Grimms
Encyclopedia
GRIMMS was an English pop rock
, skit and poetry
group, originally formed as a merger of The Scaffold
, the Bonzo Dog Band, and the Liverpool Scene
for two concerts in 1971 at the suggestion of John Gorman. The band name was an acronym formed by the initial letters of each member's surname:
played drums. However, when the band was properly organized in 1972, it quickly added other personnel, including:
These eleven members formed the "real" initial version of Grimms, despite the acronym which only included six of them. Others appearing on the band's albums included:
All members were paid the same wage and those not performing any given segment would sit with the audience.
Roberts never quit the band but was touring with Plainsong in 1972 and missed the performances during which the first album was recorded, although he soon returned and remained in the band until its 1976 break-up. Stanshall, however, left the band before the first album was recorded, although he would occasionally turn up at concerts, and Grimms remained at 10 members (more or less) through the end of 1973. Henri, Giles and Money left after the album, to be replaced by Halsall, Richards and Conway.
Grimms' second album, Rockin' Duck
, received generally favorable press, but shortly after its release, the tensions among the band's leaders reached a breaking point and prevented the group from capitalizing on the good reviews. During the tour behind the album in late 1973, Patten punched McGear on the band's bus in Manchester, which led to McGear leaving the group. In 1974, Grimms suspended operations, as The Scaffold, at McGear's instigation, reunited for a major tour behind its hit single "Liverpool Lou", with most of the backing musicians accompanying them. Patten left Grimms as a result. When The Scaffold tour ended in 1975, Halsall and Conway also left Grimms, to be replaced by Donnell for the third album, which left the final version of Grimms with only seven members (Gorman, Roberts, Innes, McGough, Megginson, Richards and Donnell).
US release
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, skit and poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
group, originally formed as a merger of The Scaffold
The Scaffold
The Scaffold were a comedy, poetry and music trio from Liverpool, England, consisting of Mike McGear , Roger McGough and John Gorman.-Career:...
, the Bonzo Dog Band, and the Liverpool Scene
Liverpool poets
The Liverpool Poets are a number of influential 1960s poets from Liverpool, England, influenced by 1950s Beat poetry. They were involved in the 1960s Liverpool scene that gave rise to The Beatles, during a time when the city was termed by US beat poet Allen Ginsberg "the centre of the consciousness...
for two concerts in 1971 at the suggestion of John Gorman. The band name was an acronym formed by the initial letters of each member's surname:
- Gorman, John (The Scaffold) - vocals,
- Roberts, AndyAndy Roberts (musician)Andrew "Andy" Roberts is an English musician.He gained a violin scholarship to Felsted School. He then attended Liverpool University. He has played with The Liverpool Scene, Plainsong, The Scaffold, Roy Harper, Chris Spedding, Pink Floyd, Hank Wangford, Kevin Ayers, Vivian Stanshall and Grimms...
(Liverpool Scene) - vocals, guitar, - Innes, NeilNeil InnesNeil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
(Bonzo Dog Band) - vocals, guitar, keyboards, - McGear, MikeMike McCartneyMike McCartney , known professionally as Mike McGear, is a British performing artist and rock photographer and the younger brother of Paul McCartney...
(The Scaffold) - vocals, percussion, - McGough, RogerRoger McGoughRoger Joseph McGough CBE is a well-known English performance poet. He presents the BBC Radio 4 programme Poetry Please and records voice-overs for commercials, as well as performing his own poetry regularly...
(The Scaffold and Liverpool Scene) - vocals, words, - Stanshall, VivianVivian StanshallVivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...
(Bonzo Dog Band) - vocals, percussion.
History
Neil Innes said about the formation of the group, "I don't know what attracted the Scaffold to the Bonzos; we were incredibly anarchic, which was probably something shared by the Scaffold as well. Hence Grimms, this leap in the dark." At the second performance, Keith MoonKeith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
played drums. However, when the band was properly organized in 1972, it quickly added other personnel, including:
- Adrian HenriAdrian HenriAdrian Henri was a British poet and painter best remembered as the founder of poetry-rock group The Liverpool Scene and as one of three poets in the best-selling anthology The Mersey Sound, along with Brian Patten and Roger McGough. The trio of Liverpool poets came to prominence in that city's...
(Liverpool Scene) - words; - Brian PattenBrian Patten-Background:Born near Liverpool's docks, he attended Sefton Park School in the Smithdown Road area of Liverpool, where he was noted for his essays and greatly encouraged in his work by Harry Sutcliffe his form teacher. He left school at fifteen and began work for The Bootle Times writing a column...
(Liverpool Scene) - words; - George "Zoot" MoneyZoot MoneyGeorge Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
(The AnimalsThe AnimalsThe Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
) - keyboards; - Michael GilesMichael GilesMichael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
(King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
) - drums; - John Megginson - bass, keyboards.
These eleven members formed the "real" initial version of Grimms, despite the acronym which only included six of them. Others appearing on the band's albums included:
- David Richards - bass
- Peter "Ollie" HalsallOllie HalsallPeter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
- guitar - Gerry ConwayGerry Conway (musician)Gerald Conway is an English folk and rock drummer/percussionist, best known for having performed with the backing band for Cat Stevens in the 1970s, Jethro Tull during the 1980s, and currently a member of Fairport Convention as well as his side projects...
- drums and - Timmy Donnell - drums
All members were paid the same wage and those not performing any given segment would sit with the audience.
Roberts never quit the band but was touring with Plainsong in 1972 and missed the performances during which the first album was recorded, although he soon returned and remained in the band until its 1976 break-up. Stanshall, however, left the band before the first album was recorded, although he would occasionally turn up at concerts, and Grimms remained at 10 members (more or less) through the end of 1973. Henri, Giles and Money left after the album, to be replaced by Halsall, Richards and Conway.
Grimms' second album, Rockin' Duck
Rockin' Duck
Grimms' Rockin' Duck combines pop music and poetry, recorded at Island Studios, London, England.- Track listing :Side One# Rockin' Duck # Songs of the Stars # The Right Mask # Policeman's Lot...
, received generally favorable press, but shortly after its release, the tensions among the band's leaders reached a breaking point and prevented the group from capitalizing on the good reviews. During the tour behind the album in late 1973, Patten punched McGear on the band's bus in Manchester, which led to McGear leaving the group. In 1974, Grimms suspended operations, as The Scaffold, at McGear's instigation, reunited for a major tour behind its hit single "Liverpool Lou", with most of the backing musicians accompanying them. Patten left Grimms as a result. When The Scaffold tour ended in 1975, Halsall and Conway also left Grimms, to be replaced by Donnell for the third album, which left the final version of Grimms with only seven members (Gorman, Roberts, Innes, McGough, Megginson, Richards and Donnell).
Singles
UK releases- "Backbreaker" / "The Masked Poet" (DJM DJS 393) July 1975
- "The Womble Bashers Of Walthamstow" / "The Worst Is Yet To Come" / "Wiggle Waggle" (DJM DJS 679) June 1976
- "The Womble Bashers" / "Womble Bashers Wock" (Virgin VS 154) June 1976 by The Bashers
Albums
UK releases- GrimmsGrimms (album)Grimms combines pop music and poetry, recorded at St. George's Hall, Liverpool, and the Central Polytechnic, London, England.-Side One:1. "Interruption at the Opera House " "Small Bird Theme"...
(Island HELP 11) [LP] February 1973 - Rockin' DuckRockin' DuckGrimms' Rockin' Duck combines pop music and poetry, recorded at Island Studios, London, England.- Track listing :Side One# Rockin' Duck # Songs of the Stars # The Right Mask # Policeman's Lot...
(Island ILPS 9248) [LP] October 1973 - Sleepers (DJM DJLPS 470) [LP] May 1976
- Grimms / Rockin' Duck (Edsel EDCD 370) [CD] 1993 [Reissue of both 1973 albums on one disc, with two tracks from the first album omitted]
- Sleepers (Hux HUX 079) [CD] July 2006 [Reissue of the 1976 album, with eleven additional tracks]
US release
- Rockin' DuckRockin' DuckGrimms' Rockin' Duck combines pop music and poetry, recorded at Island Studios, London, England.- Track listing :Side One# Rockin' Duck # Songs of the Stars # The Right Mask # Policeman's Lot...
(Antilles AN 7012) [LP] March 1976
Discography notes
- On the Island label releases, Grimms included Mike McGear.
- On the DJM label releases, Grimms did not include Mike McGear.
- The single, "The Womble Bashers" / "Womble Bashers Wock," is by The Bashers, including members of Grimms and Mike McGear.
- See also The Scaffold Discography.
- See also Mike McGear Discography.