The Flying Hat Band

Infobox musical artist
Background = group_or_band
Name = The Flying Hat Band


Years_active = 1971–1974
orogin = England
Genre = Hard rock
Label = Vertigo
Current_members =

The Flying Hat Band were an early 1970s Birmingham, England hard rock act that, alongside Judas Priest, ranked as the Midlands' favourites to succeed cite web|url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,3361.sm|title=Rockdetector page on the Flying hat Band|accessdate=2006-11-08] . Despite not having released an album, the band proved a successful club act and eventually went on to support Deep Purple on one of their European tours.

The band folded in May 1974 following Glenn Tipton's departure to become the second guitarist in Judas Priest, who at the time had just signed their first record deal with Gull Records. Peter "Mars" Cowling joined Canadian rocker Pat Travers in 1975, and was part of Travers' band for several years. Trevor Foster joined folk rock group The Albion Band and Little Johnny England.

Band personnel

Originally a quartet called Merlin, the band went through numerous line-up changes before what would become its core formed:

* Glenn Tipton - vocals, guitar
* Peter "Mars" Cowling - bass guitar
* Steve Palmer - drums

Former personnel

* Pete Hughes - vocals
* Andy Wheeler - bass guitar
* Frank Walker - bass guitar
* Trevor Foster - drums

Discography

Signed to Vertigo, in 1973 the trio recorded a studio album which was never released as the label deemed the music had too much in common with Black Sabbath. Glenn Tipton is said to be in possession of the master tape, but it is unclear whether any material from it will eventually surface.

In 1992, small German label SPM International mysteriously released a split CD entitled "Buried Together", featuring progressive rock band Antrobus alongside 4 Flying Hat Band demo tracks, dated back to 1973.

Trivia

Drummer Steve Palmer is the brother of Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake, and Palmer).

References

External links

* [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,3361.sm Rockdetector band page]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=9995 Encyclopaedia Metallum band page]