Steampacket

Steampacket (sometimes shown as Steam Packet)[1] were a British blues band[2] formed in 1965 by Long John Baldry with Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll, and organist Brian Auger.

Steampacket
OriginLondon
GenresBlues, Soul
Years active1965-1966
LabelsCharly Records
MembersLong John Baldry
Rod Stewart
Julie Driscoll
Brian Auger
Vic Briggs
Ricky Fenson
Micky Waller

History

A musical revue rather than a single group,[3] Steampacket was formed in 1965 by Long John Baldry after the break-up of his previous group the Hoochie Coochie Men.[4] It included Rod Stewart who had been with Baldry in the Hoochie Coochie Men, vocalist Julie Driscoll, organist Brian Auger and guitarist Vic Briggs. They were managed by Giorgio Gomelsky,[5] who had previously been involved with the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds.

Steampacket played at various clubs, theatres and student unions around the country, including supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1965 British tour.[6][7] Because of contractual difficulties, however, they never formally recorded a studio or live album. Tracks from some demo tapes they recorded at a rehearsal in the Marquee Club would later be released under the deceptive titles, First of the Supergroups: Early Days and The First Supergroup: Steampacket Featuring Rod Stewart, to cash in on Stewart's success.[8][9]

Aftermath

Stewart left in early 1966, followed by Long John Baldry a few months later, and the group disbanded soon after. Long John Baldry then joined Bluesology which included a then unknown Elton John on keyboards,[10][11] before pursuing a solo career, having a number 1 hit record in the UK Singles Chart in 1967 with "Let the Heartaches Begin". Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and Vic Briggs formed Trinity, with Briggs departing later in 1966 to join Eric Burdon and The Animals. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and The Trinity had a UK hit in 1968 with This Wheel's on Fire. Rod Stewart later sang with the Jeff Beck Group, the Faces and as a solo artist. There is an urban legend that Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood, later of Fleetwood Mac, played with Steampacket. In fact Steampacket, with the exception of Rod Stewart's departure, had the same personnel from its inception to its disintegration. The group that Green and Fleetwood played in alongside Rod Stewart was Shotgun Express.[12]

Lineup

References
  1. John Chilton (21 June 2004). Who's Who of British Jazz: 2nd Edition. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 12.
  2. Paul Du Noyer (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  3. "Brian Auger". MTV Artists. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. Sharon Davis (6 January 2012). Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Sixties. Random House. p. 162.
  5. Alan di Perna (1 October 2012). Guitar Masters: Intimate Portraits. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  6. "Concerts & Package Tours : 1965 (July - August)". bradfordtimeline.co.uk.
  7. Dafydd Rees, Luke Crampton (1 October 1999). Rock Stars Encyclopedia. DK Pub. p. 852.
  8. Richie Unterberger. "The First Supergroup: Steampacket Featuring Rod Stewart". AllMusic.
  9. Richie Unterberger. "The Steampacket Artist Biography". AllMusic.
  10. "BackstageE: Blue Kiwi Tour". eltonjohnworld.com. 26 August 2002.
  11. Keith Hayward (2013). Tin Pan Alley: The Rise of Elton John. Soundcheck Books. pp. 66–67.
  12. Hedin, Mark (25 May 2000). "Legendary British Bluesman Peter Green's Back On The Scene". MTV. Retrieved 6 March 2018.

Further reading
  • Paul Myers: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues, Vancouver 2007 - GreyStone Books
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