Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Tex Comer (bass)


BANDS:
  • The Stealers
  • Warm Dust [1970-1972]
  • Ace [Dec 72-Jul 77]
  • Sutherland Brothers & Quiver
  • Bryn Haworth Band [1978]
  • Frankie Miller Band [Sep 78-1979]
  • Bryn Haworth Band [Aug 79]
  • Mickey Jupp Band [1981-1983]
  • Jo Ann Kelly Band [1983]
  • Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds [1986]
  • Dave Kelly Band [1986]
  • Mickey Jupp Band [1991]
  • The DTs [1997]
  • Bryn Haworth Band [Sep 97-Jan 98]
  • Voice Of Reason
  • Los Pacaminos
  • Blues Patrol [2008]
  • 7 Year Itch [2008]

BIOGRAPHY:

Terry Comer (nicknamed Tex Comer) is another veteran from the pub-rock scene, a superb bassist. He was born on February 23rd, 1949, in Burnley, Lancashire, England.

Tex Comer



THE STEALERS


One of Tex Comer´s first bands was The Stealers:

THE STEALERS #?
?
Errol Walsh
vocals
Ed Deane
guitar
+ others unknown to me. Help!


WARM DUST


This was the first lineup of Warm Dust, probably around 1970:

WARM DUST #1
?
Les Walker
vocals
Paul Carrack
keyboards
Alan Soloman
sax, flute, keyboards
John Surguy
sax, flute
Dave Pepper
drums

They released a double album called And it came to pass. After a while, they changed drummer.

New drummer for Warm Dust was Keith Bailey:

WARM DUST #2
?
Les Walker
vocals
Paul Carrack
keyboards
Alan Soloman
sax, flute, keyboards
John Surguy
sax, flute
Keith Bailey
drums

They released a new album, Peace for our time. And then, they changed drummer again.

Original drummer Dave Pepper returns to Warm Dust:

WARM DUST #3
?
Les Walker
vocals
Paul Carrack
keyboards
Alan Soloman
sax, flute, keyboards
John Surguy
sax, flute
Dave Pepper
drums

Next (and last) drummer in Warm Dust was John Bedson:

WARM DUST #3
?-1972
Les Walker
vocals
Paul Carrack
keyboards
Alan Soloman
sax, flute, keyboards
John Surguy
sax, flute
John Bedson
drums
Aceê
Aceê

There's a 3rd album, Dreams of impossibilities.

But, finally, in 1972, they disbanded and in December 1972, Tex and Paul joined a new band, Ace.


ACE


This was the original lineup for Ace, formed in December 1972:

ACE #1
Dec 72-?
êWarm Dust
êWarm Dust
Paul Carrack
vocals, keyboards
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar, vocals
Phil Harris
guitar, vocals
Steve Witherington
drums

After a short period, Steve leaves, being replaced by Chico Greenwood.

This was the 2nd lineup for Ace:

ACE #2
?-Sep 74
Paul Carrack
vocals, keyboards
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar, vocals
Phil Harris
guitar, vocals
Chico Greenwood
drums

But Chico also leaves, in September 1974.

Fran Byrne is the new drummer for Ace, in September 1974:

ACE #3
Sep 74-Mar 76
Paul Carrack
vocals, keyboards
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar, vocals
Phil Harris
guitar, vocals
Fran Byrne
drums

They released their first album, Five-a-side, including a very succesful single, the famous song ´How long´, penned by Carrack, a song about Tex Comer leaving the band briefly to play with the Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, and his subsequent return.

After a second album, Time for another, Phil Harris leaves the band in March 1976.
New guitarist John Woodhead joins Ace in June 1976:

ACE #4
Jun 76-Jul 77
Paul Carrack
vocals, keyboards
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar, vocals
John Woodhead
guitar, vocals
Fran Byrne
drums

They released a 3rd album, No strings.

The band split in July 1977. Byrne, and Tex went to play with Frankie Miller band (with the great ones Ed Deane and Steve Simpson) until 1979. Carrack also joined Frankie Miller but in previous lineups.


SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER


When Bruce Thomas leaves Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Tex Comer came to play with the band for a while, although he was still a member of Ace:

SUTHERLAND BROTHERS #?
?
Iain Sutherland
vocals, guitar
Gavin Sutherland
vocals, guitar
Peter Wood
keyboards
John ´Willie´ Wilson
drums


BRYN HAWORTH BAND


This was the superb Bryn Haworth Band around 1978, comprising 3 musicians from Ace:

BRYN HAWORTH BAND #?
1978
Bryn Haworth
vocals, guitar
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar
Mick Weaver
keyboards
Fran Byrne
drums


FRANKIE MILLER BAND


This was the personnel for the Frankie Miller tour in September 1978:

FRANKIE MILLER BAND #?
Sep 78-?
Frankie Miller
vocals
Steve Simpson
guitar
Ed Deane
guitar
Fran Byrne
drums

In April 1979, they add Nick Judd on keyboards:

FRANKIE MILLER BAND #?
1979
Frankie Miller
vocals
Steve Simpson
guitar
Ed Deane
guitar
Nick Judd
keyboards
Fran Byrne
drums


BRYN HAWORTH BAND (again)


This was the Bryn Haworth Band around August 1979:

BRYN HAWORTH BAND #?
1979
Bryn Haworth
vocals, guitar
Alan ´Bam´ King
guitar
Nick Judd
keyboards
Fran Byrne
drums

They appeared at the Greenbelt Festival that month, thus appearing in the collective album Greenbelt live!.


MICKEY JUPP BAND


This was the Mickey Jupp Band in 1981:

MICKEY JUPP BAND #7
1981
Mickey Jupp
vocals
Ian Duck
guitar
Bob Clouter
drums

In 1982, the Mickey Jupp Band changes their drummer:

MICKEY JUPP BAND #8
1982
Mickey Jupp
vocals
Ian Duck
guitar
Paul Atkinson
drums

They appear playing two tracks in the collective live album Live in London, vol. 1. Other acts appearing in the album: Red Beans & Rice, Diz & The Doormen (with Pete Thomas, the sax player), The Electric Bluebirds and Chevalier Brothers.

Next changes in the Mickey Jupp Band happen around November 1983, with another change in the drum chair:

MICKEY JUPP BAND #9
1983
Mickey Jupp
vocals
Ian Duck
guitar
Lester Gordon
drums

But before the end of 1983, Paul Atkinson is back on drums:

MICKEY JUPP BAND #10
1983
Mickey Jupp
vocals
Ian Duck
guitar
Paul Atkinson
drums

And then, Tex Comer left the band (he would rejoin 8 laters later, though).


JO ANN KELLY BAND


In 1983, Tex Comer joined the band of the late, talented Jo Ann Kelly:

JO ANN KELLY BAND #?
1983-?
Jo Ann Kelly
vocals
Pete Emery
guitar
Geraint Watkins
keyboards
Les Morgan
drums
Al McLaine
backing vocals
Pauline Neill
backing vocals

Don´t know how much time they stayed together.


CHRIS FARLOWE & THE THUNDERBIRDS


In 1986, Tex Comer becomes a member of Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, but I can´t find the info about the whole lineup. Can someone help me, please?


DAVE KELLY BAND


This was the lineup for Dave Kelly Band in 1986:

DAVE KELLY BAND #?
1986
Dave Kelly
vocals, guitar
Ed Deane
guitar
Peter Filleul
keyboards
Rob Townsend
drums


AND THEN...


I have a big gap here from 1986 to 1991. Does anybody know where did Tex play in that period?

Tex appears in the movie Riff-Raff (1991), directed by Ken Loach, as part of the pub band in some scenes. The musicians appearing there are: Martin Clapson, Les Davidson, Tex Comer, Lou Stonebridge and Jimmy Jewell.


MICKEY JUPP BAND (again)


In 1991, Tex Comer rejoins Mickey Jupp and his band:

MICKEY JUPP BAND #12
1991
Mickey Jupp
vocals
Ed Deane
guitar
The Big Figure
drums


AND THEN...


Another big gap here. Help, please...

I know he also played in a band called Voice Of Reason, but I can´t find any info about them.


THE DTS


This was the lineup for the DTs in 1997:

THE DTS #?
1997
Honeyboy Hickling
vocals, harmonica
Big Al Taylor
guitar
Mister Mac
drums


BRYN HAWORTH BAND


In September 1997, Bryn Haworth made a brief UK tour with this band:

BRYN HAWORTH BAND #?
Sep 97
Bryn Haworth
vocals, guitar
Jeff Hammer
keyboards
Henry Spinetti
drums

And in January 1998, Bryn Haworth augments his band with a horn section:

BRYN HAWORTH BAND #?
1998
Bryn Haworth
vocals, guitar
Jeff Hammer
keyboards
Raul D´Oliveira
trumpet
Steve Gregory
sax
Henry Spinetti
drums


LOS PACAMINOS


Last thing I´ve known about Tex is that he´s playing with Los Pacaminos, a band comprising fantastic, veteran players, with singer Paul Young. But I don´t know the exact lineup with Tex.


BLUES PATROL


Tex Comer in Blues Patrol


This was the lineup for Blues Patrol around June 2008:

BLUES PATROL #?
2008
Andy Roberts
vocals
Tony Pow
guitar
Rob Millis
keyboards
Mick Clewes
drums


7 YEAR ITCH


In December 2008, the band 7 Year Itch plays a reunion gig, with Tex Comer aboard:

7 YEAR ITCH #?
2008
Chris Hargrave
Mick Molloy
guitar
Paul Atkinson
drums

And the legacy continues. His son Rob Comer plays guitar in a band called aerialdevice.

DISCOGRAPHY: (30 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (19 credits)
  • And it came to pass - Warm Dust (1970)

    • Members: Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Alan Soloman, John Surguy, Les Walker (RIP: Dave Pepper)
    • Comments: Double LP.
  • Peace for our time - Warm Dust (1971)

    • Members: Keith Bailey, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Alan Soloman, John Surguy, Les Walker
  • Third album - Warm Dust (1972)

    • Members: Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Alan Soloman, John Surguy, Les Walker (RIP: Dave Pepper)
  • Dreams of impossibilities - Warm Dust (1972)

  • Warm Dust - Warm Dust (1972)

  • Beat of the street - Sutherland Brothers (1974)

  • Five-a-side - Ace (12/1974)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King
    • Guests: Bud Beadle, Mick Eve, Chris Hughes
    • Technical: (RIP: Mike Stone)
    • Comments: Japanese CD reissue from 2004 contains 1 bonus track.
  • Time for another - Ace (12/1975)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King
    • Guests: Tim Renwick, Rusty Young
    • Comments: Time for another was recorded by lineup #3: Alan 'Bam' King (guitar, vocals), Phil Harris (guitar, vocals), Paul Carrack (keyboards, vocals), Terry 'Tex' Comer (bass, vocals), Fran Byrne (drums). With help from Tim Renwick (guitar), and Rusty Young (steel guitar, from Poco).
  • No strings - Ace (01/1977)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Alan ´Bam´ King, John Woodhead
    • Guests: Bobby Keys, Steve Madaio, Jim Price, Tim Renwick
    • Producer: Trevor Lawrence
    • Technical: Bill Schnee
    • Comments: No strings was recorded by lineup #4: Alan 'Bam' King (guitar, vocals), John Woodhead (guitar, vocals), Paul Carrack (keyboards, vocals), Terry 'Tex' Comer (bass, vocals), Fran Byrne (drums). With help from Tim Renwick (guitar) and some horn players: Steve Madaio (trumpet), Bobby Keys, Trevor Lawrence (trombone), Jim Price.
  • Falling in love - Frankie Miller (1979)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Ed Deane, Frankie Miller, Steve Simpson
    • Guests: Terry Britten, Barrie Guard, Tim Renwick, Chris Slade, Linda Taylor, Dave Wintour (RIP: Ron Aspery)
    • Comments: For some strange reason, the American edition was called Perfect fit. This album features Tim Renwick (guitar), Steve Simpson (guitar, mandolin, accordion), Ed Deane (guitar), Terry Britten (guitar), Ron Aspery (sax), Dave Wintour (bass), Chris Hall (keyboards), Chris Slade (drums), Barrie Guard (percussion), Linda Taylor (vocals), and from Ace: Terry 'Tex' Comer (bass), Paul Carrack (keyboards, backing vocals), Fran Byrne (drums). Arrangements by Frankie Miller and David Mackay. Orchestra conducted by Barrie Guard. It contains several versions; for example, Bob Marley's ´Is this love´, or John Hiatt's ´If I can love somebody´.
      The CD release includes one bonus track: ´Something about you´. But the remastered CD from 2004 includes 4 bonus live tracks.
  • Some people can´t dance - Mickey Jupp (1982)

    • Members: Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Mickey Jupp, Mo Witham
    • Guests: Bias Boshell, Howie Casey, Steve Holley
    • Producer: Mike Vernon
  • Pass it on - Bryn Haworth (1983)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Raul D´Oliveira, Steve Gregory, Bryn Haworth, Alan ´Bam´ King, Henry Spinetti
    • Guests: Dave Charles, John David, Dave Markee, Pete Thoms, Pete Wingfield
  • Wings of the morning - Bryn Haworth (1983)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Steve Gregory, Bryn Haworth, Alan ´Bam´ King, Henry Spinetti
    • Guests: Dave Markee, Pete Wingfield
  • Shampoo haircut and shave - Mickey Jupp (1983)

    • Members: Paul Atkinson, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Ian Duck, Mickey Jupp
    • Producer: Bernie Frost
    • Technical: Barry Hammond
  • Just restless - Jo Ann Kelly Band (1983)

    • Members: Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Pete Emery, Geraint Watkins (RIP: Jo Ann Kelly)
    • Guests: Les Morgan
  • Chris Farlowe - Chris Farlowe (1986)

    • Members: The Big Figure, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Chris Farlowe, Tim Hinkley, Mo Witham
    • Guests: Martyn C Winning
    • Comments: EP.
  • Standing at the crossroads - Dave Kelly (1987)

    • Members: Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Ed Deane, Peter Filleul, Dave Kelly, Lou Stonebridge, Rob Townsend
  • As the years go by - Mickey Jupp (1988)

  • X - Mickey Jupp (1989)

COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (4 credits)
  • Six aside - Ace (1982)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King
    • Guests: Bud Beadle, Mick Eve, Chris Hughes, Rusty Young
  • Very best of Ace - Ace (1993)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King
    • Guests: Bud Beadle, Mick Eve, Chris Hughes, Rusty Young
  • How long: very best of Ace - Ace (1993)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King
    • Guests: Bud Beadle, Mick Eve, Chris Hughes, Rusty Young
  • The Best of Ace - Ace (10/2003)

    • Members: Fran Byrne, Paul Carrack, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Phil Harris, Alan ´Bam´ King, John Woodhead
    • Producer: Trevor Lawrence
COLLECTIVE ALBUMS (2 credits)
  • Greenbelt live! - VVAA (1979)

    • Guests: Derek Beauchemin, Fran Byrne, Dave Christopher, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, George Ford, Dave Green, Cliff Hall, Bryn Haworth, Nick Judd, Alan ´Bam´ King, Alex MacDougall, Mike Moran, Graeme Murray, John Perry, Craig Pruess, Tony Rivers, Ray Russell, Snowy White, Dave Wintour (RIP: Stu Calver, Barry De Souza, Graham Jarvis, Martin Jenner)
  • Live in London vol 1 - VVAA (1984)

SESSIONS (5 credits)
  • Jaded virgin - Marshall Champan (1978)

  • Hello there big boy - Danny Kirwan (1979)

    • Members: Danny Kirwan
    • Guests: Fran Byrne, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, John Cook, Chris Fletcher, Dana Gillespie, Kirby Gregory, John Perry, Tony Rivers, Bob Weston (RIP: Stu Calver)
  • Just popped out - Sean Tyla (1980)

    • Members: Sean Tyla
    • Guests: Fran Byrne, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Bob Daisley, Nick Garvey, Mick Groom, Bruce Irvine, Mike Kellie, Alan ´Bam´ King, Malcolm Morley, Tim Roper, Pete Thomas, Ken Whaley (RIP: John ´Irish´ Earle)
  • Johnny Duhan - Johnny Duhan (1982)

    • Guests: Fran Byrne, Terry ´Tex´ Comer, Alun Davies, Ed Deane, Kevin McAlea, Gary Taylor, Nigel Warren-Green (RIP: Gary Moore)
    • Producer: Paul Samwell-Smith
  • King of cards - Tom McRae (04/2007)


QUESTIONS:

01. Tex must appear in an album by Luke Sital Singh around 2005. Can someone give me some info about it, please?


RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 11


Official site(s) - tell them you saw the link here:

From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have:

From the superb site Knights in Blue Denim: The British Blues Scene '68 - '70 (by Christer Fridhammar & Vanja), we have:

Wikipedia doesn´t want to include links to this website, but I won´t do the same with them. So, from the great Wikipedia, we have:

Assorted links:

THANKS:

Very Special Thanks to:
  • Gavin Sutherland: for info on Tex, but specially for his kindness and help.

  • Special Thanks to:
  • Ivan Carling: for his comments on Tex and Sutherland Brothers.
  • Nick Markham: for his offer of help.

  • Thanks to:
  • Andy Parker: for info on The Pacaminos album credits.
  • Brian Keen: for info on Tex early days.
  • Andrew Strain & Julie Hicks: for their kindness.
  • Chris Allman: for info on the album by Luke Sital Singh.
  • Tom Parker: for info on Tex.

  • WHAT'S NEW:

    10/August/2010 - Page added to the blog.
    17/August/1999 - Original page written by me (in the old site).

    RELATED MUSICIANS:

    Terry ´Tex´ Comer mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
    Fran Byrne (14)
    Paul Carrack (13)
    Alan ´Bam´ King (11)
    John Anthony (6)
    Phil Harris (6)
    Ed Deane (5)
    Mickey Jupp (5)
    Bud Beadle (4)
    Mick Eve (4)
    Chris Hughes (4)

    Page created by Miguel Terol on: 17/August/1999 - Last modified on: 07/February/2011. 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.

    8 comments:

    1. Here is a cool Ace record from Cherry Red Records http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/artists/ace.php

      ReplyDelete
    2. Hi, does anyone know how to contact terry? I'm trying desperately as a surprise for his old school and band mate Bernard before his 70th next week! Please if you have any leads please email me at jackieh131@gmail.com

      Many thanks in advance chaps 😀

      ReplyDelete
    3. Pre-lockdown I’d been seeing Tex play regularly with The Andy Winfield Band. Especially at The Oak in Kingston-upon-Thames

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Hi, and thanks for your contribution. I need to update my page on Tex Comer with some bands where he's been playing in the last years... FullHouse, for example. Thanks again

        Delete
    4. Does anyone have his email

      Reply to pghlearjet@aol.com

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. I haven´t any way to contact Tex myself. If someone finally contacts him, please let him know about my page about him. He´s such a great player.

        Delete
    5. I toured with Tex in 1988 playing with Flaco Jimenez from Ry Cooders band

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Hi, thanks for your comment. I've never been able to find info about that period of Tex. I know Tex and Flaco cowrote some songs with Errol Walsh, but couldn't find info about a proper live band. Would you mind writing me with some more info about the lineup, other musicians, etc? If you prefer, you can write me directly at molympus1@gmail.com - thanks a lot in advance

        Delete