The Band of Joy (also known as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy) are a rock band from England. Various lineups of the group performed from 1965 to 1968 and from 1977 to 1983. Robert Plant revived the band's name in 2010 for a concert tour of the United States and Europe.
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The band is notable for including two musicians, Robert Plant and John Bonham,[1] who went on to join Led Zeppelin; and, to a lesser degree, because the band's one-time roadie was Noddy Holder, who later was in the band Slade.[2]
The Band Of Joy was originally formed in 1966 in West Bromwich, near Birmingham, England by Chris Brown (keyboards), Vernon Pereira (guitar),[3] and singer Robert Plant. Conflicts with the band's management led to Plant leaving the group after a few months. He quickly tried to form his own Band of Joy, but it soon folded. A third incarnation of the band, including Plant's childhood friend John Bonham, lasted from 1967 to mid-1968. Their brand of soul and blues was popular with Birmingham mods. This lineup recorded a number of demo recordings in early 1968, but broke up in May 1968 when a recording contract failed to materialise.[4]
Albeit briefly, lead guitar duties were taken by Dave Pegg, who later played the bass guitar with Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull. Pegg rehearsed with Band of Joy but did not tour with them.[5]
For a 1968 tour of Scotland, Plant and Bonham co-opted bassist John Hill (ex-Uncle Joseph) and guitarist Mick Strode to fill out a temporary lineup.
In 1977 Gammond and Paul Lockey revived the Band of Joy, rounding out the lineup with John Pasternak, Peter Robinson, and keyboardist Michael Chetwood. Gammond, Lockey, Pasternak and Robinson had previously played in Bronco. They invited Plant and Bonham to contribute to their 1978 self-titled album, but nothing came of it. The group released a second album in 1983 before breaking up.
In 2010 it was announced that Plant would form a new band and tour as Robert Plant & the Band of Joy.[6] This album was number 8 on Rolling Stone's list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010.[7]
Discography
- Sixty Six to Timbuktu (2003) - Robert Plant retrospective album includes some Band of Joy recordings, "Hey Joe" and "For What It's Worth".
- Band of Joy (2010)
Lineups
- John Bonham – drums
- Chris Brown – organ
- Kevyn Gammond – guitar, vocals
- Byron House – bass guitar, guitar, vocals
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- 1968 lineup
- John Bonham – drums
- John Hill – bass guitar
- John Kelsey – keyboards
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- Mick Strode – lead guitar
- 1977 lineup
- Michael Chetwood – keyboards, vocals
- Kevin Gammond – guitar, vocals
- Paul Lockey – guitar, vocals
- John Pasternak – bass, vocals
- Peter Robinson – drums
- 2010 lineup
- Marco Giovino – percussion[8]
- Patty Griffin – vocals and guitar
- Byron House – bass
- Buddy Miller – guitar and vocals
- Darrell Scott – vocals, mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel and banjo
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
References
- ^ By Patrick Doyle (2010-06-25). "Robert Plant Previews Upcoming Band of Joy Album". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ "Band of Joy, Kidderminster". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ^ "Welcome to the Birmingham Music Archive – Band of Joy". Birminghammusicarchive.co.uk. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ^ Theakston, Rob. "( Band of Joy > Overview )". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ^ Cynthia Blair Webdesign. "Memories in Music". Memories in Music. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ^ Sean Michaels (2010-03-29). "Robert Plant to tour with new Band of Joy lineup | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ^ "The 30 Best Albums of 2010". Rolling Stone (December 25, 2010). Retrieved 2011-01-18
- ^ "Achilles Last Stand". Led Zeppelin. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
Further reading
- Hornby, Laurie. Brum Rocked On! (Solihull: TGM Limited, 2003) ISBN 0-9536951-5-8
- Band of Joy interview — Achilles Last Stand (1992). (Retrieved August 18, 2005.)
- Yorke, Ritchie. Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography (London: Virgin, 1993) ISBN 0-86369-648-1