The Herd (UK band)

The Herd were an English pop group, that came to prominence in the late 1960s. They are most famous for launching the career of Peter Frampton.

Band members

* Peter Frampton (vocals, guitar) — born Peter Kenneth Frampton, 22 April 1950, at Stone Park Hospital, Beckenham, Kent.
* Andy Bown (keyboards) — born Andrew Steven Bown, 27 March, 1946, The City, London.
* Gary Taylor (bass) — born Graham Taylor, 28 November 1947, Walton-on-Thames.
* Andrew Steele (drums) — born Andrew Roy Malcolm Steele, 2 August 1941, Hendon, North West London — died 18 April 2005, Alaska, USA
* Henry Spinetti (drums) — born Henry Anthony George Spinetti, 31 March 1951, Cwm, South Wales.
*Mick Underwood (drums) — born 1945, Middlesex
*Tony Chapman (drums)

Biography

The record label Parlophone dropped them after several unsuccessful singles, and they subsequently signed to Fontana. [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/villa/9500/herd.htm Geocities.com mini-biography] ] Once there the songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, who had been largely responsible for a string of hits by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, orchestrated for them a unique blend of pop and flower power. After a UK Singles Chart near-miss with "I Can Fly" (1967), the haunting "From The Underworld", based on the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, reached Number 6 later that year with help from copious plays on pirate radio. It was followed by "Paradise Lost", which made it up to Number 15 in 1968.

Their greatest success came with "I Don't Want Our Loving To Die", a Number 5 UK hit single (also in 1968).

With his boyish photogenic looks, Frampton was dubbed "The Face of '68" by teen magazine "Rave". [http://www.makingtime.co.uk/herd.html Makingtime.co.uk] ] Steele then left the group, to be replaced by Spinetti. Dissatisfied with mere teen idol status, and disappointed with the failure of their next single, "Sunshine Cottage", Frampton left to form Humble Pie with Steve Marriott.

The remaining Bown and Spinetti made another flop single, "The Game", then formed the short-lived Judas Jump with Mike Smith and Allen Jones, saxophonists from Amen Corner, and Welsh vocalist Adrian Williams. Taylor, who became a disc jockey, and Steele, reunited briefly for a one-off single "You Got Me Hangin' From Your Lovin' Tree" in 1971, to almost universal lack of interest.

By the late 1970s, Andy Bown had become a member of the UK rockers, Status Quo.

ee also

*List of performers on Top of the Pops
*List of songs that retell a work of literature

References