Larry Wallis
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Larry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer for Stiff Records.
[edit] Early Bands
In 1968, he formed a band called The Entire Sioux Nation with Terry Nolder on vocals, Tim Taylor on bass and Paul Nichols on drums. The band split up in late 1969 at the same time as the Pink Fairies Mark 1 line-up of Steve Peregrin Took, Mick Farren and Twink (with girlfriend Silver Darling) parted company.
[edit] Steve Took's Shagrat
It was 'all change' - Twink formed Pink Fairies Mark 2 with Farren's former band the Deviants leaving Farren bandless. The original intent was for Farren and Took to form Steve Took's Shagrat with ex-Entire Sioux Nation members Tim Taylor and Larry Wallis. Very soon though, Farren left after having a fallout with Took. Shagrat played one gig at the Phun City Festival in July 1970 and recorded a few fantastic songs.
[edit] Blodwyn Pig, Took and UFO
Wallis then joined Blodwyn Pig, which changed its name to Lancaster's Bombers (later shortened to Lancaster) with Jack Lancaster. They were a short-lived band although they toured supporting Yes around 1971. Also in 1971, Took, Wallis, and Dave Bidwell (ex-Chicken Shack) recorded four acoustic demos of Took's songs.
In February 1972, Wallis joined UFO, but left in October 1972, after a tour by Europe. Wallis didn't record with UFO although there is a live bootleg somewhere with a UFO performance featuring Wallis.
Sometime during 1972 Wallis recorded sessions with Steve Peregrin Took at Took’s basement flat in Mayfair. These very casual sessions contain appearances by Twink, Mick Wayne, Duncan Sanderson, and almost certainly Syd Barrett.
[edit] The Pink Fairies
In November 1972, Wallis joined the Pink Fairies (Mark 3), substituting for Mick Wayne. The band released a successful album Kings of Oblivion containing mostly Wallis-penned tracks and played with an extended line-up for a special gig in July 1975.
Their only concert was finally released on a live album several years later, in 1982, under the name of At the Roundhouse. In 1991, it was reissued under the name At the Roundhouse/Previously Unreleased, comprising the original live album, plus additional songs by Larry Wallis from 1984, and an EP by Twink from 1977.
[edit] Motörhead and still the Pink Fairies
As well as being part of the Pink Fairies, Wallis also joined a new band called Motörhead in May 1975 with Lemmy Kilmister and Lucas Fox. In December 1975, Fox left (to form Warsaw Pakt with Andy Colquhoun) and Motörhead recruited a new drummer, Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor. Wallis recorded an album with the band, On Parole, but it remained unreleased for some years until Motörhead was a big name. In February 1976 Wallis was joined by "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar and later in the same month left Motörhead. He was still in the Pink Fairies, which continued as a trio until July 1976 when they gained an additional guitarist (Martin Stone). In September 1976 the Pinks released a single, Between the lines/Spoiling for a fight on Stiff Records. Four months later in January 1977 they split up. In the same month Wallis guested at a one-off gig with members of Thin Lizzy and Rat Scabies of The Damned.
[edit] Steve Took
During 1975/1976 Wallis did further work with Steve Peregrin Took although none of it has been released to date and he was present (by accident) at Pathway Studios in 1977 when Steve Took's Horns recorded the material which would not be released until 2004! Has since been declared a masterpiece of its genre and era.
[edit] Stiff Records - Performer and Producer
Wallis then became an in-house producer at Stiff Records and released a solo single (produced by the other in-house producer Nick Lowe) Police Car/On parole in November 1977 as well as appearing on a Stiff compilation A Bunch of Stiffs, and as part of an ad-hoc line-up called The Takeaways with Dave Edmunds; Nick Lowe and Sean Tyla. Wallis was on the Live Stiffs tour (and on the resultant live album) with Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies and also appearing on the live album that was released some time later. Other artists on the Live Stiffs tour included Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds, Ian Dury and The Blockheads and Wreckless Eric.
Wallis also produced albums for a number of Stiff Records artists including The Adverts and Larry Mick Farren's Screwed Up (Nov 1977) and Vampires Stole My Lunch Money (Aug 1978).
[edit] Farren/MC5 collaborations and his own bands
In September 1978, Wallis became a member of another Farren project Mick Farren & The Good Guys; featuring Mick Farren (vocals), Andy Colquhoun (guitar), Willy Stallybrass (harmonica), Gary Tibbs (bass) and Alan (Hawkwind) Powell (drums).
The following year (March 1979) Wallis joined Wayne Kramer (ex-MC5), Andy Colquhoun; and George Butler for a series of live gigs.
In February 1982 Wallis formed Larry Wallis & The Death Commandos of Love with Johnny Reverb on guitar, Big George Webley on bass and Jim Toomey on drums.
Two years later in 1984 Wallis was once again working with Mick Farren who resurrected the Deviants name to record a live album Human Garbage featuring Mick Farren on vocals, Wayne Kramer and Wallis on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and George Butler on drums.
[edit] Pink Fairies Resurrection
In 1987 the Pink Fairies were revived with Wallis on guitar and vocals, Andy Colquhoun on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and both Twink and Russell Hunter on drums. This resulted in the album Kill 'em & Eat 'em.
[edit] Dr. Feelgood links
Around 1991 Wallis worked with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell (both from Dr. Feelgood) on the On The Bench recording, with Ian Gibbons. This led to the formation of Wallis' new band, the Redbyrds featuring Wallis (guitar, vocals), Mitchell (bass) and Chris North (drums). The Redbyrds released one EP, Truth Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch.
[edit] Back in Business
2002 saw the release of the first ever Larry Wallis 'solo' album Death in the Guitarfternoon, proving that Wallis could still play a mean guitar. There have also been hints of another Pink Fairies album and perhaps gigs, however this has not yet appeared to have come to fruition.
[edit] Discography
Compilations
- Glastonbury Faire 1972 (Pink Fairies)
- A bunch of Stiffs 1977 (The Takeaways)
- What's in the pub in 1996 1995 (one track by Wallis, Touch and Go)
Albums with the Pink Fairies/Deviants/Mick Farren
- Kings of Oblivion - June 1973
- Flashback - July 1975 (compilation)
- Screwed Up (Nov 77) (EP produced by Wallis)
- Vampires Stole My Lunch Money (Aug 78) (produced by Wallis)
- At the Roundhouse - June 1982
- Human Garbage - 1984
- Kill 'em & Eat 'em - 1987
- At the Roundhouse / Previously Unreleased - 1991
- Fragments of Broken Probes - 1998 with Jack Lancaster, Andy Colquhoun
- The Deviants Have Left the Planet - 1999, with Jack Lancaster
Albums with the 'Live Stiffs' package: Stiffs Live - 1978
Albums with Motorhead On Parole 1979
Albums with On The Bench
- Escape From Oil City - 1991 Album shared with Canvey Island All Stars with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell
Albums with Redbyrds
- Truth, Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch - 1992
Albums with The Stranglers and Friends
- Live in Concert - 1995
Other albums produced by Larry Wallis
- Wreckless Eric - A Louder Silence - 1977
- Wreckless Eric - Wreckless Eric, 1978 (Wallis also plays guitar)
[edit] Links
| Motörhead |
| Members |
|---|
| Lemmy Kilmister - Phil Campbell - Mikkey Dee |
| Former members: Larry Wallis - "Fast" Eddie Clarke - Brian "Robbo" Robertson - Michael "Würzel" Burston |
| Lucas Fox - Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - Pete Gill - Tommy Aldridge |
| Discography |
|
Albums: On Parole - Motörhead - Overkill - Bomber - Ace of Spades - No Sleep 'til Hammersmith - Iron Fist - Another Perfect Day - No Remorse - Orgasmatron - Rock 'n' Roll - No Sleep at All - 1916 - March ör Die - Bastards - Sacrifice - Overnight Sensation - Snake Bite Love - Everything Louder Than Everyone Else - We Are Motörhead - The Best Of - Hammered - Live at Brixton Academy - Inferno - BBC Live & In-Session - Kiss of Death |
| Related articles |
