Spooky Tooth
Encyclopedia
Spooky Tooth are an English rock band
principally active, with intermittent breakups, between 1967 to 1974. In recent years, the band has been reconstituted at various points, and continues to perform occasionally.
approach (both an organ
and a piano
player).
They formed in October 1967, out of a combination of The Ramrods (1960 - late 1963), The V.I.P.'s
(late 1963 - April 1967) and Art (April — October 1967). The line-up changed several times, but typically was -
It was the latter's addition (after one album - see Discography) that signalled the name change from Art to Spooky Tooth. Gary Wright was introduced to the members of Art by Chris Blackwell
, founder of Island Records
.
1969's Spooky Two
LP
is generally considered to be the best effort by the group and was the last album release by the original lineup. It included the song
"Better By You, Better Than Me
", which was covered by Judas Priest
on their 1978 release Stained Class. The track later gained some attention in the media as subject of a court trial in 1990. It was claimed that the subliminal messages in the song's recording by Judas Priest caused two youngsters to commit mutual suicide. The court finally judged in favor of the accused.
Ridley joined Humble Pie
in 1969 and was replaced by Andy Leigh (in time for 1970's album Ceremony) who went on to Matthews Southern Comfort with ex-Fairport Convention
vocalist Ian Matthews
. The experimental nature of Ceremony received mixed reviews and following its release Wright also bowed out. The core of Harrison, Grosvenor and Kellie struggled on for one more album, aptly titled The Last Puff, completed with friends from Joe Cocker
's Grease Band.
They broke up in the autumn of 1970, however after solo efforts Harrison and Wright reformed Spooky Tooth in September 1972 with a different (and frequently changing) line-up. The best known member of these line-ups (from March 1973 to September 1974) was Mick Jones
(guitar / vocals), later in Foreigner
and, from February — May 1974, Mike Patto
(vocals) replaced Harrison for the 1974 release The Mirror. The group then split again in November 1974.
. He later founded the band Widowmaker
, which was active in the 1970s. In 2005, he founded The Ariel Bender Band, with which he continues to perform on occasion.
Kellie later joined The Only Ones
, a respected rock and punk band that came to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s and, having reformed in 2007, continues to perform with substantially all original members.
Ridley, who died in 2003, came to international prominence, particularly in the 1970s, as a member of Humble Pie
.
Wright developed an international solo career, commencing in the 1970s, and had an enduring hit with the radio-friendly "Dream Weaver
".
Harrison, Grosvenor, Ridley and Kellie reunited at points in 1997 and 1998, which resulted in an album, Cross Purpose , released in 1999.
Harrison played and recorded with The Hamburg Blues Band, releasing an album, Touch , in 2002.
Mike Harrison, Wright and Kellie reunited in 2004 for two concerts in Germany, resulting in a DVD release, Nomad Poets (2007).
In 2006, Harrison released his first solo album in over thirty years, Late Starter
. In 2009, the latest incarnation of the band, featuring Harrison and Wright along with Steve Farris (gtr), Shem von Shroeck (bs) and Tom Brechtlein (dr), played a well-received series of German dates.
as Spooky Tooth
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
principally active, with intermittent breakups, between 1967 to 1974. In recent years, the band has been reconstituted at various points, and continues to perform occasionally.
Career
Crucial to their sound was their instrumentation; they were one of the relatively few rock acts of the time to adopt the twin keyboardKeyboard instrument
A 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...
approach (both an organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
player).
They formed in October 1967, out of a combination of The Ramrods (1960 - late 1963), The V.I.P.'s
The V.I.P.'s
The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, in late 1963, out of an earlier outfit known as The Ramrods, who had formed in Carlisle in 1960...
(late 1963 - April 1967) and Art (April — October 1967). The line-up changed several times, but typically was -
- Mike HarrisonMike Harrison (musician)Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others...
(born Michael Harrison, 3 September 1942, Carlisle, Cumberland) (keyboards/vocals) - Greg RidleyGreg RidleyAlfred Gregory 'Greg' Ridley was one of the more visible rock bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie...
(born Alfred Gregory Ridley, 23 October 1942, AspatriaAspatriaAspatria is a small town and civil parish in Cumbria, England, and lies half way between Maryport and Wigton, on the A596. Historically within Cumberland, it is about away from the coast. It is approximately seven miles from the northern boundary of the Lake District, and located to the south east...
, Cumberland — died 19 November 2003, in AlicanteAlicanteAlicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Spain) (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/vocals) - Luther (Luke) Grosvenor (born Luther James Grosvenor, 23 December 1946, EveshamEveshamEvesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, WorcestershireWorcestershireWorcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
) (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) - Mike KellieMike KellieMike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood....
, (born Michael Alexander Kellie, 24 March 1947, BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, WarwickshireWarwickshireWarwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
) (drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s) - Gary WrightGary WrightGary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:...
, (born Gary Malcolm Wright, 26 April 1943, Cresskill, New JerseyCresskill, New JerseyCresskill is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,573. The town got its name from the watercress that grew in its streams, or "kills"....
, U.S.) (organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
/vocals)
It was the latter's addition (after one album - see Discography) that signalled the name change from Art to Spooky Tooth. Gary Wright was introduced to the members of Art by Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
, founder of 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...
.
1969's Spooky Two
Spooky Two
Spooky Two is the second album released by Spooky Tooth. It was released on Island Records in 1969 . According to one reviewer, "Spooky Two is this British blues-rock band's pièce de résistance. All eight of the tracks compound free-styled rock and loose-fitting guitar playing, resulting in some...
LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
is generally considered to be the best effort by the group and was the last album release by the original lineup. It included the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Better By You, Better Than Me
Better By You, Better Than Me
"Better By You, Better Than Me" is a 1969 song by the band Spooky Tooth which was covered in 1978 by Judas Priest.The song was the subject of the much-publicized 1990 "subliminal message trial" in which Judas Priest was involved in a civil action that alleged they were responsible for the suicide...
", which was covered by Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
on their 1978 release Stained Class. The track later gained some attention in the media as subject of a court trial in 1990. It was claimed that the subliminal messages in the song's recording by Judas Priest caused two youngsters to commit mutual suicide. The court finally judged in favor of the accused.
Ridley joined 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"...
in 1969 and was replaced by Andy Leigh (in time for 1970's album Ceremony) who went on to Matthews Southern Comfort with ex-Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
vocalist Ian Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
. The experimental nature of Ceremony received mixed reviews and following its release Wright also bowed out. The core of Harrison, Grosvenor and Kellie struggled on for one more album, aptly titled The Last Puff, completed with friends from Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's Grease Band.
They broke up in the autumn of 1970, however after solo efforts Harrison and Wright reformed Spooky Tooth in September 1972 with a different (and frequently changing) line-up. The best known member of these line-ups (from March 1973 to September 1974) was Mick Jones
Mick Jones (Foreigner)
Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:...
(guitar / vocals), later in Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
and, from February — May 1974, Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
(vocals) replaced Harrison for the 1974 release The Mirror. The group then split again in November 1974.
Post-Spooky
Grosvenor later played with Steelers Wheel and, adopting the stage name Ariel Bender, with Mott the HoopleMott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
. He later founded the band Widowmaker
Widowmaker (band)
Widowmaker were a British hard rock group, who were active from 1975 to 1977. They were considered by many to be a supergroup and released two albums. Although their influences appeared to offer vast creative possibilities, musical and personality differences lead to their break-up...
, which was active in the 1970s. In 2005, he founded The Ariel Bender Band, with which he continues to perform on occasion.
Kellie later joined The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The Only Ones are an English rock band. They were initially active in the late 1970s and were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia...
, a respected rock and punk band that came to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s and, having reformed in 2007, continues to perform with substantially all original members.
Ridley, who died in 2003, came to international prominence, particularly in the 1970s, as a member of 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"...
.
Wright developed an international solo career, commencing in the 1970s, and had an enduring hit with the radio-friendly "Dream Weaver
Dream Weaver (song)
"Dream Weaver" is a song by Gary Wright that was a hit single in the US, reaching #2 in the Billboard charts while it reached #1 in the Cash Box charts in 1976. Taken from the album The Dream Weaver released the previous year, it features Wright on vocals and keyboards, and Jim Keltner on drums...
".
Harrison, Grosvenor, Ridley and Kellie reunited at points in 1997 and 1998, which resulted in an album, Cross Purpose , released in 1999.
Harrison played and recorded with The Hamburg Blues Band, releasing an album, Touch , in 2002.
Mike Harrison, Wright and Kellie reunited in 2004 for two concerts in Germany, resulting in a DVD release, Nomad Poets (2007).
In 2006, Harrison released his first solo album in over thirty years, Late Starter
Late Starter (album)
Late Starter is the fourth solo album by Mike Harrison, best known as a principal lead vocalist of Spooky Tooth. Released in 2006, it is Harrison's first solo album in over thirty years, following the release of Rainbow Rider in 1975...
. In 2009, the latest incarnation of the band, featuring Harrison and Wright along with Steve Farris (gtr), Shem von Shroeck (bs) and Tom Brechtlein (dr), played a well-received series of German dates.
Band members
| 1967 - 1969 |
|
|---|---|
| 1969 - 1970 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals Mike Kellie Mike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood.... - drums |
| 1970 - 1971 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Chris Stainton Christopher "Chris" Stainton is an English session musician, keyboard player and songwriter, who first gained recognition with Joe Cocker in the late 1960s... - organ Henry 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... - guitar Mike Kellie Mike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood.... - drums |
| 1972 - 1973 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals Mick Jones (Foreigner) Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:... - guitar, vocals Bryson Graham Bryson Graham was a rock drummer, most notable as a member of Spooky Tooth, Girl and as a session musician.- History :Bryson Graham commenced his professional recording career, at the age of seventeen as a member of Mainhorse Airplane, with David Kubinec . He was later with Mainhorse with... - drums |
| 1973 - 1974 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals Mick Jones (Foreigner) Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:... - guitar, vocals Chris Stewart Chris Stewart or Christopher Stewart may refer to:*Chris Stewart , former member of British band Genesis*Chris Stewart , U.S major league baseball player... - bass, vocals Mike Kellie Mike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood.... - drums |
| 1974 |
Mike Patto Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals Mick Jones (Foreigner) Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:... - guitar, vocals Bryson Graham Bryson Graham was a rock drummer, most notable as a member of Spooky Tooth, Girl and as a session musician.- History :Bryson Graham commenced his professional recording career, at the age of seventeen as a member of Mainhorse Airplane, with David Kubinec . He was later with Mainhorse with... - drums |
| 1998 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Greg Ridley Alfred Gregory 'Greg' Ridley was one of the more visible rock bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie... - bass, vocals Mike Kellie Mike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood.... - drums |
| 2004 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals Mike Kellie Mike Kellie is an English drummer. Most notably, he has played in Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones. Kellie has also played with Peter Frampton and in various bands with Chris Wood.... - drums |
| 2009 |
Mike Harrison (musician) Mike Harrison is an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth and as a solo artist. He has also been the lead singer in the The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others... - keyboards, vocals Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:... - organ, vocals |
Discography
as Art (Mike Harrison (voc), Greg Ridley (b), Luther Grosvenor (guitar), Mike Kellie (drums))- 1967 - Supernatural Fairy TalesSupernatural Fairy TalesSupernatural Fairy Tales is the only LP by Art, a re-named band formerly known as The V.I.P.'s. The album contains mostly band compositions plus a cover of The Young Rascals' "Come on Up" and Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth"....
as Spooky Tooth
- 1968 - It's All AboutIt's All AboutIt's All About is the 1968 debut album of British band Spooky Tooth. The album was originally released in England by Island Records.The American version of the album, entitled Spooky Tooth, was originally released on Bell in 1968...
- 1969 - Spooky TwoSpooky TwoSpooky Two is the second album released by Spooky Tooth. It was released on Island Records in 1969 . According to one reviewer, "Spooky Two is this British blues-rock band's pièce de résistance. All eight of the tracks compound free-styled rock and loose-fitting guitar playing, resulting in some...
- 1969 - CeremonyCeremony (Spooky Tooth album)Ceremony was a 1970 album by progressive UK rock band Spooky Tooth in collaboration with French electronic and "found-object" composer Pierre Henry...
(with Pierre HenryPierre HenryPierre Henry is a French composer, considered a pioneer of the musique concrète genre of electronic music.-Biography:...
) - 1970 - The Last PuffThe Last PuffThe Last Puff is a rock album by the British Band Spooky Tooth. For the first and only time in its history, the band was billed as "Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison"...
(credited as Spooky Tooth Featuring Mike Harrison) - 1971 - Tobacco Road
- 1973 - You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your JawYou Broke My Heart So I Busted Your JawYou Broke My Heart, So I Busted Your Jaw is an album by Spooky Tooth, released in 1973 on Island Records. It was the first album to be released after the band reformed, following its 1970 breakup. Founding guitarist Luther Grosvenor did not rejoin the band, as he had joined Mott The Hoople as a...
- 1973 - WitnessWitness (Spooky Tooth album)Witness is an album released by Spooky Tooth in 1973. For this album, original drummer Mike Kellie returned and substantially replaced Bryson Graham. Gary Wright became the dominant songwriting influence at this stage of the band's history...
- 1974 - The MirrorThe Mirror (Spooky Tooth album)The Mirror is a rock album by the British band Spooky Tooth. It was the first Spooky Tooth album to be released without contributions from Mike Harrison. It also was their last album for nearly twenty five years, to be followed by Cross Purpose in 1999. The album was released in October, 1974, one...
- 1999 - Cross Purpose
Compilations & Live
- 1999 - The Best of Spooky Tooth: That Was Only Yesterday
- 2000 - Comic Violence
- 2001 - BBC Sessions
- 2007 - Nomad Poets (DVD)
- 2009 - Lost In My Dream - An Anthology 1968-1974