The Big Three (English band)
The Big Three | |
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Origin | Liverpool, England |
Genres | Beat, rhythm and blues, pop, rock and roll |
Years active | 1961–1966, 1973 |
Labels | Decca, Polydor |
Past members | Johnny Hutchinson Johnny Gustafson Brian Griffiths (for extended lineups, see below) |
The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy"[1][2] and their close connection to The Beatles.
Career
The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass and the Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by
In May 1960, the band auditioned for Larry Parnes at the Wyvern Social Club, Seel Street, Liverpool, with a number of other bands including The Silver Beetles (one of The Beatles' earlier names). Hutchinson sat in with the band when their drummer Tommy Moore (born Thomas Henry Moore, in 1931, Liverpool died in 1981) failed to turn up. In December 1960, Casser left the group and moved to London, reducing them to a trio again, and the band re-emerged in January 1961 as The Big Three. Despite being a three-piece they were known as "one of the loudest, most aggressive and visually appealing acts".[4]
Brian Epstein signed them to his agency[4] and sent them over to Hamburg's Star-Club. It was during that trip in July 1962 that Brian Griffiths (born 27 August 1943, Liverpool) joined the group, and the best-known line-up of the Big Three was established.[4] Barber would subsequently emigrate to the United States, where he would later become known as an in-house recording engineer and producer at Atlantic Records, where he produced the Allman Brothers Band's debut album in 1969.[5]
Epstein arranged for them to audition for
The Big Three and Epstein terminated their partnership in July 1963.
Chambers left in March 1964 and was replaced by Paul Pilnick from Lee Curtis' Allstars. Pilnick only stayed a short time before moving on to Tony Jackson & The Vibrations in October 1964, with Ruffley leaving around the same time.[citation needed]
Various musicians passed through the band after Pilnick left, including bass players John Bradley, Adrian Lord (ex
Between 1964 and 1966, the line-up consisted of John Hutchinson, Ray Marshall (vocals, bass) and Barry Womersley (lead guitar).[6] During 1966 the band folded. Hutchinson received an offer to join Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes but he declined, instead deciding to retire from music.[citation needed]
Arty Davies of 'Liverpool Beat' says that following the demise of the Womersley/Marshall/Hutchinson line-up, a couple of bookings featured the following : Dave Blackstone (lead guitar), Johnny Hutchinson (drums) and Pete Mumford (bass guitar). There is an apocryphal story in Alan Clayson's book Beat Merchants[7] that Hutchinson packed up his drums after a first set at the Blue Angel, collected his pay and went home, with another drummer taking his place. Presumably this was the band's last gig.[8]
In 1973, Gustafson and Griffiths teamed up with Elton John drummer Nigel Olsson, and Quatermass keyboardist J. Peter Robinson for a reunion album, Resurrection, released on Polydor Records.[9] In 1999 Griffiths got together with another former Big Three member, Faron Ruffley, to do a small spot of Big Three numbers at the Merseycats charity night; the drummer for the get-together was Arty Davies (Faron's Flamingos).[10]
In 2009,
In 2017 Bill Kenwright released and toured the sell-out musical Cilla The Musical; The Big Three (played by Jay Osborne, Chris Weeks and Tom Dunlea) appeared in the show and doubled as the show band. Following the tour the three players were 'handed down the baton' to become the next generation of The Big Three by original members Griffiths, Gustafson, and Hutchinson.[citation needed] The new Big Three are set to write and release brand new material in early 2020.[citation needed]
Johnny Hutchinson died on 12 April 2019. He, Gustafson and Griffiths all appear in the film about the band Some Other Guys.
Members
- Johnny Hutchinson – drums, vocals (1961–1966)
- Adrian Barber – first guitarist, lead guitar, vocals (1961–7/1962)
- Johnny Gustafson – bass guitar, vocals (1961–1963, 1973)
- Brian Griffiths – guitar (7/1962–1963, 1973, 1999)
- Faron Ruffley – bass guitar (1963–1964, 1999)
- Paddy Chambers – guitar, vocals (1963–1964)
- Paul Pilnick – guitar, vocals (1964)
- Ray Marshall – bass guitar, vocals (1964–1966)
- Barry Womersley (known professionally as Barry Walmsley) – lead guitar (1964–1966)
- Nigel Olsson – drums (1973)
Related musicians
- Cilla Black and Beryl Marsden were backed by the Big Three
- J. Peter Robinson – piano (1973 album recordings)
- Arty Davies – drums (1999 one-off gig)
Timeline
Discography
Singles
- "UKNo. 37)
- "By the Way" / "Cavern Stomp" (Decca F 11689, 28 June 1963, UK No. 22)[12]
- "I'm With You" / "Peanut Butter" (Decca F 11752, 11 October 1963)
- "If You Ever Change Your Mind" / "You've Got to Keep Her under Your Hand" (Decca F 11927, 12 June 1964)
- "Some Other Guy" / "Let It Rock" / "If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" (Polydor 2058 343, 16 March 1973)[1]
EPs
- What'd I Say" / "Don't Start Running Away" / "Zip A Dee Doo Dah" / "Reelin' and Rockin'") (Decca DFE 8552 [mono], 22 November 1963; reissued 1981)
Albums
- Resurrection (Polydor 2383199, March 1973)
Compilation albums
- Cavern Stomp (LP, Edsel ED 111, 1982)
- Cavern Stomp (CD, Deram, 1994)
- Cavern Stomp (The Complete Recordings) (RPM Records, 2009)
References
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "The Big Three – Some Other Guy". 45cat.com. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "The Big Three". merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ "Sixties City – Bill Harry's Sixties – articles from the creator of iconic 60s music paper Mersey Beat". sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Ceriotti, Bruno (7 July 2011). "The British Sound: The Big Three Family Tree – Shows List". Thebritishsound.blogspot.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0713724646.
- ^ "The Big Three Story – Mersey Beat". triumphpc.com. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Big Three, The – Resurrection". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ "Interview with Brian Griffiths of The Big Three". tropeamagazine.it. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "CD Album: The Big Three – Cavern Stomp – The Complete Recodings (2009)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "The Big Three – By The Way". 45cat.com. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
External links
- Mersey Beat: The Big Three Story by Bill Harry
- The Big Three discography at Discogs
- The Big Three at IMDb