Toe Fat were an English rock band, active from June 1969 to 1971, notable for including two future members of Uriah Heep and a future member of Jethro Tull.

Career

Formed in June 1969, the band was fronted by former Rebel Rouser Cliff Bennett and, in the course of its two-year, two-

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records c ...

career, featured lead guitarist and keyboardist Ken Hensley; bassist

John Glascock John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(who replaced original bassist John Konas (Joseph Stanley Konas)); and drummer Lee Kerslake. After the first album, Kerslake and Hensley were replaced by

Brian Glascock Brian Glascock (born 17 July 1948) is an English rock drummer for The Gods, Toe Fat, Carmen, Captain Beyond, Soy Cowboy, and primarily for The Motels. He also played on albums by Dolly Parton, Iggy Pop, and Joan Armatrading. He performed in a ...

(drums) and Alan Kendall (guitar) respectively. The band was founded by Bennett, a former

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, after the dissolution of the Cliff Bennett Band. He teamed with the former Gods' keyboard player Hensley, who drafted in fellow ex-Gods' members Kerslake and Glascock. The name was decided over dinner when Bennett and his manager attempted to create the most disgusting band name possible. Toe Fat was signed to the

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the pr ...

, Rare Earth, in the US. In the UK, the band signed with EMI, who released their first album on the

Parlophone Parlophone Records Limited (also known as Parlophone Records and Parlophone) is a German–British record label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch of the label was founded on 8 August 192 ...

label, and the second on

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. The eponymously titled first album flopped commercially, but gained considerable critical praise. Such was the stir that after their first single, "Workin' Nights", (the

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was an early

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

composition "Bad Side of the Moon") they were booked for a tour supporting Derek and the Dominos in the US. The album was also notable for its cover designed by the recently formed graphic art company Hipgnosis. The cover showed a beach scene with four people who have large toes superimposed over their heads. For the US release, a man and a topless woman in the background were replaced by the image of a sheep. The photo of the band on the back of the US album shows Cliff Bennett, Alan Kendall, John Glascock, and Lee Kerslake even though Alan Kendall did not play on the first album. This was an interim line-up, and Lee Kerslake would soon depart also before the second album was recorded. Hensley quit the band to form Uriah Heep. Alan Kendall replaced Hensley, before their second album, ''Toe Fat Two''. Bennett admitted in the sleeve notes of his ''Rebellion'' album that when asked he "probably should have joined them". Kerslake left to join the National Head Band, before also joining Uriah Heep in 1971. Glascock later joined Jethro Tull. Another ex-Gods man, Brian Glascock, became the new drummer. Jonathan Peel (not the DJ) produced ''Toe Fat 2'', after hearing them on several BBC radio sessions, including one for

Terry Wogan Sir Michael Terence Wogan (; 3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) was an Irish radio and television broadcaster who worked for the BBC in the UK for most of his career. Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in December 2009, his BBC Radio 2 week ...

. However, this LP also flopped, despite more radio

airplay Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...

, and a reasonably successful US tour promoting it. Following these successive failures, their management and labels informed the group that they could no longer fund them. Bennett recorded ''Rebellion'', before quitting the

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to become a

shipping magnate A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through pers ...

. He used to occasionally tour with the Rebel Rousers. Alan Kendall and Brian Glascock went on to play with, and write for, the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

Former members

* Cliff Bennett – lead vocals, piano (1969–1971) * Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals (1969–1970; died 2020) * Ken Hensley – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards (1969–1970; died 2020) * John Konas – bass, backing vocals (1969) *

– bass, backing vocals (1969–1971; died 1979) * Alan Kendall – guitars (1970–1971) *

– drums, backing vocals (1970–1971)

Discography

Studio albums

*'' Toe Fat'' (1970) *''Toe Fat Two'' (1970)

References

External links

Cliff Bennett's official site
* * {{Authority control 1969 establishments in England 1971 disestablishments in England English psychedelic rock music groups Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 1971 Parlophone artists Motown artists