Family (band) 2853739 225243524 2008-07-12T17:35:11Z J Milburn Bot 7423137 All Music Guide has now been rebranded to Allmusic {{Unreliablesources|date=February 2008}} :''This article is about the British rock band. For other uses, see [[Family (disambiguation)]]''. Not to be confused with the American R&B band [[The Family (band)|The Family]]. {{Infobox musical artist | Name = Family | Img = dollpic.jpg | Img_capt = Left to right: John "Charlie" Whitney, Jim King, Rob Townsend, Ric Grech, Roger Chapman | Background = group_or_band | Origin = {{flagicon|England}} [[Leicester]], [[England]] | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | Years_active = 1967–1973 | Label = [[Liberty Records|Liberty]], [[Reprise Records|Reprise]], Raft | Associated_acts = [[Kevin Ayers]], [[Streetwalkers]], [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]], [[Blind Faith]], [[King Crimson]], [[Stud (band)|Stud]], [[Mogul Thrash]], [[The Animals]], The Farinas, The Rocking R's, The Roaring Sixties, [[Ashton, Gardner & Dyke]], [[Dave Mason]], [[Nicky Hopkins]] | Current_members = [[Roger Chapman]]<br>[[John "Charlie" Whitney]]<br>[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]]<br>[[Ric Grech]] <small>(deceased)</small><br>[[Rob Townsend]] | Past_members = Harry Ovenall<br>[[John Weider]]<br>[[John "Poli" Palmer]]<br>[[John Wetton]]<br>[[Jim Cregan]]<br>[[Tony Ashton]] <small>(deceased)</small> }} '''Family''' was an [[England|English]] rock band that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1973. Their style has been characterised as [[progressive rock]], although their sound often explores other genres, incorporating elements of such styles as [[folk music|folk]], [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]], [[acid rock|acid]], [[jazz fusion]] and basic [[rock 'n' roll]]. The band was never particularly successful in the [[United States]], although Family did achieve recognition in the [[United Kingdom]], appearing at several [[music festival|festivals]].<ref name="GS">[http://starling.rinet.ru/music/family.htm Only Solitaire: George Starostin's Music Reviews]</ref><ref name="AMG">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g9fwxqy5ld0e~T1 All Music Guide - Family biography]</ref><ref name="SBIntro">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/intro.htm Strange Band - a Family introduction]</ref><ref name="RYM">[http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/family Rate Your Music - Family biography]</ref> The band's rotating membership throughout its relatively short existence led to a diversity in sound throughout their different albums. Family are also often seen as an unjustly forgotten act,<ref name="GS"/> relative to some other bands in existence during the same era, and have been described as "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans".<ref name="AMG"/> ==History== ===Early years (1967–1969)=== Family formed in 1967 in [[Leicester]], [[England]] from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinas<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="45RPM">[http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirf/family.htm 45 RPM - Family biography]</ref> and later The Roaring Sixties, whose sound was grounded in [[rhythm and blues|R&B]].<ref name="SBHist">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/hist.htm Strange Band - Family history]</ref> The Farinas originally consisted of [[John "Charlie" Whitney]], Tim Kirchin, Harry Ovenall and [[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]], forming at Leicester Art College in 1962. [[Ric Grech]] replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and [[Roger Chapman]] joined the following year on vocals. The American record producer [[Kim Fowley]] suggested they call themselves "The Family", as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves a [[mafia]] appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour a more casual dress code. Family's debut single, "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman", released by [[Liberty Records]] in October 1967, was not a particular success. Around this time, drummer Harry Ovenall was asked to leave the band and was replaced by [[Rob Townsend]].<ref name="45RPM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> The band's debut album ''[[Music in a Doll's House]]'', released in July 1968, was produced by former [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]] member [[Dave Mason]].<ref name="SBHist"/> Mason also contributed one composition to the album, "Never Like This", the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member.<ref name="SBDoll">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/albums/doll.htm Strange Band: Music from a Doll's House]</ref> ''Music in a Doll's House'' charted at #35 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to critical acclaim<ref name="RYM"/> with the support of radio broadcaster [[John Peel]] around this time.<ref name="SBHist"/> The highly original<ref name="AMGDoll">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0zfpxqy5ldje All Music Guide: Music from a Doll's House]</ref> sound of the album was characterised by Chapman's vocals, rooted in the [[blues]] and R&B,<ref name="AMG"/> combined with several unusual instruments for a rock band, courtesy of the presence of multi-instrumentalists Grech and King, including saxophones, violin, cello and harmonica.<ref name="AMGDoll"/> Family's 1969 follow-up ''[[Family Entertainment (Family album)|Family Entertainment]]'' toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering to some extent,<ref name="AMGEntertainment">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:azfpxqy5ldje All Music Guide: Family Entertainment]</ref> reaching #6 on the UK album charts<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="RYM"/> and featured the single "[[The Weaver's Answer]]". With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States, although they ultimately never achieved great recognition there due to several problems with the tour. During their first tour of the US in 1969, Ric Grech left the band to join the new supergroup [[Blind Faith]]<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="RYM"/> and was replaced by [[John Weider]], previously of [[Eric Burdon]] and [[The Animals]].<ref name="SBWeider">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/circle/weid.htm Strange Band: John Weider]</ref> Also, a big handicap to Family's success in the United States came about during their first concert at [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham's]] [[Fillmore East]], whilst sharing the bill with [[Ten Years After]] and [[The Nice]]: Chapman, during his stage routine, lost control of his microphone stand which fell in Graham's direction,<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBFacts">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/fax.htm Strange Band: Family facts]</ref> an incident from which Family's reputation in the US never recovered.<ref name="Canny">[http://www.cannygigs.com/roger_chapmanMay06.htm CannyGigs.com - Roger Chapman]</ref> However, the band did appear at [[The Rolling Stones|The Rolling Stones']] [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] gig and the [[Isle of Wight Festival]] that summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist [[John "Poli" Palmer]].<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="RYM"/> ===Later years (1970–1973)=== In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in [[San Francisco]] and [[Boston]]. In early 1970, Family released their third studio album, ''[[A Song for Me]]'', becoming the highest charting album the band released, reaching #4 on the UK album charts.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBGigs">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/gigs.htm Strange Band: Gigs]</ref> The album itself was a blend of [[hard rock]] and [[folk rock]].<ref name="AMGSFM">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfpxqy5ldje All Music Guide: A Song for Me]</ref> Family's new lineup played at major rock festivals that summer, including the Kralingen Festival in the [[Netherlands]] and the Isle of Wight Festival for the second year in a row.<ref name="SBHist"/> The band appeared in the documentary film [[Message to Love]] about the latter festival.<ref name="MTL">[http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,1842641,00.html Artist Direct: Message to Love]</ref> Family's followup album ''[[Anyway]]'', released in late 1970, had its first half consist of new material recorded live at Fairfield Hall in [[Croydon]], England, with the second half a set of new songs recorded in the studio, and reached #7 on the UK charts.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="SBAnyway">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/albums/any.htm Strange Band: Anyway]</ref> In March 1971 the compilation album of previously recorded material [[Old Songs New Songs]] was released, and during that year Weider left Family to join the band [[Stud (band)|Stud]] and was replaced by former [[Mogul Thrash]] bassist [[John Wetton]].<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="RYM"/><ref name="AMGFearless">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dzfqxqy5ldje All Music Guide: Fearless]</ref> As with Ric Grech in Family's original lineup, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up soon released Family's highest-charting single "In My Own Time/Seasons" which reached #4, and the album ''[[Fearless (Family album)|Fearless]]'' in October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US.<ref name="AMGFearless"/><ref name="SBHist"/> In 1972, another album, ''[[Bandstand]]'' was released, which leant more towards hard rock than art rock,<ref name="AMGBandstand">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fzfqxqy5ldje All Music Guide: Bandstand]</ref> featuring the singles "Burlesque" in late 1972 and "My Friend the Sun" which was released in early 1973.<ref name="SBHist"/> In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new lineup of [[King Crimson]] and was replaced by bassist [[Jim Cregan]], and at the end of that year John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist [[Tony Ashton]], previously of [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]].<ref name="RYM"/><ref name="SBHist"/> After Wetton's departure but before Palmer's exit, Family toured the United States and Canada, as the support act for [[Elton John]]. In 1973, Family released the largely ignored ''[[It's Only a Movie]]'' (and on own label, Raft, distributed by Warner/Reprise), which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour.<ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGMovie">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gzfqxqy5ldje All Music Guide: It's Only a Movie"]</ref> Family gave their final concert at [[Leicester Polytechnic]] on [[October 13]], [[1973]].<ref name="SBHist"/> The band never reformed, but instead many of its members went onto different musical projects; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the band [[Streetwalkers]],<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="RYM"/> and John Wetton eventually became the lead singer of the band [[Asia (band)|Asia]].<ref name="AMGWetton">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3ifqxqr5ldfe All Music Guide: John Wetton]</ref> Rob Townsend was a member of [[Medicine Head]] between 1973 and 1975. Ric Grech died of kidney and liver failure in 1990 at the age of 43, as a result of [[alcoholism]].<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="SBHist"/><ref name="AMGGrech">[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h9fpxqu5ld6e All Music Guide: Ric Grech]</ref> Tony Ashton died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer.<ref name="SBAshton">[http://members.aol.com/songforme/circle/ash.htm Strange Band: Tony Ashton]</ref> ==Music== Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato"<ref name="IMWT">[http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/64k14.html In Music We Trust: Family Live]</ref> and an "electric goat",<ref name="GS"/> were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B and [[soul music|soul]] singers [[Little Richard]] and [[Ray Charles]], with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally.<ref name="SBIntro"/><ref name="GS"/> John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished guitarist,<ref name="SBIntro"/> and Family's often complex<ref name="IMWT"/> song arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech and Jim King in the band. The band's sound has been variously described as [[progressive rock]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[acid rock]], [[folk rock]], [[jazz fusion]] and [[hard rock]].<ref name="SBIntro"/><ref name="GS"/> Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "as one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]] were afraid to follow them at festivals".<ref name="IMWT"/> Georgiy Starostin notes that the band's sound can most closely be compared with [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]], but that Family were a considerably stronger group. Family was an influence on [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], with [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]] noting that the band were particularly underrated.<ref name="GS"/> ==Personnel== ===Musicians=== *[[Roger Chapman]] - vocals, harmonica, tenor saxophone, percussion (1967–1973) *[[John "Charlie" Whitney]] - guitars, sitar, keyboards (1967–1973) *[[Jim King (saxophonist)|Jim King]] - saxophones, harmonica, tin whistle, piano, vocals (1967–1969) *[[Ric Grech]] - bass, violin, cello, vocals (1967–1969) *Harry Ovenall - drums, percussion (1967) *[[Rob Townsend]] - drums, percussion (1967–1973) *[[John Weider]] - bass, guitar, violin (1969–1971) *[[John "Poli" Palmer]] - keyboards, flute, vibraphone, synthesisers (1969–1972) *[[John Wetton]] - bass, guitar, vocals (1971–1972) *[[Jim Cregan]] - bass, guitars (1972–73) *[[Tony Ashton]] - keyboards, accordion, mellotron, vocals (1973) ===Session musicians=== *[[Dave Mason]] - keyboards, bass, guitar (on ''Music in a Doll's House'') *[[Nicky Hopkins]] - keyboards (on ''Family Entertainment'') ===Producers=== *[[John Gilbert]] - ''Music in a Doll's House'' and ''Family Entertainment'' (executive producer) *[[Dave Mason]] - ''Music in a Doll's House'' *[[Jimmy Miller (producer)|Jimmy Miller]] - ''Music in a Doll's House'' *[[Glyn Johns]] - ''Family Entertainment'' *[[George Chkiantz]] - ''A Song for Me'', ''Anyway'', ''Fearless'', ''Bandstand'', ''It's Only a Movie'' ==Discography== {{main|Family discography}} ===Studio albums=== * ''[[Music in a Doll's House]]'' (Reprise, 1968) * ''[[Family Entertainment (Family album)|Family Entertainment]]'' (Reprise, 1969) * ''[[A Song for Me]]'' (Reprise, 1970) * ''[[Anyway]]'' (Reprise, 1970) * ''[[Fearless (Family album)|Fearless]]'' (Reprise, 1971) * ''[[Bandstand (album)|Bandstand]]'' (Reprise, 1972) * ''[[It's Only a Movie]]'' (Raft, 1973) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g9fwxqy5ld0e Family] at [[Allmusic]] * [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7745d370-9cf1-41be-916c-9c8d2e502628.html Family] at [[MusicBrainz]] * [http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/family Family] at [[Rate Your Music]] * [http://members.aol.com/songforme Strange Band] - a Family tribute site * [http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirf/family.htm 45rpm.org.uk] - a Family biography * [http://www.familylpreviews.blogspot.com/ A Family Affair] - reviews of Family albums * [http://the-rocker.freeservers.com/oct2003/pantera.html Zeitgeist] - reviews of Family albums * [http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=8354&PageID=44913 Leicester Bands] - interviews with Family band members * [http://www.familybandstand.com Family Bandstand] - a Family site with audio, video {{Family}} [[Category:1960s music groups]] [[Category:1970s music groups]] [[Category:English musical groups]] [[Category:Leicester musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]] [[Category:Progressive rock groups]] [[cs:Family (skupina)]] [[de:Family]] [[fr:Family]] [[it:Family]] [[pt:Family]] [[ru:Family]] [[fi:Family]]