If at some point during the late ’60s or the early ’70s you had inadvertently set foot in the Notting Hill Gate area of London known as Ladbroke Grove, you may well have been lured further into this heartland of Bohemia and the British underground by a distant cry of “Out Demons Out!” Further investigation would’ve revealed the source of this exorcism to be the politicised bark of one of England’s finest bands; one for who the term “criminally underrated” could well have been coined. Just who are the left-wing-anarcho-psychedelic-blues-prog-agit-rock outfit, the Edgar Broughton Band?

Who are: The Edgar Broughton Band (formerly the Edgar Broughton Blues Band)

Formed: 1965, Warwick, England

Genre: Low-down and dirty Blues; Prog rock; Psychedelic rock; Freak rock; Political

Former identities: The Original Road Runners, The Talons…

Core line-up: Rob ‘Edgar’ Broughton (Vocals, Guitar); Arthur Grant (Bass, Vocals); Steve Broughton (Drums)

Other notable members: Victor Unitt (Guitar) – original member, left to join the Pretty Things, but rejoined for the 1971 – 1973 albums. Luke Broughton (Keyboards and synthesisers) – Rob ‘Edgar’ Broughton’s son, plays on the present tours

How to recognise: The Fabulous Furry Freak Brother’s made flesh

Albums: Wasa Wasa (1969); Sing Brother Sing (1970); Edgar Broughton Band (1971); In Side Out (1972); Oora (1973); Bandages (1975); Parlez-Vous English? (1979); Super Chip: The Final Silicon Solution (1982)

Live Albums: Keep Them Freaks a Rollin’ Live at Abbey Road 1969; Demons at the Beeb; Live Hits Harder; Chilly Morning Mama

Essential Albums: Sing Brother Sing; Edgar Broughton Band; Oora; Keep Them Freaks a Rollin Live

Best Songs: Too many to choose from so here’s a few… American Boy Soldier (WasaWasa); The Moth (Sing Brother Sing); Aphrodite (Sing Brother Sing); Up Yours (Sing Brother Sing); Evening Over Rooftops (Edgar Broughton Band); For Doctor Spock (Edgar Broughton Band); I Got Mad (In Side Out); Homes Fit For Heroes (In Side Out); Hurricane Man / Rock ‘n’ Roller (Oora); Eviction (Oora); Get a Rise (Bandages)

Doing now: Since the ’70s have undertaken sporadic reunions and tours. Presently reformed with the original recording line-up of Rob ‘Edgar’ Broughton, Arthur Grant and Steve Broughton and the addition of Rob’s son, Luke. Gigging and touring throughout the country

The First Supper – Edgar Broughton’s Blog
Steve Broughton’s Bitz
Edgar Broughton Band MySpace page

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Who are: the Edgar Broughton Band

To kick off what will be an occasional series (basically when I haven’t the time to write anything more substantial), who better than Birmingham’s own musical magi, unfairly remembered by most for the perennial Christmas fave ‘I Wish it could be Christmas Everyday’? The mighty Roy Wood!

Who is: Roy Adrian Wood

Born: Kitts Green, Birmingham. 1946

How to recognise: Full of beard, long of hair

What’s he do: Songwriter, singer, composer, musician

Instruments: Guitars, bass, saxophone, cello, sitar, mandolin, banjo, recorder, the kitchen sink… In fact, if it’s possible to get a tune out of it, there’s a fair chance Roy Wood can play it. And even if it isn’t, he’ll give it a ruddy good shot.  A bowl of water, for instance (‘Wake Up’ from Boulders)

Bands: Gerry Levene and the Avengers; Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders; The Move; Electric Light Orchestra; Wizzard; Roy Wood Wizzo Band; Helicopters; Roy Wood Big Band; Roy Wood’s Army

Essential Albums: Looking On (The Move); Message From the Country (The Move); The Electric Light Orchestra (Electric Light Orchestra); Wizzard Brew (Wizzard)

Best Songs: Fire Brigade (The Move – The Move); Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited (The Move – Shazam [sung by Carl Wayne]) Brontosaurus (The Move – Looking On); Looking On (The Move – Looking On); Tonight (The Move – Message front the Country); California Man (The Move – Message From the Country); Whisper in the Night (Electric Light Orchestra - The Electric Light Orchestra); Meet Me at the Jailhouse (Wizzard – Wizzard Brew); Buffalo Station/Get on Down to Memphis (Wizzard – Wizzard Brew); See My Baby Jive (Wizzard – Wizzard Brew); Songs of Praise (Roy Wood – Boulders)

Doing now: Wheels out the old favourites with Roy Wood’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Band for gigs and TV appearances. Writes an occasional column in Birmingham’s Sunday Mercury newspaper. The odd spot of TV, particularly local TV

Roy Wood’s official website

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Who is: Roy Wood