Warhorse (70s band)
Encyclopedia
Warhorse were a British
band
formed by the former Deep Purple
bassist
, Nick Simper
.
's backing band. Not long after, Simper replaced her backing band with Ged Peck
on guitar and Mac Poole on drums. When Hunt became pregnant, the band stopped touring, and Simper and Peck re-organized the group as Warhorse. Holt became the band's singer, and they recruited keyboardist Rick Wakeman
. When their first demo
was recorded in April 1970, Wakeman was replaced by Frank Wilson.
Warhorse signed to Vertigo
, and released their debut album
, Warhorse
in November 1970. Warhorse was managed by Ron Hire, originally part of HEC Enterprises, the original investors in Deep Purple.
The band began to tour, but made little progress, and the album failed to chart
. A single, "St. Louis", was also released, which also failed to chart. By 1971, after arguments about style, Peck left and moved to classical
guitar playing. He was replaced by Pete Parks.
In June 1972, their next album Red Sea was released, but soon after its release, Warhorse were dropped from the label
. Around the same time, Poole decided to leave Warhorse, for Gong
. The band carried on, and replaced Poole with Barney James
. Wakeman used both Holt and James for his solo album, Journey to the Centre of the Earth
. Warhorse's last concert
in 1974 was at Polhill College, Bedford
.
Warhorse musicians (Holt, Parks, Simper, Wilson, and Poole) have since played together on occasions, including 1985 and 2005; latterly for drummer Mac Poole's 60th birthday.
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
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed by the former Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Nick Simper
Nick Simper
Nicholas John Simper is a bass guitarist, best known as a founding member of Deep Purple.-Biography:...
.
Career
Simper left Deep Purple in 1969, and joined Marsha HuntMarsha Hunt (singer and novelist)
Marsha Hunt is an American singer, novelist, actress and model.-Early life:Hunt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946 and lived in North Philadelphia near 23rd and Columbia then in Germantown and Mount Airy for the first 13 years of her life...
's backing band. Not long after, Simper replaced her backing band with Ged Peck
Ged Peck
Ged Peck is a musician who played in several bands - mainly backing work with Billy Fury, Vince Eager, Tommy Quickly when he was managed by Brian Epstein, Americans Bob & Earl who had a hit single with Harlem Shuffle, The Flower Pot Men, the Pirates, singers Marsha Hunt, Billie Davis, Screaming...
on guitar and Mac Poole on drums. When Hunt became pregnant, the band stopped touring, and Simper and Peck re-organized the group as Warhorse. Holt became the band's singer, and they recruited keyboardist Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
. When their first demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
was recorded in April 1970, Wakeman was replaced by Frank Wilson.
Warhorse signed to Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
, and released their 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...
, Warhorse
Warhorse (album)
Warhorse is the debut album by English hard rock band Warhorse. The album was re-released on vinyl in 1984 under the name Vulture Blood.- Track listing :*All Songs Written By Warhorse, except where noted.# "Vulture Blood" - 6:13...
in November 1970. Warhorse was managed by Ron Hire, originally part of HEC Enterprises, the original investors in Deep Purple.
The band began to tour, but made little progress, and the album failed to chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. A single, "St. Louis", was also released, which also failed to chart. By 1971, after arguments about style, Peck left and moved to classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
guitar playing. He was replaced by Pete Parks.
In June 1972, their next album Red Sea was released, but soon after its release, Warhorse were dropped from the label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Around the same time, Poole decided to leave Warhorse, for Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
. The band carried on, and replaced Poole with Barney James
Barney James
Barney James is an English drummer, actor and writer. He is known for being the drummer with Warhorse and Rick Wakeman. His acting credits include the Derek Jarman films, Sebastiane and Jubilee....
. Wakeman used both Holt and James for his solo album, Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the second album from the English keyboardist and composer Rick Wakeman, released through A&M Records in May 1974. The album is a live recording from his second of two sold-out concerts on 18 January 1974 at the Royal Festival Hall in London...
. Warhorse's last concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in 1974 was at Polhill College, Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
.
Warhorse musicians (Holt, Parks, Simper, Wilson, and Poole) have since played together on occasions, including 1985 and 2005; latterly for drummer Mac Poole's 60th birthday.
Member history
| Marsha Hunt Band (1969–1970) |
|
|---|---|
| Warhorse (1970) |
Rick Wakeman Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes... - keyboards |
| Warhorse (1970–1971) |
|
| Warhorse (1971–1972) |
|
| Warhorse (1972–1974) |
Barney James Barney James is an English drummer, actor and writer. He is known for being the drummer with Warhorse and Rick Wakeman. His acting credits include the Derek Jarman films, Sebastiane and Jubilee.... - drums |
External links
- [ Allmusic.com Overview for Warhorse]
- Nick Simper's myspace page