Spooky Tooth were an English

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band originally formed in

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

in 1967. Principally active between 1967 and 1974, the band re-formed several times in later years.

History

Prior to Spooky Tooth, four of the band's five founding members had performed in the band Art (formerly known as the V.I.P.'s). Following the dissolution of Art, the members of that band's final line-up (guitarist

Luther Grosvenor Luther James Grosvenor (born 23 December 1946) is an English rock musician, who played guitar in Spooky Tooth, briefly in Stealers Wheel and, under the pseudonym Ariel Bender, in Mott the Hoople and Widowmaker. Grosvenor was born in Evesha ...

, vocalist Mike Harrison, drummer

Mike Kellie Michael Alexander Kellie (24 March 1947 – 18 January 2017) was an English musician, composer and record producer. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Kellie was a member of the rock bands the V.I.P.s, Spooky Tooth and the Only ...

and bassist

Greg Ridley Alfred Gregory Ridley (23 October 1941 – 19 November 2003) was an English bassist who was the bassist and a founding member of the rock band Humble Pie and Spooky Tooth. Career Ridley was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. Early in h ...

) joined forces with American keyboardist/vocalist

Gary Wright Gary Malcolm Wright (born April 26, 1943) is an American musician and composer best known for his 1976 hit songs " Dream Weaver" and " Love Is Alive", and for his role in helping establish the synthesizer as a leading instrument in rock and po ...

in October 1967 and formed Spooky Tooth. Wright was introduced to the members of Art by

Chris Blackwell Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is an English businessman and former record producer, and the founder of Island Records, which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels". According to the Rock and Roll ...

, founder of

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

. Their debut, ''

It's All About ''It's All About'' is the 1968 debut album by British band Spooky Tooth, released in the United Kingdom by Island Records on 26 July 1968. In West Germany the record was released by Fontana. The American version of the album, entitled ''Spoo ...

'', was released in June 1968 on Island Records and was produced by

Jimmy Miller James Miller (March 23, 1942 – October 22, 1994) was an American record producer and musician. While he produced albums for dozens of different bands and artists, he is most closely associated for his work with several key musical acts of t ...

, who was also behind the boards for

Spencer Davis Group The Spencer Davis Group were a British band formed in Birmingham in 1963 by Spencer Davis (guitar), brothers Steve Winwood (keyboards, guitar) and Muff Winwood (bass guitar), and Pete York (drums). Their best known songs include the UK numbe ...

Traffic Traffic comprises pedestrians, vehicles, ridden or herded animals, trains, and other conveyances that use public ways (roads) for travel and transportation. Traffic laws govern and regulate traffic, while rules of the road include traffic ...

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

and

Blind Faith Blind Faith were an English supergroup featuring Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech. They were eagerly anticipated by the music press following on the success of each of the member's former bands, including Clapton a ...

. The second album, ''

Spooky Two ''Spooky Two'' is the second studio album by the English rock band Spooky Tooth. It was originally released in March 1969, on the label Island Records (licensed to A&M in the United States). Critical reception ''Spooky Two'' received mixed re ...

'' (March 1969), also produced by Miller, gained some attention in the rock press but, like the debut, failed to sell. It was the last album release by the original lineup and included their now classic version of the

Larry Weiss Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss (born March 25, 1941) is an American songwriter and musician. He wrote "Rhinestone Cowboy", a US no.1 hit for Glen Campbell in 1975; and co-wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and several other international ...

penned "Evil Woman" and "

Better by You, Better than Me "Better by You, Better than Me" is a 1969 song by the English rock band Spooky Tooth. The song appeared on the album ''Spooky Two'' and was composed by keyboardist Gary Wright. In 1990, a 1978 cover version by heavy metal band Judas Priest w ...

", which was covered by

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...

on their release '' Stained Class'' (1978). Ridley joined Humble Pie in 1969 and was replaced by Andy Leigh for the album ''

Ceremony A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin, via the Latin '' caerimonia''. Church and civil (secular) ...

'' (December 1969). The experimental nature of Ceremony received mixed reviews and despite the project being instigated by Gary Wright, the album is considered by him to have ended the band's career. The record is described by another as being "one of the great screw-ups in rock history".Jim Farber
What Happened To Spooky Tooth?
Musicaficionado, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-12. As Wright describes it, "...We did a project that wasn't our album. It was with this French electronic music composer named Pierre Henry. We just told the label, 'You know this is his album, not our album. We'll play on it just like musicians.' And then when the album was finished, they said, 'Oh no no — it's great. We're gonna release this as your next album.' We said, 'You can't do that. It doesn't have anything to do with the direction of Spooky Two and it will ruin our career.' And that's exactly what happened." Wright left the band following the release of the album. Harrison, Grosvenor and Kellie remained and recorded '' The Last Puff'' (July 1970) with members of

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...

's Grease Band (guitarist

Henry McCullough Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also perf ...

, keyboardist

Chris Stainton Christopher Robert "Chris" Stainton (born 22 March 1944) is an English session musician, keyboard player, bassist and songwriter, who first gained recognition with Joe Cocker in the late 1960s. In addition to his collaboration with Cocker, St ...

and bassist

Alan Spenner Alan Henry Spenner (7 May 1948 – 11 August 1991) was an English bass player who performed with Wynder K. Frog, the Grease Band, Spooky Tooth, ABC, David Coverdale, David Soul, Joe Cocker, Kenny Loggins, Lynda Carter, Peter Frampton, Ted Nug ...

In the autumn of 1970 the band embarked on a European tour that was undertaken with a line-up of Harrison, Grosvenor, Kellie, keyboardist

John Hawken John Christopher Hawken is an English keyboard player, best known as a member of The Nashville Teens, Renaissance, and the Strawbs. He also played in Spooky Tooth, Third World War, Vinegar Joe, Illusion, as well as being a session musician. ...

(ex-

Nashville Teens The Nashville Teens are a British rock band, formed in Surrey in 1962. They are best known for their 1964 hit single " Tobacco Road", a top 10 UK hit and a top 20 hit in the United States. Early membership Art Sharp (born Arthur Sharp, 26 May ...

) and bassist Steve Thompson. After this, the group disbanded, though Harrison and Wright reformed Spooky Tooth in September 1972 with a different line-up. '' You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw'' was the first album by the reunited band, released in May 1973 on

. Founding guitarist Grosvenor did not rejoin the band, as he had teamed up with

Mott the Hoople Mott the Hoople were an English rock band formed in Herefordshire. Originally known as the Doc Thomas Group, the group changed their name after signing with Island Records in 1969. The band released albums throughout the early 1970s but fail ...

, adopting the stage name of

Ariel Bender Luther James Grosvenor (born 23 December 1946) is an English rock musician, who played guitar in Spooky Tooth, briefly in Stealers Wheel and, under the pseudonym Ariel Bender, in Mott the Hoople and Widowmaker. Grosvenor was born in Evesham ...

. Grosvenor was succeeded by Mick Jones, while founding drummer Kellie was replaced by

Bryson Graham Bryson Macrae Graham (12 September 1952 – 6 December 1993) was an English people, English rock drummer, most notable as a member of Mainhorse, Spooky Tooth and Girl (band), Girl, and as a session musician. Life and career Bryson Macrae Graha ...

. The bassist was Ian Herbert, then Chris Stewart. For their next album, ''

Witness In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...

'' (November 1973), original drummer Mike Kellie returned in place of Graham. Wright remained the dominant songwriter at this stage of the band's history. But co-lead singer Harrison left following the album's release and

Mike Patto Mike Patto (born Michael Thomas McCarthy, 22 September 1942 – 4 March 1979) was an English musician, who was primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth, Patto and Boxer. Life and career Patto was born in Cirencester, England, and fi ...

was the new vocalist, alongside Wright, when they recorded '' The Mirror'' (October 1974), which also included new bass player Val Burke and Bryson Graham back on drums. But the album's failure led to Wright leaving once again for a solo career and the group disbanding in November 1974. Jon Milward summarized the band in ''

The Rolling Stone Record Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...

'' in 1979: "If ever there was a heavy band, Spooky Tooth had to be it. Featuring two vocalists prone to blues-wrenching extremes, and an instrumental attack comprising awesomely loud keyboards and guitars, Spooky Tooth came on like an overwhelming vat of premedicated goo." Noting their lack of commercial success, Milward concluded that the group "would remain the right band at the wrong time."

After Spooky Tooth

Mick Jones went on to form Foreigner in 1976. Grosvenor later played with

Stealers Wheel Stealers Wheel were a Scottish folk rock/ rock band formed in 1972 in Paisley, Scotland, by former school friends Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty. Their best-known hit is "Stuck in the Middle with You". The band broke up in 1975 and re-formed bri ...

and joined

in the 1970s (replacing Mick Ralphs who left to form

Bad Company Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell.Bad Company ''AllMusic'' Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, also ...

), adopting the name

. In 2005 he founded the Ariel Bender Band, with which he still occasionally performs. In 2018 and 2019 he toured with a reformed Mott the Hoople. Kellie later joined

the Only Ones The Only Ones were an English rock band formed in London in 1976, whose original band members are Peter Perrett, Alan Mair, John Perry and Mike Kellie, they first disbanded in 1982. They were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the mus ...

in the late 1970s also performing with them in 1980s. The band reformed in 2007. Ridley became a member of Humble Pie. On 19 November 2003 he died in Alicante, Spain, of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

and resulting complications. He was 62. Wright began to develop an international solo career in the 1970s and had a hit with the radio-friendly " Dream Weaver". Harrison, Grosvenor, Ridley and Kellie reunited as Spooky Tooth at points in 1997 and 1998, which resulted in an album, '' Cross Purpose'', released in February 1999. Harrison played and recorded with the Hamburg Blues Band and appeared on their CD ''Touch'' (2002). In June 2004, Harrison, Wright and Kellie were again re-united as Spooky Tooth with Joey Albrecht (guitar) and Michael Becker (bass) for two concerts in Germany, resulting in a DVD ''Nomad Poets'' (2007). In 2006 Harrison released his first solo album in over thirty years, ''

Late Starter ''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 February 2008, the latest incarnation of Spooky Tooth, featuring Harrison, Wright and Kellie, along with guitarist Steve Farris from Mr. Mister and Shem von Schroeck (bass), played a series of European dates. On 29 May 2009, this same lineup (with drummer Tom Brechtlein replacing Kellie) played at Island Records' 50th Anniversary at

Shepherd's Bush Empire Shepherd's Bush Empire (currently known as O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the BBC Television Theatre) is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, West London, run by the Academy Music Group. It was originally ...

, before touring Germany that June. In 2012, Mike Kellie started work on a solo album. Kellie died on 18 January 2017 at the age of 69 after a short illness, and Mike Harrison died on 25 March 2018 at the age of 72.

Media depictions

The band was featured in the 1970 documentary ''Groupies''.

Personnel

Former members

- guitar (1967–70, 1998–99) * Mike Harrison - vocals, keyboards (1967–70, 1972–74, 1998–99, 2004, 2008–09; died 2018) *

- drums (1967–70, 1973–74, 1998–99, 2004, 2008–09; died 2017) *

- bass (1967–69, 1998–99; died 2003) *

- keyboards, vocals (1967–70, 1972–74, 2004, 2008–09) *Andy Leigh - bass (1969–70) *

- guitar (1970; died 2016) *

- bass (1970; died 1991) *

- keyboards, guitar, bass (1970) *

- keyboards (1970) *Steve Thompson - bass (1970) *

- drums (1972–73, 1974; died 1993) *Ian Herbert - bass (1972–73) * Mick Jones - guitar (1972–74) *Chris Stewart - bass (1973–74; died 2020) *Val Burke - bass, vocals (1974) *

- vocals, keyboards (1974; died 1979) *Joey Albrecht - guitar (2004) *Michael Becker - bass (2004) *Steve Farris - guitar (2008–09) *Shem von Schroeck - bass (2008–09) *Tom Brechtlein - drums (2009)

Line-ups

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1000 height:600 PlotArea = left:200 bottom:120 top:0 right:25 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1967 till:31/12/2009 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1968 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967 Colors = id:voc value:red legend:Vocals id:g value:green legend:Guitars id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:alb value:black legend:Studio_releases id:bar value:gray(0.9) LineData = layer:back at:01/06/1968 at:01/03/1969 at:01/12/1969 at:01/07/1970 at:01/05/1973 at:01/11/1973 at:01/10/1974 at:23/02/1999 BackgroundColors = bars:bar PlotData = width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,–4) bar:Mike Harrison from:01/01/1967 till:01/11/1970 color:voc bar:Mike Harrison from:01/01/1967 till:01/11/1970 color:key width:3 bar:Mike Harrison from:01/09/1972 till:01/02/1974 color:voc bar:Mike Harrison from:01/09/1972 till:01/02/1974 color:key width:3 bar:Mike Harrison from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1999 color:voc bar:Mike Harrison from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1999 color:key width:3 bar:Mike Harrison from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:voc bar:Mike Harrison from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:key width:3 bar:Mike Harrison from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:voc bar:Mike Harrison from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:key width:3 bar:Mike Patto from:01/02/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:voc bar:Mike Patto from:01/02/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:key width:3 bar:Luther Grosvenor from:01/01/1967 till:01/11/1970 color:g bar:Luther Grosvenor from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1999 color:g bar:Henry McCullough from:01/03/1970 till:01/07/1970 color:g bar:Mick Jones from:01/09/1972 till:31/12/1974 color:g bar:Joey Albrecht from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:g bar:Steve Farris from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:g bar:Gary Wright from:01/01/1967 till:15/01/1970 color:key bar:Gary Wright from:01/01/1967 till:15/01/1970 color:voc width:3 bar:Gary Wright from:01/09/1972 till:31/12/1974 color:key bar:Gary Wright from:01/09/1972 till:31/12/1974 color:voc width:3 bar:Gary Wright from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:key bar:Gary Wright from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:voc width:3 bar:Gary Wright from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:key bar:Gary Wright from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:voc width:3 bar:Chris Stainton from:01/03/1970 till:01/07/1970 color:key bar:Chris Stainton from:01/03/1970 till:01/07/1970 color:g width:3 bar:John Hawken from:01/07/1970 till:01/11/1970 color:key bar:Greg Ridley from:01/01/1967 till:01/02/1969 color:b bar:Greg Ridley from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1999 color:b bar:Andy Leigh from:01/02/1969 till:01/03/1970 color:b bar:Alan Spenner from:01/03/1970 till:01/07/1970 color:b bar:Steve Thompson from:01/07/1970 till:01/11/1970 color:b bar:Ian Herbert from:01/09/1972 till:01/02/1973 color:b bar:Chris Stewart from:01/02/1973 till:01/02/1974 color:b bar:Val Burke from:01/02/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:b bar:Val Burke from:01/02/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:voc width:3 bar:Michael Becker from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:b bar:Shem von Schroeck from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2009 color:b bar:Mike Kellie from:01/01/1967 till:01/11/1970 color:dr bar:Mike Kellie from:01/07/1973 till:01/02/1974 color:dr bar:Mike Kellie from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1999 color:dr bar:Mike Kellie from:01/04/2004 till:01/08/2004 color:dr bar:Mike Kellie from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 color:dr bar:Bryson Graham from:01/09/1972 till:01/07/1973 color:dr bar:Bryson Graham from:01/02/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:dr bar:Tom Brechtlen from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2009 color:dr

Discography

Studio albums

* 1968: ''

'' (re-issued in 1971 as ''Tobacco Road'', with the song "

The Weight "The Weight" is a song by the Canadian-American group the Band that was released as a single in 1968 and on the group's debut album '' Music from Big Pink''. It was their first release under this name, after their previous releases as Canadian ...

" replacing "

Too Much of Nothing "Too Much of Nothing" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1967, first released by him on the album ''The Basement Tapes'' (1975). Themes and history of song One of the most haunting themes of ''The Basement Tapes'' is an apprehension of the void. B ...

") * 1969: ''

'' - US #44 * 1969: ''

'' (with Pierre Henry) - US #92 * 1970: '' The Last Puff'' (credited as Spooky Tooth featuring Mike Harrison) - US #84 * 1971: ''Tobacco Road'' - US #152 * 1973: '' You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw'' - US #84 * 1973: ''

'' - US #99 * 1974: '' The Mirror'' - US #130 * 1999: '' Cross Purpose''

Compilations, live and other albums

* 1975: ''The Best of Spooky Tooth'' (produced by Island Records ILPS9368-A, imported by Jem Records) * 1976: ''Gary Wright & Spooky Tooth: That Was Only Yesterday'' - US #172 * 1999: ''The Best of Spooky Tooth: That Was Only Yesterday'' * 2000: ''Comic Violence'' (CD reissue, originally released as ''The Mirror'') * 2001: ''BBC Sessions'' * 2007: ''Nomad Poets - Live in Germany'' (CD/DVD) * 2009: ''Lost in My Dream – An Anthology, 1968–1974''

Singles

* 1967: "

" (cover of The Band's single) * 1968: "Sunshine Help Me" - US ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' #126 * 1969: "Feelin' Bad" - US Bubbling Under #132 * 1970: "

I Am the Walrus "I Am the Walrus" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 television film ''Magical Mystery Tour''. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single "Hello, Goodbye" a ...

" - NETH #38 * 1974: Fantasy Satisfier/The Hoofer - UK Goodear records EAR607A

References

External links

Spooky Tooth Fan website
www.SpookyTooth.sk
Spooky Tooth biography, discography, album credits, reviews & releases
at

AllMusic.com AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

*
Spooky Tooth albums to be listened
on

Spotify Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...

Spooky Tooth albums to be listened
on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

{{Authority control 1967 establishments in England 2009 disestablishments in England A&M Records artists English blues rock musical groups English psychedelic rock music groups Charly Records artists Island Records artists Ruf Records artists Musical groups established in 1967 Musical groups disestablished in 2009