Formed in 1967, this stellar UK rock band comprised Steve Winwood (Stephen Lawrence Winwood, 12 May 1948, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals), Chris Wood (b. Christopher Gordon Blandford Wood, 24 June 1944, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, d. 12 July 1983, Birmingham, England; saxophone/flute, ex-Locomotive), Jim Capaldi (b. Nicola James Ca
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One of the UK’s seminal R&B bands, the Pretty Things formed at Sidcup Art College, Kent, England, in September 1963. The original line-up featured a founder member of the Rolling Stones, Dick Taylor (Richard Clifford Taylor, 28 January 1943, Dartford, Kent, England; guitar), plus Phil May (b. Phillip Arthur Dennis Kattner, 9 November 1944, Dartford, Kent, England; v
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The legend that continues to grow and grow around this memorable late 60s San Francisco, California, USA band is mainly based on their magnificent debut album, which fans vainly willed them to repeat. This iconoclastic but sometimes shambling unit was formed in September 1966, with the seminal line-up of Alexander ‘ Skip’ Spence (18 April 1946, Windsor, Ontario, Ca
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Of all the bands that came out of the San Francisco area during the late 60s Quicksilver typified most the style, attitude and sound of that era. The original band in 1964 comprised Dino Valenti (Chester Powers, 7 October 1937 (1943 is also cited), Danbury, Connecticut, USA, d. 16 November 1994, Santa Rosa, California, USA; vocals), John Cipollina (b. 24 August 1943, Berkel
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Formed in Berkeley, California, USA, in 1965, this imaginative quintet began life as the Instant Action Jug Band. Former folk singer Country Joe McDonald (1 January 1942, El Monte, California, USA) established the band with guitarist Barry Melton (b. 1947, Brooklyn, New York, USA), the only musicians to remain in the line-up throughout its turbulent history. Part of a politi
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During the progressive music revolution in the late 60s, one of the most surprising successes was that of Iron Butterfly. The band was formed in 1966 by Doug Ingle (9 September 1946, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; organ/vocals) and Ron Bushy (b. 23 September 1941, Washington, DC, USA; drums), with Danny Weiss (guitar), Jerry Penrod (bass) and Darryl DeLoach (vocals) completing the li
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Formed in Nottingham, England, as the Jaybirds in 1965, they abandoned their pedestrian title for a name that slotted in with the booming underground progressive music scene. The quartet of Alvin Lee (19 December 1944, Nottingham, England; guitar/vocals), Chick Churchill (b. 2 January 1949, Mold, Flint/Clywd, Wales; keyboards), Ric Lee (b. 20 October 1945, Cannock, Staffords
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For many, the doyens of Los Angeles progressive rock in the 60s, brilliantly erratic and producers of one of the most beautiful albums ever made: Forever Changes. Love were formed in 1965 out of the ashes of the Grass Roots, and comprised former Byrds road manager Bryan MacLean (25 September 1946, Los Angeles, California, USA, d. 25 December 1998, Los Angeles, California, US
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Formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 1965, the Electric Prunes originally consisted of Jim Lowe (San Luis Obispo, California, USA; vocals, guitar, autoharp), Ken Williams (b. Long Beach, California, USA; lead guitar), James ‘Weasel’ Spagnola (b. Cleveland, Ohio, USA; guitar), Mark Tulin (b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; bass) and Michael Weakley aka Quint (
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Based in California and originally known as the Sixpence, the Strawberry Alarm Clock enjoyed a US number 1 in 1967 with the memorable ‘Incense And Peppermints’. This euphoric slice of ‘flower-power’ bubblegum was initially intended as a b-side and the featured voice was that of a friend on hand during the session, rather than an official member. The group -
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Along with the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane is regarded as the most successful San Francisco band of the late 60s. The band was formed in August 1965 by Marty Balin (Martyn Jerel Buchwald, 30 January 1942, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; vocals/guitar). The other members in the original line-up were Paul Kantner (b. 17 March 1941, San Francisco, California, USA; guitar/vocal
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Originally formed as a trio, the Jet Set, this seminal band featured Jim (Roger) McGuinn (James Joseph McGuinn, 13 July 1942, Chicago, Illinois, USA; vocals/lead guitar), Gene Clark (b. Harold Eugene Clark, 17 November 1944, Tipton, Missouri, USA, d. 24 May 1991, Sherman Oaks, California, USA; vocals, tambourine, rhythm guitar) and David Crosby (b. David Van Cortlandt, 14 Au
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