Black Cat Bones
Encyclopedia
Black Cat Bones was a British heavy blues rock group from London
.
The band is perhaps best known for having had Paul Kossoff
and Simon Kirke
in its lineup, both of whom later joined Free
in 1968. Kirke also became a founding member of Bad Company
in 1974.
and harmonica
), Paul Kossoff
(lead guitar
), brothers Derek Brooks (rhythm guitar
) and Stuart Brooks (bass
), and Terry Sims (drums
).
Black Cat Bones (named after black cat bone
s, a Hoodoo charm associated with blues music) played regularly on the London pub circuit. Early in the band's existence came several personnel changes, with Terry Sims being replaced by drummer Frank Perry, who was in turn replaced in early 1968 by drummer Simon Kirke. Paul Tiller was later replaced by vocalist Brian Short.
At the suggestion of Mike Vernon (producer)
, owner of the Blue Horizon
blues record label, Kossof, Kirke and Stuart Brooks, backed veteran blues pianist Champion Jack Dupree
on his 1968 album "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling" and played on his concurrent UK tour. However, both Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke left soon after, replaced by guitarist Rod Price
and drummer Phil Lenoir. It was this lineup that recorded Barbed Wire Sandwich
, the band's only full-length album. The album was recorded at Tangerine Studios and Decca Studios and released in November 1969 on Decca's newly launched Nova label dedicated to progressive rock
music. When the album failed to win the band critical acclaim, members Brian Short, Rod Price, and Phil Lenoir left the band, effectively ending its existence.
Brian Short went on to create a solo album entitled Anything for a Laugh in 1971, which also failed to win critical acclaim. Remaining band members Derek and Stuart Brooks were joined by vocalist Pete French and guitarist Mick Halls from the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band; after adding drummer Keith George Young, the outfit became the hard rock
band Leaf Hound
in 1970. Rod Price later went on to become the guitarist in Foghat
from December 1970. Pete French joined Atomic Rooster
and later Cactus which formed from the remnants of Vanilla Fudge
. Mike Halls became an exceptional blues player.
Bob Weston, later of Fleetwood Mac
also spent time with the band.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The band is perhaps best known for having had Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
and Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke is an English rock drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company.-Biography:...
in its lineup, both of whom later joined Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
in 1968. Kirke also became a founding member of Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
in 1974.
History
The band formed in 1966 with original members Paul Tiller (lead vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The 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...
), Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
(lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
), brothers Derek Brooks (rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
) and Stuart Brooks (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Terry Sims (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
).
Black Cat Bones (named after black cat bone
Black Cat Bone
A black cat bone is a type of lucky charm used in the African American magical tradition of hoodoo. It is thought to ensure a variety of positive effects, such as invisibility, good luck, protection from malevolent magic, rebirth after death, and romantic success....Got a black cat bonegot a mojo...
s, a Hoodoo charm associated with blues music) played regularly on the London pub circuit. Early in the band's existence came several personnel changes, with Terry Sims being replaced by drummer Frank Perry, who was in turn replaced in early 1968 by drummer Simon Kirke. Paul Tiller was later replaced by vocalist Brian Short.
At the suggestion of Mike Vernon (producer)
Mike Vernon (producer)
Mike Vernon is an English record producer. He produced albums for British blues artists and groups during the late 1960s, working with the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John Mayall, Christine McVie and...
, owner of the Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon was a British blues record label founded by Mike Vernon in the mid 1960s.Its roots lay in Vernon's mail order label Purdah Records, which released just four 7" singles; including "Flapjacks" by Stone's Masonry ; and another by John Mayall and Eric Clapton "Bernard Jenkins", and...
blues record label, Kossof, Kirke and Stuart Brooks, backed veteran blues pianist Champion Jack Dupree
Champion Jack Dupree
William Thomas Dupree, best known as Champion Jack Dupree, was an American blues pianist. His birth date is disputed, given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, in the years 1908, 1909, or 1910. He died on January 21, 1992.-Biography:...
on his 1968 album "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling" and played on his concurrent UK tour. However, both Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke left soon after, replaced by guitarist Rod Price
Rod Price
Rod Price was an English guitarist who was best known for his work with the rock band Foghat...
and drummer Phil Lenoir. It was this lineup that recorded Barbed Wire Sandwich
Barbed Wire Sandwich
Barbed Wire Sandwich is a progressive heavy blues rock album released by Black Cat Bones in November 1969. The original vinyl version of the album is now highly sought after by collectors of rock and heavy blues music of the late 1960s and 1970s....
, the band's only full-length album. The album was recorded at Tangerine Studios and Decca Studios and released in November 1969 on Decca's newly launched Nova label dedicated to progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
music. When the album failed to win the band critical acclaim, members Brian Short, Rod Price, and Phil Lenoir left the band, effectively ending its existence.
Brian Short went on to create a solo album entitled Anything for a Laugh in 1971, which also failed to win critical acclaim. Remaining band members Derek and Stuart Brooks were joined by vocalist Pete French and guitarist Mick Halls from the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band; after adding drummer Keith George Young, the outfit became the hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Leaf Hound
Leaf Hound
Leaf Hound is an English 1960s/1970s hard rock band. The group have been cited as a major influence on the stoner rock movement.-Biography:Leaf Hound formed in 1969 under their original name, Black Cat Bones. Early incarnations of the Black Cat Bones featured guitarist Paul Kossoff and drummer...
in 1970. Rod Price later went on to become the guitarist in Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
from December 1970. Pete French joined Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
and later Cactus which formed from the remnants of Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
. Mike Halls became an exceptional blues player.
Bob Weston, later of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
also spent time with the band.