Neil Ford: Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bottle-Neck, Moog and Vocals Lee Kerslake: Drums, Percussions, Moog and Vocals David “Dave” Paull: Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Moog and Vocals Jan Schelhaas: Piano, Organ, Harmonium and Moog
National Head Band was formed on Liverpool in 1969, by the members of the group The Business, a progressive rock band whose main activity was backing singers and vocal groups such as The Scaffold and Mike Hart.
The Business was: Neil Ford, Guitar and Keyboards; Jan Schelhaas, initially on Bass, later on Keyboards; David Paull on Bass and John Skorsky on Drums.
This band did lots of work for The Scaffold and the money was good. The gigs were varied, some student gigs, others more commercial, playing "Lily the Pink", in Liverpool, a famous act by Scaffold.
Moving to London, the band met Mike Hart and recorded an album with him for John Peel’s Dandelion label in 1970. This was Mike Hart Bleeds, credited to Mike Hart, who was on vocals and guitar.
Later The Business were spotted by the Mighty Mole Management team, who had a name (National Head Band) and wanted a group to fit it. With this name the band was signed by Warner Brothers who insisted on having a second drummer, who turned out to be Lee Kerslake who was in The Gods and Toe Fat, later in Uriah Heep. Lee Kerslake, then replaced John Skorsky on drums, playing also voices, and writing some material for the band (“Too Much Country Water” most known song of the Band often erroneously credited to Uriah Heep).
National Head Band went into the studio with Eddie Offord who did had spectacular success with the “Yes Album”, but unfortunately was going through a messy divorce and so didn’t really have his heart in it, anyway his talented work can clearly be noticed in some tracks of the pitiful ignored album “Albert 1”, their only relase that featured original compositions by Schelhaas with some of the members of the band.
With the album not exactly setting the charts on fire, drummer Lee Kerslake decided to join Uriah Heep. Following his spell in the National Head Band. Jan Schelhaas was asked by new Mighty Mole Management, Clifford Davis, whether he wanted to be part of the Gary Moore Band which went out on CBS.
National Head Band finally dissolves in November of 1971.
Lee Karslake said about National head Band “National Head Band was from Liverpool. They were kind of old Medieval folk with a bit of updated rock. Very, very interesting band. An unusual class band. I liked the music. It was so different. I wrote a few things with the guys. Sort of like Lindisfarne with heavy rock”.
Releases:
Albert 1 produced by Eddie Offord (Warner Bros K 46094) 1971
Members Career
Neil Ford
Member of The Business, after NHB, he plays with Alexis Korner in albums “Just Easy” in 1978, and with Alexis Korner and Friends “The Party Album” in 1979.
Lee Kerslake
Prior to NHB, Lee Kerslake was member of the bands The Gods and Toe Fat, after NHB he plays with Uriah Heep and Ozzy Osbourne, he appears also in Ken Hensley albums, among other works.
David Paull
Member of The Business, after NHB, Dave was founding member of Jonesy. He plays in Ken Hensley solo album “Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf” in 1973.
Jan Schelhaas
Member of the Business, after NHB, Jan Schelhaas was in The Gary Moore Band, Camel and Caravan. Playing also with Thin Lizzy.
Hi Guys Keep up the good work and thanks so much for your efforts in setting this site up Good Job!!! All the very best Jan...................................
