Original Facebook Posts / Aug 2011 / ANDY COLQUHOUN

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UNDER-APPRECIATED ROCK ARTIST OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST 2011: ANDY COLQUHOUN

A side man can be a wonderful thing for a musician. For rock bands without keyboard players (and that was true of many in the 1960’s), Nicky Hopkins was the go-to guy if you wanted a pianist: He played with everybody from Jefferson Airplane to Jeff Beck Group to Steve Miller Band, and with simply every big British Invasion group: the Beatles, the Kinks, the Who, and especially the Rolling Stones. His name appears on dozens of albums from the late 1960’s into the 1980’s. Hopkins released a couple of solo albums that I have never gotten around to buying, but I sure remember one of the first songs that I heard on college radio at North Carolina State University. It was “Edward the Mad Shirt Grinder”; Nicky Hopkins was officially a member of Quicksilver Messenger Service at that time, and the song was the final track on their album, Shady Grove (1969). Hopkins wrote it, and it was all his piano work along with a backing band.

Another man who stands out in my memory is Papa John Creach, who played electric violin – an instrument that I had never heard of previously – for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna beginning in 1970; he also stuck it out with Jefferson Starship through the Red Octopus album. He provided an added dimension to these 1960’s stalwarts, and the presence of that gray hair in the midst of the much younger musicians in the two bands made it clear that you didn’t have to be a kid to rock out.

Guest vocalists are another common feature of rock albums and rock concerts. The only time Led Zeppelin used one was when Sandy Denny gave a stirring performance as the second vocalist on “The Battle of Evermore” on their landmark fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV; she even got a special symbol by her name in the musician credits to go with the “ZOSO” symbols used by the four bandmembers. For those of you who know her only from that song, you owe it to yourself to check out her ground-breaking work on the early albums of Fairport Convention, particularly Liege and Leaf, which is generally considered to be the greatest English folk album of all time. Her alto voice had a purity and a piercing clarity that even most opera divas can’t muster.

You never really know though what is going to happen when a side man or side woman issues a solo album. The best guest vocalist performance on a Rolling Stones song is unquestionably Merry Clayton’s incredible harmony vocals on “Gimme Shelter”, yet her solo album was somewhat disappointing, even on her own version of that song.

It is inaccurate to call ANDY COLQUHOUN a side man as I originally did in the Facebook post; he would be better described as a collaborator with Mick Farren and is a full-fledged, latter-day bandmember (mostly on lead guitar) in Farren’s band the Deviants (originally the Social Deviants). For example, on the excellent 1996 CD Eating Jello with a Heated Fork, Andy Colquhoun cowrote 5 of the 9 songs with Mick Farren.

Long before Andy joined up, the Deviants were one of the leading “underground rock” bands; their 1967 album Ptooff! is a classic in that little known genre. The band sprang up in the British psychedelic mélange that spawned Pink Floyd, Tomorrow, Hawkwind, and several other like-minded bands; the epicenter for the scene was the UFO Club (pronounced “oo-foe” in an interview of Farren at the club that is on one of their CD’s). The Deviants’ music is a dense stew of proto-punk, psychedelia and blues rock, with percussion and voice loops and screaming and a host of other effects. The album cover on Ptooff! is also a treat, with a water-color science-fiction scene and a remarkable collection of quotes, including a corruption of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that appears on the back cover: “When the mode of the music changes, the walls of the city shake!!”.

The Deviants were also strongly left-wing politically, and their songs feature unabashed screeds and sharp social commentary. Check out this candid declaration that introduced their third album, The Deviants #3: “We are the people who creep in the night / We are the people who hide from the light / We are the people who pervert your children / Lead them astray from the lessons you taught them / We are endangering civilization / We are beyond rehabilitation”.

In about 1970, Mick Farren formed the Pink Fairies with Steve Peregrin Took – formerly the other half of Tyrannosaurus Rex with Marc Bolan, who then shortened the name to T. Rex – and Twink, the drummer for a terrific R&B band in 1964-1965 called the Fairies; he was also in Tomorrow and drummed for the Pretty Things for a while. The Pink Fairies had the same great sound as the Deviants sans the politics, though Farren dropped out almost immediately and kept his earlier band alive instead.

Mick Farren is still recording albums regularly and has become a respected rock critic, journalist, and science fiction novelist. I used to read an occasional piece that he wrote for The Village Voice both before and after I lived in New York; one mused on why the English had such bad dental hygiene and featured a photo quiz asking the reader to match photos of rotten teeth with celebrities’ names (including one member of the royal family). The acclaimed retrospective of the world of Greg Shaw called Bomp! / Saving the World One Record at a Time lists Mick Farren as the co-author with Suzy Shaw, Greg’s business partner and ex-wife.

Andy Colquhoun and Mick Farren first got together in 1977 when Andy asked Mick to help out with lyrics for some of the songs on the album he was making with the punk band Warsaw Pakt. Andy had previously been in an R&B band called the Rockets and started the band with two members of that band, John Manly and Jimmie Coull.

You might remember the direct-to-disc recording technique that was briefly popular among audiophiles toward the putative end of the vinyl era in the late 1970’s; the recorded music from the studio is transferred directly to a master disk without intervening taping and overdubbing and such. Warsaw Pakt has the distinction of performing on the first such transfer among rock recordings and even got an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for their trouble. Of course, this was also the standard means of recording music after Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, well into the 1950’s.

Andy Colquhoun returned the favor by playing bass and performing some vocals for an EP called Screwed Up that was released on Stiff Records under the name Mick Farren and the Deviants. In 1978, Andy was one of the bandmembers backing Farren on a really nice solo album with a great title, Vampires Stole My Lunch Money. Chrissie Hynde, the lead singer of Pretenders also performed on the album 18 months before their first album, Pretenders came out.

In 1987, the long-awaited reunion of the Pink Fairies materialized with Kill ’Em and Eat ’Em; Mick Farren provided only the liner notes (and likely some inspiration). Musicians on the album included Andy Colquhoun, plus original member Twink as the drummer and vocalist, Duncan (Sandy) Sanderson (bass), Russell Hunter (drums), and Larry Wallis (guitar), who joined the band for their third album, Kings of Oblivion (where the musician credits list him as playing “big guitar”). Two years later, Andy, Sandy and Russell began performing and recording as Flying Colours – essentially the Pink Fairies but without the name.

In 1996, Andy Colquhoun and Mick Farren hooked up again for a Deviants reunion album, Eating Jello with a Heated Fork (the cover photo shows a human brain next to a glowing silver fork). That was the first Deviants album I had purchased since the original three came out 25 years previously or longer – and was it a sound for sore ears! I just about played that CD to death, and I have picked up close to a dozen more albums by Mick and the guys since then, in a variety of bands and permutations.

Over a 25-year time span, as recounted on his website, www.andycolquhoun.com, Andy Colquhoun had been in numerous bands in addition to hanging out with Mick Farren and the Deviants. From this body of work, he pieced together his first solo album in 2001, Pick up the Phone, America!. The album came out on a Japanese label, Captain Trip Records – if the name sounds vaguely familiar, Captain Trips was the name of the deliberately mutated influenza virus that laid waste to the world at the beginning of the Stephen King epic novel The Stand. Between Captain Trip and the Bomp! Records label Total Energy, virtually the entire Deviants/Mick Farren catalogue is now happily back in print.

As Andy Colquhoun said in the original promotional material for the CD, “I’ve put as much guitar on it as possible” – and did he ever. The title song, “Pick up the Phone, America” opens the album and features Andy – in the guise of a “scumbag telemarketer”, as the opening lyrics on the album put it – sparring with a young lady that he is trying to interest in his spiel. Another light-hearted track called “Creepy Beach” closes the CD, done in a surf-rock style. I found out later that this is part of a whole series of “creepy” songs that culminated in “Creepy Christmas”.

Over the years, the Pink Fairies had put most of their great early tracks on vinyl, but several rockcrits noticed one that had not yet made it: “Runnin’ Outta Road”. Andy Colquhoun includes the Flying Colours recording of this song on his solo CD – as noted, Andy is joined on the track by Pink Fairies core members Duncan Sanderson and Russell Hunter – and it is as raw and rowdy as any rock song you will ever hear.

Andy Colquhoun had also contributed a song – appropriately called “Lennon Song” – for a John Lennon tribute album several years earlier, and this song is also included. Many critics consider it the best song on the album, but it has a lot of company.

Mick Farren contributed voice-over vocals on one track, “Alienza”; and as Andy put it, all of the real drumming (except for “Runnin’ Outta Road”) was handled by Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, the long-time drummer for the hard rock band founded by Lemmy, Motörhead. There are also some fine instrumental tracks, the Doors’ last hit song “Riders on the Storm” and the jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne” among them.

In fact, Andy Colquhoun’s second solo album, String Theory, consists entirely of instrumental tracks that Andy wrote; it came out last year, but I haven’t gotten it yet. Andy notes that at the same time, he also recorded “blistering versions of ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, ‘Tin Soldier’ and ‘Black Hole Sun’”; and I am salivating at the thought of being able to one day hear Andy’s versions of those wonderful songs.

Andy Colquhoun’s surname has among the most unusual spellings that I have ever seen; actually though, “Colquhoun” is simply an alternate spelling of “Calhoun”. When Mick Farren introduced him once at a live concert, he pronounced the name “Ca-hoon”.

There have been so many great guitarists that I have enjoyed hearing over the years, for many different reasons: The old-fashioned blasts of Chuck Berry and Keith Richards, the unexpected dexterity and ear of Bob Dylan and Glen Campbell, the pounding virtuosity of Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman, the nearly unsung anonymity of Tommy Tedesco and Jerry Cole, the steady precision of George Harrison and Tom Petty, the sheer power of Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi, the blues-based thunder of Jack White and Eddie Van Halen, lesser-known greats like Nikki Sudden and Chris Spedding (of the latter, Pete Townshend – no slouch himself – is quoted as saying, “I wish I could write songs the way Chris Spedding plays guitar”), and so many more.

To my mind though, Andy Colquhoun is in a class apart; his guitar work, particularly on Pick up the Phone, America!, is absolutely thrilling to me. The only guitarist I can think of who comes close to embodying the joy and exuberance that Andy exudes throughout this album is Ted Nugent, back in his early days with the Amboy Dukes.

I am not the only one who feels this way either; as Ken Shimamoto expressed in an online review of the CD (I sure wish I knew enough about music to write like this): “Nobody on Earth plays guitar like Andy Colquhoun. Well, maybe Wayne Kramer [of Detroit’s MC5 and another running mate of Mick Farren’s for several decades now] and Tony Fate (ex-Bellrays, current Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs) are in the same league, but Andy’s brand of over-the-top rock skronk and acid-blues is totally unique. As guitarists go, he’s got a deep trick bag: a huge sound, saturated with fuzz and Echoplex; a monstrous whammy bar attack that skews his snaky, vibrato-laden blues lines and monolithic octaves; ringing harmonics; a deft touch accompanied by a fine melodic sensibility . . . almost a bent-head Jeff Beck (always a name to conjure with in the gtr circles I run in).”

What more can I say? Dig up some of these luscious tracks and enjoy!

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The Honor Roll of the Under Appreciated Rock Bands and Artists follows, in date order, including a link to the original Facebook posts and the theme of the article.

Dec 2009 – BEAST; Lot to Learn

Jan 2010 – WENDY WALDMAN; Los Angeles Singer-Songwriters

Feb 2010 – CYRUS ERIE; Cleveland

Mar 2010 – BANG; Record Collecting I

Apr 2010 – THE BREAKAWAYS; Power Pop

May 2010 – THE NOT QUITE; Katrina Clean-Up

Jun 2010 – WATERLILLIES; Electronica

Jul 2010 – THE EYES; Los Angeles Punk Rock

Aug 2010 – QUEEN ANNE’S LACE; Psychedelic Pop

Sep 2010 – THE STILLROVEN; Minnesota

Oct 2010 – THE PILTDOWN MEN; Record Collecting II

Nov 2010 – SLOVENLY; Slovenly Peter

Dec 2010 – THE POPPEES; New York Punk/New Wave

Jan 2011 – HACIENDA; Latinos in Rock

Feb 2011 – THE WANDERERS; Punk Rock (1970’s/1980’s)

Mar 2011 – INDEX; Psychedelic Rock (1960’s)

Apr 2011 – BOHEMIAN VENDETTA; Punk Rock (1960’s)

May 2011 – THE LONESOME DRIFTER; Rockabilly

Jun 2011 – THE UNKNOWNS; Disabled Musicians

Jul 2011 – THE RIP CHORDS; Surf Rock I

Aug 2011 – ANDY COLQUHOUN; Side Men

Sep 2011 – ULTRA; Texas

Oct 2011 – JIM SULLIVAN; Mystery

Nov 2011 – THE UGLY; Punk Rock (1970’s)

Dec 2011 – THE MAGICIANS; Garage Rock (1960’s)

Jan 2012 – RON FRANKLIN; Why Celebrate Under Appreciated?

Feb 2012 – JA JA JA; German New Wave

Mar 2012 – STRATAVARIOUS; Disco Music

Apr 2012 – LINDA PIERRE KING; Record Collecting III

May 2012 – TINA AND THE TOTAL BABES; One Hit Wonders

Jun 2012 – WILD BLUE; Band Names I

Jul 2012 – DEAD HIPPIE; Band Names II

Aug 2012 – PHIL AND THE FRANTICS; Wikipedia I

Sep 2012 – CODE BLUE; Hidden History

Oct 2012 – TRILLION; Wikipedia II

Nov 2012 – THOMAS ANDERSON; Martin Winfree’s Record Buying Guide

Dec 2012 – THE INVISIBLE EYES; Record Collecting IV

Jan 2013 – THE SKYWALKERS; Garage Rock Revival

Feb 2013 – LINK PROTRUDI AND THE JAYMEN; Link Wray

Mar 2013 – THE GILES BROTHERS; Novelty Songs

Apr 2013 – LES SINNERS; Universal Language

May 2013 – HOLLIS BROWN; Greg Shaw / Bob Dylan

Jun 2013 (I) – FUR (Part 1); What Might Have Been I

Jun 2013 (II) – FUR (Part 2); What Might Have Been II

Jul 2013 – THE KLUBS; Record Collecting V

Aug 2013 – SILVERBIRD; Native Americans in Rock

Sep 2013 – BLAIR 1523; Wikipedia III

Oct 2013 – MUSIC EMPORIUM; Women in Rock I

Nov 2013 – CHIMERA; Women in Rock II

Dec 2013 – LES HELL ON HEELS; Women in Rock III

Jan 2014 – BOYSKOUT; (Lesbian) Women in Rock IV

Feb 2014 – LIQUID FAERIES; Women in Rock V

Mar 2014 (I) – THE SONS OF FRED (Part 1); Tribute to Mick Farren

Mar 2014 (II) – THE SONS OF FRED (Part 2); Tribute to Mick Farren

Apr 2014 – HOMER; Creating New Bands out of Old Ones

May 2014 – THE SOUL AGENTS; The Cream Family Tree

Jun 2014 – THE RICHMOND SLUTS and BIG MIDNIGHT; Band Names (Changes) III

Jul 2014 – MIKKI; Rock and Religion I (Early CCM Music)

Aug 2014 – THE HOLY GHOST RECEPTION COMMITTEE #9; Rock and Religion II (Bob Dylan)

Sep 2014 – NICK FREUND; Rock and Religion III (The Beatles)

Oct 2014 – MOTOCHRIST; Rock and Religion IV

Nov 2014 – WENDY BAGWELL AND THE SUNLITERS; Rock and Religion V

Dec 2014 – THE SILENCERS; Surf Rock II

Jan 2015 (I) – THE CRAWDADDYS (Part 1); Tribute to Kim Fowley

Jan 2015 (II) – THE CRAWDADDYS (Part 2); Tribute to Kim Fowley

Feb 2015 – BRIAN OLIVE; Songwriting I (Country Music)

Mar 2015 – PHIL GAMMAGE; Songwriting II (Woody Guthrie / Bob Dylan)

Apr 2015 (I) – BLACK RUSSIAN (Part 1); Songwriting III (Partnerships)

Apr 2015 (II) – BLACK RUSSIAN (Part 2); Songwriting III (Partnerships)

May 2015 – MAL RYDER and THE PRIMITIVES; Songwriting IV (The Rolling Stones)

Jun 2015 – HAYMARKET SQUARE; Songwriting V (The Beatles)

Jul 2015 – THE HUMAN ZOO; Songwriting VI (Psychedelic Rock)

Aug 2015 – CRYSTAL MANSION; Martin Winfree’s Record Cleaning Guide

Dec 2015 – AMANDA JONES; So Many Rock Bands

Mar 2016 – THE LOVEMASTERS; Fun Rock Music

Jun 2016 – THE GYNECOLOGISTS; Offensive Rock Music Lyrics

Sep 2016 – LIGHTNING STRIKE; Rap and Hip Hop

Dec 2016 – THE IGUANAS; Iggy and the Stooges; Proto-Punk Rock

Mar 2017 – THE LAZY COWGIRLS; Iggy and the Stooges; First Wave Punk Rock

Jun 2017 – THE LOONS; Punk Revival and Other New Bands

Sep 2017 – THE TELL-TALE HEARTS; Bootleg Albums

Dec 2017 – SS-20; The Iguana Chronicles

(Year 10 Review)