The Wild Angels is an English
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...
group. The group got their name from the 1966
Roger Corman film ''
The Wild Angels'' starring
Peter Fonda
Peter Henry Fonda (February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019) was an American actor. He was the son of Henry Fonda, younger brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget Fonda. He was a prominent figure in the counterculture of the 1960s. Fond ...
.
[Aynsley, Steve (2002). "Live, Wild, Red Hot 'n' Rockin'" anctuary CMDDD-451 Liner Notes.]
Biography
The Wild Angels was formed in the summer of 1967 with Mal Gray on vocals, John Hawkins on guitar, John Huggett on keyboards, Mitch Mitchell on bass guitar, Bill Kingston on piano and Bob O’Connor on drums. John Huggett was soon replaced by Pete Adderson. The band signed with B&C records in 1969 after having one release ("Nervous Breakdown"/"Watch the Wheels Go Round") on Major Minor, also in 1969, and following a successful tour with
Gene Vincent during 1969, bassist Mitch Mitchell left the band to be replaced by Rod Cotter. When Cotter left his spot was filled by Keith Read.
When Mal Gray left the group in 1971 the lead vocals were taken over by bass guitar player Keith Read. Keith sang vocals on the band's most successful single which hit no 1 in Sweden in 1973. The song was "I Fought the Law", an old Crickets track from 1959, later recorded by the Clash. Mal Gray later worked as a solo act and also worked with
Sha Na Na and was special guest vocalist with
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band founded in 1947 that continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. From late 1954 to late 1956, the group record ...
during their two 1979 European and UK tours. The group signed with
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
in 1972, releasing one album and several singles including "Love's Made A Fool of You" with Swedish singer, Jerry Williams. Jerry Williams died in 2017, as did Mal Gray.
One of their Decca singles from 1972 included three songs "
Beauty School Dropout "Beauty School Dropout" is a song from the musical '' Grease''. It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and was performed by Frankie Avalon for the film version and soundtrack album
Overview
In the musical, the song is the showcase piece of ...
", "Born to Hand Jive", and "
Greased Lightnin'" from the musical ''
Grease'', which had not yet been staged in the UK. The Wild Angels later also joined the cast of the UK version of the stage musical.
In 1975, Pete Scott became their new lead singer and new bass player Billy Barnes and new drummer Jim Russell replaced
Geoff Britton
Geoffrey Britton (born 1 August 1943) is an English rock drummer known for his work with Wings from August 1974 to January 1975, where he was featured on the '' Venus and Mars'' album.
Career
Britton was born in Lewisham, South East London). H ...
, who later played with
Paul McCartney and Wings.
After departing The Wild Angels, Mal Gray went on to form Mal Gray's Wild Angels with
Pete Wingfield and
Tom McGuinness.
The ‘official' line up of The Wild Angels were revived in 2012 by Mitch Mitchell and “Wild” Bob Burgos, and still play in Europe to this day. The band released an album in 2013 called ''The Wild Angels Ride Again''.
Members
* Keith Read (guitar and vocals)
* Paul Black (guitar and vocals)
* Mitch Mitchell (bass guitar and vocals)
* Freddie "Babyface" Pirotta (piano)
* "Wild" Bob Burgos (drums and vocals)
Former members
* Mal Gray (vocals)
* Bob O'Connor (drums)
* John Huggett (keyboards)
* Pete Adderson (keyboard and rhythm guitar)
* Dave Jacobs (rhythm guitar, piano)
* Freddie 'Fingers' Lee (piano)
* Rod Cotter (bass guitar)
* Pete Scott (lead vocals)
* Billy Barnes (bass guitar)
* Oz Garvey (drums)
*
Geoff Britton
Geoffrey Britton (born 1 August 1943) is an English rock drummer known for his work with Wings from August 1974 to January 1975, where he was featured on the '' Venus and Mars'' album.
Career
Britton was born in Lewisham, South East London). H ...
(drums)
* Rob 'Rooster' Little (guitar, vocals)
* John Hawkins (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
* Charlie Hockin (drums)
* Richard Topp (bass)
* Brian Francis (bass)
* Bill Kingston (piano)
* Rusty Lupton (piano)
Discography
Singles
* "Nervous Breakdown" / "Watch the Wheels Go Round" – (Ariola) (1968)
* "Buzz Buzz A-Diddle It" / "Please Don’t Touch" – (B&C) (1970)
* "Let the Four Winds Blow" / "Stuck on You" – (B&C) (1970)
* "Sally Ann" / "Wrong Number, Try Again" – (B&C) (1970)
* "Three Nights a Week" / "Time to Kill" – (B&C) (1971)
* "
Greased Lightning
''Greased Lightning'' is a 1977 American biographical film starring Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, and Pam Grier, and directed by Michael Schultz. The film is loosely based on the true life story of Wendell Scott, the first Black NASCAR race winn ...
" / "Born to Hand Jive" / "
Beauty School Dropout "Beauty School Dropout" is a song from the musical '' Grease''. It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and was performed by Frankie Avalon for the film version and soundtrack album
Overview
In the musical, the song is the showcase piece of ...
" – (Decca) (1972)
* "Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet" / "Wild Angels Rock 'n' Roll" – (Decca) (1972)
* "
I Fought the Law" / "Midnight Rider" – (Decca) (1973)
* "Running Bear" / "Sussin'" – (Decca) (1973)
Albums
* ''Live at the Revolution'' – (B&C #101) (1970)
* ''Red Hot 'n' Rockin – (B&C #102) (1970)
* ''Out at Last'' – (Decca #5134) (1972)
* ''Let’s Get Back to Rock 'n' Roll'' – (Pye/Golden Hour #614) (1975)
* ''Rockin' the Joint'' – (Rockin #RL-5006) (1979)
* ''Live in London'' – (Cassette) (1987) (10 tracks)
* ''Rockin' on the Railroad'' – (Valentine #8060, 1988) (Raucous #166, 2005)
* ''Down the Road a Piece'' – (Edwardian #LP-002) (1997)
* ''The Original Wild Angels'' – (Nightingale #LP-001) (1997)
* ''The Singles Album'' – (Nightingale #BYCCD-001) (1998)
* ''Live, Wild, Red Hot 'n' Rockin – (Sanctuary #451) (2002)
* ''Wild Angels Ride Again'' - (Foot Tappin' Records) (2013)
* ''Snakebite + The Wild Angels'' - (Atenzia Records Sweden) (2016)
* ''Leather, Studs 'n' Stripes'' - (Crazy Times Records France) CD and 12" vinyl (2016)
* ''50th Anniversary EP'' - (TCY Records Switzerland) Gold vinyl only. (2017)
References
External links
Black Cat Rockabilly Europe All Music Guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wild Angels
English rock music groups
Atenzia Records artists