Who are: the Edgar Broughton Band

The HFoS ‘Who is/are:’ series provides handy bite-sized blasts of info for those who live their lives on the move.

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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