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FEATURED SONG
It's Not Easy
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It's Not Easy
Album:
Released: Jan 1, 2006
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Classic Rock / Progressive / Psychedelic

    Location LONDON, Un

    Profile Views: 41940

    Last Login: 3/20/2013

    Member Since 3/14/2006

    Website angelair.co.uk

    Record Label Angel Air

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    At the time 'Rebirth' was recorded back in 1975, Consortium were one of the hardest working groups on the circuit. A popular attraction at the packed London venues of this period, the group consisted of experienced musicians who had been familiar faces on the scene for close on a decade playing with various other bands and recording countless sessions. With the onset of the Punk era the band became disillusioned with the music business and so along with the disappointment of being let down by RCA, the album was shelved. At last, just over 30 years later 'Rebirth' is reborn......... Rebirth is available through Angel Air Records at Amazon and all good record shops. .. .. Consortium evolved from a mutual admiration of each others musical ability over a series of years from the mid sixties to the bands decision to "come off the road" in 1980. .. .. Brian Parker had, through his teenage years worked with various groups and gained a reputation as a superb technician on guitar and soon became in demand as a session player working at many London studios, including the legendary Joe Meek's. He recorded on many chart hits including with Honeybus. .. .. John Parker (Brians younger brother) played with underground group Arcadium (on the Middle Earth label) who were arguably the founders of psychadelic music and who to this day have a huge cult following. His dynamic drumming skills were in great demand by recording studios and he worked with many known artists, including David Bowie. .. .. Kenny Brown started to play bass in his early teens and became a journeyman player, touring throughout the UK constantly. He soon caught the attention of producers and performed on numerous recording sessions at many studios, including Joe Meeks Holloway Road den. .. .. Mick Ware cut his teeth with legendary groups Tuesdays Children and supergroup CZAR and by the late 60's had gained a reputation of being one of the most exciting guitarists in the UK. .. .. Robbie Leggat was one of the most in demand session singers in the UK from the mid sixties on. He sang on numerous hits for different groups as well as in his own right, using the name Robbie Fair. .. .. Consortium finally came together in this form in 1970/71 where they had all been born and bred, North East London. Although they have not worked together as a band since 1980, they occasionally get together musically and remain firm friends to this day. .. .. Rebirth is dedicated to John Parker (the best) - 1950 to 2001. Still missed... .. .. Thankyou God for...Gibson Guitars, the great Jim Burns and everything he ever made, Slingerland drums, Orange Amplification and Cliff Cooper. .. .. Thanks to the many friends, family (which include children of Consortium members who have gone on to become musicians themselves) and fellow musicians from the early West Coast Consortium days to Consortium 1967 to 1980. .. .. A 20 page booklet is issued with the album, Rebirth on ....ANGEL AIR ....records, giving more information on the years 1971 to 1980. .. .. CONSORTIUM - REBORN .. .. One day you hear the most amazing band. Consortium - a band with the power to raise the roof and send shivers down your spine. They leave you breathless,like nothing else before. They become one of the UK's most highly regarded live acts whipping every huge, booze soaked crowd into a frenzy of anticipation and its clearly only a matter of time before they go global. Then they simply disappear, walking away from it all, seemingly without trace. .. .. You wait, you wait and you wait as days become weeks, become months, become years becomes decades. Then as the dust they've left in their wake finally and reluctantly starts to settle, a shining light in Angel Air's Peter Purnell shows the faith releasing the acclaimed and long overdue debut album 'Rebirth'. .. .. What could easily just be a nostalgia trip exceeds all expectation and in another bizarre twist comes maverick American director Chris Ray taking 'It's Not Easy' (the irony of isn't lost) to use on the 'And Now' Skate Video. Cue thousands of plays and a generation of teenagers rocking out to a song recorded in 1975 celebrating both their education in British rock and also helping to shape what they would describe as a 'rad' new era for the band. .. .. Not content to rest on their laurels more tapes are uncovered and the recordings of the songs that many people would argue defined the Consortium sound such as '13th Hour', 'Where' and 'Nightmare' are bought roaring back to life. The same enthusiasm, desire and hunger (and ego's) still apparent Consortium begin rehearsing for the first time together since 1981 like nothing has changed. .. .. While 'Rebirth' encompassed the bands poppier side '13th Hour' is the more progressive, edgier hard hitting Consortium and the decision to retain the sonic rhythms of dearly departed Johnny Parker is an inspired and fitting tribute. To anyone questioning their credentials before there is now surely no doubt that the band deserve to sit next to their peers from the first phase including The Who, Zeppelin, UFO to name but a few and proving good things do come to those who wait. .. .. Having been lucky enough to spend time with Consortium during much of the process there is no bitterness or regret within the band even if to the outsider it is a travesty that the pieces didn't fall to place back then – there is just a feeling of excitement and anticipation at what is still to come, and surely there is a lot more to come in this unlikely re-awakening, a story that keeps writing itself. .. .. Time, what is time? The 13th hour belongs to Consortium. .. A Fan - 1975 - onwards. .. .. 'Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward' – Soren Kierkegaard .. .... .. .... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. CONSORTIUM RADIO INTERVIEW - PARTS 1 2 3 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. ..

  • Members

    Robert Leggat - Vocals; John Parker - Drums; Mick Ware - Lead Guitar/Vocals; Ken Brown - Bass; Brian Parker - Lead Guitar/Vocals

  • Influences

    Consortiums influences and likes include: each other, Jonnie Kidd and The Pirates, The Shadows, Bert Weedon, The Ventures, Johnnie and the Hurricanes, Buddy Holly, Nero and the Gladiators, Gene Vincent, Jonny Cash, The Beachboys, Lynard Skynard, Buffalo Springfield, Link Wray, Iron Butterfly, James Taylor, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Captain Beefheart, Les Paul, Julian Bream, Chet Atkins, Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Ry Cooder, Mick Taylor, Micky Green, Clem Cattini, The Kinks, Small Faces, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Max Roach, Charlie Mingus, Boots Slade, Danny Thomson, Graham Maby, Richard Thomson, The Who, King Crimson, Magma, Janis Joplin, Thin Lizzy, Steeleye Span, Maddy Prior, Fairport Convention, Albion Band, Sandy Denny, Incredible String Band, Lindisfarne, Vandergraaf Generator, ALL IRISH MUSIC, Joe Jackson, The Eagles, John Foggarty, Pink Floyd, Quo, Argent, Dicky King.

  • Sounds Like

    CONSORTIUM

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  1. consortium

    commented on consortium's profile

    " Hi Abacay its going fine with us thanks."

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