Lucifer (rock band)
Encyclopedia
Lucifer was a British solo rock project active in the early 1970s, the alias of Denys Irving. Howard Marks
clearly states in his 1997 autobiography that Lucifer was the solo work of Denys Irving, with financial assistance from Marks.
This admission by Marks went unnoticed for years, so the identity of Lucifer was often falsely attributed to Peter Walker of The Purple Gang
, due to the fact Walker started calling himself Lucifer in the late sixties.
There are also references to Lucifer and Denys (spelt Dennis) Irving in the biography 'Howard Marks, His Life and High Times' by David Leigh
. The records were only available via mail order through adverts in papers such as 'OZ magazine', 'Record Mirror
' , 'New Musical Express' & 'International Times
' (it or IT, issue numbers 126/127 & 128).
(1954–1961), where he won the Fawkes Memorial Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
(1962) where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He was married to the actress Merdelle Jordine ('Crossroads
', 'Death May Be Your Santa Claus', 'Riddles of the Sphinx', 'The Sweeney
') with whom he had a child. On 5 August 1976 Denys Irving was killed in a hang gliding accident at Mill Hill
, Sussex
. Denys was also a pioneer in early computer animation
and some of his work has recently been shown at the Tate Gallery
(see: http://www.lux.org.uk for further information).
' included a cover version of Lucifer's 'Hypnosis' on their double CD 'Forgive Thee' (ITR 054). In 2000, John Miller released a cover version of Lucifer’s ‘Winter’ on his ‘Preference’ album (Polenta LEN18, available from www.cdvine.co.uk). Since the re-release of ‘Big Gun’ by Dynamic, every mention of Lucifer seems to include the reference to it being the work of the “acid-ravaged mind of Peter 'Lucifer' Walker ex-The Purple Gang (band)
”. This unfounded attribution appears to come from the Rock Encyclopedia books by Vernon Joynson, but he gives no sources for his information. The Denys Irving attribution comes from Howard Marks
and Mike Ratledge
who both knew Denys at Oxford University.
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
clearly states in his 1997 autobiography that Lucifer was the solo work of Denys Irving, with financial assistance from Marks.
This admission by Marks went unnoticed for years, so the identity of Lucifer was often falsely attributed to Peter Walker of The Purple Gang
The Purple Gang (band)
The Purple Gang are a British rock band active intermittently since the 1960s.-History:Although they were associated with the London psychedelic scene, they originated in Stockport, then in Cheshire, as a jugband. The band adopted the name, The Purple Gang, when they changed their image to the...
, due to the fact Walker started calling himself Lucifer in the late sixties.
There are also references to Lucifer and Denys (spelt Dennis) Irving in the biography 'Howard Marks, His Life and High Times' by David Leigh
David Leigh
David Leigh is a British journalist and author, currently investigations executive editor of The Guardian.-Early life:Leigh was born in 1946 and educated at Nottingham High School and King's College, Cambridge, receiving a research degree from Cambridge in 1968.-Career:Leigh has been a prominent...
. The records were only available via mail order through adverts in papers such as 'OZ magazine', 'Record Mirror
Record Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
' , 'New Musical Express' & 'International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
' (it or IT, issue numbers 126/127 & 128).
Biography
Denys George Irving was born on 4th January 1944 and attended Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
(1954–1961), where he won the Fawkes Memorial Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
(1962) where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He was married to the actress Merdelle Jordine ('Crossroads
Crossroads
Crossroads, or crossroad, or cross road may refer to:* Intersection , a road junction where two or more roads meet-Music:* "Cross Road Blues", a blues song by Robert Johnson, later recorded as "Crossroads" by many other musicians...
', 'Death May Be Your Santa Claus', 'Riddles of the Sphinx', 'The Sweeney
The Sweeney
The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
') with whom he had a child. On 5 August 1976 Denys Irving was killed in a hang gliding accident at Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Denys was also a pioneer in early computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
and some of his work has recently been shown at the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
(see: http://www.lux.org.uk for further information).
Legacy
In 1997 'Cheater SlicksCheater Slicks
Cheater Slicks is a three-man garage punk band formed in Boston in 1987. The members are Tom Shannon , Dave Shannon , and Dana Hatch . They toured with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1995. The band relocated to Columbus, OH, in 1996 and is still active. They played their 20th anniversary show on...
' included a cover version of Lucifer's 'Hypnosis' on their double CD 'Forgive Thee' (ITR 054). In 2000, John Miller released a cover version of Lucifer’s ‘Winter’ on his ‘Preference’ album (Polenta LEN18, available from www.cdvine.co.uk). Since the re-release of ‘Big Gun’ by Dynamic, every mention of Lucifer seems to include the reference to it being the work of the “acid-ravaged mind of Peter 'Lucifer' Walker ex-The Purple Gang (band)
The Purple Gang (band)
The Purple Gang are a British rock band active intermittently since the 1960s.-History:Although they were associated with the London psychedelic scene, they originated in Stockport, then in Cheshire, as a jugband. The band adopted the name, The Purple Gang, when they changed their image to the...
”. This unfounded attribution appears to come from the Rock Encyclopedia books by Vernon Joynson, but he gives no sources for his information. The Denys Irving attribution comes from Howard Marks
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
and Mike Ratledge
Mike Ratledge
Michael Roland "Mike" Ratledge is a British musician. Ratledge was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.-Biography and career:...
who both knew Denys at Oxford University.
Albums
- 1972 'Big Gun' (LLP1)
- 1972 'Exit' (LLP2) (Rock-electronics by Lucifer with sound-effects & dialogue from the soundtrack of the motor-cycle shock film 'Exit', which was destroyed by fire)
- 2006 'Big Gun' reissue on vinyl (DYNA030LP) and CD (DYNA030CD) Dynamic (Italy) a bootleg version.
Singles
- Don't care/Hypnosis (L001/L002)
- Fuck You/Bad (L003/L004) An advert in NME on July 29 1972 claimed all copies of this single were seized by Scotland YardScotland YardScotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
- Pr**k/Want It (L005/L006)
- Mr Jack/Mr Jack (L007)
Compilations
- 2006, 'Don't Care' appears on the unofficial CD 'Clinic - Mix 2006'
- 2011, 'Fuck You' appears on the unofficial LP 'Do What Thou Wilt "The Satanic Rites Of British Rock 1970 - 1974"' (Limited Edition of 200).