Burns Howff
Encyclopedia
The Burns Howff is probably the best known Rock
and Blues
music venue in Glasgow
. It was located on West Regent Street in the city centre and established a reputation as the launch pad for many Scottish musicians.
Burns Howff resident bands included Power, that later changed name to Stone the Crows
. This band featured Maggie Bell
on vocals, and James Dewar on bass guitar. James Dewar
, known as Jimmy Dewar later formed The Robin Trower Band with ex Procol Harum
guitarist Robin Trower
and drummer Reg Isadore.
It was in Burns Howff that Alex Harvey
met with the musicians who were to become the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Other bands who played at Burns Howff included Beggars Opera (band)
and Chou Pahrot
.
Shortly before it closed a recording studio was installed on the premises. This was a rather modest affair that was housed in what was essentially a walk in cupboard. The studio was popular with local bands, and clients included Johnny and the Self Abusers who were playing regularly at another Glasgow music pub called The Mars Bar, that featured mainly Punk
acts. Johnny and the Self Abusers split up and its members went on to form The Cuban Heels and Simple Minds
.
Burns Howff finally closed in 1984.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
music venue in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. It was located on West Regent Street in the city centre and established a reputation as the launch pad for many Scottish musicians.
Burns Howff resident bands included Power, that later changed name to Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows were a blues band formed in Glasgow in late 1969.-History:The band were formed after Maggie Bell was introduced to Les Harvey by his elder brother, Alex Harvey...
. This band featured Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell is a Scottish rock and blues-rock singer, regarded by some as Britain's answer to Janis Joplin.-Career:...
on vocals, and James Dewar on bass guitar. James Dewar
James Dewar (rock vocalist)
James Dewar was a Scottish bassist and vocalist for the Robin Trower Band and Stone The Crows, the latter having its beginnings as the resident band at the legendary Burns Howff in Glasgow.-Biography:...
, known as Jimmy Dewar later formed The Robin Trower Band with ex Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
guitarist Robin Trower
Robin Trower
Robin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
and drummer Reg Isadore.
It was in Burns Howff that Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
met with the musicians who were to become the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Other bands who played at Burns Howff included Beggars Opera (band)
Beggars Opera (band)
Beggars Opera were a progressive rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in Glasgow in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner. The line-up consisted of Ricky Gardiner , Alan Park , Martin Griffiths , Marshall Erskine and Raymond Wilson...
and Chou Pahrot
Chou Pahrot
Chou Pahrot was one of Scotland's most unusual rock music bands of the 1970s. Originally appearing as a four piece consisting of guitar, bass, drums and saxophone, the departure of the guitar player led to his replacement by violin and a change of name to Chou Pahrot...
.
Shortly before it closed a recording studio was installed on the premises. This was a rather modest affair that was housed in what was essentially a walk in cupboard. The studio was popular with local bands, and clients included Johnny and the Self Abusers who were playing regularly at another Glasgow music pub called The Mars Bar, that featured mainly Punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
acts. Johnny and the Self Abusers split up and its members went on to form The Cuban Heels and Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
.
Burns Howff finally closed in 1984.