Ernie Graham
Encyclopedia
Ernie Graham was a singer, guitarist and songwriter, active from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s
. Graham and McCullough returned to Belfast and formed The People, with George O'Hara, Davey Lutton and Chris Stewart.
. In 1968 they changed their name to Eire Apparent
and toured with Soft Machine
, Pink Floyd
and Jimi Hendrix
.
Eire Apparent only recorded one album Sunrise (1969), which was produced by Hendrix, who also played on the album. Shortly after McCullough left, to tour with The Grease Band
, Eire Apparent disbanded. Graham moved in with McCullough and recorded four songs with The Grease Band, but these were never issued.
as a solo artist, by Andrew Lauder
. Sharing management with Brinsley Schwarz
and Help Yourself
, they all toured together as "The Down Home Rhythm Kings" package and lived in the same commune in Northwood. Both bands also backed Graham on his eponymous solo album Ernie Graham (1971). The album was well received, described as "one of the most hauntingly beautiful" albums of the pub-rock scene, and "one of the more distinctive and memorable solo albums of the period",
but sold poorly.
Graham and 'JoJo' Glemser then joined Help Yourself
appearing with them at the Glastonbury Festival
in 1971 and playing on their second album Strange Affair (1972), although Graham had left the band before the album was released.
band Clancy
, who were initially signed to Island Records
, but issued two albums and a single on Warner Bros. Records
. When Clancy broke up in 1976, Graham played with Nick Lowe
and tried to go solo, issuing Phil Lynott
's "Romeo and the Lonely Girl" as a single in 1978, which was his last release.
, and was training to become a counsellor, but his "strong alcohol dependence" caused his health to fail, and he died in April 2001.
With Eire Apparent
Solo
With Help Yourself
With Clancy
Various artists compilations
Early life
Ernie Graham was born in Belfast, and was training to be a mechanic, when he joined his first band Tony & the Telstars in 1965, as rhythm guitarist. When the band split Graham and two other members moved to England, where Graham met Henry McCulloughHenry McCullough
Henry McCullough Henry McCullough Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He...
. Graham and McCullough returned to Belfast and formed The People, with George O'Hara, Davey Lutton and Chris Stewart.
Eire Apparent
In 1967 the band moved back to London where they came to the attention of Michael Jeffery and were signed by him and Chas ChandlerChas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
. In 1968 they changed their name to Eire Apparent
Eire Apparent
Eire Apparent was a band from Northern Ireland, noted for launching the careers of Henry McCullough and Ernie Graham, and for having Jimi Hendrix play on, and produce, their only album.-The People:...
and toured with Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
Eire Apparent only recorded one album Sunrise (1969), which was produced by Hendrix, who also played on the album. Shortly after McCullough left, to tour with The Grease Band
The Grease Band
The Grease Band was a rock band that started out as Joe Cocker's backing band. They recorded two albums in the 1970s. They are probably most widely known for their performance of The Beatles song, "With a Little Help from My Friends", with Joe Cocker at the Woodstock Festival in 1969...
, Eire Apparent disbanded. Graham moved in with McCullough and recorded four songs with The Grease Band, but these were never issued.
Solo and Help Yourself
Graham was then signed to Liberty RecordsLiberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
as a solo artist, by Andrew Lauder
Andrew Lauder (music executive)
Andrew Lauder is a record company executive and former A&R manager. Initially noted for his adventurous signings of bands as diverse as Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Can, Hawkwind and Brinsley Schwarz to Liberty Records and United Artists Records in the 1960s and 70s, he went on to form numerous...
. Sharing management with Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge.-Formation:...
and Help Yourself
Help Yourself (band)
Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 1970s whose style developed from “American-flavoured country-rock… …to acid-drenched psych.”.-History:...
, they all toured together as "The Down Home Rhythm Kings" package and lived in the same commune in Northwood. Both bands also backed Graham on his eponymous solo album Ernie Graham (1971). The album was well received, described as "one of the most hauntingly beautiful" albums of the pub-rock scene, and "one of the more distinctive and memorable solo albums of the period",
but sold poorly.
Graham and 'JoJo' Glemser then joined Help Yourself
Help Yourself (band)
Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 1970s whose style developed from “American-flavoured country-rock… …to acid-drenched psych.”.-History:...
appearing with them at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in 1971 and playing on their second album Strange Affair (1972), although Graham had left the band before the album was released.
Clancy
In 1973, Graham formed pub rockPub rock (UK)
Pub rock was a rock music genre that developed in the mid 1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, pub rock was a reaction against progressive and glam rock. Although short-lived, pub rock was notable for rejecting stadium venues and for returning live rock to the small pubs and...
band Clancy
Clancy (band)
Clancy were a British rock group, prominent in the pub rock scene of the early 1970s. They issued two albums on Warner Bros. Records, but did not achieve chart success.-History:...
, who were initially signed to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, but issued two albums and a single on Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. When Clancy broke up in 1976, Graham played with Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
and tried to go solo, issuing Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
's "Romeo and the Lonely Girl" as a single in 1978, which was his last release.
Later life and death
In the early 1980s, he tried forming a band with Larry Pratt, who had briefly been a member of Clancy, but when this failed, he gave up being a professional musician, worked on the railways, including as a guard on the Orient ExpressOrient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
, and was training to become a counsellor, but his "strong alcohol dependence" caused his health to fail, and he died in April 2001.
Discography
With The People- Ireland's Greatest Sounds: Five Top Groups from Belfast's Maritime Club - 1966 - Ember Records
- Reissued on Belfast Beat Maritime Blues - Big Beat
With Eire Apparent
- Sunrise 1969
Solo
- Ernie Graham 1971 Liberty 83485 Allmusic [ link])
- "Romeo and the Lonely Girl" / "Only Time Will Tell" - 1978 single - Stiff
With Help Yourself
- Strange Affair 1972 United Artists UAS 29287 (reissued on CD 1999)
With Clancy
- Everyday 1975
- Seriously Speaking 1975
Various artists compilations
- All Good Clean FunAll Good Clean FunAll Good Clean Fun was originally a promotional sampler issued by United Artists Records in 1971. This original release was a double album containing 23 tracks by 20 different artists, with three artists; Morning, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Canned Heat, having 2 tracks each.Most of the...
1971 ("Don't Want Me Round You") - Only on 1971 vinyl LP, not on 2004 CD re-release - Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock 1996 ("Don't Want Me Round You")
- Goodbye Nashville, Hello Camden Town 2007 ("Sweet Inspiration" and "Baby You're All I Need" - only issued on this release)