Lonnie Donegan, Little Richard Penniman, Lowell George, Muddy Waters, Randy Newman, J.J.Cale, Willie Dixon, just about anything from New Orleans - The Meters, Neville Brothers, Dr. John etc. (its a long list) Ry Cooder and Tony Hancock.
Brian Parrish – like a phoenix from the ashes ? A well worn cliche it may be, but one which has more than a ring of truth here. Anyone following the career of this highly talented musician, songwriter and stage performer, which began in the early sixties, would have searched in vain for signs of (public) artistic activity after 1980 or so.
He seemed to simply vanish. One might have concluded that he, like many of his fellows was creatively dormant, and immersed in the mundane day to day business of so called "normal" life.
Whatever it was that brought him back into the (visible) creative world may remain his own secret, as are the details of what kept him away. In March 2004, following years of absence from the stage, we picked up a new signal from him on our radar.
Significantly perhaps, this new activity came from the very place where, as a young English musician, he had his first over-seas musical experiences and early popularity. Brian Parrish was announced as a guest star for a “Star Club Night“ in Hamburg. Although he did not "play safe" by simply performing the music from the past ( as is the accepted credo for such an event), it was the resounding success of this appearance that seemed to provide the required spark which re-ignited his fire, and sent him once more out into the world.
Upon his return to England he found that his head was soon filling with new songs. He was also infused with the energy and impetus to complete some of the half written tunes that he had been carrying around – and what songs ! Could we call them mainstream ? Whatever they are – heartfelt new ballads, songs deeply rooted in the blues, or infectious rockers, they all reveal the excellent quality of Parrish..s songwriting.
Furthermore, his stage presence has lost none of its magic or energy, a fact which has been well demonstrated on numerous occasions over these last few years.
As he takes the stage with his “One Band“, we see a real professional who has retained all of his skills. The audience is with him from the first note.
Looking over Brians history we discover a man on a long and varied journey who has retained something of the essence from each musical side road he has travelled and somehow incorporated these elements into something that can truly be called “his“ music.
His earliest stagework was as a guitar player for American singer, Gene Vincent, whose seminal recordings with his U.S. Band, the Blue Caps were among the classic tracks which ushered in the Age of Rock n Roll, perhaps the most famous being “Be - Bop – Alula“.
Shortly after this Brian..s band played the Star Club, Hamburg. This was an experience Brian regards as his "Rock Music University". In Hamburg the band, who were billed as The Londoners, became hugely popular, being regular performers on the Star Club stage over the next two years or so.This was 1964.
Still in the rock n roll genre, Brian Parrish..s early recording credits include an album with Jerry Lee Lewis (London Sessions). Later he was to play on side projects by Jon Lord (Deep Purple) and Graeme Edge (Moody Blues) and hits by Medicine Head and others.
Since the time of his first stage and recording work Brian Parrish had begun to develop a parallel career as a songwriter. In 1970 armed with a clutch of self penned songs he formed the duo, Parrish and Gurvitz. He recorded two albums with (Beatles) producer, George Martin, together with partner Paul Gurvitz, with whom he subsequently toured the U.S. with the "P and G" Band. Although a considerable critical success (worldwide press was unanimously more than positive), sales of the first album were slow, and the second album remained unreleased as management mishandling and ineptitude frustrated and disheartened artistes and label alike.
Gurvitz de- camped to play with Ginger Baker (Baker-Gurvitz Army), whilst Brian formed "Badger" with Tony Kaye (Yes) keyboards, David Foster on bass and vocals and Roy Dyke (Ashton Gardner and Dyke) on drums.
The resulting album, “One Live Badger“, recorded in concert at the Rainbow Theatre, London, comprised six songs, four of which were written by Brian.The album charted in the U.S.A.,without the benefit of tour support. It has been re-released as a CD on numerous occasions , and is widely regarded as one of the best examples of 70.s rock music, being powerful without succumbing to the pretention and over-blown pomposity common to much of the music during those pre-punk days. Despite the presence of Tony Kaye, this music was very un -"Yes".
Brians next project was the altogether more funky solo album ,"Love On My Mind". He toured with the Brian Parrish Band for some of what would be his last live performances for several years.He stepped out for a few weeks playing guest guitar with Eric Burdon (Animals), who was then touring the U.K.,and soon after this Brian changed direction.
Concentrating thereafter on writing music, he virtually abandoned his first love, performing. Although he did on rare occasions play a gig with friends, this was to be a protracted absence from live work, albeit one that had not been planned as such. "It just sort of happened that way - life seldom, if ever, turns out as we expect or plan it . This is not necessarily a negative thing – sometimes it..s wonderful!", says Brian.
These days, he is well and truly "back in the saddle", and promises that he will never stop performing again. “As long as I can stand up, and somebody wants to come out and see us, I will be doing this!“, he says.
Despite years spent working as a writer and producer, it is immediately apparent watching the man work on stage, that this is his element, and simply what Brian Parrish was born to do. He is performing both his own songs and his interpretations of his favourite R+B songs. The unit is billed as Brian Parrish and the One Band.
He has a CD, "ENDGAME" currently on release, containing 12 new songs which were recorded in Germany, where he now lives. Brian Parrish is back, like a phoenix from the ashes, and we can expect bigger things of him. The journey continues....
(Many thanks to my long time friend, Jochen Laschinsky for contributing this profile - and for paying me such gracious and generous compliments. Now all I have to do is try to live up to these fine words! BP)
..getting into the festive spirit!! Ho ho ho!!!! Hoping that you and Angela have a wonderful Xmas. Thanks for your friendship in 2009...it means such a lot to me, my dear friend!! x x x
So..... hope you've saved enough English bacon for Xmas morning butties!!! It's tradition!!! Lovely tagged pic of you and Angela! so who/what had you both so enthralled?
Hi Brian---thanks for the kind words. great resume! like that "fundamentalist" blues guitar that stays reall fine writing and vocals---reminds me a bit of marcus james here and there (check him out in my top friends if you haven't heard...sort of a reactionary revolutionary) stay well and keep digging for that bedrock. stag
Glad to have you as a "new" friend, Brian! You and Ms LP are soooo right ....but in the meantime we'll just have to depend on the recognition and respect of fellow artists!!!! Get back to mixing..... I eagerly await the new one!
Maggie x
PS ..your mood this morning? Too much information...ha ha!!!!
Hallo Brian, danke für die netten Worte. Wir freuen uns auch sehr auf all die Projekte, die wir zusammen verwirklichen wollen. Liebe Grüße aus Deiner Kreativmoorkate, Tina & Markus
Good Day to you Brian, and i only pray i could share this breakfast of many delights with you pal but im afraid Bremen is a little too far for a decent bacon buttie to travel! Worst biutm is when some one eats one and says "right pass us that Martin?" and you just changed the strings! hahahahaha. NO CHANCE! Have a great day mate!
I Love your stuff......... let me know if you need something of an original Design for your more introspective stuff? Regards from London.. Frank Savage...
So you're feeling like a baby boy, huh? Nice one, Brian!!!!!! It's got a great groove! By the way, did you give in to temptation and buy the new Strat?
"A litte piece of heaven".... ein toller Song !!! Keep on rockin' und Danke für die Freundschaft ! Hoffe, wir werden uns bald mal wiedersehen ! Bis dahin liebe Grüsse nach Bremen an " Euch Beiden " ! Knutsch ( ohne Fleck ) ixi
P.S. : Schon online einige Fotos von dem gestrigen Abend im Burg Kino Uetersen, Talent für Appen musiziert on Tour
Ive been doing them improvs for a while and sculpting has been paying the wolves...Dont know how they never mentioned me? maybe because i been out in the country in London for 19 years i feel like John Henry!!!
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Have a wonderful weekend
