Excerpts from Crimson and Roxy ------------------------------ Researched and beaten into shape by Pete Frame, 1979 Nov 1970 to June 1971 Roxy Music #1 Dexter Lloyd (drums, left June 1971) Brian Eno (synthesizer) Andy Mackay (saxes) Bryan Ferry (vocals/keyboards) Graham Simpson (bass) Roger Bunn (guitar) Having lost teaching job (for allowing his classes to become recording sessions), Ferry concentrated his efforts on formation of a band. Simpson, friend from university and bassist in Gas Board, was already in cahoots. Next came Andy Mackay (answered an ad in Jan 1971), who as well as being competent reedman, actually possessed a synthesizer. They co-opted Mackay's acquaintance, Eno, to operate the synthesizer and function as general technical supervisor, and Dexter Lloyd, an American classical timpanist, to play drums. Roger Bunn, previously with Enjin, was Roxy's first guitar player. June 1971 to Feb 1972 Roxy Music #2 Brian Eno (synthesizer) Andy Mackay (saxes) Bryan Ferry (vocals/keyboards) Graham Simpson (bass) Paul Thompson (drums) Roger Bunn (guitar, left Sept 1971) David O'List (guitar, Oct 1971 to Feb 1972) Phil Manzanera (sound mixer) Following Lloyd's departure, an small ad turned up Paul Thompson, who'd played in various Newcastle groups, notably Smokestack, with whom he'd moved to London in early 1971. David O'List subsequently joined - tracked down by Ferry, who'd marvelled at his work with The Nice - but his current style was at odds with the others, and he left again (to play with various rehearsal bands until resurfacing in Jet). Phil Manzanera, meanwhile, was standing at the sideline awaiting his opportunity; he'd been passed over in favour of O'List and had accepted an alternative role as sound mixer in the interim. With Phil on board, they were ready to go. Feb to June 1972 Roxy Music #3 Brian Eno (synthesizer) Phil Manzanera (guitar) Andy Mackay (saxes) Bryan Ferry (vocals/keyboards) Graham Simpson (bass) Paul Thompson (drums) Attempts to interest record companies were useless; Ferry's demo tape was greeted with universal thumbs down ... but Melody Maker and John Peel were sufficiently interested to give them national exposure. In early 1972, they signed with EG management (also handlers of Crimson, ELP and T-Rex), and in March recorded first album with Pete Sinfield producing: 'Roxy Music'. Roxy Music, to the chagrin of their many detractors, became overnight stars; theirs was the most stunning and stylish debut of the early seventies. June 1972 to July 1973 Roxy Music #4 Brian Eno (synthesizer) Phil Manzanera (guitar) Andy Mackay (saxes) Bryan Ferry (vocals/keyboards) Paul Thompson (drums) Rik Kenton (bass) John Porter (bass) Sal Maida (bass) Reached #4 with first single, 'Virginia Plain'. Endured a painful US tour (December), supporting the likes of Jethro Tull and Edgar Winter ("every band we played with, we were totally bored by"). Decided to postpone conquest of America until some unspecified future date. Recorded second album: 'For You Pleasure'. Completed first European tour Feb/March 1973, then British tour March/April. Came off road to recuperate. Smooth in other departments, the Roxy Machine experienced recurring problems in the bass department. Following Simpson's departure, they used Rik Kenton (June - Dec 1972), John Porter (Jan/Feb 1973), and Sal Maida (Feb 1973 - July 1974). "I was cramping Eno's style. Two non-musicians in a band is one too many. I think he'll do very well by himself", said Bryan Ferry when Eno split from Roxy Music in July 1973. "Clashes of personality and ideology led to incompatibility", said Island. Eno: "I left Roxy Music because I had no choice: Bryan said 'I'm never going on stage with you again'. He wanted me to leave." Eno then embarked on a series of diverse projects: he produced Portsmouth Sinfonia, he collaborated with Fripp; he guested on Manzanera's 'Diamond Head', Cale's 'Slow Dazzle' and 'Helen of Troy', Robert Wyatt's 'Ruth is Stranger than Richard' and Quiet Sun's 'Mainstream'; he took part in the Cale/Ayers/Nico concert and album, 'June 1, 1974'; he produced a boxed set of writings, 'Oblique Strategies', in conjunction with Peter Schmidt; he did lecture tours of UK colleges; he did a tour backed by pub-rockers The Winkies; he joined 801 (see below); he assisted Bowie on his 'Low' album; he produced Talking Heads' second album and Devo's first. Aug/Sept 1976 801 #1 Brian Eno (keyboards/synthesizer) Lloyd Watson (guitar/vocals) Francis Monkman (piano/clavinet) Simon Phillips (drums) Bill McCormick (bass/vocals) Phil Manzanera (guitar) Masterminded by Manzanera to take advantage of Roxy vacation. He had recently appeared at the Albert Hall in the world premier of Stomu Yamashta's Go (with Steve Winwood and Michael Shrieve). Also produced Split Enz's first album for Chrysalis. Played warm up gig at Cromer, followed by appearance at Reading Festival - then third and final gig at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Highlights of this last concert (recorded for posterity) last appeared on '801 Live'. In December 1975, Eno launched his own label, Obscure, in conjunction with Island.