)|Anyway]]'', released in late 1970, had its first half consist of new material recorded live at Fairfield Halls in [[Croydon]], England, with the second half a set of new songs recorded in the studio, and reached number seven on the UK chart.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBAnyway">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/albums/any.htm|title=Strange Band: Anyway|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> In March 1971 the [[compilation album]], ''[[Old Songs New Songs]]'', (which contained remixes and rare tracks) was released, but in June Weider left Family to join [[Stud (band)|Stud]]. He was replaced by former [[Mogul Thrash]] bassist [[John Wetton]],<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGFearless">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fearless-mw0000201246|publisher=AllMusic|title=Fearless Review|first=Lindsay|last=Planer}}</ref> who had just declined an invitation from Robert Fripp to join [[King Crimson]]. The band performed at the [[Glastonbury Free Festival 1971]], filmed by [[Nicolas Roeg]] for the 1972 documentary ''[[Glastonbury Fayre (film)|Glastonbury Fayre]]''. |
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As with Grech in Family's original line-up, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up soon released Family's highest-charting single "In My Own Time/Seasons" which reached number four, and the album ''[[Fearless (Family album)|Fearless]]'' in October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGFearless"/> In 1972, another album, ''[[Bandstand (album)|Bandstand]]'' was released, which leaned more towards hard rock than art rock,<ref name="AMGBandstand">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bandstand-mw0000204643| |
As with Grech in Family's original line-up, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up soon released Family's highest-charting single "In My Own Time/Seasons" which reached number four, and the album ''[[Fearless (Family album)|Fearless]]'' in October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGFearless"/> In 1972, another album, ''[[Bandstand (album)|Bandstand]]'' was released, which leaned more towards hard rock than art rock,<ref name="AMGBandstand">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bandstand-mw0000204643|publisher=AllMusic|title=Bandstand Review|first=John|last=Dougan}}</ref> featuring the singles "Burlesque" in late 1972, and "[[My Friend the Sun]]", which was released in early 1973.<ref name="SBHist"/> |
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In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new line-up of King Crimson and was replaced by bassist [[Jim Cregan]], and at the end of that year, John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist [[Tony Ashton]], previously of [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]].<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> After Wetton's departure (but before Palmer's exit), Family toured the United States and Canada as the support act for [[Elton John]], but their performances were often greeted with silence and Poli Palmer later recalled that "the only clapping in this huge stadium would be the guys doing the PA".<ref name="SBHist"/> |
In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new line-up of King Crimson and was replaced by bassist [[Jim Cregan]], and at the end of that year, John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist [[Tony Ashton]], previously of [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]].<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> After Wetton's departure (but before Palmer's exit), Family toured the United States and Canada as the support act for [[Elton John]], but their performances were often greeted with silence and Poli Palmer later recalled that "the only clapping in this huge stadium would be the guys doing the PA".<ref name="SBHist"/> |
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In 1973, Family released the largely ignored ''[[It's Only a Movie]]'' (and on their own label, Raft, distributed by Warner/Reprise), which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGMovie">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-only-a-movie-mw0000205161| |
In 1973, Family released the largely ignored ''[[It's Only a Movie]]'' (and on their own label, Raft, distributed by Warner/Reprise), which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGMovie">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-only-a-movie-mw0000205161|publisher=AllMusic|title=It's Only a Movie Review|first=John|last=Dougan}}</ref> |
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Family gave their final concert at the Hawthorn Building of [[Leicester Polytechnic]] on 13 October 1973.<ref name="SBHist"/> Many of its members went on to different musical projects; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the band [[Streetwalkers]];<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="RYM"/> John Wetton played with King Crimson and eventually became the lead singer of the band [[Asia (band)|Asia]].<ref name="AMGWetton">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-wetton-mn0000231213/biography| |
Family gave their final concert at the Hawthorn Building of [[Leicester Polytechnic]] on 13 October 1973.<ref name="SBHist"/> Many of its members went on to different musical projects; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the band [[Streetwalkers]];<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="RYM"/> John Wetton played with King Crimson and eventually became the lead singer of the band [[Asia (band)|Asia]].<ref name="AMGWetton">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-wetton-mn0000231213/biography|publisher=AllMusic|title=John Wetton – Artist Biography|first=Gary|last=Hill}}</ref> Rob Townsend was a member of [[Medicine Head]] between 1973 and 1975. He has been a member of The Blues Band since 1979 and of The Manfreds since 1991. Ric Grech died of kidney and liver failure in 1990 at the age of 43, as a result of alcoholism.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGGrech">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rick-grech-mn0000855048/biography|publisher=AllMusic|title=Rick Grech – Artist Biography}}</ref> Tony Ashton died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer.<ref name="SBAshton">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/songforme/circle/ash.htm|title=Strange Band: Tony Ashton|website=Members.aol.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> Jim King died on 6 February 2012 in Middlewich, Cheshire, at the age of 69. Wetton died on 31 January 2017, at the age of 67. |
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==Reunion performances ( |
===Reunion performances (2013–2016)=== |
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In September 2012 the band announced a one-off reunion gig on 2 February 2013 at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London featuring Roger Chapman, Poli Palmer, Rob Townsend and Jim Cregan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/classic-rock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911143859/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/family-gather-for-one-night-only/|url-status=dead|title=Classic Rock | Louder|archive-date=11 September 2012|website=Classic Rock Magazine}}</ref> Demand for tickets was so great that an extra show was scheduled for the previous night as well and an expanded line-up of the band (also featuring Chapman's regular back-up musicians Paul Hirsh, John Lingwood, Nick Payn, Gary Twigg and Geoff Whitehorn, billed as "The In Laws")<ref>Concert Souvenir Programme</ref> played to sell-out audiences. The setlist on both nights included: Top of the Hill, Drowned in Wine, Holding the Compass, Part of the Load, Ready to Go, Crinkly Grin, Burning Bridges, No Mule's Fool, Sat'dy Barfly, Between Blue and Me, Hung Up Down, Burlesque, In My Own Time. Encore 1: Weaver's Answer; Encore 2: My Friend the Sun, Sweet Desiree.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} During these performances Chapman paid warm tributes to absent band members Rick Grech, Tony Ashton, Jim King, John Weider, John Wetton and Charlie Whitney during the band's performance. The band went on to appear at the Rockin' the Park Festival at Clumber Park in Notts on 16 August 2013.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} |
In September 2012 the band announced a one-off reunion gig on 2 February 2013 at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London featuring Roger Chapman, Poli Palmer, Rob Townsend and Jim Cregan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/classic-rock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911143859/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/family-gather-for-one-night-only/|url-status=dead|title=Classic Rock | Louder|archive-date=11 September 2012|website=Classic Rock Magazine}}</ref> Demand for tickets was so great that an extra show was scheduled for the previous night as well and an expanded line-up of the band (also featuring Chapman's regular back-up musicians Paul Hirsh, John Lingwood, Nick Payn, Gary Twigg and Geoff Whitehorn, billed as "The In Laws")<ref>Concert Souvenir Programme</ref> played to sell-out audiences. The setlist on both nights included: Top of the Hill, Drowned in Wine, Holding the Compass, Part of the Load, Ready to Go, Crinkly Grin, Burning Bridges, No Mule's Fool, Sat'dy Barfly, Between Blue and Me, Hung Up Down, Burlesque, In My Own Time. Encore 1: Weaver's Answer; Encore 2: My Friend the Sun, Sweet Desiree.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} During these performances Chapman paid warm tributes to absent band members Rick Grech, Tony Ashton, Jim King, John Weider, John Wetton and Charlie Whitney during the band's performance. The band went on to appear at the Rockin' the Park Festival at Clumber Park in Notts on 16 August 2013.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} |
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==Music== |
==Music== |
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Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato"<ref name="IMWT">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/64k14.html|title=In Music We Trust |
Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato"<ref name="IMWT">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/64k14.html|title=In Music We Trust – Family: Live|website=Inmusicwetrust.com|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> and an "electric goat",<ref name="GS"/> were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B and [[soul music|soul]] singers [[Little Richard]] and [[Ray Charles]], with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally.<ref name="GS"/><ref name="SBIntro"/> John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished and innovative guitarist,<ref name="SBIntro"/> and Family's often complex<ref name="IMWT"/> song arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech, Jim King and Poli Palmer in the band and access to keyboards such as the [[Hammond organ]], the new [[Mellotron]], violin, flute and vibraphone. The band's sound has been variously described as [[progressive rock]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[acid rock]], [[folk rock]], [[jazz fusion]], not to mention "British art rock," and [[hard rock]].<ref name="GS"/><ref name="SBIntro"/> |
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Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]] were afraid to follow them at festivals".<ref name="IMWT"/> |
Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]] were afraid to follow them at festivals".<ref name="IMWT"/> |
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Family was an influence on [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], with [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]] noting that the band were particularly |
Family was an influence on [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], with [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]] noting that the band were particularly underrated.<ref name="GS"/> Both in his vocal sound and style and his dramatic stage presentation, Chapman was also a strong early influence on [[Peter Gabriel]]. |
||
==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
||
===Members=== |
===Members=== |
||
; |
;Final members |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] – vocals, harmonica, |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – vocals, harmonica, saxophones, percussion {{Small|(1966–1973, 2013–2016)}} |
||
*[[Rob Townsend]] – drums, percussion |
*[[Rob Townsend]] – drums, percussion {{Small|(1967–1973, 2013–2016)}} |
||
*[[John Palmer (musician)|John "Poli" Palmer]] – keyboards, flute, vibraphone, synthesisers |
*[[John Palmer (musician)|John "Poli" Palmer]] – keyboards, flute, vibraphone, synthesisers, backing vocals {{Small|(1969–1972, 2013–2016)}} |
||
*[[Jim Cregan]] – bass, guitars |
*[[Jim Cregan]] – bass, guitars, backing vocals {{Small|(1972–1973, 2013–2016)}} |
||
;Former members |
;Former members |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, sitar, keyboards |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, sitar, keyboards {{Small|(1966–1973)}} |
||
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] – saxophones, harmonica, tin whistle, piano, vocals |
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] – saxophones, harmonica, tin whistle, piano, vocals {{Small|(1966–1969; died 2012)}} |
||
*[[Ric Grech]] – bass, violin, cello, vocals |
*[[Ric Grech]] – bass, violin, cello, vocals {{Small|(1966–1969; died 1990)}} |
||
*Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion |
*Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion {{Small|(1966–1967)}} |
||
*[[John Weider]] – bass, guitar, violin |
*[[John Weider]] – bass, guitar, violin, backing vocals {{Small|(1969–1971)}} |
||
*[[John Wetton]] – bass, guitar, vocals |
*[[John Wetton]] – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals {{Small|(1971–1972; died 2017)}} |
||
*[[Tony Ashton]] – keyboards, accordion, mellotron, vocals |
*[[Tony Ashton]] – keyboards, accordion, mellotron, backing vocals {{Small|(1972–1973; died 2001)}} |
||
===Guest musicians=== |
===Guest musicians=== |
||
*[[Dave Mason]] – mellotron (on ''Music in a Doll's House'') |
*[[Dave Mason]] – mellotron {{Small|(on ''Music in a Doll's House'')}} |
||
*[[Nicky Hopkins]] – piano (on ''Family Entertainment'') |
*[[Nicky Hopkins]] – piano {{Small|(on ''Family Entertainment'')}} |
||
*[[George Bruno]] – organ (on ''A Song for Me'') |
*[[George Bruno]] – organ {{Small|(on ''A Song for Me'')}} |
||
*[[Linda Lewis]] – backing vocals (on ''Bandstand'') |
*[[Linda Lewis]] – backing vocals {{Small|(on ''Bandstand'')}} |
||
*[[Peter Hope-Evans]] – harmonica (on ''It's Only a Movie'') |
*[[Peter Hope-Evans]] – harmonica {{Small|(on ''It's Only a Movie'')}} |
||
* [[Geoff Whitehorn]] – guitar |
* [[Geoff Whitehorn]] – guitar, backing vocals {{Small|(2013)}} |
||
* John Lingwood – drums, percussion |
* [[John Lingwood]] – drums, percussion {{Small|(2013)}} |
||
* Gary Twigg – bass |
* Gary Twigg – bass {{Small|(2013)}} |
||
* Paul Hirsh – keyboards |
* Paul Hirsh – keyboards {{Small|(2013)}} |
||
* Nick Payn – |
* Nick Payn – saxophone, harmonica {{Small|(2013)}} |
||
===Producers=== |
===Producers=== |
||
Line 101: | Line 111: | ||
*[[George Chkiantz]] – ''A Song for Me'', ''Anyway'', ''Fearless'', ''Bandstand'', ''It's Only a Movie'' |
*[[George Chkiantz]] – ''A Song for Me'', ''Anyway'', ''Fearless'', ''Bandstand'', ''It's Only a Movie'' |
||
==Lineups== |
===Lineups=== |
||
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99% |
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99% |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late 1966 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late 1966 – October 1967 |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | October 1967 – April 1969 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | October 1967 – April 1969 |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | April 1969 – Late 1969 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | April 1969 – Late 1969 |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late 1969 – June 1971 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late 1969 – June 1971 |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion |
||
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] |
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] – saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
*[[Ric Grech]] |
*[[Ric Grech]] – bass, backing and lead vocals, violin, cello |
||
*Harry Ovenall |
*Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion |
||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion |
||
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] |
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] – saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
*[[Ric Grech]] |
*[[Ric Grech]] – bass, backing and lead vocals, violin, cello |
||
*[[Rob Townsend]] |
*'''[[Rob Townsend]] – drums, percussion''' |
||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, percussion |
||
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] |
*[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] – saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
⚫ | |||
*[[John Weider]] |
*'''[[John Weider]] – bass, backing vocals, guitars, violin''' |
||
⚫ | |||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, percussion |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
*[[John Weider]] |
*[[John Weider]] – bass, backing vocals, guitars, violin |
||
*'''[[John "Poli" Palmer]] – keyboards, backing vocals, flute, vibes''' |
|||
⚫ | |||
| valign=top | |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
⚫ | |||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Mid-1972 – End 1972 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Mid-1972 – End 1972 |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | End 1972 – Late October 1973 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | End 1972 – Late October 1973 |
||
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late October 1973 |
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=20% | Late October 1973 – September 2012 |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, percussion |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
*[[Roger Chapman]] |
*[[Roger Chapman]] – lead vocals, percussion |
||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] |
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars, keyboards |
||
*[[ |
*[[Rob Townsend]] – drums, percussion |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
*[[ |
*'''[[Jim Cregan]] – bass, guitars''' |
||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
*[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] – guitars |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
*'''[[Tony Ashton]] – keyboards, backing vocals''' |
|||
| valign=top | |
| valign=top | |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|||
⚫ | |||
| |
|||
⚫ | |||
*[[Rob Townsend]] – drums, percussion |
|||
⚫ | |||
*'''[[John "Poli" Palmer]] – vibes''' |
|||
With: |
With: |
||
*Nick Payn |
*'''Nick Payn – saxophones, harmonica''' |
||
*[[Geoff Whitehorn]] |
*'''[[Geoff Whitehorn]] – guitars, backing vocals''' |
||
*Paul Hirsh |
*'''Paul Hirsh – keyboards''' |
||
*Gary Twigg |
*'''Gary Twigg – bass''' |
||
*John Lingwood |
*'''[[John Lingwood]] – drums, percussion''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
== Timeline == |
=== Timeline === |
||
{{#tag:timeline| |
|||
ImageSize = width: |
ImageSize = width:960 height:auto barincrement:23 |
||
PlotArea = left: |
PlotArea = left:120 bottom:120 top:0 right:15 |
||
Alignbars = justify |
Alignbars = justify |
||
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy |
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy |
||
Period = from:01/10/1966 till: |
Period = from:01/10/1966 till:18/12/2016 |
||
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy |
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy |
||
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 |
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 |
||
Line 185: | Line 197: | ||
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967 |
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967 |
||
Colors |
Colors= |
||
id:voc value:red legend: |
id:voc value:red legend:Lead_vocals |
||
id: |
id:blv value:coral legend:Backing_&_lead_vocals |
||
id:bvo value:pink legend:Backing_vocals |
|||
id:ww value:tan2 legend:Wind_Instruments |
|||
id:si value:drabgreen legend:Stringed_instruments |
|||
id:ha value:skyblue legend:Harmonica |
|||
id:g value:green legend:Guitars |
id:g value:green legend:Guitars |
||
id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards |
id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards |
||
id:vib value:lightpurple legend:Vibraphone |
|||
id:b value:blue legend:Bass |
id:b value:blue legend:Bass |
||
id:dr value:orange legend:Drums |
id:dr value:orange legend:Drums |
||
Line 208: | Line 225: | ||
PlotData = |
PlotData = |
||
width: |
width:15 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,–4) |
||
bar:Roger Chapman from:start till:20/10/1973 color:voc |
bar:Roger Chapman from:start till:20/10/1973 color:voc |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
bar:Roger Chapman from:01/04/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:ww width:9 |
|||
bar:Roger Chapman from:start till:01/11/1972 color:pc width:3 |
bar:Roger Chapman from:start till:01/11/1972 color:pc width:3 |
||
bar:Roger Chapman from:01/09/2012 till:end color:voc |
bar:Roger Chapman from:01/09/2012 till:end color:voc |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
bar:John "Charlie" Whitney from:start till:20/10/1973 color:g |
bar:John "Charlie" Whitney from:start till:20/10/1973 color:g |
||
bar:John "Charlie" Whitney from:start till:01/11/1972 color:key width:3 |
bar:John "Charlie" Whitney from:start till:01/11/1972 color:key width:3 |
||
bar:Jim King from:start till:01/11/1969 color:ww |
|||
bar:Jim King from:start till:01/11/1969 color:key width:7 |
|||
bar:Jim King from:start till:01/11/1969 color:ha width:9 |
|||
bar:Jim King from:start till:01/11/1969 color:blv width:3 |
|||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:key |
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:key |
||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color: |
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:bvo width:3 |
||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from: |
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:ww width:9 |
||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:15/10/1969 till:01/11/1972 color:vib width:5 |
|||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:01/09/2012 till:end color:vib |
|||
bar:John "Poli" Palmer from:31/12/2013 till:end color:key width:3 |
|||
bar:Tony Ashton from:01/11/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:key |
bar:Tony Ashton from:01/11/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:key |
||
bar:Tony Ashton from:01/11/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:bvo width:3 |
|||
bar:Ric Grech from:start till:01/04/1969 color:b |
bar:Ric Grech from:start till:01/04/1969 color:b |
||
bar:Ric Grech from:start till:01/04/1969 color: |
bar:Ric Grech from:start till:01/04/1969 color:si width:9 |
||
bar:Ric Grech from:start till:01/04/1969 color:blv width:3 |
|||
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:b |
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:b |
||
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:g width: |
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:g width:9 |
||
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:si width:5 |
|||
bar:John Weider from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1971 color:bvo width:3 |
|||
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:b |
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:b |
||
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:g width:9 |
|||
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:key width:5 |
|||
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:voc width:3 |
bar:John Wetton from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 color:voc width:3 |
||
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/07/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:b |
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/07/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:b |
||
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/07/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:g width: |
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/07/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:g width:7 |
||
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/07/1972 till:20/10/1973 color:bvo width:3 |
|||
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/09/2012 till:end color:g |
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/09/2012 till:end color:g |
||
bar:Jim Cregan from:01/09/2012 till:end color:bvo width:3 |
|||
bar:Harry Ovenall from:start till:01/10/1967 color:dr |
bar:Harry Ovenall from:start till:01/10/1967 color:dr |
||
bar:Harry Ovenall from:start till:01/10/1967 color:pc width:3 |
bar:Harry Ovenall from:start till:01/10/1967 color:pc width:3 |
||
bar:Rob |
bar:Rob Townsend from:01/10/1967 till:20/10/1973 color:dr |
||
bar:Rob |
bar:Rob Townsend from:01/10/1967 till:20/10/1973 color:pc width:3 |
||
bar:Rob |
bar:Rob Townsend from:01/09/2012 till:end color:dr |
||
bar:Rob |
bar:Rob Townsend from:01/09/2012 till:end color:pc width:3 |
||
bar: from:start till:end color: |
bar:LIVE PERSONNEL from:start till:end color:black width:3 |
||
bar: |
bar:Geoff Whitehorn from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:g |
||
bar: |
bar:Geoff Whitehorn from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:bvo width:3 |
||
bar: |
bar:Paul Hirsh from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:key |
||
bar: |
bar:Gary Twigg from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:b |
||
bar: |
bar:John Lingwood from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:dr |
||
bar:John Lingwood from:01/09/2012 till: |
bar:John Lingwood from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:pc width:3 |
||
bar: |
bar:Nick Payn from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:ww |
||
bar:Nick Payn from:01/09/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:ha width:3 |
|||
}} |
|||
</timeline> |
|||
==Discography== |
==Discography== |
||
Line 267: | Line 301: | ||
* [http://www.familyalbumreviews.blogspot.com/ A Family Affair] – reviews of Family albums |
* [http://www.familyalbumreviews.blogspot.com/ A Family Affair] – reviews of Family albums |
||
* [http://the-rocker.freeservers.com/oct2003/pantera.html Zeitgeist] – reviews of Family albums |
* [http://the-rocker.freeservers.com/oct2003/pantera.html Zeitgeist] – reviews of Family albums |
||
* [{{ |
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17423|pure_url=yes}} Family] at [[AllMusic]] |
||
{{Family (band)}} |
{{Family (band)}} |
Latest revision as of 21:03, 3 August 2024
Family | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Leicester, England |
Genres | |
Years active |
|
Labels | |
Spinoffs | Streetwalkers |
Past members |
Family were an English rock band, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such as folk, psychedelia, acid rock, jazz fusion, and rock and roll. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours, and appearances at festivals.[1][2][3][4]
Family's rotating membership during their relatively short existence led to a diversity of sound on their various albums, with lead vocalist Roger Chapman the only member who stayed in the band throughout its existence. The group have been described as an "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans".[2]
History
[edit]Early years (1966–1969)
[edit]Family formed in late 1966 in Leicester, England, from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinas[2][5] and later briefly The Roaring Sixties, whose sound was grounded in rhythm and blues[6] though they did not record under that name. The Farinas originally consisted of John "Charlie" Whitney, Tim Kirchin (born around 1944, Birstall, Leicestershire died circa 2000), Harry Ovenall (born Richard Harry Ovenall, 12 September 1943, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire), and Jim King, forming at Leicester Art College in 1962. Ric Grech replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and Roger Chapman joined the following year on vocals. The American record producer Kim Fowley suggested they call themselves "The Family" as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves a mafia style appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour of a more casual dress code.
The group played the music club The Marquee regularly and other London clubs including The 100 Club and Sybilla's in Swallow Street. Through their friend, Mim Scala, they arranged Jimmy Miller to produce their first single and met manager John Gilbert. Because of their association with Miller, Steve Winwood helped with the recording. Shortly afterwards, Ovenall became disillusioned with the group's move away from soul music towards psychedelia and was concerned about the management. He subsequently decided to leave the band. Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released by Liberty Records in October 1967 but was not a success. Ovenall was replaced by Rob Townsend.[5][6]
The band signed with the Reprise Records label (the first UK band signed directly to UK and US Reprise) and their debut album Music in a Doll's House, was recorded during early 1968.[6] Miller was originally slated to produce it, but he was tied up with production of the Rolling Stones' album Beggars Banquet and he is credited as co-producer on only two tracks, "The Breeze" and "Peace of Mind". The bulk of the album was produced by former Traffic member Dave Mason,[6] and recorded at London's Olympic Studios with engineers Eddie Kramer and George Chkiantz. 18 year old Mike Batt arranged string and brass overdubs, notably on "The Chase", "Mellowing Grey" and "Old Songs, New Songs" but was uncredited. "Old Songs, New Songs" also included an uncredited tenor sax solo from Tubby Hayes. Mason also contributed one composition to the album, "Never Like This", the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member,[7] and the group also backed Mason on "Little Woman", the B side of his February 1968 single "Just For You". Alongside Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, The Move, and The Nice, Family quickly became one of the premier attractions on the burgeoning UK psychedelic/progressive "underground" scene. Their lifestyle and exploits during this period provided some of the inspiration for the 1969 novel Groupie by Jenny Fabian (who lived in the group's Chelsea house for some time) and to Johnny Byrne.[8] Family featured in the book under the pseudonym, 'Relation'.[9]
Music in a Doll's House was released in July 1968 and charted at number 35 in the UK to critical acclaim,[4] thanks to strong support from BBC Radio 1's John Peel.[6] Now widely acknowledged as a classic of British psychedelic rock, it showcased many of the stylistic and production features that are archetypal of the genre. The album's highly original[10] sound was characterised by Chapman's vocals, rooted in the blues and R&B,[2] combined with several unusual instruments for a rock band, courtesy of the presence of multi-instrumentalists Grech and King, including saxophones, violin, cello, and harmonica.[10]
Family's 1969 follow-up, Family Entertainment, toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering to some extent,[11] reaching number six in the UK Albums Chart,[4][6] and featured the single "The Weaver's Answer", although the group reportedly had no control over the mixing and choice of tracks, or the running order of the songs.[8]
With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States in April 1969, but it was beset by problems. Halfway through the tour, Grech unexpectedly left the band to join the new supergroup Blind Faith;[4][6] on the recommendation of tour manager Peter Grant, Grech was replaced by John Weider, previously of Eric Burdon and The Animals.[12] A further setback occurred during their first concert at Bill Graham's Fillmore East, whilst sharing the bill with Ten Years After and The Nice – during his stage routine, Chapman lost control of his microphone stand, which flew in Graham's direction, an act Graham took to be deliberate;[6][13] Chapman performed the following shows with his hands by his sides, and by the end of the tour, he had lost his voice; Family's reputation in the US never recovered and they ultimately never achieved great recognition there.[14] Returning to the UK, the band performed at The Rolling Stones' Hyde Park gig and the Isle of Wight Festival that summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist John "Poli" Palmer.[4][6]
Later years (1970–1973)
[edit]In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in San Francisco and Boston. In early 1970, they released their third studio album, A Song for Me; produced by the band, it became the highest-charting album the band had released, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.[6][15] The album itself was a blend of hard rock and folk rock.[16] Family's new line-up played at major rock festivals that summer, including the Kralingen Music Festival in the Netherlands and the Isle of Wight Festival for the second year in a row.[6] The band appeared in the documentary film Message to Love about the latter festival.[17]
Family's follow-up album Anyway, released in late 1970, had its first half consist of new material recorded live at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, England, with the second half a set of new songs recorded in the studio, and reached number seven on the UK chart.[6][18] In March 1971 the compilation album, Old Songs New Songs, (which contained remixes and rare tracks) was released, but in June Weider left Family to join Stud. He was replaced by former Mogul Thrash bassist John Wetton,[4][6][19] who had just declined an invitation from Robert Fripp to join King Crimson. The band performed at the Glastonbury Free Festival 1971, filmed by Nicolas Roeg for the 1972 documentary Glastonbury Fayre.
As with Grech in Family's original line-up, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up soon released Family's highest-charting single "In My Own Time/Seasons" which reached number four, and the album Fearless in October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US.[6][19] In 1972, another album, Bandstand was released, which leaned more towards hard rock than art rock,[20] featuring the singles "Burlesque" in late 1972, and "My Friend the Sun", which was released in early 1973.[6]
In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new line-up of King Crimson and was replaced by bassist Jim Cregan, and at the end of that year, John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Tony Ashton, previously of Ashton, Gardner and Dyke.[4][6] After Wetton's departure (but before Palmer's exit), Family toured the United States and Canada as the support act for Elton John, but their performances were often greeted with silence and Poli Palmer later recalled that "the only clapping in this huge stadium would be the guys doing the PA".[6]
In 1973, Family released the largely ignored It's Only a Movie (and on their own label, Raft, distributed by Warner/Reprise), which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour.[6][21]
Family gave their final concert at the Hawthorn Building of Leicester Polytechnic on 13 October 1973.[6] Many of its members went on to different musical projects; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the band Streetwalkers;[2][4] John Wetton played with King Crimson and eventually became the lead singer of the band Asia.[22] Rob Townsend was a member of Medicine Head between 1973 and 1975. He has been a member of The Blues Band since 1979 and of The Manfreds since 1991. Ric Grech died of kidney and liver failure in 1990 at the age of 43, as a result of alcoholism.[2][6][23] Tony Ashton died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer.[24] Jim King died on 6 February 2012 in Middlewich, Cheshire, at the age of 69. Wetton died on 31 January 2017, at the age of 67.
Reunion performances (2013–2016)
[edit]In September 2012 the band announced a one-off reunion gig on 2 February 2013 at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London featuring Roger Chapman, Poli Palmer, Rob Townsend and Jim Cregan[25] Demand for tickets was so great that an extra show was scheduled for the previous night as well and an expanded line-up of the band (also featuring Chapman's regular back-up musicians Paul Hirsh, John Lingwood, Nick Payn, Gary Twigg and Geoff Whitehorn, billed as "The In Laws")[26] played to sell-out audiences. The setlist on both nights included: Top of the Hill, Drowned in Wine, Holding the Compass, Part of the Load, Ready to Go, Crinkly Grin, Burning Bridges, No Mule's Fool, Sat'dy Barfly, Between Blue and Me, Hung Up Down, Burlesque, In My Own Time. Encore 1: Weaver's Answer; Encore 2: My Friend the Sun, Sweet Desiree.[citation needed] During these performances Chapman paid warm tributes to absent band members Rick Grech, Tony Ashton, Jim King, John Weider, John Wetton and Charlie Whitney during the band's performance. The band went on to appear at the Rockin' the Park Festival at Clumber Park in Notts on 16 August 2013.[citation needed]
The limited edition Family box set Once Upon a Time, won the Storm Thorgerson Grand Design award at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards.[27]
Family again played gigs in the UK in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 they appeared at festivals in England and Italy, as well as two gigs in London on 17 and 18 December and one in Leicester on 22 December, which were billed as the band's last shows. For these gigs, Chapman, Palmer and Cregan were joined by five other musicians.[citation needed]
Music
[edit]Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato"[28] and an "electric goat",[1] were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B and soul singers Little Richard and Ray Charles, with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally.[1][3] John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished and innovative guitarist,[3] and Family's often complex[28] song arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech, Jim King and Poli Palmer in the band and access to keyboards such as the Hammond organ, the new Mellotron, violin, flute and vibraphone. The band's sound has been variously described as progressive rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock, folk rock, jazz fusion, not to mention "British art rock," and hard rock.[1][3]
Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the Jimi Hendrix Experience were afraid to follow them at festivals".[28]
Family was an influence on Jethro Tull, with Ian Anderson noting that the band were particularly underrated.[1] Both in his vocal sound and style and his dramatic stage presentation, Chapman was also a strong early influence on Peter Gabriel.
Personnel
[edit]Members
[edit]- Final members
- Roger Chapman – vocals, harmonica, saxophones, percussion (1966–1973, 2013–2016)
- Rob Townsend – drums, percussion (1967–1973, 2013–2016)
- John "Poli" Palmer – keyboards, flute, vibraphone, synthesisers, backing vocals (1969–1972, 2013–2016)
- Jim Cregan – bass, guitars, backing vocals (1972–1973, 2013–2016)
- Former members
- John "Charlie" Whitney – guitars, sitar, keyboards (1966–1973)
- Jim King – saxophones, harmonica, tin whistle, piano, vocals (1966–1969; died 2012)
- Ric Grech – bass, violin, cello, vocals (1966–1969; died 1990)
- Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion (1966–1967)
- John Weider – bass, guitar, violin, backing vocals (1969–1971)
- John Wetton – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals (1971–1972; died 2017)
- Tony Ashton – keyboards, accordion, mellotron, backing vocals (1972–1973; died 2001)
Guest musicians
[edit]- Dave Mason – mellotron (on Music in a Doll's House)
- Nicky Hopkins – piano (on Family Entertainment)
- George Bruno – organ (on A Song for Me)
- Linda Lewis – backing vocals (on Bandstand)
- Peter Hope-Evans – harmonica (on It's Only a Movie)
- Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals (2013)
- John Lingwood – drums, percussion (2013)
- Gary Twigg – bass (2013)
- Paul Hirsh – keyboards (2013)
- Nick Payn – saxophone, harmonica (2013)
Producers
[edit]- John Gilbert – Music in a Doll's House and Family Entertainment (executive producer)
- Dave Mason – Music in a Doll's House
- Jimmy Miller – Music in a Doll's House
- Glyn Johns – Family Entertainment
- George Chkiantz – A Song for Me, Anyway, Fearless, Bandstand, It's Only a Movie
Lineups
[edit]Late 1966 – October 1967 | October 1967 – April 1969 | April 1969 – Late 1969 | Late 1969 – June 1971 |
---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
June 1971 – Mid-1972 | Mid-1972 – End 1972 | End 1972 – Late October 1973 | Late October 1973 – September 2012 |
|
|
|
Disbanded |
September 2012 – December 2016 | |||
With:
|
Timeline
[edit]Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- Music in a Doll's House (UK & US Reprise, 1968)
- Family Entertainment (UK & US Reprise, 1969)
- A Song for Me (UK & US Reprise, 1970)
- Anyway (UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1970)
- Fearless (UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1971)
- Bandstand (UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1972)
- It's Only a Movie (UK Raft & US United Artists, 1973)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Family". Starling.rinet.ru. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Dougan, John. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c d "Strange Band – a Family introduction". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Family discography". RateYourMusic.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Family". 45-rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Strange Band – Family history". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Strange Band: Music from a Doll's House". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b Nik Logan & Bob Woffinden, The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock, 1978 Edition (Salamander Books, 1977), pp. 79–80
- ^ "Bands in Groupie". Users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b Planer, Lindsay. "Music in a Doll's House Review". AllMusic.
- ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Family Entertainment Review". AllMusic.
- ^ "Strange Band: John Weider". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Strange Band: Family facts". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ cannygigs.com
- ^ "Strange Band: Gigs". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ Dougan, John. "A Song for Me Review". AllMusic.
- ^ "Artistdirect, Free Music Downloads, New Music Videos, International Online Music, Music CDs". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Strange Band: Anyway". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b Planer, Lindsay. "Fearless Review". AllMusic.
- ^ Dougan, John. "Bandstand Review". AllMusic.
- ^ Dougan, John. "It's Only a Movie Review". AllMusic.
- ^ Hill, Gary. "John Wetton – Artist Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ "Rick Grech – Artist Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ "Strange Band: Tony Ashton". Members.aol.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Classic Rock | Louder". Classic Rock Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.
- ^ Concert Souvenir Programme
- ^ "Prog Awards 2013 – The Winners!". Prog Rock Magazine. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "In Music We Trust – Family: Live". Inmusicwetrust.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
External links
[edit]- Family at MusicBrainz
- Family at Rate Your Music
- 45rpm.org.uk – a Family biography
- A Family Affair – reviews of Family albums
- Zeitgeist – reviews of Family albums
- Family at AllMusic