Colosseum (band)
| Colosseum | |
|---|---|
 Colosseum (2010) |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Rock , jazz , blues |
| founding | 1968, 1994, 2020 |
| resolution | 1971, 2015 |
| Founding members | |
|
Jon Hiseman († 2018) |
|
|
Dick Heckstall-Smith (1968-2004, † 2004) |
|
| Dave Greenslade | |
| James Litherland (1968-1969) | |
guitar |
Jim Roche (1968, just beginning) |
| Tony Reeves (1968-1970) | |
| Last occupation | |
Drums, percussion
|
Jon Hiseman |
saxophone |
Barbara Thompson (from 2004) |
Keyboard, vibraphone |
Dave Greenslade |
Guitar, vocals |
David "Clem" Clempson (from October 1969) |
Bass, vocals |
Mark Clarke (from August 1970) |
singing |
Chris Farlowe (from September 1970) |
| former members | |
bass |
Louis Cennamo (1970, summer only) |
| Colosseum II (1975-1978) | |
Drums |
Jon Hiseman († 2018) |
Guitar, vocals |
Gary Moore (until 1978, † 2011) |
Keyboard |
Don Airey |
bass |
Neil Murray (until 1976) |
singing |
Mike Starrs (until 1976) |
bass |
John Mole (since 1977, † 2006) |
guitar |
Keith Airey (1978) |
Colosseum is a British jazz rock band .
history
1968-1971
Colosseum was founded in 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith , who had previously played with the Graham Bond Organization and then popularized the European "white" blues with John Mayall 's Bluesbreakers . Hiseman brought in Dave Greenslade (later head of his band Greenslade ) and Tony Reeves , whom he already knew from school . Together they tested numerous guitarists and singers and decided on James Litherland (from James Litherland's Brotherhood ). Hiseman recruited music producer Gerry Bron to produce the albums and organize the performances. Jim Roche was the second guitarist for a short time.
Within a short period of time, Colosseum became known for suite-like compositions that fused jazz, rock, blues and classical elements. Heckstall-Smith sometimes played two saxophones simultaneously. The multi-layered instrumental spectrum was expanded in 1970 by rhythm and blues singer Chris Farlowe , after David "Clem" Clempson had been brought into the band as guitarist in October 1969 . The album Colosseum Live (recording from 1971) is considered to be one of the best live albums in rock history and documents the group's highest level of development. Colosseum disbanded in November 1971.
Colosseum II 1975–1978
In 1975 Hiseman founded Colosseum II with Gary Moore , later Don Airey joined. Moore on guitar brought in a stronger rock influence. After three years with three almost exclusively instrumental albums, the band broke up, also due to the low commercial success. First Moore went back to Thin Lizzy , then Airey to Rainbow .
Since 1994
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In 1994 Hiseman brought the group back together - with the original line-up from 1971. Colosseum completed a successful reunion tour, during which the album Colosseum LiveS and a recording for WDR - Rockpalast were created. In the next few years several festival appearances, tours and albums followed. In 1997 the band went on tour for the studio album Bread and Circuses , and in 2003 for the album Tomorrow's Blues . After Dick Heckstall-Smith's death in 2004, Jon Hiseman's wife Barbara Thompson became a permanent member of the band. She had already participated in the 1970 album Daughter of Time at Colosseum and had long played with Hiseman in the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble .
After the band had to take a break from Thompson 's Parkinson's disease from 2011 to 2014 , they went on tour again in 2014 - in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy: New drugs for Thompson made it possible. More than 40 years after Colosseum Live there were new concerts and another studio album ( Time On Our Side ) - with the line-up Jon Hiseman (drums), Barbara Thompson (saxophone), Chris Farlowe (vocals), Mark Clarke (bass), David Clempson (guitar) and Dave Greenslade (organ).
The band played their preliminary farewell concert on February 28, 2015 at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire .
Further appearances are planned for 2020, for example at the Night of the Prog Festival on the Loreley in July .
Discography
Albums
- 1969: Those Who Are About to Die Salute You - Morituri Te Salutant (UK Edition, Fontana Records )
- 1969: Those Who Are About to Die Salute You - Morituri Te Salutant (US edition, Dunhill Records, cover and song selection changed)
- 1969: Valentyne Suite ( Vertigo Records )
- 1970: The Grass Is Greener (US album, Dunhill Records, Clem Clempson: vocals and guitar)
- 1970: Daughter of Time (Vertigo Records)
- 1971: Colosseum Live ( Bronze Records )
- 1971: The Collectors Colosseum (Bronze Records)
- 1976: Strange New Flesh (Colosseum II, Bronze Records)
- 1977: Electric Savage (Colosseum II, MCA Records )
- 1978: Wardance (Colosseum II, MCA Records)
- 1994: Live The Reunion Concerts 1994
- 1997: Bread & Circuses
- 2003: Tomorrow's Blues
- 2007: Live 05
- 2014: Time On Our Side
Compilations
- 1986: Epitaph (Castle Communications)
- 1992: The Time Machine (Castle Communications)
- 1996: Streets & Walkways - The Best of Gary Moore & Colosseum II (Music Club)
- 2000: Walking In The Park - Best (1969-71, Zounds , all tracks digitally remastered)
- 2009: Morituri Te Salutant (4 CD box)
Sessions
- 1978: Variations (MCA Records), with Andrew Lloyd Webber (Colosseum II as backing band for all titles together with Julian Lloyd Webber on cello and guest musicians such as Phil Collins , Rod Argent and Barbara Thompson )
literature
- Dick Heckstall-Smith: The Safest Place in the World. A Personal History of British Rhythm and Blues. Quartet Books, 1989.
- Martyn Hanson: Jon Hiseman. Playing the band. The Musical Life of Jon Hiseman. Temple Music, 2010.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Rhein-Zeitung: Colosseum: Your powerful music stays forever young, 2014
- ↑ Temple Music: On the road again, 2014 /
- ^ Colosseum (volume). Retrieved March 28, 2020 .
- ↑ Lineup. In: Night of the Prog Festival. September 24, 2018, accessed on March 28, 2020 (German).