Trapeze (band)

Infobox musical artist
Background = group_or_band
Name = Trapeze
Years_active = 1969–1982/1991–1994
orogin = England
Genre = Hard rock
Label = Threshold / Warner Brothers
Current_members =

Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (who named the band), with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. The band had a fairly fluid line up, finally dissolving in 1994, and although they never found commercial success themselves, several members went on to join better known bands including Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Judas Priest and Uriah Heep.

The core and more familiar line-up of the band was Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley and Dave Holland. After Glenn Hughes' departure in June 1973, Galley and Holland decided to try to keep the band together, which they did with constantly members varying until 1979 when Holland went on to join Judas Priest. At this point the band broke up. Holland tried to revive the band in 1990, after leaving Priest, but the band finally broke up in 1994. Their first three albums remain their best known and most commercially successful.

1969 - 1973

Trapeze was formed in 1969 by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (both former members of the band "Montanas") with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. Trapeze issued its self-titled debut album "Trapeze" in 1970, but early that year Jones and Rowley would return to "Montanas". Now in late 1970 the more familiar trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland surfaced for the first time with the album "Medusa" also released in late 1970.Trapeze would tour as this trio until early 1973. The band toured mostly in the UK and the Southern U.S, their commercial success was minimal up to this point. "You Are the Music...We're Just the Band" released in 1972 saw Glenn Hughes leave the band after the 1973 tour for the first time to replace Roger Glover in Deep Purple. After the departure of Glenn Hughes the bands profile and sales grew, mostly of the first three albums that Hughes was on but their concert base grew with them now playing small arenas all over the U.S.

1974 - 1977

In 1974 the band released The Final Swing a best of compilation that had two previously unreleased tracks called "Good Love" and the hit song, "Dat’s it" that was a fan favorite at the live shows for many years prior to its release. Guitarist Rob Kendrick and bassist Pete Wright signed on for Trapeze's 1974 album "Hot Wire" that see the band go to a more hard rock sound just like the next release in 1976 that saw a second self-titled album also named "Trapeze".

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reunited for a short time in late 1976, It was to be a full-fledged reunion with an album of new songs but Hughes again left the band before the album could be produced. Glenn Hughes solo album called "Play Me Out" released in 1977 would have two new so-called Trapeze's songs "LA Cut-Off" and "Space High" that Galley, and Holland played with Hughes on the short 1976 Trapeze's reunion tour, that were written by Hughes for Trapeze new album that never came to be.

1978 - 1982

"Hold On" also called "Running" was released in late 1978, and again would feature Pete Wright in addition to new guitarist and singer Pete Goalby. The 1981 live album featured new drummer Steve Bray because Dave Holland was now playing with Judas Priest as of late 1979. With Mel Galley all alone when Pete Goalby left to sing for Uriah Heep in 1981, Mel Galley toured one last time then went on to play for Whitesnake, leaving Trapeze disbanded by late 1982.

1991

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed again in 1991 with the addition of Asia's and Yes's keyboard player, Geoff Downes, for a small tour and released a live album in 1993 of the reunion show called "Welcome to the Real World".

1994

Then In February 1994 Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed again playing in New York city a tribute concert for vocalist, Ray Gillen of Badlands and Black Sabbath fame. This led to other dates that kicked off in the UK on March 11th 1994 at the "Robin R’n’B Club" in their home town of the West Midlands region, and starting in April in the U.S that also included veteran blues guitarist, Craig Erickson accompanying Hughes on both lead and rhythm guitar.

Post Band History

1989 saw "The Loser" appear on Time-Life's "Lost 70s Guitar Classic's". 2003 saw the released "On the Highwire" a best of album that has 23 tracks on it with all the fan favorites such as "Black Cloud", "Way Back To The Bone", "Keepin' Time", "Your Love Is Alright" and " "Back Street Love". In 2004 ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee paid homage by covering "Way Back To The Bone" on his album of seventies cover versions. Then in 2006 canadian rock legend Pat Travers also paid homage by covering "You Are The Music" on his album of seventies cover versions called P.T. Power Trio 2

Discography

* "Trapeze (1970)"
* "Medusa (1970)"
* "You Are the Music...We're Just the Band (1972)"
* "The Final Swing (1974)"
* "Hot Wire (1974)"
* "Live At The Boat Club (1975)"
* "Trapeze (1976)"
* "Hold On also called Running (1979)"
* " (1981)"
* "Welcome to the Real World - live 1992 (1993)"
* " - Best of Studio 1970-1974 ( 1996 )"
* "Way Back to the Bone - Best of Live 1970-1992 (1998 )"
* "On the Highwire - Best of 1970-1992 (2003)

Links

* [http://www.myspace.com/trapezetheband Official Trapeze Myspace Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/melgalley Mel Galley's Official Myspace Page]
* [http://www.phenomenamusic.co.uk/page11.htm Page about Trapeze on Phenomena site]
* [http://www.glennhughes.com/ Hughes official Web Site]