Hype was a band formed by

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

in 1970. The band were originally titled 'The David Bowie Band' for their first gig on 22 February 1970 at the Roundhouse, London. The second ''Hype'' gig on 23 February at the Streatham Arms, London was performed under the name 'Harry the Butcher', for their third gig they were billed as 'David Bowie's New Electric Band' with the subtitle 'So New They Haven't Got A Name Yet'. They were billed to appear at the Fickle Pickle Club in Westcliff-on-Sea on Friday July 17 1970 as "Debut of David Bowie with Harry The Butcher". Bowie eventually settled on the name 'Hype'. "A phone call sparked a discussion over what to call themselves, with a chance remark – “The whole thing is just one big hype” – providing a name that seemed to suit". The band has been credited with helping to form the

glam rock Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diver ...

scene in the 1970s. The band was also the debut for

Mick Ronson Michael Ronson (26 May 1946 – 29 April 1993) was an English musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as the guitarist of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musici ...

when they played at the Roundhouse supporting

Noel Redding David Noel Redding (25 December 1945 – 11 May 2003) was an English rock musician, best known as the bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and guitarist/singer for Fat Mattress. Following his departure from the Experience in 1969 ...

's Fat Mattress on 22 February 1970. Their first performance was badly received, the band was laughed and jeered at as they left the stage. Members included: *

, alias Space Star/Rainbowman - vocals, 12-string guitar *

, alias Gangsterman - Les Paul guitar *

Tony Visconti Anthony Edward Visconti (born April 24, 1944) is an American record producer, musician and singer. Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers. His first hit single was T. Rex's " Ride a White Swan" in 1970, the first of man ...

, alias Hypeman - bass guitar, vocals * John Cambridge, alias Cowboyman - drums (until April 1970) * Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey - drums (from April 1970) * Benny Marshall - vocals, harmonica (from November 1970) In February 1970, David Bowie required a more permanent band to back him for the promotion of his latest album, ''

''. John Cambridge was retained from the "

Space Oddity "Space Oddity" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was first released on 11 July 1969 by Philips Records as a 7-inch single, then as the opening track of his second studio album ''David Bowie''. After the commercial f ...

" recording session and Tony Visconti volunteered for bass guitar duty. Cambridge recommended his friend Mick Ronson as guitarist. On 5 February 1970, on John Peel's ''The Sunday Show'' on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

, Hype made their on-air debut radio broadcast, after a short Bowie solo spot, an embryonic " The Width of a Circle," followed by "Janine," "

Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" is a song written by David Bowie, first recorded in June 1969 and released as a B-side to his single "Space Oddity". Bowie then rerecorded the song for his second eponymous album (released in the U.S. as ''Man of Wor ...

," "

Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1969 album ''David Bowie''. It was one of the first songs produced by Tony Visconti. Inspiration In July 1969, Bowie performed at the Maltese Musi ...

," "Fill Your Heart," "

I'm Waiting for the Man "I'm Waiting for the Man" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground. Written by Lou Reed, it was first released on their 1967 debut album, ''The Velvet Underground & Nico''. The lyrics describe a man's efforts to obtain heroin in ...

," " The Prettiest Star," " Cygnet Committee," and "

Memory of a Free Festival "Memory of a Free Festival" is a 1970 single by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The song had originally been recorded in September 1969 as a seven-minute opus for Bowie's second self-titled album. It was reworked in March–April 197 ...

." Later that month, Hype signed to

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it i ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hype, The English glam rock groups David Bowie