Band of Joy

For the 2010 album, see Band of Joy (album).
Band of Joy

Band of Joy fronted by Robert Plant,
October 2010
Background information
Origin West Bromwich, England
Genres Folk rock, blues rock (early), progressive rock
Years active 1966, 1967–1968, 1977–1983, 2010–2011
Associated acts Led Zeppelin, The Honeydrippers
Past members Robert Plant
Chris Brown
Vernon Pereira
John Bonham
Paul Lockey
Kevyn Gammond
Dave Pegg
John Hill
John Kelsey
Mick Strode
Michael Chetwood
John Pasternak
Peter Robinson
Marco Giovino
Patty Griffin
Byron House
Buddy Miller
Darrell Scott

Band of Joy (sometimes known as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy) are a rock band from England. Various line-ups of the group performed from 1965 to 1968 and from 1977 to 1983. Robert Plant revived the band's name in 2010 for a concert tour of North America and Europe.

The band is notable for including two musicians, Robert Plant and John Bonham,[1] who went on to join Led Zeppelin; and, to a lesser degree, because the band's one-time roadie was Noddy Holder, who later went on to front the band Slade.[2]

1966–1968

Band of Joy was originally formed in 1966 in West Bromwich, near Birmingham, England by Chris Brown (keyboards), Vernon Pereira (guitar),[3] and singer Robert Plant. Conflicts with the band's management led to Plant leaving the group after a few months. He quickly tried to form his own Band of Joy, but it soon folded. A third incarnation of the band, including Plant's friend John Bonham (they had met only two years earlier in late 1965 when John joined The Crawling King Snakes), lasted from 1967 to mid-1968. This line-up included Kevyn Gammond on guitar and Paul Lockey on bass. Their brand of soul and blues was popular with Birmingham mods. This line-up recorded a number of demo recordings in early 1968, but broke up in May 1968 when a recording contract failed to materialise.[4]

Albeit briefly, lead guitar duties were taken by Dave Pegg, who later played the bass guitar with Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull. Pegg rehearsed with Band of Joy but did not tour with them.[5]

For a 1968 tour of Scotland, Plant and Bonham co-opted bassist John Hill (ex-Uncle Joseph) and guitarist Mick Strode to fill in a temporary line-up.

1977–1978

In 1977 Gammond and Paul Lockey revived Band of Joy, rounding out the line-up with John Pasternak, Peter Robinson, and keyboardist Michael Chetwood. Gammond, Lockey, Pasternak and Robinson had previously played in Bronco. The two albums recorded under this line-up went on to define the trademark cult sound of the band, with progressive melodies, blues hooks and experimentation with new sounds blending the sounds of the punk movement with classic genres of rock, blues and progressive influences. They invited Plant and Bonham to contribute to their 1978 self-titled album, but nothing came of it. The group released a second album in 1983 before breaking up.

Gammond later worked with Plant in his group "Priory of Brion".

2010–2011

In 2010 it was announced that Plant would form a new band, record an album and tour as Robert Plant & the Band of Joy.[6] The album was number 8 on Rolling Stone's list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010.[7]

In October 2010 the band appeared, alongside the London Oriana Choir at the Roundhouse, London for a special performance at the BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms.[8]

Discography

Personnel

Members

  • Robert Plant – vocals (1966, 1967–1968, 2010–2011)
  • Chris Brown – keyboards (1966, 1967–1968)
  • Vernon Pereira – guitar (1966)
  • John Bonham – drums (1967–1968; died 1980)
  • Paul Lockey – bass, guitar, vocals (1967–1968, 1977–1983)
  • Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals (1967–1968, 1977–1983)
  • Dave Pegg – guitar (1968)
  • John Hill – bass (1968)
  • John Kelsey – keyboards (1968)
  • Mick Strode – guitar (1968)
  • Michael Chetwood – keyboards, vocals (1977–1983)
  • John Pasternak – bass, vocals (1977–1983; died 1986)
  • Peter Robinson – drums (1977–1983)
  • Marco Giovino – drums, percussion, vocals (2010–2011)
  • Patty Griffin – vocals, guitar (2010–2011)
  • Byron House – bass (2010–2011)
  • Buddy Miller – guitar, vocals (2010–2011)
  • Darrell Scott – vocals, mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedals, lap steel guitar, banjo (2010–2011)

Lineups

1966 1966–1967 1967–1968 1968
  • Robert Plant – vocals
  • Chris Brown – keyboards
  • Vernon Pereira – guitar

Disbanded
  • Robert Plant – vocals
  • Chris Brown – keyboards
  • John Bonham – drums
  • Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals
  • Paul Lockey – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Robert Plant – vocals
  • Chris Brown – keyboards
  • John Bonham – drums
  • Paul Lockey – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Dave Pegg – guitar
1968 1968–1977 1977–1983 1983–2010
  • Robert Plant – vocals
  • John Bonham – drums
  • John Hill – bass
  • John Kelsey – keyboards
  • Mick Strode – guitar

Disbanded
  • Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals
  • Paul Lockey – guitar, vocals
  • Michael Chetwood – keyboards, vocals
  • John Pasternak – bass, vocals
  • Peter Robinson – drums

Disbanded

2010–2011

See also

References

  1. ↑ Patrick Doyle (25 June 2010). "Robert Plant Previews Upcoming Band of Joy Album". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Band of Joy, Kidderminster". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to the Birmingham Music Archive – Band of Joy". Birminghammusicarchive.co.uk. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Theakston, Rob. "((( Band of Joy > Overview )))". allmusic. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  5. ↑ Cynthia Blair Webdesign. "Memories in Music". Memories in Music. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  6. ↑ Sean Michaels (29 March 2010). "Robert Plant to tour with new Band of Joy lineup | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "The 30 Best Albums of 2010". Rolling Stone (25 December 2010). Retrieved 18 January 2011
  8. ↑ "Robert Plant brings his Band Of Joy to BBC Electric Proms - NME". nme.com. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2016.

Further reading

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