The Kursaal Flyers

The Kursaal Flyers were a British pub rock / pop band of the 1970s. They were known primarily for their Top 20 hit "Little Does She Know".

  • 3.1 Singles
  • 3.2 albums
  • 3.3 Paul Shuttleworth Solo Singles

Band History

Beginnings in Southend

The Kursaal Flyers were founded in late 1973 in Southend -on-Sea, England, by Paul Shuttleworth, Richie Bull, Will Birch, Vic Collins, Graeme Douglas and Dave Hatfield. Their experiences in various local bands (including Surly Birds, Thoma Hawks, Saints'n'Sinners ) made ​​sure that she wore as a group together their own style from various directions: from rock to bluegrass, from Pop to Country ( Bull had for various Country & Western Stars played on tour ).

They studied in the winter 1973/1974 about 25 songs, and from February 1974, the band performed twice a week in the Blue Boar restaurant in Southend on. They gave their name after a carousel in an amusement park of their hometown. Several band members knew musicians of Dr. Feelgood, and by this contact, they came to their first appearances in London.

Across Europe in the charts

A tour of Western Europe as the opening act of the Flying Burrito Brothers followed. In London she had seen and recommended a friend of Jonathan King. King gave them a recording contract in early 1975 for his UK Records label. Hatfield left the band, and Bull took over the bass. Birch (texts ) and Douglas and Bull ( music) wrote new, original songs.

Three singles and two albums later, the Kursaal Flyers switched to CBS Records. There, Mike Batt her producer, the ( cartoon characters of a TV series, which campaigned for environmental protection, but also under this name records published and placed in the British hit parade ) at this time, especially as the mastermind of the project of " Wombles " was known was.

The LP " Golden Mile " was born, and one of the songs was written by Birch, Douglas, and Shuttleworth and Batt extremely over- produced track called "Little Does She Know", the CBS published as a single. The song shot into the charts (UK: 14th, 9 weeks, 1976), the band played a little later in Top of the Pops.

Disintegration

Despite the hit it was a dispute in the band; Graeme Douglas said, Batt made ​​the band commercially. He left the Kursaal Flyers and emerged a few weeks later in the early punks Eddie & the Hot Rods, for which he also their hit " Do Anything You Wanna Do" wrote. Barry Martin replaced him. A European tour followed to promote the hit, but it was to feel the end already.

All efforts to land another hit went missing. The manager took a steady job at Stiff Records. Vic Collins went ( and was replaced by John Wicks ). The recording sessions for the next album were aborted instead released a live album. During a tour in autumn 1977 ( opening act: the punks The Cortinas ) also had singer Shuttleworth enough. He announced that he wanted to go solo. The rest of the band agreed to the resolution.

The Kursaal Flyers were over almost four years, an excellent and popular live band - and a big hit with the critics; the British music press, which has always been very fond of them, mourned the end of the group. The " Best of " album In for a Spin ( 1985) shows why. The Kursaal Flyers sold only to small plates - but were more successful than they themselves had previously ever imagined.

Reunions and other projects

Paul Shuttleworth brought out a number of solo albums on CBS. Will Birch and John Wicks made ​​with other musicians as The Records continue and had thus recorded in the U.S. with some success. Birch was later in-house producer for Stiff Records and Demon. Barry Martin founded the label making waves.

1985, the Kursaal Flyers brief break for a new tour for the promotion of In for a spin; In 1988, she took on a new album. In 2001 she went on tour again, with John Otway, Dr. Feelgood and Canned Heat.

Band Members

  • Paul Shuttleworth ( born December 24, 1947 London) - Vocals
  • Richie Bull ( born October 23, 1948 Corringham, Essex ) - Banjo, (from 1975 :) Bass
  • Will Birch (born 12 September 1948 London) - drums
  • Vic Collins ( born September 10, 1950 Rochford, Essex ) - Guitar ( Pedal Steel )
  • Graeme Douglas ( born January 22, 1950 Rochford, Essex ) - Guitar ( Lead), 1973-1976
  • Dave Hatfield - Bass, 1973-1975
  • Barry Martin - guitar (from 1976)
  • John Wicks - Guitar ( 1977)

Discography

Singles

Albums

Paul Shuttleworth Solo Singles

Sources / Links

  • Homepage of the Kursaal Flyers
  • Rock band
  • English band
Rock music Bluegrass music Country music Singing
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