December 1974
SINGLES
PRETTY THINGS- Is It Only Love/ Joey (Swansong)
ALBUMS
ARGENT- Encore (Epic)
RUSS BALLARD- Russ Ballard (Epic)
BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST- Live (Polydor)
BECK BOGART APPICE- Alive (Epic)
JACK BRUCE- Out Of The Storm (RSO)
KEITH CHRISTMAS- Brighter Day (Manticore)
EGG- The Civil Surface (Caroline)
FRUUPP- Prince Of Heaven's Eyes (Dawn)
GENESIS- The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Charisma)
GENTLE GIANT- The Power & The Glory (WWA)
SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND- The Impossible Dream (Vertigo)
ISOTOPE- Illusion (Gull)
JIGSAW- I've Seen The Film, I've Read The Book (BASF)
LADY JUNE- Lady June's Linguistic Leprosy (Caroline)
MERLIN- Merlin (CBS)
MOTT THE HOOPLE- Live (CBS)
NUCLEUS- Under The Sun (Vertigo)
PRETTY THINGS- Silk Torpedo (Swansong)
BRIAN PROTHEROE- Pinball (Chrysalis)
ROXY MUSIC- Country Life (Island)
SLADE- In Flame (Polydor)
SNAFU- Situation Normal (WWA)
STARRY EYED & LAUGHING- Starry Eyed & Laughing (CBS)
ROD STEWART- Smiler (Mercury)
STRING DRIVEN THING- Please Mind Your Head (Charisma)
SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER- Beat Of The Street (Island)
SWEET- Desolation Boulevard (RCA)
THIN LIZZY- Night Life (Vertigo)
HAPPENING
Mick Taylor drops a bombshell when he quits the Rolling Stones to join Jack Bruce's new band.
Gentle Giant cancel a major UK Tour for a second time within three months. Whereas the first cancellation was due to an extension of the group's US commitments, this time it's down to lead singer Derek Shulman suffering from a severe stomach ulcer.
Another group forced to cancel gigs are Pilot. Vocalist David Paton collapses before a scheduled gig in Shrewsbury suffering from severe laryngitis and strained vocal cords.
Bryan Ferry plays several solo concerts, backed by an orchestra, which inevitably leads to rumours of a Roxy Music split.
Ian Hunter apparently begins recording a solo album, assisted by Mick Ronson. Seeing as officially he is supposed to be resting after his collapse the previous month, speculation increases that there is an impending split in Mott the Hoople. This is confirmed when it's revealed that Hunter has signed a 'six-figure' solo deal with CBS. Remaining Mott members Overend Watts, Dale Griffin and Morgan Fisher decide to stay together and begin a search for a new vocalist and guitarist.
Jon Hiseman announces that he is forming a second incarnation of Colosseum, to be imaginatively called Colosseum II. The group will feature ex Skid Row & Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore and are scheduled to go on the road in the New Year.
CBS sign a new group, Jet. The group includes Davy O'List (ex-Nice, Roxy Music), Andy Ellison and Chris Townsend (ex-John's Children), Martin Gordon and Pete Oxendale (ex-Sparks).
Ginger Baker introduces his new group, The Baker-Gurvitz Army. The other members are Adrian & Paul Gurvitz, ex-members of Gun and Three Man Army.
After completing their UK tour with a reformed Curved Air, Daryl Way and Sonja Kristina decide to stay together under the group name, but with a new line-up which includes Mick Jacques on guitar and an ambitious young drummer by the name of Stewart Copeland.
Jonathan Kelly's group Outside disband after completing their gig commitments. Kelly plans to form a smaller group.
Gypsy decide to disband. The break-up is apparently forced upon them by 'managerial problems'.
The BBC chop late-night Rock shows from the Radio 1 schedule as part of an economy drive (some things never change eh?) The 10pm-Midnight 'Sounds Of The 70s' shows are binned and four DJs--Bob Harris, Stuart Henry, Alan Black and David Simmons--are sacked. John Peel escapes the axe but his Top Gear show is moved to an early evening spot, after which Radio's 1 and 2 merge.
BBC2 TV "Old Grey Whistle Test": Sutherland Brothers & Quiver (3rd), Live footage of Bad Company, Ace, Leo Sayer plus highlights of the series (31st)
ITV "45"- Roy Harper (5th), Medicine Head (12th), Xmas Special featuring Queen, Rick Wakeman & Dave Cousins, Colin Blunstone, Russ Ballard and many others (25th)
ITV "Geordie Scene"- Sweet (5th)
ITV "Lift Off"- Peter Noone, Mr Big (10th)
BBC Radio 1:
"In Concert": Thin Lizzy, Starry Eyed & Laughing (7th), Pretty Things, Jasper Carrott (!) (14th), Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (21st), Highlights of 1974 show (28th)
Sounds On Sunday: Pete Atkin (1st), Ace (8th), Emerson Lake & Palmer (15th), Thin Lizzy (29th)
Sounds Of Jazz: Back Door (1st)
Bob Harris: Ace (2nd)
GIGS
Aberdeen University- Seventh Wave (6th)
Abingdon Tech College- 'O' (7th)
Aylesbury Friars- Fruupp (7th), String Driven Thing, Jess Roden (21st), Sutherland Brothers & Quiver (28th)
Barnsley Civic Hall- Be Bop Deluxe (1st)
Basingstoke Tech College- Beckett (20th)
Bath University- Groundhogs, Stray (6th)
Batley Variety Club- Hollies (1st-7th)
Bedford College of Education- Greenslade (7th)
Bedford Corn Exchange- Edgar Broughton Band (11th)
Belfast Ulster Hall- Rory Gallagher (27th)
Birmingham Barbarella's- Sassafras (8th), Budgie (10th), Ace (11th), 'O' (15th)
Birmingham College of Food- Troggs (17th)
Birmingham Hippodrome- Pink Floyd (3rd, 4th, 5th), Steeleye Span (8th)
Birmingham Odeon- Hawkwind (15th), Bryan Ferry (18th)
Birmingham Town Hall- Supertramp (2nd), Gentle Giant (8th, cancelled), Rory Gallagher (16th), Argent (20th)
Bisley NRA Pavilion- Fusion Orchestra (5th)
Blackburn King George's Hall- Status Quo, Snafu (9th)
Blackburn Tech College- Beckett (30th)
Blackpool Opera House- Rory Gallagher (5th), Status Quo, Snafu (6th), Faces (10th, 11th)
Blackpool Roxy Theatre- 'O' (10th)
Bognor College- Mike Absalom (9th)
Bognor Rex Club- Pilot (17th)
Bolton Institute of Technology- Byzantium (14th)
Bolton Nevada- Merlin (14th)
Bournemouth Locarno- Stackridge (10th)
Bournemouth Winter Gardens- Faces (6th), Supertramp (9th), Uriah Heep (13th), Bad Company (16th)
Brighton Dome- Steeleye Span (2nd), Rory Gallagher (11th)
Brighton Polytechnic- Babe Ruth (14th)
Bristol Churchill School- Sassafras (18th)
Bristol Clifton Hill House- Fusion Orchestra (6th)
Bristol Colston Hall- Argent (8th), Bad Company (9th), Sweet (10th), Rory Gallagher (13th), Gentle Giant (16th, cancelled)
Bristol Hippodrome- Pink Floyd (13th, 14th)
Bristol Locarno- Stackridge (22nd)
Bristol Mangotsfield Social Club- Marmalade (14th)
Bristol Nurses Home- Tremeloes (16th)
Bristol Polytechnic- Curved Air (5th)
Bristol Redlands College- Sassafras (7th)
Bristol St Matthias College- Quicksand (10th)
Bristol Town Hall- Bad Company (15th)
Bristol University- Fusion Orchestra (14th)
Bristol Victoria Rooms- Supertramp (12th), Keith Christmas (19th)
Cambridge Corn Exchange- Barclay James Harvest (7th), Rory Gallagher (14th), Edgar Broughton Band (21st)
Cambridge Grenadier Club- Tremeloes (20th)
Canterbury Tech College- Rare Bird (14th)
Cardiff Capitol- Status Quo, Snafu (3rd), Uriah Heep (12th), Rory Gallagher (17th)
Cardiff Chapter Arms Centre- Paul Brett (15th)
Cardiff HTV Social Club- Sassafras (31st)
Cardiff Lyn Ygrant Hall- JSD Band (6th)
Cardiff University- Curved Air (4th), Sassafras (11th)
Chelmsford Chancellor Hall- Fruupp (22nd)
Cheltenham Pavilion- Isotope (20th)
Cheltenham Town Hall- Argent (5th)
Chester ABC- Steeleye Span (7th)
Chippenham Tech College- Stray (13th)
Cleethorpes Pier Pavilion- Pilot (14th)
Coleraine Ulster University- Edgar Broughton Band (7th)
Cork City Hall- Steeleye Span (13th)
Cork Savoy- Rory Gallagher (28th, 29th, 30th)
Coventry Lanchester Polytechnic- Curved Air (6th)
Coventry Locarno- Pilot (9th)
Coventry Theatre- Status Quo, Snafu (8th), Rory Gallagher (15th)
Crawley Tech College- Babe Ruth (20th)
Crewe College- String Driven Thing (7th), Rare Bird (19th)
Croydon Fairfield Hall- Pete Atkin, Juliet Lawson (5th), Fairport Convention (8th)
Croydon Greyhound- Stackridge (1st), Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (8th), Budgie (15th), Greenslade (22nd), Stray (29th)
Croydon Trinity School- Keith Christmas (14th)
Dagenham Roundhouse- Groundhogs (7th), Greenslade (14th), Heavy Metal Kids (21st)
Darlington College- Fusion Orchestra (21st)
Doncaster College- Jack The Lad (7th)
Dorchester Tavern- Sassafras (27th)
Dublin Stadium- Steeleye Span (14th)
Dundee Art College- Troggs (12th)
Dundee Tech College- JSD Band (13th)
Durham University- Hatfield & The North, Kevin Coyne, Coxhill & Miller (7th)
Eastbourne College- Byzantium (7th)
Edinburgh Caley Cinema- Argent (1st)
Edinburgh Odeon- Faces (13th)
Edinburgh University- Budgie (6th)
Edinburgh Usher Hall- Steeleye Span (5th), Gentle Giant (14th, cancelled)
Edmonton Cooks Ferry Inn- Sassafras (2nd), 'O' (23rd)
Epping Treetops- Mike Absalom (3rd)
Exeter University- Stackridge (9th)
Fareham tech College- Seventh Wave (20th)
Fishguard Frenchman's Motel- Fusion Orchestra (11th), Tremeloes (21st), Sassafras (24th)
Folkstone Leas Cliff Hall- Curved Air (7th), 'O' (16th)
Gilfac Festival Club- Fusion Orchestra (12th)
Glasgow Apollo- Rory Gallagher (1st, 2nd), Bad Company (3rd, 4th), Steeleye Span (6th), Gentle Giant (11th, cancelled), Hawkwind (13th), Faces (14th, 16th, 17th, 18th)
Glasgow Art College- Mike Absalom (2nd)
Glasgow University- Budgie (7th)
Goole Vikings Hotel- Casuals (7th)
Great Yarmouth Tiffanys- Groundhogs, Stray (12th)
Guildford University of Surrey- Greenslade (6th)
Halifax Civic Centre- Rare Bird (10th)
Halifax Clarence's- Rare Bird (11th)
Hanley Heavy Steam Machine- Gentle Giant (10th, cancelled), Pilot (12th)
Hanley Place- Jigsaw (14th)
Hanley Victoria Hall- Bad Company (13th)
Harrogate Royal Hall- Wally (20th)
Harrow Tithe Farm House- Jonathan Kelly's Outside (8th)
Hastings Pier Pavilion- Fusion Orchestra (7th), Edgar Broughton Band (28th)
Hemel Hempstead Decorum College- Byzantium (13th)
Hemel Hempstead Pavilion- Greenslade, Mike Hugg Band (1st), Wizzard (14th)
High Wycombe Nags Head- Rare Bird (12th)
Hucknall Plough & Harrow- 'O' (13th)
Hull University- Sweet (6th)
Ipswich Gaumont- Rory Gallagher (9th)
Kelsterton Clwyd College- Be Bop Deluxe (5th)
Kingston Polytechnic- Roy Harper (7th), Starry Eyed & Laughing (11th)
Lancaster St Martin's College- Starry Eyed & Laughing (13th)
Lancaster University- Bad Company (7th)
Leeds Town Hall- Gentle Giant (6th, cancelled), Bad Company (10th)
Leeds University- Be Bop Deluxe (4th), Status Quo, Snafu (7th)
Leicester De Montfort Hall- Steeleye Span (9th)
Leicester Polytechnic- Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (7th)
Liverpool Empire- Status Quo, Snafu (2nd), Steeleye Span (4th), Bad Company (11th), Neutrons, 'O' (14th)
Liverpool Polytechnic- Hatfield & The North, Kevin Coyne, Coxhill & Miller (6th)
Liverpool Royal Court- Gentle Giant (12th, cancelled)
Liverpool Stadium- Rory Gallagher (4th), Keith Christmas (7th), Argent (11th), Budgie (12th), Neutrons (14th)
Llanharran Welfare Hall- Quicksand (6th)
London 100 Club- Starry Eyed & Laughing (10th)
London Biba's- Starry Eyed & Laughing (27th, 28th)
London Camden Dingwalls- Sassafras (4th), Steve Gibbons Band (13th), Jonathan Kelly's Outside (14th), Brinsley Schwarz (28th, 30th, 31st)
London Central Polytechnic- 'O' (6th)
London Chalk Farm Roundhouse- Carol Grimes (1st, supporting Freddie King), Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Jess Roden (8th), Ace, Chilli Willi etc (15th), Heavy Metal Kids, Dr Feelgood etc (22nd), Pretty Things, Keith Christmas, String Driven Thing (29th)
London City Polytechnic- Wally (7th)
London College of Printing- Michael Chapman (6th)
London Drury Lane Theatre Royal- Fairport Convention (1st)
London East Ham Granada- Status Quo, Snafu (17th)
London Fulham Greyhound- Isotope (22nd), 'O' (29th)
London Goldsmiths College- Fusion Orchestra (4th)
London Greenwich McMillan College- Sassafras (5th)
London Hammersmith Odeon- Eric Clapton (4th, 5th), Status Quo, Snafu (13th, 14th), Elton John (20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th)
London Hendon Middlesex Polytechnic- Babe Ruth (6th)
London Highbury Tech College- Babe Ruth (19th)
London Highgate Tech College- Babe Ruth (21st)
London Holborn Royalty Theatre- Kinks (20th, 21st, 22nd)
London Hornsey Art College- Jonathan Kelly's Outside (5th)
London Imperial College- Sweet (7th)
London Islington Hope & Anchor- 'O' (5th), Moon (10th), Ace (31st)
London Kilburn Gaumont- Alvin Lee & Co (14th), Faces (21st, 22nd, 23rd)
London Marquee- Sassafras (1st), Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (3rd, 4th), String Driven Thing (5th), Keith Christmas (6th), Sam Apple Pie (8th), Jonathan Kelly's Outside (11th), Moonrider (12th), McGuinness Flint (15th), JSD Band (16th), Stan Webb (17th), rare Bird (18th), Beckett (19th), Medicine Head (20th), Winkies (21st), Fusion Orchestra (22nd), Sutherland Brothers & Quiver (23rd), Strider (24th), UFO (27th), Stray (28th), Amazing Blondel (29th), Edgar Broughton Band (30th), Heavy Metal Kids (31st)
London Peckham Newlands Tavern- Sassafras (3rd)
London Rainbow Theatre- Argent (6th), Wally (12th, supporting Lynyrd Skynyrd), Bad Company (18th, 19th), Rory Gallagher (20th, 21st), Gentle Giant (22nd, cancelled)
London Royal Albert Hall- David Bedford conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with guest Steve Hillage playing the works of Mike Oldfield (9th), Bryan Ferry (19th)
London School of Economics- Neutrons (7th)
London Southbank Polytechnic- Sassafras, Chilli Willi etc (6th)
London Torrington- Kevin Coyne (1st), Jonathan Kelly's Outside (15th)
London Twickenham Winning Post- Thin Lizzy (1st), Stackridge (8th), Sutherland Brothers & Quiver (15th), Stray (22nd), Ace (29th)
London Victoria Palace- Fruupp (8th, cancelled because the venue was installing a new safety curtain!), Supertramp (15th)
London Westminster College- Mike Absalom (14th)
Loughborough University- Wizzard, Babe Ruth (7th)
Lowestoft South Pier Pavilion- Merlin (31st)
Maidstone tech College- Groundhogs, Stray (19th)
Manchester Free Trade Hall- Gentle Giant (9th, cancelled), Rory Gallagher (19th)
Manchester Hard Rock- Argent (3rd)
Manchester University- Be Bop Deluxe (7th)
Manchester Palace- Pink Floyd (9th, 10th), Bad Company (12th), Hawkwind (14th)
Middlesbrough Polytechnic- Mike Absalom (5th)
Middlesbrough Town Hall- Sweet (5th)
Narbeth Queen's Hall- Sassafras (26th)
Newcastle City Hall- Bad Company (1st), Argent (2nd), Rory Gallagher (6th), John Entwistle's Ox (8th), Hawkwind (12th) Gentle Giant (13th, cancelled), Bryan Ferry (17th)
Newport Ringlands Social Club- Marmalade (12th)
Newton Abbot Agricultural College- Sassafras (12th)
Norwich City College- Byzantium (12th)
Norwich University of East Anglia- Fairport Convention (4th), Gentle Giant (7th, cancelled)
Nottingham Boat Club- Gypsy (21st, their final gig), UFO (28th)
Nottingham College of Education- Sutherland Brothers & Quiver (13th)
Nottingham Trent Polytechnic- Be Bop Deluxe (6th)
Nottingham University- JSD Band (7th), Curved Air (10th)
Oldham tech College- Stray, Strife (21st)
Oxford New Theatre- Faces (8th), Uriah Heep (14th)
Paignton Penelope's- Sassafras (28th)
Paisley Tech College- Troggs (13th)
Penarth Paget Rooms- Quicksand (5th), Good Habit (28th)
Penzance Garden- 'O' (27th)
Peterborough ABC- Steeleye Span (1st)
Plymouth Guild Hall- Stackridge (7th), Argent (13th), Gentle Giant (19th, cancelled)
Portsmouth Locarno- Curved Air (3rd)
Preston Guild Hall- Supertramp (1st), Bad Company (6th), Argent (9th)
Reading University- Fairport Convention (6th)
Redruth Regal- Gentle Giant (18th, cancelled)
Rhondda Judges hall- Fusion Orchestra (18th)
Rotherham Lady Mabel College- Starry Eyed & Laughing (6th)
Salisbury RAF Upavon- Tremeloes (12th)
Salford University- Sweet (3rd)
Scunthorpe Baths Hall- Medicine Head, Seventh Wave (28th)
Sheffield City Hall- Rory Gallagher (3rd), Gentle Giant (5th, cancelled), Argent (10th), John Entwistle's Ox (17th)
Sheffield University- Fairport Convention (7th)
Shrewsbury Tiffanys- Marmalade (15th)
Sittingbourne Town Hall- Beckett (5th)
Slough Community Centre- Fruupp (5th), Groundhogs (20th)
Southampton Gaumont- Status Quo, Snafu (16th)
Southampton Guild Hall- Fairport Convention (2nd)
Southampton University- Wally (6th)
Southend Kursaal- Hawkwind (21st)
Southend Queen's Hotel- Fusion Orchestra (8th), Be Bop Deluxe (15th)
Southport Floral Hall- Groundhogs (5th), Rory Gallagher (18th)
Southport Theatre- John Entwistle's Ox (13th)
South Trafford Tech College- Edgar Broughton Band (20th)
Spennymoor Top Hat- Beckett (9th)
Stafford Borough Hall- Good Habit (19th)
St Albans City Hall- Argent (21st)
Stockton Globe Theatre- Status Quo, Snafu (10th)
Stoke Alsager College- Mike Absalom (6th)
Stoke North Staffs Polytechnic- Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (6th)
Stoke Trentham Gardens- Faces (1st)
Sunderland Empire- Status Quo, Snafu (1st), Rory Gallagher (8th)
Sunderland Polytechnic- Beckett (12th)
Sutton-in-Ashfield Golden Diamond- Nutz (2nd), Strife (6th), 'O' (9th), Blackfoot Sue (15th), Ace (16th), Stan Webb (20th), Sassafras (23rd), Montanas (28th), fable (31st)
Sutton Coldfield College- Starry Eyed & Laughing (20th)
Swansea Brangwyn Hall- Argent (12th)
Swindon RAF Lynham- Marmalade (13th)
Taunton Odeon- Faces (3rd, 4th)
Taunton Somerset Art College- Heavy Metal Kids, Strife (17th)
Thurrock Thames Side Theatre- Starry Eyed & Laughing (17th)
Tiverton College- Merlin (20th)
Torquay Pavilion- Stackridge (13th)
Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall- Groundhogs, Stray (17th)
Uxbridge Brunel University- Steeleye Span (11th), Brinsley Schwarz (16th)
Wakefield Bretton Hall College- Byzantium, Jack The Lad (6th)
Wakefield Norman Hotel- Sassafras (9th)
Warminster Assembly Hall- Pilot (7th)
Whitley Bay Rex Hotel- Jack The Lad (22nd)
Wolverhampton Lafayette- Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance (5th)
Worthing Pier Pavilion- Wizzard (2nd), Greenslade, 9.30 Fly (11th)
Wrexham Fagin's- Tremeloes (13th)
Yeovil Duke Of York- Sassafras (19th)
Yeolvil Johnson Hall- Stackridge (12th)
Yeovil Sparkford Inn- Pilot (18th)
York Goldrick College- Rare Bird (7th)