Armageddon (Armageddon album)
Encyclopedia
Armageddon was the only album released by British/American hard rock group Armageddon in 1975. It features Keith Relf
of Yardbirds and Renaissance
fame, Martin Pugh
, lead guitarist on Rod Stewart
's "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
" and with Steamhammer, US-American Bobby Caldwell
who was the drummer of Captain Beyond
and with Johnny Winter
, and Louis Cennamo
who was the bass player for Renaissance
and Steamhammer. Armageddon sought to create a style unlike any other in rock.
After the dissolution of Steamhammer, Relf, and ex-Steamhammer members, Martin Pugh (guitar) and Louis Cennamo (bass) came to L.A. and hooked up with ex-Captain Beyond
and Johnny Winter
drummer Bobby Caldwell to form Armageddon.
Although the group's self-titled album was well-received by critics and fans, the band did not tour extensively, and, consequently, sales suffered. This proved to be the last stand for Relf and Armageddon. Relf returned to England due to poor health shortly after the album was released. Relf's health and reported drug use among some band members led to Armageddon failing to release any more material. Relf died shortly after returning to England, when he was electrocuted
while playing guitar. He did record one more song "All the Falling Angels" that is included on an album by Illusion
called Echanted Caress. (Illusion was the name the original members of Renaissance
chose when they reunited. This was because Anne Haslam and her crew had become Renaissance).
According to the CD booklet, Frampton recommended Armageddon to A&M Records, and because he was their top selling artist at the time, they listened to him.
Keith Relf
Keith William Relf , was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock...
of Yardbirds and Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
fame, Martin Pugh
Martin Pugh
Martin John Pugh is a British guitarist who came to prominence after joining blues-rock band Steamhammer in 1968, staying with that band through five years and four albums. Their debut album, Steamhammer, was released in 1969 and yielded a minor hit single in Europe, "Junior's Wailing"...
, lead guitarist on Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
's "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down was the debut album by Rod Stewart, released on February 1970 on Vertigo Records...
" and with Steamhammer, US-American Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell (drummer)
Bobby Caldwell is a drummer, songwriter, producer and arranger who co-founded rock cult bands Captain Beyond and Armageddon during the first part of the 1970s. Prior to these projects he played in some of Johnny Winter's seminal albums like Live Johnny Winter And and also on Saints and Sinners...
who was the drummer of Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971.-History:The original line-up for Captain Beyond were singer Rod Evans, drummer Bobby Caldwell, guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, bassist Lee Dorman and keyboardist Lewie Gold...
and with Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, and Louis Cennamo
Louis Cennamo
Louis David Cennamo was bass guitarist with an early line up of The Herd, the original line-up of Renaissance and later Colosseum, Steamhammer, Armageddon and Illusion . He also worked with Jim McCarty in Stairway. The song "Bullet", on the first Renaissance album, includes an extended...
who was the bass player for Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
and Steamhammer. Armageddon sought to create a style unlike any other in rock.
History
Armageddon was the last band to feature ex-Yardbird Keith Relf. The former lead singer and harmonica player of the band that launched Clapton, Beck and Page, Relf had abandoned his blues-guitar band roots when he founded Renaissance in the late 1960s. Relf left Renaissance after two albums (actually half way through the second album) due to frustrations with the music business and being tired of touring. However, when he created Armageddon, he became involved with one of the best guitar rock albums of the 70's.After the dissolution of Steamhammer, Relf, and ex-Steamhammer members, Martin Pugh (guitar) and Louis Cennamo (bass) came to L.A. and hooked up with ex-Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971.-History:The original line-up for Captain Beyond were singer Rod Evans, drummer Bobby Caldwell, guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, bassist Lee Dorman and keyboardist Lewie Gold...
and Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
drummer Bobby Caldwell to form Armageddon.
Although the group's self-titled album was well-received by critics and fans, the band did not tour extensively, and, consequently, sales suffered. This proved to be the last stand for Relf and Armageddon. Relf returned to England due to poor health shortly after the album was released. Relf's health and reported drug use among some band members led to Armageddon failing to release any more material. Relf died shortly after returning to England, when he was electrocuted
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
while playing guitar. He did record one more song "All the Falling Angels" that is included on an album by Illusion
Illusion (UK band)
Illusion were a British band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist and Illusion on Island Records. Their music was classically-inspired, sophisticated, and polished...
called Echanted Caress. (Illusion was the name the original members of Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
chose when they reunited. This was because Anne Haslam and her crew had become Renaissance).
According to the CD booklet, Frampton recommended Armageddon to A&M Records, and because he was their top selling artist at the time, they listened to him.
Track listing
Personnel
- Keith RelfKeith RelfKeith William Relf , was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock...
- Lead vocals/harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
/harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Martin PughMartin PughMartin John Pugh is a British guitarist who came to prominence after joining blues-rock band Steamhammer in 1968, staying with that band through five years and four albums. Their debut album, Steamhammer, was released in 1969 and yielded a minor hit single in Europe, "Junior's Wailing"...
- Electric/acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s - Bobby CaldwellBobby Caldwell (drummer)Bobby Caldwell is a drummer, songwriter, producer and arranger who co-founded rock cult bands Captain Beyond and Armageddon during the first part of the 1970s. Prior to these projects he played in some of Johnny Winter's seminal albums like Live Johnny Winter And and also on Saints and Sinners...
- Drums/vocals/pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
/assorted percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Louis CennamoLouis CennamoLouis David Cennamo was bass guitarist with an early line up of The Herd, the original line-up of Renaissance and later Colosseum, Steamhammer, Armageddon and Illusion . He also worked with Jim McCarty in Stairway. The song "Bullet", on the first Renaissance album, includes an extended...
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/electric bowed bass guitars