Colosseum (band)
Encyclopedia
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive
jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.
Jon Hiseman
, tenor sax
player Dick Heckstall-Smith
and bass
player Tony Reeves
, who had previously worked together in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers on the Bare Wires album. Dave Greenslade
, on organ
, was immediately recruited, and the line-up was completed by Jim Roche on guitar
, although Roche only recorded one track before being replaced by James Litherland
, (guitar and vocals). Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith had also previously played in Graham Bond's
band, and Colosseum utilised several of the songs from that period.
The band made their live
debut in Newcastle
and were promptly recorded by influential BBC Radio 1
DJ John Peel
for his Top Gear Radio program. This appearance gained them valuable exposure and critical acclaim.
Their first album, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You
, which opened with the Bond composition "Walkin' in the Park", was released by the Fontana
label in 1969, and in March the same year they played at the Supershow
, a recorded two-day jam session, along with Modern Jazz Quartet
, Led Zeppelin
, Jack Bruce
, Roland Kirk Quartet
, Eric Clapton
, Steven Stills, and Juicy Lucy
. Colosseum's second album
, also in 1969, was Valentyne Suite
, notable as the first release from Vertigo Records
, a branch of Philips
Records established to sign and develop artists that did not fit the main Philips brand, and the first label to sign heavy metal
pioneers Black Sabbath
.
For the third album, The Grass Is Greener
, released only in the United States
in 1970, Dave "Clem" Clempson
replaced James Litherland. Louis Cennamo
then replaced Tony Reeves on bass, but was replaced by Mark Clarke within a month, and Hiseman recruited vocalist Chris Farlowe
to enable Clempson to concentrate on guitar. This is considered to be the definitive Colosseum line-up, which had already partly recorded the 1970 album Daughter of Time
.
In March 1971, the band recorded its concerts at the Big Apple Club in Brighton
and at Manchester University. Hiseman was impressed with the atmosphere at the Manchester
show, and the band returned five days later for a free concert that was also recorded. The recordings were released as a live double album
Colosseum Live
in 1971, shortly before the original band broke up. Tracks recorded at Bristol University's Student Union were also used on the live album.
with bassist Mark Clarke. Dave Greenslade formed Greenslade
with Tony Reeves; Clem Clempson joined Humble Pie
; Chris Farlowe joined Atomic Rooster
; and Dick Heckstall-Smith embarked on a solo career.
Hiseman reformed the group as Colosseum II
in 1975, with a stronger orientation towards jazz-fusion rock and a new lineup, featuring guitarist Gary Moore
, and Don Airey
on keyboards
. They released three albums before disbanding in 1978.
Colosseum reunited in June 1994 and played the Freiburg Zelt Musik Festival and followed it up with a TV Special in October, which was recorded and later released as a CD and a DVD. Several new studio releases also followed, as did expanded editions of Valentyne Suite and Colosseum Live
,and several compilation sets of earlier work.
Hiseman's wife, saxophonist Barbara Thompson, joined the band on various occasions before the 2004 death of Dick Heckstall-Smith
and is now a permanent member of the band. Colosseum continues to record and, from time to time, tour mainly the German speaking territories.
In October 2010, Jon Hiseman's biography, "Playing the Band - The Musical Life of Jon Hiseman", was published.
Later band members who are still involved:
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...
jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.
History 1968 - 1971
The band was formed in September 1968 by drummerDrum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
, tenor sax
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Tony Reeves
Tony Reeves
Anthony 'Tony' Reeves is an English bass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "extremely prominent and complex bass sound" and use of electronic effects...
, who had previously worked together in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers on the Bare Wires album. Dave Greenslade
Dave Greenslade
Dave Greenslade is a British keyboards player. He has played in his own eponymous band, Greenslade, and others including Colosseum, If and Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds....
, on organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, was immediately recruited, and the line-up was completed by Jim Roche on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, although Roche only recorded one track before being replaced by James Litherland
James Litherland
James Litherland is an English singer and guitarist. He was born in Salford, England. He is the father of singer/producer James Blake.-Discography:With Colosseum*Those Who Are About To Die Salute You – 1968*Valentyne Suite – 1969...
, (guitar and vocals). Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith had also previously played in Graham Bond's
Graham Bond
Graham John Clifton Bond was an English musician, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s....
band, and Colosseum utilised several of the songs from that period.
The band made their live
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
debut in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and were promptly recorded by influential BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
for his Top Gear Radio program. This appearance gained them valuable exposure and critical acclaim.
Their first album, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You
Those Who Are About to Die Salute You
Allmusic's review was laudatory, saying the album "is a powerful one, unleashing each member's instrumental prowess at one point while consolidating each talent to form an explosive outpouring of progressive jazz/rock the next." They highly praised the variety and uniqueness of each song, the...
, which opened with the Bond composition "Walkin' in the Park", was released by the Fontana
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
label in 1969, and in March the same year they played at the Supershow
Supershow
Supershow was a music documentary film made in 1969, which was directed by John Crome and produced by Tom Parkinson.This film was intended to be Britain's first music 'super session', with several famous blues, jazz and rock artists of the time coming together to be filmed whilst performing...
, a recorded two-day jam session, along with Modern Jazz Quartet
Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson , John Lewis , Percy Heath , and Kenny Clarke . Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
, Roland Kirk Quartet
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Steven Stills, and Juicy Lucy
Juicy Lucy (band)
Juicy Lucy is a blues-rock band formed on April 1, 1969. After the demise of The Misunderstood, vocalist Ray Owen, steel guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell, and saxophone player Chris Mercer formed Juicy Lucy...
. Colosseum's second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, also in 1969, was Valentyne Suite
Valentyne Suite
Valentyne Suite is a 1969 album by Colosseum. It was Vertigo Records' very first album release, and reached number 15 in the UK Albums Chart....
, notable as the first release from Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
, a branch of Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
Records established to sign and develop artists that did not fit the main Philips brand, and the first label to sign heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
pioneers Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
For the third album, The Grass Is Greener
The Grass Is Greener (album)
The Grass Is Greener is an album by Colosseum, released in April 1970. In contrast to other albums by Colosseum, The Grass Is Greener was released only in the United States, on the Dunhill/ABC label. It was conceived as a U.S. alternative to November 1969's Valentyne Suite, complete with a muted,...
, released only in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1970, Dave "Clem" Clempson
Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
replaced James Litherland. 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...
then replaced Tony Reeves on bass, but was replaced by Mark Clarke within a month, and Hiseman recruited vocalist Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
to enable Clempson to concentrate on guitar. This is considered to be the definitive Colosseum line-up, which had already partly recorded the 1970 album Daughter of Time
Daughter of Time
-Personnel:*Mark Clarke - Bass Guitar *Dave "Clem" Clempson - Guitar, Vocal on 3*Chris Farlowe - Vocals *Louis Cennamo - Bass Guitar *Dave Greenslade - Organ, Piano, Vibes, Vocals...
.
In March 1971, the band recorded its concerts at the Big Apple Club in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and at Manchester University. Hiseman was impressed with the atmosphere at the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
show, and the band returned five days later for a free concert that was also recorded. The recordings were released as a live double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Colosseum Live
Colosseum Live
Allmusic wrote that "With good material, some towering performances, and a powerful atmosphere, this is everything you could hope for from a live album." They made note of the performances of all the players except Dave Greenslade, and commented that the band arrangements, duets during the fills,...
in 1971, shortly before the original band broke up. Tracks recorded at Bristol University's Student Union were also used on the live album.
Interim and reunion in 1994
After the band split, Jon Hiseman formed TempestTempest (UK band)
Tempest was a British progressive rock band active from 1973 and 1974. Its core members were Jon Hiseman on drums and Mark Clarke on bass. They released two studio albums before breaking up.-Band biography:...
with bassist Mark Clarke. Dave Greenslade formed Greenslade
Greenslade
Greenslade is an English progressive rock band. It was originally formed in the autumn of 1972 with the following line-up:* Dave Greenslade - keyboards...
with Tony Reeves; Clem Clempson joined Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
; Chris Farlowe 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 Dick Heckstall-Smith embarked on a solo career.
Hiseman reformed the group as Colosseum II
Colosseum II
Colosseum II was a British band formed in 1975 by the former Colosseum drummer and leader, Jon Hiseman, following the 1974 demise of his band Tempest. Hiseman announced his plan to form the band eventually named Colosseum II in November 1974, but only Gary Moore was named. Rehearsals were due to...
in 1975, with a stronger orientation towards jazz-fusion rock and a new lineup, featuring guitarist Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
, and Don Airey
Don Airey
Donald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. They released three albums before disbanding in 1978.
Colosseum reunited in June 1994 and played the Freiburg Zelt Musik Festival and followed it up with a TV Special in October, which was recorded and later released as a CD and a DVD. Several new studio releases also followed, as did expanded editions of Valentyne Suite and Colosseum Live
Colosseum Live
Allmusic wrote that "With good material, some towering performances, and a powerful atmosphere, this is everything you could hope for from a live album." They made note of the performances of all the players except Dave Greenslade, and commented that the band arrangements, duets during the fills,...
,and several compilation sets of earlier work.
Hiseman's wife, saxophonist Barbara Thompson, joined the band on various occasions before the 2004 death of Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
and is now a permanent member of the band. Colosseum continues to record and, from time to time, tour mainly the German speaking territories.
In October 2010, Jon Hiseman's biography, "Playing the Band - The Musical Life of Jon Hiseman", was published.
Line-ups
Original band members:- Jon HisemanJon HisemanJon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
– Drums (founder) - Dick Heckstall-SmithDick Heckstall-SmithDick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
– Saxophones (founder member, died 2004, replaced by Thompson) - Tony ReevesTony ReevesAnthony 'Tony' Reeves is an English bass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "extremely prominent and complex bass sound" and use of electronic effects...
– Bass (founder member, replaced by Cennamo) (born Anthony Reeves, 18 April 1943, in Lee Green, South East LondonLondonLondon 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...
) - Dave GreensladeDave GreensladeDave Greenslade is a British keyboards player. He has played in his own eponymous band, Greenslade, and others including Colosseum, If and Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds....
– Organ, Vocals (from 1968) - Jim Roche – Guitar (first line-up, only one track on the first album (replaced by Litherland)
- James LitherlandJames LitherlandJames Litherland is an English singer and guitarist. He was born in Salford, England. He is the father of singer/producer James Blake.-Discography:With Colosseum*Those Who Are About To Die Salute You – 1968*Valentyne Suite – 1969...
– Guitar, Vocals (replaced by Clempson)
- 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...
– Bass (June 1970, replaced by Clarke during the recording of Daughter of TimeDaughter of Time-Personnel:*Mark Clarke - Bass Guitar *Dave "Clem" Clempson - Guitar, Vocal on 3*Chris Farlowe - Vocals *Louis Cennamo - Bass Guitar *Dave Greenslade - Organ, Piano, Vibes, Vocals...
)
Later band members who are still involved:
- Chris FarloweChris FarloweChris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
– Vocals (from 1970) - Mark Clarke – Bass, Vocals (from 1970)
- Dave "Clem" ClempsonClem ClempsonClem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
– Guitar, Vocals (from late 1969) - Barbara Thompson – Saxophones (from 2004)
Discography
- Those Who Are About to Die Salute YouThose Who Are About to Die Salute YouAllmusic's review was laudatory, saying the album "is a powerful one, unleashing each member's instrumental prowess at one point while consolidating each talent to form an explosive outpouring of progressive jazz/rock the next." They highly praised the variety and uniqueness of each song, the...
– (1969) - Valentyne SuiteValentyne SuiteValentyne Suite is a 1969 album by Colosseum. It was Vertigo Records' very first album release, and reached number 15 in the UK Albums Chart....
– (1969) - The Grass Is GreenerThe Grass Is Greener (album)The Grass Is Greener is an album by Colosseum, released in April 1970. In contrast to other albums by Colosseum, The Grass Is Greener was released only in the United States, on the Dunhill/ABC label. It was conceived as a U.S. alternative to November 1969's Valentyne Suite, complete with a muted,...
– (1970) [U.S. release only] - Daughter of TimeDaughter of Time-Personnel:*Mark Clarke - Bass Guitar *Dave "Clem" Clempson - Guitar, Vocal on 3*Chris Farlowe - Vocals *Louis Cennamo - Bass Guitar *Dave Greenslade - Organ, Piano, Vibes, Vocals...
– (1970) - Colosseum LiveColosseum LiveAllmusic wrote that "With good material, some towering performances, and a powerful atmosphere, this is everything you could hope for from a live album." They made note of the performances of all the players except Dave Greenslade, and commented that the band arrangements, duets during the fills,...
– (1971)- original band disbanded 1971 and reunited in 1994
Post-reunion
- LiveS The Reunion Concerts 1994 – (1995)
- Bread & Circuses – (1997)
- Tomorrow's BluesTomorrow's BluesTomorrow's Blues is a 2003 album by Colosseum.-Track listing:#"Tomorrow's Blues" – 6:41#"Come Right Back" – 4:32#"In the Heat of the Night" – 5:37#"Hard Times Rising" – 6:41...
– (2003) - Live Cologne 1994 – (2003)
- Live05 – (2007)
Compilations
- The Collectors ColosseumThe Collectors Colosseum (Colosseum album)The Collectors' Colosseum is probably the first compilation album by Colosseum, released in England in 1971.-Track listing:#"Jumping off the Sun", recorded in 1970, with Chris Farlowe's vocal overdub...
– (1971) - AnthologyAnthology (Colosseum album)Anthology is a 2000 compilation album by Colosseum.-Track listing:#"Valentyne Suite" – 16:55#"Beware the Ides of March" – 5:36#"Debut" – 6:20#"I Can't Live Without You" – 4:15#"Bolero" – 5:29#"Time Lament" – 6:12...
– (2000) (2-CD collection) - Morituri Te Salutant – (2009) (4-CD collection)
Literature
- Hanson, Martyn: Playing The Band - The Musical Life of Jon Hiseman, 2010, London, Temple Music Books, ISBN 978-0-9566863-0-5