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Back Door was a jazz-rock trio, formed in 1971.
Colin Hodgkinson first met Ron Aspery whilst the two were playing in Eric Delaney's Showband. The two began to talk aboutforming their own band around 1969, and eventually Back Door came to fruition in 1971, with Tony Hicks joining on drums.Hodgkinson made an innovative use of the electric bass, making it a lead instrument rather than a part of a rhythm section.Their unique brand of jazz-rock and Hodgkinson's original playing was a hit at their regular venue; the Lion Inn on BlakeyRidge, Yorkshire. However, record labels were not keen and the ...read more
Back Door was a jazz-rock trio, formed in 1971.
Colin Hodgkinson first met Ron Aspery whilst the two were playing in Eric Delaney's Showband. The two began to talk aboutforming their own band around 1969, and eventually Back Door came to fruition in 1971, with Tony Hicks joining on drums.Hodgkinson made an innovative use of the electric bass, making it a lead instrument rather than a part of a rhythm section.Their unique brand of jazz-rock and Hodgkinson's original playing was a hit at their regular venue; the Lion Inn on BlakeyRidge, Yorkshire. However, record labels were not keen and the band were repeatedly told "No singer, no contract". Ever theinnovators, the band decided to record their first album themselves. It was recorded on a 4-track Ampex mixing console ineight hours, and mixed in four hours the next day. Around 1,000 copies were first printed by RCA. The album was sold over thebar at The Lion Inn, and at a few record shops in the local area.
A copy of the record somehow made its way to the NME headquarters in London, and a superb review by Charles Shaar Murraywas printed. After a few more reviews, the band passed an interview, and began playing a regular slot at The Senate inPeterlee, despite Aspery snapping a key off his saxophone moments before the audition. The band's popularity increased whenthey were asked to play a two-week stint at Ronnie Scott's club in London, opening for Chick Corea, a run that was eventuallylengthened to three weeks. The record companies changed their tune, and after receiving many offers, the trio decided to signwith Warner Brothers. The band rejected an offer from Richard Branson (who was just starting up Virgin Records at the time)because, according to Hodgkinson, "they were successful - this other guy seemed really nice, but he had no track record".Warner Brothers then re-released their debut album.
In 1974, the trio went to New York to record their second album, 8th Street Nites. The album was produced by former Creamproducer, Felix Pappalardi. This was their first album to feature vocals, provided by Hodgkinson because "we needed a singer,and I was the least bad out of us." Pappalardi himself also played on a few tracks. Warner Brothers duly released the record,and a tour of the United States supporting Emerson, Lake & Palmer followed. Subsequent tours (usually as the support act)included one with Alexis Korner in Germany, which led to a long-lasting collaboration between Korner and Hodgkinson, and TheJ. Geils Band in the U.S., and a few as headliners on the university circuit in the UK.
By the time they recorded their third LP, Another Fine Mess, Dave MacRae had joined the band on piano. He was a friend thatHicks made while in Australia. The band shifted style slightly on this album, and more effects, processing, and electronic soundswere used, although they were still defined as jazz-rock. McRae's stint in the band only lasted about a year, however, and bythe time they recorded Activate in 1976 he had departed the band, as had longtime drummer, Tony Hicks. The band hiredAdrian Tilbrook as a replacement on drums, claiming they needed "a more hard-hitting drummer." The album was produced byCarl Palmer.
After the release of Activate, the band played less and less together, and eventually broke up around 1977. Aspery went on todo work as a session musician, and Hodgkinson worked in a string of projects including The Spencer Davis Group, a stintplaying live with Alexis Korner, as did Aspery, and a few outfits alongside Jan Hammer, then of The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
The original line-up briefly reunited for what was initially one night at the Ronnie Scott's 1986, although this was subsequentlyfollowed by a short tour of the UK.
In 2003, the original line-up reunited once again to record a new album. Askin' The Way consists of 6 re-workings of favouriteold songs, and 13 new recordings. Hicks also played accordion on this album on a couple of tracks. The official launch tookplace in The Lion at Blakey Ridge, where the band had first started out back in 1971. The band then played a few more showsbut Aspery had been suffering from an illness for quite some time, and decided that the rigours of the road were no longer forhim.
On 10 December that year, Ron Aspery died at his home in Saltdean, Sussex.
The band played a few more concerts in 2005 with Rod Mason on saxophone, including the Guildhall venue at the Brecon JazzFestival, Hull Jazz Festival, and further sold - out Blakey concerts in 2005.
Tony Hicks died in Sydney, Australia on 13 August 2006. « hide |
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