Stray (band)
Stray is a British rock band that originally existed from 1966 to 1977 and has been active again since the 1990s.
Band history
Stray was founded in 1966 by Steve Gadd (vocals), Del Bromham (guitar), Gary Giles (bass) and Steve Crutchley (drums) while studying at the Christopher Wren School in London. In 1968 Crutchley left, Richard "Ritchie" Cole came for him. In 1970 they got a contract with Transatlantic Records. Eight studio albums were released by 1976, plus two compilations in 1975 and 1977. Allmusic compares Stray with Cream , Thin Lizzy and Mountain , but they could not achieve their success.
In 1975 guitarist Peter Dyer joined and Gadd left the band. But even the new momentum that Dyer brought with him and the commitment of the manager Charly Kray - brother of the notorious Kray twins - did not lead to success. After the eighth studio album Hearts of Fire , released in 1976 on Pye Records, the band broke up in 1977. Bromham began a solo career.
Around 1980, Stray was revived by Dyer, Cole and Giles with new guitarists Don Hollis and Tony Pow. In 1981 Hollis and Pow left the group and Bromham returned. In 1984 Gadd joined them again. In the same year the album Live at the Marquee was released . In 1987, Bromham turned to other projects again.
1993 Stray appeared in the line-up of Bromham, Gadd, Giles and Cole for a few concerts. In 1995 there was another rebirth, this time with Del Bromham and Dusty Miller (bass) and Phil McKee (drums). In this formation a live album was created, which was followed by a studio album in 1997.
Discography
- 1970: Stray
- 1971: Suicide
- 1972: Saturday Morning Pictures
- 1973: Mudanzas
- 1974: Move It
- 1975: Stray Tracks (compilation with previously unreleased outtakes)
- 1975: Stand Up and Be Counted
- 1976: Houdini
- 1976: Hearts of Fire
- 1977: Reflecting A Generation (compilation)
- 1984: Live at the Marquee (live)
- 1996: Alive and Giggin (live)
- 1997: New Dawn
- 2001: 10
- 2002: Live: In Yer face! (live)
- 2003: Time Machine - Anthology 1970-1977 (compilation, double CD)
- 2010: Valhalla
- 2014: Live in Japan 2013 (live)
- 2017: All In Your Mind - The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974 (compilation, 4 CDs)
Web links
- Website of Stray (English)
- Stray at Allmusic (English)
- Stray at Discogs (English)