Great bass player, Phil Curtis was born Phil Shutt in Buckinghamshire on March 31st, 1951. He studied at Watford College of Music.
THE STORMBEATS
This is the first band I´ve been able to trace with Phil Curtis (then, still called Phil Shutt). This could be around 1961:
|
THE STORMBEATS #? |
? |
|---|---|
Phil Curtis † bass | + others unknown to me. Help! |
| Other info on members of The Stormbeats (I know up to 4 members) | |
|---|---|
| Not enough info (3): | Stuart Gee, Pat McInerny, Eamonn Percival |
BREAD
Phil Curtis was a member of Bread (not the famous American band, but a British band of the same name):
But I haven´t any other details about them. After a while, the band changed their name to Quality.
|
BREAD #? |
? |
|---|---|
Phil Curtis † bass | + others unknown to me. Help! |
Qualityê | |
But I haven´t any other details about them. After a while, the band changed their name to Quality.
QUALITY
Phil Curtis also was a member of Quality, a band born from earlier band Bread:
Quality backed Billie Davis for a while.
|
QUALITY # |
|
|---|---|
|
êBread |
|
Phil Curtis † bass | + others unknown to me. Help! |
Billie Davis Bandê | |
Quality backed Billie Davis for a while.
BILLIE DAVIS BAND
The band Quality (when Phil Curtis was a member) became Billie Davis Band for some time, but don´t know the other players or the period (help, please!)
|
BILLIE DAVIS BAND #? |
? |
|
|---|---|---|
Billie Davis vocals | Phil Curtis † bass | + others unknown to me. Help! |
| Other info on members of Billie Davis Band (I know up to 11 members) | |
|---|---|
| Already covered (3): | Tex Makins, Ged Peck, Barry Reynolds |
| To be covered (5): | Brian Chapman, Billy Davidson, Carlo Little, Art Regis, Nick Simper |
| Not enough info (2): | Billie Davis, P J Kelly |
SPIRIT OF JOHN MORGAN
This was the original lineup for Spirit Of John Morgan formed in 1968:
Don Whitaker was the first to leave, and there were several later lineups, but cannot find if Phil Curtis was there. Help, please!
|
SPIRIT OF JOHN MORGAN #? |
1968-1969 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
John Morgan † keyboards | Don Whitaker guitar | Phil Curtis † bass, as Phil Shutt | Mick Walker drums |
Don Whitaker was the first to leave, and there were several later lineups, but cannot find if Phil Curtis was there. Help, please!
| Other info on members of Spirit Of John Morgan (I know up to 7 members) | |
|---|---|
| Not enough info (6): | Mike Carlos, Chris Kerridge, John Morgan, Trevor Thoms, Mick Walker, Don Whitaker |
STEVE GIBBONS BAND
Phil Curtis was a member of Steve Gibbons Band, but again, I haven´t found any other details:
|
STEVE GIBBONS BAND #? |
? |
|
|---|---|---|
Steve Gibbons guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | + others unknown to me. Help! |
| Other info on members of Steve Gibbons Band (I know up to 24 members) | |
|---|---|
| Already covered (2): | Robbie Blunt, Mike Kellie |
| Old pages (1): | Nick Pentelow |
| To be covered (20): | Phil Bond, Trevor Burton, Dave Carroll, Alan Caswell, Gerry Conway, Steve Gibbons, Howard Gregory, Bob Griffin, Roger Inniss, Bob Lamb, Dave Land, Albert Lee, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Andy Silvester, Howard Smith, Alan ´Sticky´ Wickett, Bob Wilson, Derek Wood, P J Wright |
KINGDOM COME
This was the lineup for Kingdom Come circa 1971, when Phil Curtis joined as new bassist:
They made some recordings for the BBC in December 1971. But Steer left the band in around September 1972.
Still in 1972, Kingdom Come carried on as a band without a drummer:
And next to leave was Michael Goodge Harris.
Around 1973, Kingdom Come replaced Goodge Harris with Victor Peraino:
But after their last album, the band parted ways, probably that same year.
|
KINGDOM COME #? |
1971-1972 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arthur Brown vocals | Andy Dalby guitar | Phil Curtis † bass, as Phil Shutt | Goodge Harris keyboards | Martin Steer drums |
They made some recordings for the BBC in December 1971. But Steer left the band in around September 1972.
Still in 1972, Kingdom Come carried on as a band without a drummer:
|
KINGDOM COME #? |
1972 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Arthur Brown vocals | Andy Dalby guitar | Phil Curtis † bass, as Phil Shutt | Goodge Harris keyboards |
And next to leave was Michael Goodge Harris.
Around 1973, Kingdom Come replaced Goodge Harris with Victor Peraino:
|
KINGDOM COME #? |
1973 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Arthur Brown vocals | Andy Dalby guitar | Phil Curtis † bass, as Phil Shutt | Victor Peraino keyboards |
But after their last album, the band parted ways, probably that same year.
| Other info on members of Kingdom Come (I know up to 8 members) | |
|---|---|
| To be covered (5): | Arthur Brown, Andy Dalby, Goodge Harris, Victor Peraino, Martin Steer |
| Not enough info (2): | Julian Paul Brown, Desmond Fisher |
KIKI DEE BAND
This was the Kiki Dee Band around January 1974:
This was the Kiki Dee Band around May 1974:
This was the Kiki Dee Band around August 1974, now with Roger Pope (although I think he hadn't joined the band permanently as next month we could find their previous drummer Pete Clarke in the band again):
This was the Kiki Dee Band around September 1974:
This was the Kiki Dee Band around October 1974:
This was the Kiki Dee Band around January 1975:
In February 1975, Kiki Dee starts another British tour, adding Ian Duck to the live lineup just for the tour:
There are some BBC live recording also featuring Mox guesting on flute and harmonica.
In 1974, Kiki Dee was the opening act for Elton John´s world tour, so when Elton left his long-time drummer Nigel Olsson, he asked Roger Pope to rejoin his band, which he did. In April 1975, this edition of the Kiki Dee Band parted ways.
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
Jan 74 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Mike Deacon keyboards | Pete Clarke drums |
This was the Kiki Dee Band around May 1974:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1974 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | B J Cole steel guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Pete Clarke drums |
This was the Kiki Dee Band around August 1974, now with Roger Pope (although I think he hadn't joined the band permanently as next month we could find their previous drummer Pete Clarke in the band again):
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1974 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Roger Pope † drums |
This was the Kiki Dee Band around September 1974:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1974 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Mike Deacon keyboards | Pete Clarke drums |
This was the Kiki Dee Band around October 1974:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1974 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Roger Pope † drums |
This was the Kiki Dee Band around January 1975:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1975 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Roger Pope † drums |
In February 1975, Kiki Dee starts another British tour, adding Ian Duck to the live lineup just for the tour:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
Feb 75-Apr 75 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Ian Duck harmonica, guitar, vocals | Jo Partridge guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards | Roger Pope † drums |
Elton John Bandê | |||||
There are some BBC live recording also featuring Mox guesting on flute and harmonica.
In 1974, Kiki Dee was the opening act for Elton John´s world tour, so when Elton left his long-time drummer Nigel Olsson, he asked Roger Pope to rejoin his band, which he did. In April 1975, this edition of the Kiki Dee Band parted ways.
TIGER
This was another lineup for Tiger circa 1976:
|
TIGER #? |
1976 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nicky Moore vocals | Les Walker vocals | Big Jim Sullivan † guitar | Ray Flacke guitar | Phil Curtis † bass | Dave MacRae keyboards |
Billy Rankin drums |
| Other info on members of Tiger (I know up to 13 members) | |
|---|---|
| Already covered (2): | Andy Brown, Big Jim Sullivan |
| To be covered (8): | Ray Flacke, Percy Jones, Dave MacRae, Nicky Moore, Alan Park, Simon Phillips, Billy Rankin, Les Walker |
| Not enough info (2): | Bill McGillivray, Jim Payne |
KIKI DEE BAND (again)
This was the new Kiki Dee Band in October 1976:
In February 1977, Kiki Dee Band is augmented with mythical backing vocalists:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1976 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Andy Dalby guitar | Brian Holloway guitar | John McBurnie guitar, vocals | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards |
Steve Holley drums |
In February 1977, Kiki Dee Band is augmented with mythical backing vocalists:
|
KIKI DEE BAND #? |
1977 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiki Dee vocals | Andy Dalby guitar | Brian Holloway guitar | John McBurnie guitar, vocals | Phil Curtis † bass | Bias Boshell keyboards |
Steve Holley drums | Tony Rivers backing vocals | John Perry backing vocals | Stu Calver † backing vocals |
| Other info on members of Kiki Dee Band (I know up to 32 members) | |
|---|---|
| Already covered (2): | Jo Partridge, Roger Pope |
| Old pages (2): | B J Cole, Tim Hinkley |
| To be covered (27): | Bias Boshell, Stu Calver, Chandru, Pete Clarke, Dennis Conway, Donnie Dacus, Andy Dalby, Mike Deacon, Kiki Dee, Pandit Dinesh, Ian Duck, Wendy Haas, Steve Holley, Brian Holloway, Brea Howe, Davey Johnstone, Annabel Lamb, Ronnie Leahy, Carmelo Luggeri, Fred Mandel, John McBurnie, Rob Moitza, John Perry, Florian Pilkington Miksa, Tony Rivers,... up to 27 musicians. |
VAPOUR TRAILS
Vapour Trails was formed by Andy Dalby, John McBurnie and Phil Curtis, after working together for other artists:
This band had a strong influence of American West Coast pop music, even if all the members were British. Their only album was produced by Larry Carlton, who brought some of his friends musicians to play on it.
|
VAPOUR TRAILS #? |
? |
|
|---|---|---|
Andy Dalby guitar | John McBurnie guitar, vocals | Phil Curtis † bass |
This band had a strong influence of American West Coast pop music, even if all the members were British. Their only album was produced by Larry Carlton, who brought some of his friends musicians to play on it.
| Other info on members of Vapour Trails (I know up to 3 members) | |
|---|---|
| To be covered (2): | Andy Dalby, John McBurnie |
AND THEN...
And then, I have a very big gap in Phil Curtis´ musical career. So, if someone can help me to fill the gaps, it would be very welcomed!
THE INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET
This was one of the lineups for The Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet, with Dan Barber on drums:
Sometime later, Barber and Buckland-Bork left the band.
This was another lineup for The Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet, now with Julian Veasy:
And then, very sad news. Phil Curtis passed away on March 14th, 2018 in Tenerife, Spain.
12 BANDS (WITH 15 SELECTED RECORDINGS):
1 ALBUMS FOR 1 BANDMATES AND FRIENDS:
1 COLLECTIVE ALBUMS:
6 SESSIONS (FOR 6 ARTISTS):
|
THE INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET #? |
? |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Abbott guitar, vocals | Jackie Juno vocals, percussion | Phil Curtis † bass | Clive Buckland-Bork keyboards | Dan Barber drums | Catriona McTeabag backing vocals, percussion |
Sometime later, Barber and Buckland-Bork left the band.
This was another lineup for The Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet, now with Julian Veasy:
|
THE INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET #? |
? |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Abbott guitar, vocals | Jackie Juno vocals, percussion | Phil Curtis † bass | Julian Veasy keyboards | Tracy Austin-tatious Loquacious drums | Catriona McTeabag backing vocals, percussion |
| Other info on members of The Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet (I know up to 10 members) | |
|---|---|
| To be covered (1): | Daevid Allen |
| Not enough info (8): | Brian Abbott, Tracy Austin-tatious Loquacious, Dan Barber, Clive Buckland-Bork, Jackie Juno, Trina McTeabag, Julian Veasy, Phil Whitehouse |
And then, very sad news. Phil Curtis passed away on March 14th, 2018 in Tenerife, Spain.
12 BANDS (WITH 15 SELECTED RECORDINGS):
| BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
| Bread | ||||||||||
| Arthur Brown Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Billie Davis Band |
| |||||||||
| Kiki Dee Band | 2 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Steve Gibbons Band |
| |||||||||
| The Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet | 2 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Kingdom Come | 4 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Quality | ||||||||||
| Spirit Of John Morgan | 3 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| The Stormbeats |
| |||||||||
| Tiger | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Vapour Trails | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
1 ALBUMS FOR 1 BANDMATES AND FRIENDS:
| BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||
| Steve Holley Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||
1 COLLECTIVE ALBUMS:
| BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS |
| VVAA | 1 RECORDINGS:
|
6 SESSIONS (FOR 6 ARTISTS):
| BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
| Bunk Dogger Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Ritchie Francis Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| G T Moore Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Gilbert O´Sullivan Band | 1 RECORDINGS: 
| |||||||||
| Chris Rea Band | 1 RECORDINGS:
| |||||||||
| Mike Silver Band | 1 RECORDINGS: 
| |||||||||
RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 9
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:
THANKS:
Very Special Thanks to:
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Phil Curtis mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Arthur Brown (8)
Andy Dalby (8)
Steve Holley (6)
Goodge Harris (4)
Brian Abbott (3)
Gus Dudgeon (3)
Stuart Epps (3)
Jackie Juno (3)
Trina McTeabag (3)
John Morgan (3)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 21/March/2018 - Last modified on: 22/March/2018. 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.