Widowmaker (band)

Widowmaker was a short-lived, British-based hard rock band that was active from 1975 to 1977. Formed by former Mott the Hoople guitarist Ariel Bender (aka Luther Grosvenor, previously of Spooky Tooth / Art / V.I.P.’s), they were considered a semi-supergroup, also featuring singer Steve Ellis (Love Affair), guitarist Hugh Lloyd-Langton (Hawkwind), Australian bassist Bob Daisley (Khavas Jute, Chicken Shack, and Mungo Jerry), and drummer Paul Nicholls (Lindisfare). A few months after they’d begun rehearsing at Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Manticore Studios in London, the quintet acquired a contract with Jet Records, scoring their first single, "On the Road," in February of 1976. This was followed by Widowmaker's self-titled debut, which barely charted in America at number 196 and featured an eclectic cross-section of elements -- these included blues, country, folk, and hard rock - seeming to offer vast creative possibilities, while in fact foreshadowing musical and personality differences that would soon lead to their break-up. Widowmaker toured the U.K. with Nazareth and in June 1976 were invited to take part in a series of nationwide stadium all-day concerts called "The Who Put The Boot In" alongside leading groups such as Little Feat, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and headliners The Who. In the U.S. they toured with ELO -- and by the time they returned to the U.K., Ellis had announced his departure, citing repeated clashes with Bender. Singer John Butler replaced him for 1977's "Too Late to Cry" album, but Widowmaker dissolved only months after its release. Bassist Daisley went on to join Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, and many others. Bender (Grosvenor) left the music business in 1979 and would not re-emerge for another 17 years. Widowmaker's legacy has been compiled on 2002's two CD anthology, "Straight Faced Fighters". [AMG(2008)allmusic guide]

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