Stray (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Stray are a British
band, formed in 1966. The vocalist Steve Gadd (born 27 April 1952, Shepherd's Bush
, London
), guitarist Del Bromham (born Derek Roy Bromham, 25 November 1951, Acton
, London), bass player Gary Giles (born Gary Stephen Giles, 23 February 1952, North Kensington
, London) and drummer Steve Crutchley (born c 1952) formed the band, whilst all were attending the Christopher Wren School in London. Richard "Ritchie" Cole (born 10 November 1951, Shepherd's Bush
, London) replaced Crutchley in 1968. They signed to Transatlantic Records
in January 1970.
The group's brand of melodic, hook
-laden hard rock
proved to be a popular draw on the local club scene during the early 1970s. However the band did not have commercial success with its record releases. At one stage Charlie Kray, (brother of the Kray twins
Ronnie and Reggie), was their manager. Gadd left the band in 1975 due to artistic differences and was replaced on vocals by Pete Dyer.
The original Stray finally dissolved in 1977, although Bromham later continued to play in various resurrected versions of the project well into the 2000s.
There are two Iron Maiden
connections to Stray. "All in Your Mind" from Stray's 1970 debut album
was covered by Iron Maiden, and Maiden bassist Steve Harris
's daughter Lauren
has covered "Come On Over".
From late 2006 until early 2007, the band's back catalogue of eight studio albums issued originally during the 1970s, were re-released by the UK
based Sanctuary Records
in compact disc
format. The new releases were remastered
and had bonus tracks culled from single
B-sides
, studio outtakes and BBC
broadcast sessions.
The Universal Music Group
have bought the entire back catalogue, and Stray are touring again with Bromham (guitar and vocals), Stuart Uren (bass guitar and vocals) and Karl Randall on drums. The latest album, Valhalla, produced
by Chris Tsangarides
, was released on 4 October 2010 on Angelair Records. They celebrated the release by performing a special show at The Borderline venue in London on 6 October 2010.
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...
band, formed in 1966. The vocalist Steve Gadd (born 27 April 1952, Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), guitarist Del Bromham (born Derek Roy Bromham, 25 November 1951, Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, London), bass player Gary Giles (born Gary Stephen Giles, 23 February 1952, North Kensington
North Kensington
North Kensington is an area of west London lying north of Notting Hill Gate and south of Harrow Road.North Kensington is the key neighbourhood of Notting Hill...
, London) and drummer Steve Crutchley (born c 1952) formed the band, whilst all were attending the Christopher Wren School in London. Richard "Ritchie" Cole (born 10 November 1951, Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, London) replaced Crutchley in 1968. They signed to Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
in January 1970.
The group's brand of melodic, hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
-laden hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
proved to be a popular draw on the local club scene during the early 1970s. However the band did not have commercial success with its record releases. At one stage Charlie Kray, (brother of the Kray twins
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
Ronnie and Reggie), was their manager. Gadd left the band in 1975 due to artistic differences and was replaced on vocals by Pete Dyer.
The original Stray finally dissolved in 1977, although Bromham later continued to play in various resurrected versions of the project well into the 2000s.
There are two Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
connections to Stray. "All in Your Mind" from Stray's 1970 debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was covered by Iron Maiden, and Maiden bassist Steve Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
's daughter Lauren
Lauren Harris
Lauren Harris is a British vocalist. She is the daughter of Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris. She was discovered in a pub by Russ Ballard, who was unaware of who she was.-Career:...
has covered "Come On Over".
From late 2006 until early 2007, the band's back catalogue of eight studio albums issued originally during the 1970s, were re-released by the UK
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...
based Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
in compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
format. The new releases were remastered
Audio mastering
Mastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
and had bonus tracks culled from 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...
B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, studio outtakes and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast sessions.
The Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
have bought the entire back catalogue, and Stray are touring again with Bromham (guitar and vocals), Stuart Uren (bass guitar and vocals) and Karl Randall on drums. The latest album, Valhalla, produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides is a British Grammy-nominated record producer, sound engineer, and mixer. He is best known for his work with many heavy metal bands, including Judas Priest, Anvil, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Helloween, and Yngwie Malmsteen...
, was released on 4 October 2010 on Angelair Records. They celebrated the release by performing a special show at The Borderline venue in London on 6 October 2010.
Albums
- Stray (1970)
- Suicide (1971)
- Saturday Morning Pictures (1972)
- Mudanzas (1973)
- Move It (1974)
- Stray Tracks (compilation with previously unreleased outtakes) (1975)
- Stand Up and Be Counted (1975)
- Houdini (1976)
- Hearts of Fire (1976)
- Reflecting A Generation (compilation) (1977)
- Live at the Marquee (live) (1984)
- New Dawn (1997)
- Alive and Giggin (live) (1997)
- 10 (2001)
- Live: In Yer face! (live) (2002)
- Time Machine - Anthology 1970 - 1977 (double CD collection)
- Valhalla (2010) Angel Air Records