Nicholas Simper...
was born on 3rd November 1945 in Norwood Green, Middlesex. Nick joined his first school group The Renegades in 1960, using a guitar bought by his father. On leaving school, Nick joined The Delta Five.
In search of a more powerful sound, Nick put together Some Other Guys. His first professional gig was with Buddy Britten and the Regents, who later went mod and played as The Simon Raven Cult. Nick's next band in early 1965 was Cyrano and The Bergeracs, but after a couple of months he joined Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, cutting one single before Kidd was killed in a car crash (and Nick was injured).
Nick went into session work before forming The New Pirates in late 1966, with whom he sang and played bass. He then worked with in Billie Davis' backing group in the UK and Hamburg, and met Richie Blackmore again. He also did a short session with Lord Sutch and then joined the Flowerpot Men where played alongside Jon Lord.
When Lord got the backing to form Deep Purple, Simper was invited to join. Nick left before he was fired from Mk1 in July 1969 and after a short time with Marsha Hunt, formed Warhorse in 1970, cutting two albums for Vertigo. He also appeared on a live Lord Sutch album in 1971. Warhorse split in 1974, Nick then forming Dynamite who cut one European single, and Fandango, cutting two albums with them in 1979/80.
Apart from a couple of singles in the early eighties, Nick started his own company, but still gigs at weekends in a rock band called the "Good Ol' Boys".
Music
1960 to 1961 - The Renegades
1961 to November 1963 - The Delta Five
1963 to 1964 - Some Other Guys
November 1964 to September 1965 - Buddy Britten & the Regents
Nick was also in a group called Cyrano & the Bergeracs from January to March 1965.
September 1965 to April 1966 - Simon Raven Cult
May 1966 to October 1966 - Johnny Kidd & the New Pirates
December 1966 to May 1967 - Pirates
October 1967 to February 1968 - The Flowerpot Men
February/March 1968 - Embryonic Deep Purple line-up
People involved
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Jon Lord (keyboards); Nick Simper (bass); Bobby Woodman (drums).
The embryonic Deep Purple considered Chris Curtis and Dave Curtis for the vocalist slot, although neither of them made it any further than that. Bobby Woodman was "a great drummer, but musically not compatible", according to Nick.
March/April 1968 - Roundabout
People involved
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Rod Evans (vocals); Jon Lord (keyboards); Nick Simper (bass); Ian Paice (drums).
The name "Roundabout" was only used by co-manager Tony Edwards, and was never considered by the musicians. The name Deep Purple was chosen on the way to Denmark for a Scandinavian tour in April 1968.
April 1968 to July 1969 - Deep Purple Mk I
People involved
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Rod Evans (vocals); Jon Lord (keyboards); Ian Paice (drums); Nick Simper (bass).
This pioneering line-up recorded three albums: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), Book of Taliesyn (1968) and Deep Purple (1969). In mid-1969, Nick and Rod left after a tip-off that they were going to be sacked. "The others did not have the guts to tell us!" - Nick.
Late 1969 to early 1970 - Marsha Hunt Band
People involved
Marsha Hunt (vocals); Ged Peck (guitar); Roger Pinah, replaced by Mac Poole (drums); Nick Simper (bass); Bobby Stignac (congas).
Eventually, Marsha Hunt got pregnant and decided to quit touring (or perhaps even music biz altogether). The rest of the guys went on to form Warhorse.
June 1970 to July 1974 - Warhorse
People involved
Ashley Holt (vocals); Ged Peck (guitar); Mac Poole (drums); Nick Simper (bass); Frank Wilson (keyboards). Peter Parks replaced Ged Peck on guitar for the Red Sea album.
Warhorse recorded and released two albums, while a third came to the demo stage. The demo tracks are included as bonus tracks on the 1997 reissue of Red Sea.
Formed in 1970 around Nick, Warhorse were understandably close to early Deep Purple in their blend of keyboard-coloured progressive rock and early heavy metal. The group coalesced when Nick joined soul singer Marsha Hunt's backing band, which formed the nucleus of Warhorse. Rick Wakeman, having left the Strawbs and later to join Yes, was in the original Warhorse line-up but was fired due to unreliability.
With their early hard/rock metal sounds and a singer (Ashley Holt) who could roll into over-serious, high stentorian vocal phrases, the group have been compared to early Black Sabbath, although they lacked the hooks necessary to achieve the same level of success as Sabbath or Purple.
Warhorse broke up in 1974, with drummer Mac Poole joining Gong, and Holt and drummer Barney James (who briefly replaced Poole in Warhorse's final days) going to Rick Wakeman's band.
June 1971 - Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends
People involved
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Anette Brox (vocals); Victor Brox (vocals); Matthew Fisher (keyboards); Brian Keith (vcl/trm); Carlo Little (drums); Keith Moon (drums); Sid Phillips (saxophone); Noel Redding (bass); Nick Simper (bass); David Sutch (vocals).
Screaming Lord Sutch assembled some rock celebrities for a one night gig in a London pub. The whole thing was recorded, though apparently nobody besides Sutch himself knew that. The recordings were later released as the Hands Of Jack the Ripper album in 1971.
1975 - Dynamite
People involved
James Royal (vocals); Pete Parks (guitar); Nick Simper (bass); John Carroll (keyboards); Mick Richardson (drums).
Shortlived outfit assembled by Nick and guitarist Pete Parks. Session vocals were handled by James Royal. Strangely the single, 'St. Louis' a re-work of a previous Warhorse single, only surfaced in Italy and is now a highly sought after item. Simper and Parks were involved in protracted legal efforts when another of their songs was, totally uncredited to the duo, made a hit in America by an act called MARIAH in 1976.
Mid 1974 to mid 1978 - Nick came to work as a writer and house musician for a management company together with Pete Parks. This lasted till he formed Fandango sometime during 1978.
April 1978 till 1980 - Nick Simper's Fandango
People involved
Neil McArthur (keyboards); Peter Parks (guitar/vocals); Ron Penney (drums); Jim Proops (vocals); Nick Simper (bass/vocals).
Simultaneously with Fandango, both Simper and Parks were also in a touring band called Flying Fox.
From 1978/79 to 1980 - Flying Fox
People involved
Carlo Little (drums); Pete Parks (guitar); Frankie Reid (vocals); Nick Simper (bass).
August 1980 - Nick Simper's Fandango
People involved
Peter Parks (guitar/vocals); Mac Poole (drums); Jim Proops (vocals); Nick Simper (bass/vocals); Mathew Fisher (keyboards).
From 1980 to 1984/1985 - Flying Fox
People involved
Alan Barratt (vocals); James Royal (vocals); Ron Harwood (vocals); Carlo Little (drums); Pete Parks (guitar); Nick Simper (bass).
From 1985-ish to the present - The Good Ol' Boys
People involved
Peter Parks (guitar/vocal); Alan Barratt (vocals); Simon Bishop (guitar); Nick Simper (bass); Richard Hudson (drums); plus occasional drummers Gary Harvey, Terry Sullivan, Chris Hunt.
When Flying Fox eventually collapsed, Simper and Parks quickly formed a new band.
Slideshow photos of the Good Ol' Boys at the Horns, Watford, UK 25th November 2006 (c) 2006 John Seymour. http://TheBaldPhotographer.com
The Good Ol' Boys were originally formed as a vehicle to play live Rock ‘n Roll whenever the members were free from touring with their own bands. The astounding response they received has led them to become a successful band in their own right, with their combined talents providing a perfect blend for the 50s, 60s Rock n Roll / R&B enthusiast. An evening with the Good Old Boys is an exhilarating experience and one not to be missed. Alan Barratt (lead singer) started his professional careers singing with Jo-Jo Gun. He has worked alongside the likes of Chip Hawkes (Tremeloes), Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers and the Carlo Little Band (Stones). His unique, understated, relaxed vocal style has led to his continued success and popularity, making him one of the most sought after names in Rock n Roll today. Nick Simper (bass & vocals) needs no introduction. His name is synonymous with one of the greatest rock bands ever, Deep Purple, of which he was a founder member. He first played professionally with Johnny Kidd and The Pirates and his vintage bass playing is the bedrock of the band. Peter Parks (guitar & vocals) played alongside Nick simper in the Deep Purple offshoot band Warhorse. He subsequently went on to record albums with the much acclaimed Fandango and has performed with BB King, Paul McCartney and Simple Minds. His fine rock and blues guitar playing is a huge asset to the band. Simon Bishop (guitar & vocals) was originally a session guitarist for the BBC. He has toured with Renaissance, High Society and The Monks (of Nice Legs Shame About The Face) and has recently returned from session work in Nashville where his unique country rock guitar style places him in great demand. Richard Hudson (drums and vocals) is the well-known charismatic percussionist from The Strawbs. His career encompasses periods with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Hudson Ford, High Society and The Monks. He has toured recently with Rick Wakeman and is responsible, along with John ford, for the unmistakable “Part Of The Union”
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