Neil Christian

Neil Christian
Birth name	Christopher Tidmarsh
Born	4 February 1943(1943-02-04), Hoxton, London, England
Died	4 January 2010(2010-01-04) (aged 66)
Genres	Rock and Roll
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1960s
Labels	Strike
Associated acts	The Crusaders

Neil Christian, born Christopher Tidmarsh (4 February 1943^[1] – 4 January 2010)^[2] had a solo hit single in 1966, when "That's Nice" (written by Miki Dallon), reached Number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.^[3] He remains, however, a one-hit wonder. Follow-up singles "Oops" and "Two at a Time" never reached the charts. He was born Hoxton, East London.^[2]

Career

Neil Christian and the Crusaders are one of the British rock and roll bands of the 1960s. They were signed to the Strike record label.

In the early 1960s Jimmy Page was asked to join The Crusaders.^[2] Page toured with Christian for approximately two years, and later played on several of his records, including their November 1962 single, "The Road to Love" / "The Big Beat Drum", released on Columbia and produced by Joe Meek under his RGM Sound imprint. At various times the band included Albert Lee and Alex Dmochowski, who later joined Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation.^[4]

When most of the line-up left to join Lord Sutch's Savages in 1965, Christian took on members of Luton Band The Hustlers, including Mick Abrahams,^{[citation needed]} although in 1966 a touring version of The Crusaders was put together to promote the hit single "That's Nice" which consisted of Elmer Twitch piano (better known as Joe Brown); Tornado Evans drums; Ritchie Blackmore guitar; and Bibi Blange bass.^[4] Further singles failed to reach the charts, however, and Christian moved to Germany, where he remained popular.^[4]

In 1971, Christian took on the management of Crushed Butler^[2] who changed their name to Tiger. Christian got them into recording studios both in Wembley, and Tooting, London, where he produced them.

Everything Christian released between 1962 and 1968 has been reissued on the CD compilation, That's Nice, which also added several unreleased recordings from the same era.^[1]

Related session musicians

• Paul Brett
• Jimmy Page
• Ritchie Blackmore
• Nicky Hopkins
• Albert Lee
• Mick Abrahams
• Carlo Little

See also

• One-hit wonders in the UK
• List of performances on Top of the Pops
• Jacki Bond
• Samantha Juste
• Crushed Butler
• Darryl Read

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Allmusic.com biography by Richie Unterberger
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed December 2010
3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 105. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Larkin C 'Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music' (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X p112

External links

• Allmusic.com - biography
• Chartwatch.com - discography
• Carlo Little bands
• Ritchie Blackmore bands and sessions

Persondata
Name	Christian, Neil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 February 1943
Place of birth
Date of death	4 January 2010
Place of death