Ian and the Zodiacs
Ian and the Zodiacs | |
---|---|
Also known as | The Koppykats |
Origin | Liverpool, England |
Genres |
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Years active | 1958 | –1967, 2000–2003, 2005
Labels | |
Past members | Ian Edwards Charles Flynn Peter Wallace Geoff Bethell Cliff Roberts Geoff Bamford Joe Walsh Tony Coates Freddie Smith Arthur Ashton Colin Fabb Carl Hardin Les Maguire Baz Davies Barry Walmsley Neil Lancaster |
Ian and the Zodiacs were an English
History
The band formed as a
Later in 1964, the band travelled to
Outside the band name, they released two cover albums consisting of The Beatles' compositions under the name, The KoppyKats. Their biggest selling hit in the UK, 1965's double album The Beatles Beat, was recorded on a limited budget, but was still relatively successful. Another Beatles cover album, Gears Again, followed with less success. In support of the albums, they released "Nowhere Man" and "Help!" as singles. The albums sold well thanks to the lower prices in comparison to The Beatles' releases.[7] The band released several singles, all on different labels, to the UK and the United States, and, despite failing to chart in the UK, still managed to achieve a regional hit in the US. Their single, "The Crying Game", became a number one hit in Texas, selling 250,000 copies. The band would have toured the US, but could not as they did not have green cards.[3]
The band continued to tour throughout Germany until July 1967. Edwards' wife had fallen ill so he disbanded the group to return to England. He reformed the band the following year with German musicians, to lesser success. Two other incarnations of the band formed, one in 2000, touring Germany until 2003, and another in 2004. From 2004 until his death in 2007 he made a comeback in Germany, performing at festivals in Hamburg, Weimar, Berlin and Cologne, as well as in Liverpool's Cavern Club. He was backed by the German musicians Manfred Jung (bass), Jürgen Pfingst (lead guitar), Dr.Joachim Wagner (rhythm guitar) and Raimund Jung (drums). The backing group from Cologne, Germany, still performs as Ian's Zodiacs and as The Roaring Forties, and is also well known in Liverpool.[8]
In the 1990s, the band's albums were re-released by the Repertoire label. Five of the group's tracks, "Beechwood", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Secret Love", "Let's Turkey Trot", and "You Can Think Again", have also appeared on the 1989 compilation album, This Is MerseyBeat.[1] A greatest hits album called Wade in the Water was distributed by RPM which was composed of re-mastered songs by the band.[9]
References
- ^ a b Bruce Eder. "Ian and the Zodiacs". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Ian and the Zodiacs". Merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Ian & the Zodiacs". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ISBN 978-1861899156.
- ISBN 9781846311901.
- ^ "Ian Edwards Tribute Page". Merseycats.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Liverpool Beat". Liverpoolbeat.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Ian's Zodiacs - Starclub Revival Band". Roaringfourties.de. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Wade in the Water". Cherryred.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.