Gass (band)
Encyclopedia
Gass was a rock
band formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench
, Godfrey and Errol McLean. They were managed by The Active Management Group. The band fused inspired melodies
with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms.
, such as The Flamingo Club
, The Scotch of St.James where Eric Burdon sang with them and it was at The Bag O'Nails
Jimi Hendrix
joined the band for a jam session
. Gass became involved with Catch My Soul-Rock Othello
produced by Jack Good
during 1969.
Their album Juju
(1970) featured guitarist Peter Green
. The band was featured on Catch My Soul
(1971), which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello. Pete Masden mentions in his book Funk Guitar And Bass, that Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions
with other musicians at Ronnie Scott
's club. These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez
. In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group
and Gass disbanded. Delisle Harper appeared with Tench on Freddie King
's Burglar (1974) also Larger than Life (1975). Tench later moved on to play with The Jeff Beck Group
, Hummingbird
, Humble Pie
, Streetwalkers
and Van Morrison
, amongst others. Godfrey McLean recorded End of the Game (1970) with Peter Green
and appeared with Brian Auger
and The Oblivion Express.
Band members
1969-1971
1965-1969
Singles
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...
band formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench
Bobby Tench
Robert Tench , also known as Bob Tench, Bobby Tench and Bobby Gass is a British vocalist and guitarist. Originally a bass player he began singing with Gass influenced by artists such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles...
, Godfrey and Errol McLean. They were managed by The Active Management Group. The band fused inspired melodies
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms.
History
The original line up was Tench on bass guitar, percussionist Errol McLean, his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean, saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskans. Tench soon become the band's vocalist and as their music progressed the line up changed. They performed at fashionable music venues in London's SohoSoho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, such as The Flamingo Club
Flamingo Club (London)
The Flamingo Club was a nightclub that operated in Soho, London, between 1952 and the late 1960s. It was located at 33-37 Wardour Street from 1957 onwards, and played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues and jazz....
, The Scotch of St.James where Eric Burdon sang with them and it was at The Bag O'Nails
The Bag O'Nails
The Bag O'Nails was a live music venue and meeting place for musicians in the 1960s, situated at 8 Kingly Street, Soho, London. Bands and other musicians such as, Georgie Fame and Gass appeared there, often jamming with artists such as Jimi Hendrix...
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
joined the band for a jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
. Gass became involved with Catch My Soul-Rock Othello
Catch My Soul (UK stage version)
Disambiguation: for Film version see Catch My SoulCatch My Soul was the UK stage version of the rock musical produced by Jack Good. The show was a showcase for the talents of Lance LeGault, PP Arnold, P.J. Proby and an introduction to the rock musician Robert Tench and the band Gass...
produced by Jack Good
Jack Good (producer)
Jack Good is a pioneering former TV television producer, musical theatre producer, record producer, musician and painter of icons.-Career:...
during 1969.
Their album Juju
Juju (Gass album)
Juju was the first album recorded by the rock band Gass and featured guitarist Peter Green, who had just left Fleetwood Mac at this time...
(1970) featured guitarist Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
. The band was featured on Catch My Soul
Catch My Soul (UK original cast album)
Catch My Soul. A live recording of the original cast was recorded with the original UK cast of Jack Good's Catch My Soul-The Rock Othello...
(1971), which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello. Pete Masden mentions in his book Funk Guitar And Bass, that Godfrey McLean and Tench performed at regular jam sessions
Jam Sessions
Jam Sessions is a guitar simulation software title and music game for the Nintendo DS based on the Japan-only title Sing & Play DS Guitar M-06 originally developed by Plato. It was brought to North America and Europe, courtesy of Ubisoft...
with other musicians at Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
's club. These sessions led to an embryonic line up for the fusion band Gonzalez
Gonzalez (band)
Gonzalez were a British R&B and funk band. They became well known as a backing band for touring R&B, funk and soul stars. Their eponymous album was released in 1974 and they recorded a total of six albums before disbanding in 1986,...
. In May 1971 Tench joined The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group were an English rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy sounding blues and R&B was a major influence on popular music.- The first Jeff Beck Group :...
and Gass disbanded. Delisle Harper appeared with Tench on Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
's Burglar (1974) also Larger than Life (1975). Tench later moved on to play with The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group were an English rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy sounding blues and R&B was a major influence on popular music.- The first Jeff Beck Group :...
, Hummingbird
Hummingbird (band)
Hummingbird were a British rock band, formed in 1974 by Bobby Tench of The Jeff Beck Group and Streetwalkers fame. Hummingbird recorded three successful albums, released by A&M using Ian "Sammy" Samwell as their record producer...
, 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"...
, Streetwalkers
Streetwalkers
Streetwalkers were an English rock band formed in late 1973 by two former members of Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, amongst others. Godfrey McLean recorded End of the Game (1970) with Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
and appeared with Brian Auger
Brian Auger
Brian Auger is a jazz and rock keyboardist, who has specialized in playing the Hammond organ.A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon...
and The Oblivion Express.
Band members
1969-1971
- Robert TenchBobby TenchRobert Tench , also known as Bob Tench, Bobby Tench and Bobby Gass is a British vocalist and guitarist. Originally a bass player he began singing with Gass influenced by artists such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles...
-bass, guitar, organ and vocals - Godfrey McLean-drums, congas, vocals and percussion
- Delisle Harper-bass and percussion
- Derek Austin-organ, piano, flute and percussion
- Michael Piggott-violin and guitar
1965-1969
- Robert TenchBobby TenchRobert Tench , also known as Bob Tench, Bobby Tench and Bobby Gass is a British vocalist and guitarist. Originally a bass player he began singing with Gass influenced by artists such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles...
-bass, guitar, organ and vocals - Godfrey McLean-drums, congas, vocals and percussion
- Alan Roskans-lead guitar
- Frank Clark-Organ
- Humphrey Okan-Saxophone
- Errol McLean-Congas
Discography
Albums- Catch My SoulCatch My Soul (UK original cast album)Catch My Soul. A live recording of the original cast was recorded with the original UK cast of Jack Good's Catch My Soul-The Rock Othello...
Polydor 238 3035 (1971) - JujuJuju (Gass album)Juju was the first album recorded by the rock band Gass and featured guitarist Peter Green, who had just left Fleetwood Mac at this time...
also released as GassJuju (Gass album)Juju was the first album recorded by the rock band Gass and featured guitarist Peter Green, who had just left Fleetwood Mac at this time...
Polydor 238 3022 (1970) - Supergroups Vol 2Juju (Gass album)Juju was the first album recorded by the rock band Gass and featured guitarist Peter Green, who had just left Fleetwood Mac at this time...
(track 1. "Black Velvet" featuring Peter GreenPeter Green (musician)Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
). Polydor 2485 003 (1970)
Singles
- "One Of These Days"/"I Don't Know Why" Parlophone R 5344(1965)
- "The New Breed"/"In The City" Parlophone R 5456 (1966)
- "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"/"Jitterbug Sid" CBS 2647(1967)
- "Something's Got To Change Your Ways"/"Mr. Banana" Polydor 2058 147 (1971)