Riff Raff (band)
Encyclopedia
Riff Raff was a UK
progressive rock
band formed by keyboardist
Tommy Eyre
in 1972.The band was a continuation on the back of drummers (and Harrow School of Art friends) Rod Coombes (Juicy Lucy Strawbs and Stealers Wheel) and Joe Czarnecki's (Plainsmen) aka Joe Peter's project originally called 'Crikey' started in 1969 and completed in 1970 when Rod had to accept growing tour commitments with Juicy Lucy.These sessions comprise half of the Riff Raff album 'Outside Looking In' in which Rod wrote half the songs.Rod says that "the concept of the band was based around two drummers and afro-jazz (Rod and Joe were great fans of Ginger Baker and Miles Davis) and fusion(this album was one of the first true fusion albums to be recorded).I had worked with Roger with singer Paul Williams (Juicy Lucy)and Tommy previously and clearly we all enjoyed doing what we do best-playing freely".
Riff Raff later went on to release two albums to lukewarm response; however, their use of jazz
and hard-edged rock garnered them a large underground
following. Riff Raff also released the single
"Copper Kettle". Although not typical of Riff Raff's repertoire, the band were unlucky not to get some chart coverage from the single.
NOTE: This band is not to be confused with a US rock band of the same name (Doug Lubahn: vocals, bass. Ned Liben: guitar. Werner Fritzsching: guitar. Mark Kaufman: drums) who released an album entitled Vinyl Futures (Atco SD-32-108) in 1981 (notable for having a Hipgnosis sleeve design). Also note, not to be confused with the Island recording artists "Riff Raff" 1978, Chris DeMarco, Ray Hennighan, Jimmy Lowell, Ned Liben, David Lanik.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
progressive rock
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...
band formed by keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Tommy Eyre
Tommy Eyre
Tommy Eyre was a session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, B.B. King, John Mayall, Tracy Chapman and Wham!...
in 1972.The band was a continuation on the back of drummers (and Harrow School of Art friends) Rod Coombes (Juicy Lucy Strawbs and Stealers Wheel) and Joe Czarnecki's (Plainsmen) aka Joe Peter's project originally called 'Crikey' started in 1969 and completed in 1970 when Rod had to accept growing tour commitments with Juicy Lucy.These sessions comprise half of the Riff Raff album 'Outside Looking In' in which Rod wrote half the songs.Rod says that "the concept of the band was based around two drummers and afro-jazz (Rod and Joe were great fans of Ginger Baker and Miles Davis) and fusion(this album was one of the first true fusion albums to be recorded).I had worked with Roger with singer Paul Williams (Juicy Lucy)and Tommy previously and clearly we all enjoyed doing what we do best-playing freely".
Riff Raff later went on to release two albums to lukewarm response; however, their use of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and hard-edged rock garnered them a large underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
following. Riff Raff also released the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Copper Kettle". Although not typical of Riff Raff's repertoire, the band were unlucky not to get some chart coverage from the single.
NOTE: This band is not to be confused with a US rock band of the same name (Doug Lubahn: vocals, bass. Ned Liben: guitar. Werner Fritzsching: guitar. Mark Kaufman: drums) who released an album entitled Vinyl Futures (Atco SD-32-108) in 1981 (notable for having a Hipgnosis sleeve design). Also note, not to be confused with the Island recording artists "Riff Raff" 1978, Chris DeMarco, Ray Hennighan, Jimmy Lowell, Ned Liben, David Lanik.
Personnel
- Bud Beadle - saxophoneSaxophoneThe 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...
- Rod CoombesRod CoombesRod Coombes is an English singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:He has played professionally since he was 17, when he joined singer Lulu's backing band The Luvvers. He played with the Jeff Beck Group at the time of the release of the single "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and then joined soul band Trifle,...
- drums, percussion and songwriter - Joe Czarnecki aka Joe Peters - drums, percussion
- Aurero De Souza - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Tommy EyreTommy EyreTommy Eyre was a session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, B.B. King, John Mayall, Tracy Chapman and Wham!...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA 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...
, vocals - Pete Kirtley - guitarGuitarThe 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...
, vocals - Roger Sutton - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Steve GregorySteve GregorySteve Gregory is an English jazz saxophonist and composer. He plays tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophone as well as the flute.Steve Gregory was born in the UK. At St. Paul's School he learned guitar and piano and played clarinet in the school orchestra. He turned down a place at the...
- woodwindWoodwind instrumentA woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate... - Joanna Newman - vocals
- Joe O'Donnell - violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
Discography
- Riff Raff (1973)
- Original Man (1974)
- Outside Looking In (1999) (originally recorded in 1969)