Clear Blue Sky

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风格: #硬摇滚　#前卫摇滚　#布鲁斯摇滚
地区: United Kingdom 英国

艺人介绍

John Simms, Ken White and Mark Sheather all originated from Acton, West London and began playing music at a very early age. They formed their first band whilst still attending school a rhythm and blues outfit they called ‘Jug Blues’. They swiftly boarded the club circuit, performing a set of cover songs to all and sundry. An extensive tour Germany resulted and this was a success.

It was at this point that they decided to write their own material.

Their primary set evolved. It was ‘raw, fresh, with a brutal edge’ said one journalist, and certainly original. They took it to the listening ears everywhere performing under various band names such as ‘X’ and ‘Matuse’, covering the entire UK circuit and Europe. They entered the famous Marquee club talent contest in London and won outright. As they came offstage, they were approached by Donavan’s manager, Ashley Kozak, and the band worked with him for some time.

Bigger status was achieved. The band played on the same bill as Janis Joplin/Big Brother & the Holding company, Rory Gallagher/Taste, Country Joe and the Fish, Free, Gentle Giant to name but a few...

Their unique style had now fully emerged and new songs were constantly being created. The music was highly experimental and heavy, and belied their youth. Present day journalists have cited the band for being one of the original inventors of what has nowadays become known as heavy metal.

They began to collect a loyal following. The vitality and originality of the music together their musical ability soon attracted the attention of the record companies.

One of the foremost producers of that era, namely Patrick Campbell-Lyons, formerly of 60's chart success band ' NIRVANA ', came to see who was creating the buzz, and instantly decided the band had enormous potential.

The band took the name 'CLEAR BLUE SKY'.

Within the spring of 1970, Patrick Campbell-Lyons signed the band to the celebrated VERTIGO record label - home of many original new sounds that were emerging at that time. John Simms was not yet eighteen, and that summer they went into the studios to make their first album, which was (eventually) self titled (some early press releases give the title as ‘Play it Loud’ which was subsequently dropped), and featured one of the very first cover designs by artist Roger Dean. It was released in January 1971.

The original vinyl is now very much a collector’s item. However, such is the longevity of this album that it has been re-released by many record companies since and is ongoing to this day.

Bassist Mark Sheather left the band in favour of married life. Kraznet Montpelier replaced him.

The band toured constantly, working the four corners of the rock circuit, and also spent time in the studio recording. Sadly management issues left the band disillusioned and they ceased playing live gigs.

In 1975, John joined 'Tangerine Peel'. He took the place of Michael Chapman of Chinnichap fame, and toured and recorded with them for a while. The time spent with ' Tangerine Peel ' was very rewarding. John enjoyed exploring a more commercial field.

John felt the need to get back to the heavier, more experimental approach. He formed another band with Clear Blue Sky drummer Kenny White. They recruited Smith Campbell as bass player, whose band ' Hokus Poke ' had also appeared on the Vertigo label. They had a gritty, powerful, to-the-point sound, and appropriately called themselves ' The Needle '.

The Needle would also be disbanded with Simms gong on to join fusion group Separate Energy, The Ginger Baker Band and Karizma (with Ginger Baker's son Kofi).

Thus the mid-seventies and the whole of the eighties came and went by without any news from Clear Blue Sky. However the nineties brought about renewed interest in the band, whose debut (and only) album was still selling healthily via independent record labels such as Repertoire and Si-Wan. Furthermore, there had long been a rumour circulating amongst the band's fans that there lay within the vaults two unreleased albums by the band. 1990 was the year that Clear Blue Sky fans were waiting for as a new album was released. No new material was recorded, but instead material recorded in the seventies was given a brush up and an album released. The album was called Destiny (Saturn SRLP 101, Value BS 10.00) and was released in limited quantities on vinyl and cassette on the Saturn label.

That same year the band were invited to play at the 20th Anniversary of the Isle Of Wight Festival. This was the perfect excuse for the band to reform and play material that had not been heard live in close to twenty years. Furthermore in October of that year, Vertigo released the compilation album Vertigo Classics And Rarities which also featured Rocket Ride, taken from the band's debut album.

Following further touring, the band began to attract interest from record companies and they were signed to the Aftermath label, which immediately released the Destiny album on CD (AFT 1005) with new artwork by Phil Schmee. Not only was the interest in the band coming from record companies, but fans from all around the world were clamouring for new releases from the band.

However before this was done, the group had to changed radically. The power trio, that was so popular in the late sixties/early seventies, was expanded to a quintet to include a keyboardist (Adam Lewis) and a female backing vocalist, John Simms wife, Maxine. This move allowed the band to explore further the dimensions of rock music and move into the realms of space rock as well as maintain their heavy blues style. The new album was also a concept album and was titled Cosmic Crusader, based on a science fiction theme and was released in 1996. The Ginger Baker link was also revived with the artwork entrusted to his ex-wife Elizabeth Finch.

In 1998, the new album also received a mention by Barry "Mr Vertigo" Winton in the liner notes to the new Polygram 2-CD compilation Still Dizzy After All These Years that included My Heaven. The new millennium also saw the band celebrating their thirtieth anniversary and this was done with the band gong into the studio to record a new album as well as release an album of live and unreleased tracks.

Thus Out Of Blue (AFT 1009) was released in 2000 featuring unreleased tracks from the pre-vertigo years (1968-69) as well as four live tracks. 2001 saw the band releasing Mirror Of The Stars, a new album with new material which should please the band's numerous fans. The future looks bright.

Clear Blue Sky

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