Tiger Lily (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Tiger Lily was a short-lived glam rock
band and the seed of Ultravox! (later changed to Ultravox
). It was founded in London
in 1973 by Royal College of Art
student Dennis Leigh (vocals), who escaped from his northern industrial environment in Lancashire
, Chris St. John (bass) (born Christopher Allen), another college student who previously played with Stoned Rose, and Stevie Shears
(guitar), a Dagenham
based musician. In 1974 British-Canadian drummer Warren Cann
(drums), who recently was rejected as a band member by Sparks
, and later William Currie (violin, keyboards), named Billy Curry
, who was in a theatre band.
In 1974, still as a four-piece band, without Curry, Tiger Lily made their first gig in Chorley
, Lancashire, hometown of Leigh. The band wore like New York Dolls, who influenced them. However, their true first show was in the Marquee Club
, London
, supporting Heavy Metal Kids
. Later, Billy Currie joined originally as violinist.
The band had a glam style influenced by Rolling Stones, Beatles late era, and the current glam artists (like David Bowie
, Roxy Music
, New York Dolls
and Steve Harley
). Gull Records released on 14 March 1975 their only 7" single named Ain't Misbehavin', which was a cover of the Fats Waller
's song, while the B-side was Monkey Jive. After a number of live concerts, the band changed names many times: The Damned, The Zips, Fire Of London, etc. until 1976, when they decided on Ultravox!. During the pre-Ultravox era (including Tiger Lily years), they composed many songs later to appear on their first album in 1977, Ultravox!. By that time Leigh adopted the stage name John Foxx, and Chris St. John became Chris Cross.
Their song version "Ain't Misbehavin'" was released on CD in 2000, in a compilation of glam rock and pre-punk bands called "Glitterbest - 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers". The another song of the 1975 single, "Monkey Jive", was never released on CD.
It was suggested their two songs released in the single were part of the soundtrack of a porn movie at the time.
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band and the seed of Ultravox! (later changed to Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
). It was founded in 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...
in 1973 by Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
student Dennis Leigh (vocals), who escaped from his northern industrial environment in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Chris St. John (bass) (born Christopher Allen), another college student who previously played with Stoned Rose, and Stevie Shears
Stevie Shears
Stevie Shears is a musician known for playing in english rock bands Tiger Lily and Ultravox! , alongside electronic musician John Foxx.-Tiger Lily and Ultravox!:...
(guitar), a Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
based musician. In 1974 British-Canadian drummer Warren Cann
Warren Cann
Warren Reginald Cann is a drummer and drum machine programmer, best known as a member of the British New Wave band Ultravox.-Early life:...
(drums), who recently was rejected as a band member by Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
, and later William Currie (violin, keyboards), named Billy Curry
Billy Currie
Billy Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
, who was in a theatre band.
In 1974, still as a four-piece band, without Curry, Tiger Lily made their first gig in Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
, Lancashire, hometown of Leigh. The band wore like New York Dolls, who influenced them. However, their true first show was in the Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
, 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...
, supporting Heavy Metal Kids
Heavy Metal Kids
The Heavy Metal Kids are a British hard rock band, formed in 1972 in London. The band's former frontman Gary Holton and their core founding member Dave Dee are both deceased.-Early years:...
. Later, Billy Currie joined originally as violinist.
The band had a glam style influenced by Rolling Stones, Beatles late era, and the current glam artists (like David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
and Steve Harley
Steve Harley
Steve Harley is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with the 1970s rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still occasionally tours .-Biography:As a child, Harley suffered from polio, spending four years in hospital up to the...
). Gull Records released on 14 March 1975 their only 7" single named Ain't Misbehavin', which was a cover of the Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
's song, while the B-side was Monkey Jive. After a number of live concerts, the band changed names many times: The Damned, The Zips, Fire Of London, etc. until 1976, when they decided on Ultravox!. During the pre-Ultravox era (including Tiger Lily years), they composed many songs later to appear on their first album in 1977, Ultravox!. By that time Leigh adopted the stage name John Foxx, and Chris St. John became Chris Cross.
Their song version "Ain't Misbehavin'" was released on CD in 2000, in a compilation of glam rock and pre-punk bands called "Glitterbest - 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers". The another song of the 1975 single, "Monkey Jive", was never released on CD.
It was suggested their two songs released in the single were part of the soundtrack of a porn movie at the time.
External links
- Ultravox official fan page
- The Warren Cann Forum
- MySpace: Tiger Lily Unnoficial Tiger Lily site
- Interview to Warren Cann by Jonas Wårstad