BANDS:
- Battered Ornaments [1969]
- Piblokto! [1970]
- Arthur Brown Band [Sep 70-1970]
- Arc [1970-1971]
- Bell & Arc [1971]
- Vinegar Joe [1971-?]
- Gong [Oct 72]
- Graham Bond Band [1973]
- Gong [Oct 73-Mar 74]
- Rufus Thomas Band [1974]
- Rob Tait Band [2005-?]
BIOGRAPHY:
Superb drummer, he played in many mythical bands, as we´re going to read.
BATTERED ORNAMENTS
In 1969, Rob Tait is part of Pete Brown´s Battered Ornaments, the band assembled by Pete Brown:
They released an album with a funny title, A meal you can shake hands with in the dark in 1969, produced by Dick Heckstall-Smith, who also plays sax here.
The Battered Ornaments went onstage at the Rolling Stones famous Hyde Park Concert immediately before the Stones headlined. They played a Free Jazz set to a rather frosty reception!!
But soon that year, Pete Brown is fired, and Charlie Hart also leaves.
The rest of the band carries on as Battered Ornaments:
They released Mantle piece in 1969.
|
BATTERED ORNAMENTS #? |
1969 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pete Brown vocals, percussion | Chris Spedding guitar | Roger ´Butch´ Potter bass | Charlie Hart keyboards | George Khan flute | Pete Bailey percussion | Rob Tait drums |
They released an album with a funny title, A meal you can shake hands with in the dark in 1969, produced by Dick Heckstall-Smith, who also plays sax here.
The Battered Ornaments went onstage at the Rolling Stones famous Hyde Park Concert immediately before the Stones headlined. They played a Free Jazz set to a rather frosty reception!!
But soon that year, Pete Brown is fired, and Charlie Hart also leaves.
The rest of the band carries on as Battered Ornaments:
|
BATTERED ORNAMENTS #? |
1969 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Spedding guitar | Roger ´Butch´ Potter bass | George Khan flute | Pete Bailey percussion | Rob Tait drums |
They released Mantle piece in 1969.
PIBLOKTO!
In 1970, Rob rejoins old boss Pete Brown in a new project, Pete Brown And Piblokto!:
After a single, they released an album with an endless title: Things may come and things may go but the art school dance on, with some guests. After the album was released, Roger Bunn left.
Steve Glover is the new bassist in Piblokto!, replacing Roger Bunn:
After a second album, Thousands on a raft, all the musicians sadly leave the band.
|
PIBLOKTO! #? |
1970 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êBattered Ornaments |
||||
Pete Brown vocals, percussion | Jim Mullen guitar | Roger Bunn † bass | Dave Thompson † keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
After a single, they released an album with an endless title: Things may come and things may go but the art school dance on, with some guests. After the album was released, Roger Bunn left.
Steve Glover is the new bassist in Piblokto!, replacing Roger Bunn:
|
PIBLOKTO! #? |
1970 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pete Brown vocals, percussion | Jim Mullen guitar | Steve Glover bass | Dave Thompson † keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
After a second album, Thousands on a raft, all the musicians sadly leave the band.
ARTHUR BROWN´S KINGDOM COME
In September 1970, Arthur Brown forms a new band, called Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come. This was the original lineup:
The lineup changed very soon, before they released any material. But ... many years later, an album has been released comprising loose sessions from the past. The album is adequately titled as Jam.
|
ARTHUR BROWN BAND #1 |
Sep 70-? |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êCrazy World Of Arthur Brown |
|||||
Arthur Brown vocals | Bob Ellwood guitar | Dave Ambrose bass | Goodge Harris keyboards | Pete Bailey percussion | Rob Tait drums |
The lineup changed very soon, before they released any material. But ... many years later, an album has been released comprising loose sessions from the past. The album is adequately titled as Jam.
ARC
New drummer for Arc (still in 1970), is Rob Tait:
They released Arc at this. But in 1971, they went on to act as backing band for old mate Graham Bell.
|
ARC #2 |
1970 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
John Turnbull guitar, vocals | Tom Duffy bass, vocals | Mickey Gallagher keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
Bell & Arcê | Bell & Arcê | Bell & Arcê | Bell & Arcê |
They released Arc at this. But in 1971, they went on to act as backing band for old mate Graham Bell.
BELL & ARC
Graham Bell started thinking about a solo career. He wrote some demos, and called his old mates (now in Arc) to back him. All went so well, that they decided forming a stable lineup, under the name Bell & Arc:
They released Bell & Arc, with lots of great guests: Kenny Craddock (keyboards, guitar), Bud Beadle (sax), Steve Gregory (sax), Jeff Condon (trumpet), John Woods (percussion), Alan White (drums, percussion). Some of them also joined the band later.
But after the album, Rob Tait left.
|
BELL & ARC #1 |
1971 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êEvery Which Way |
êArc |
êArc |
êArc |
êArc |
Graham Bell † vocals | John Turnbull guitar, vocals | Tom Duffy bass | Mickey Gallagher keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
They released Bell & Arc, with lots of great guests: Kenny Craddock (keyboards, guitar), Bud Beadle (sax), Steve Gregory (sax), Jeff Condon (trumpet), John Woods (percussion), Alan White (drums, percussion). Some of them also joined the band later.
But after the album, Rob Tait left.
VINEGAR JOE
This was the initial lineup for the band Vinegar Joe, around 1971:
Rob Tait joined the band during the recording of their first album, Vinegar Joe. Keef Hartley had done all the sessions until they found a permanent drummer, except one track, ´Live A Little Get Somewhere´. Rob then did this track in Island Studios and went on the road with the band.
Other musicians appearing in the album: Dave Thompson (keyboards), Dave Brooks (sax), Conrad Isadore (drums), Gaspar Lawal (percussion), and from Average White Band: Malcolm ´Molly´ Duncan and Roger Ball.
|
VINEGAR JOE #1 |
1971 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elkie Brooks vocals | Robert Palmer † vocals | Pete Gage guitar, keyboards, vocals | Steve York bass, harmonica | Tim Hinkley keyboards | John Hawken keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
Rob Tait joined the band during the recording of their first album, Vinegar Joe. Keef Hartley had done all the sessions until they found a permanent drummer, except one track, ´Live A Little Get Somewhere´. Rob then did this track in Island Studios and went on the road with the band.
Other musicians appearing in the album: Dave Thompson (keyboards), Dave Brooks (sax), Conrad Isadore (drums), Gaspar Lawal (percussion), and from Average White Band: Malcolm ´Molly´ Duncan and Roger Ball.
GONG
In October 1972, Rob joins Gong:
But his stay was very brief, just that same month.
|
GONG #? |
Oct 72 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Allen vocals, guitar | Gilli Smyth vocals | Francis Moze bass | Tim Blake keyboards | Didier Malherbe sax | Charles Hayward | Rob Tait drums | Diane Stewart backing vocals, percussion |
But his stay was very brief, just that same month.
GRAHAM BOND BAND
In 1973, Steve York joins his mate Graham Bond, for some gigs in France:
|
GRAHAM BOND BAND #? |
? |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Graham Bond † keyboards, sax, vocals | Steve York bass | + | Rob Tait drums | OR | Keith Bailey drums | + maybe others, unknown to me. Help |
GONG (again)
But in October 1973, Rob joins Gong again:
After a long tour, Rob Tait and Diane Stewart leave again in March 1974.
Some years later, a live album was released, Gong Live etc. Featuring different Gong lineups, Rob Tait is featured in some tracks. Originally a 2LP, it has been reissued in abridged version as 1CD, lacking 1 track, so beware...
A 2nd live album has resurfaced along the years. It's The Peel Sessions (1971-74 pre-modernist wireless on radio). Also featuring different lineups, but Rob is featured in one track from 1974.
|
GONG #? |
Oct 73-Mar 74 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Allen vocals, guitar | Steve Hillage guitar | Mike Howlett bass | Tim Blake keyboards | Didier Malherbe sax | Rob Tait drums | Diane Stewart backing vocals, percussion |
After a long tour, Rob Tait and Diane Stewart leave again in March 1974.
Some years later, a live album was released, Gong Live etc. Featuring different Gong lineups, Rob Tait is featured in some tracks. Originally a 2LP, it has been reissued in abridged version as 1CD, lacking 1 track, so beware...
A 2nd live album has resurfaced along the years. It's The Peel Sessions (1971-74 pre-modernist wireless on radio). Also featuring different lineups, but Rob is featured in one track from 1974.
RUFUS THOMAS BAND
These great musicians backed veteran soul singer Rufus Thomas for his UK tour in 1974:
|
RUFUS THOMAS BAND #? |
1974 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rufus Thomas † vocals | Mike Woods guitar | Steve York bass | Dave Thompson † keyboards | Rob Tait drums |
AND THEN...
In 1974, he started working in Night Clubs in the West End of London.
Around 2005, Rob formed a Jazz Quartet to play in a local Pub :- Hammond Organ, Piano, Bass Pedals / Tenor Sax,Flute / Guitar / Drums. Don´t know the other members, but some of them might be Alan Glen and Nick Newell.
Around 2005, Rob formed a Jazz Quartet to play in a local Pub :- Hammond Organ, Piano, Bass Pedals / Tenor Sax,Flute / Guitar / Drums. Don´t know the other members, but some of them might be Alan Glen and Nick Newell.
DISCOGRAPHY: (16 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)
ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (8 credits)
- Mantle piece - Battered Ornaments (1969)
- Members: Pete Bailey, Pete Brown, George Khan, Roger ´Butch´ Potter, Chris Spedding, Rob Tait
- Comments: CD reissue contains 2 bonus tracks.
- A Meal you can shake hands with in the dark - Battered Ornaments (1969)
- Members: Pete Bailey, Pete Brown, Charlie Hart, George Khan, Pete Lemer, Roger ´Butch´ Potter, Chris Spedding, Rob Tait
- Guests: Al Jackson, John Surman (RIP: Vincent Crane)
- Producer: (RIP: Dick Heckstall-Smith)
- Comments: CD reissue contains bonus tracks.
- Thousands on a raft - Piblokto! (1970)
- Members: Pete Brown, Steve Glover, Jim Mullen, Rob Tait (RIP: Dave Thompson)
- Comments: CD reissue contains 2 bonus tracks.
- Bell & Arc - Bell & Arc (07/1971)
- Members: Tom Duffy, Mickey Gallagher, Rob Tait, John Turnbull, Alan White, John Woods (RIP: Graham Bell, Kenny Craddock)
- Guests: Bud Beadle, Jeff Condon, Steve Gregory
- Producer: Bob Johnston
- Vinegar Joe - Vinegar Joe (1972)
- Members: Elkie Brooks, Pete Gage, John Hawken, Tim Hinkley, Rob Tait, Steve York (RIP: Robert Palmer)
- Guests: Roger Ball, Dave Brooks, Malcolm ´Molly´ Duncan, Keef Hartley, Conrad Isidore, Gaspar Lawal, Michael Rosen (RIP: Dave Thompson)
- Live etc - Gong (1977)
- Members: Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, Diane Stewart, Rob Tait (RIP: Pierre Moerlen)
- Producer: (RIP: John Walters)
- Comments: This live album features different Gong lineups (from 1973 to 1975), plus a studio track from 1974. Originally a 2LP, it has been reissued in abridged version as 1CD, lacking 1 track.
- Jam - Arthur Brown´s Kingdom Come (1995)
- Members: Dave Ambrose, Pete Bailey, Arthur Brown, Bob Ellwood, Goodge Harris, Rob Tait
- Comments: Released in 1994, but recorded circa 1970.
- The Peel Sessions (1971-74 pre-modernist wireless on radio) - Gong (1996)
- Members: Steve Hillage, Rob Tait
- My last band - Battered Ornaments (1977)
- Members: Pete Bailey, Brian Breeze, Pete Brown, Charlie Hart, George Khan, Roger ´Butch´ Potter, Chris Spedding, Rob Tait (RIP: Roger Bunn)
- Guests: Steve Glover, Jim Mullen, Phil Ryan, John ´Pugwash´ Weathers (RIP: Dick Heckstall-Smith, Dave Thompson)
- Before singing lessons 1969-1977 - Pete Brown (1987)
- Members: Bimbo Acock, Pete Bailey, Brian Breeze, Pete Brown, Derek Foley, Steve Glover, Helen Hardy, Delisle Harper, Charlie Hart, Dill Katz, George Khan, Ian Lynn, Jim Mullen, Roger ´Butch´ Potter, Phil Ryan, Jeff Seopardie, Chris Spedding, Ed Spevock, Rob Tait, John ´Pugwash´ Weathers, Ray Taff Williams (RIP: Graham Bond, Roger Bunn, Dave Thompson)
- Guests: Maurice Adamson, Jeff Allen, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Les Davidson, Lyn Dobson, Tom Duffy, Tony Fernandez, Bob Jackson, Alan Mair, Max Middleton, John Mumford, Alan Ross (RIP: Dick Heckstall-Smith)
- Comments: 2LP compilation with many unreleased tracks.
- Art school dance goes on forever - Pete Brown (1970)
- Members: Laurie Allan, Pete Brown
- Guests: Henry Lowther, Jim Mullen, Tony Roberts, Rob Tait, Danny Thompson (RIP: Roger Bunn, Phil Seamen, Dave Thompson)
- A Story ended - Dick Heckstall-Smith (1972)
- Members: Clem Clempson, James Litherland, Dave Rose, Bill Smith, Theodore Thunder (RIP: Dick Heckstall-Smith)
- Guests: Gordon Beck, Mark Clarke, Chris Farlowe, Dave Greenslade, Jon Hiseman, Caleb Quaye, Chris Spedding, Rob Tait, Paul Williams (RIP: Graham Bond)
- Technical: Tom Newman
- Comments:
After the breakup of Colosseum, Dick recorded this superb solo album, assisted by some of his fellow Colosseum members plus other friends. It was recorded in March/April 1972.
The CD release by Sequel includes a few live bonus tracks, with Manchild (Dick´s own band in 1973: James Litherland, Billy Smith, Dave Rose and Theodore Thunder). But there´s more... a different CD release by Castle adds 2 more studio cuts by Manchild. - Manor live - Steve York (1973)
- Members: Steve York
- Guests: Dave Brooks, Elkie Brooks, Marc Charig, Lol Coxhill, Barry Duggan, Pete Gage, Pete Gavin, Tim Hinkley, Micky Moody, Jim Mullen, Diane Stewart, Rob Tait, Dave Thompson (RIP: Graham Bond, Boz Burrell, Ollie Halsall, Jon Lee, Mike Patto, Ian Wallace)
- Comments:
This was a megaband assembled by Steve York. The list of musicians is fantastic, including most of Steve´s bandmates.
The album, Manor live was one of the first releases by (then) brand new label Virgin. Exactly, it was the 3rd album released by the label, after Mike Oldfield's Tubular bells and Gong's Radio gnome invisible: part one - the flying teapot.
No live gigs were ever made to promote the album. Way too many people!
- Joy of a toy - Kevin Ayers (12/1969)
- Members: Kevin Ayers, David Bedford, Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt (RIP: Hugh Hopper)
- Guests: Paul Buckmaster, Rob Tait (RIP: Jeff Clyne, Paul Minns)
- Comments: CD reissue contains bonus tracks.
- Passing stranger - Paul Korda (1971)
- Members: Alan Gorrie, Paul Korda, Onnie McIntyre
- Guests: Madeline Bell, Andy Roberts, Ray Russell, Chris Spedding, Rob Tait (RIP: Doris Troy)
- Comments: It was recorded in February 1971.
- Party in the rain - Pete Brown & Ian Lynn (1983)
- Members: Bimbo Acock, Pete Brown, Helen Hardy, Dill Katz, Ian Lynn, Jeff Seopardie
- Guests: Les Davidson, Steve Glover, Jim Mullen, Jerome Rimson, Phil Ryan, Rob Tait, John ´Pugwash´ Weathers (RIP: Graham Bond, Roger Bunn, Dave Thompson)
- Technical: Tim Young
- Comments: The album was originally recorded in 1976, but released in 1983. CD reissue contains 5 bonus tracks.
QUESTIONS:
01. I need to check if there was a Piblokto! lineup with: Brown / Mullen / Bunn / Hart / Kahn / Tait / Bailey (a mixture of Battered Ornaments and Piblokto!)
THANKS:
Very Special Thanks to:
Thanks to:
WHAT'S NEW:
23/July/2010 - Page added to the blog.
23/October/2000 - Original page written by me (in the old site).
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Rob Tait mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Pete Brown (7)
Jim Mullen (6)
Chris Spedding (6)
Dave Thompson (6)
Pete Bailey (5)
Graham Bond (4)
Roger Bunn (4)
Steve Glover (4)
Dick Heckstall-Smith (4)
George Khan (4)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 23/October/2000 - Last modified on: 28/July/2010. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.
Yip, Rob is a great drummer. Obviously Piblokto had their Cream link and think Rob did a very good Ginger Baker but still had his personal style. Wonder how long he'd been playing before playing with Piblokto. - Fred. ftapp@water.co.nz
ReplyDeleteI met Rob at Portsmouth College of technology in 1967. We had a common interest in music and had some interesting talks. We were both studying English but I don't think Rob returned for the second year.I wonder if he remembers that year. Phil Holehouse
ReplyDeletei love robs drumming with the battered ornaments and piblokto. nice snare work and great cymbal work. along with mike kelly two fablous u.k. drummers
ReplyDeleteHi, and thanks for writing. Yes, I agree completely. You can also find a page about drummer Mike Kellie in my website, if you want to check it out. Thanks again.
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