followed by the dismissal of Glover, at Blackmore’s insistence.
The origins of Ratt date back to 1973 in Hollywood, with a band called Firedome, founded by singer Stephen Pearcy with a few friends. In 1974, the band broke up, with Pearcy forming Crystal Pystal. The name Crystal Pystal was changed to Mickey Ratt at some point in 1976. The…
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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s fan base continued to grow rapidly in 1973, thanks to their opening on the Who ‘s Quadrophenia tour in the United States. Their 1974 follow-up album, Second Helping , featuring King, Collins and Rossington all collaborating with Van Zant on the songwriting, cemented the band’s breakthrough. Its single…
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Bang (1973)
followed by a show at the Marquee Club on 20 December.
Moore left and was replaced with Chris “Congo” Campbell, and the band joined the management agency of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi , Iommi Management Agency. Atkins continued to write material for the band—including “Whiskey Woman”, which became the base for the Judas Priest staple ” Victim of Changes “—but…
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In late December 1972, Manhattan resident John Segall (who later renamed himself “Jay Jay French”) auditioned for, and was asked to join, the “glitter band” Silver Star from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. Silver Star was formed by drummer Mel Anderson (“Mel Star”) as the “New Jersey version of the New York…
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Trident booked a “showcase” gig on 6 November at The Pheasantry
Six months later, in November 1972, Uriah Heep’s fifth studio album The Magician’s Birthday (No. 28 UK, No. 31 US) came out, with ” Sweet Lorraine ” released as an American single and the title track (a multi-part fantasy epic featuring Hensley–Byron vocal duel and Box’s extensive guitar solo in…
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In November 1972, the band played a showcase for Epic Records A&R director Don Ellis, in an effort to secure a record deal.