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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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The first evening of the 2010 SOUTHSEA FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL (Friday 27th August) is going to be a corker - we've got the legendary PRETTY THINGS!!!!!! This one is bound to sell out, so I'm posting this now so you can avoid disapointment. The band don't gig much in the U.K, as they have a fantical following in Europe and the U.S.A., so we have a real coup here! THE PRETTY THINGS are without doubt the longest serving rock band in the world., and were formed 45 years ago in 1964 by singer Phil May and guitarist Dick Taylor - straight after he left The Rolling Stones. THE PRETTY THINGS caused a sensation in U.K. and their first three singles "Rosalyn", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Honey I Need" all appeared in the U.K charts in 1964-1965. By the end of 1965 they were well known for wild stage behaviour and edgy lyrical content. Original members included a certifiably insane drummer, Viv Prince, ten times the lunatic that Keith Moon, who idolised him, would ever be. However, Prince's behaviour became so problematic he was thrown out of the band... Taking their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing", THE PRETTY THINGS' early material consisted of hard-edged blues rock influenced by Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed, but by 1966 had moved on, and into the psychedelic era. In November 1968, THE PRETTY THINGS released what is widely accepted as the first rock opera, the stunning "S.F. Sorrow", which preceded The Who's rock opera "Tommy" by five months. During the 1970's, they were managed by Led Zeppeln's manager Peter Grant, and released albums on Zep's "Swansong" label. Their albums "Parachute", "Freeway Madness" and "Silk Torpedo" featured an amalgam of blues, hard rock & early heavy metal whilst still retaining psychedelic overtones. 1980s "Cross Talk" saw them incorporating influences of punk and new wave, into their hard rock sound, with original members Phil May and Dick Taylor hooking up with various younger guys for gigs, and in the early 90's Phil & Dick got back together with the 1967 lineup, Jon Povey, Wally Waller and Skip Alan, with the addition of Frank Holland The reformed band played a tour of the U.S. for the first time in decades. In 1999 they released the studio album "Rage Before Beauty" and in the early 2000s, they released several compilation albums, a live album and a live DVD, and In September that year undertook a full-on tour of the U.S.A., playing the same venues as The Who, Yes and Robbie Williams. Skip Alan suffered heart problems in 2001 restricting his commitment to the band, declaring he was unable to fly and at UK gigs would show up if he was well enough. When he wasn't available, the band's manager Mark St.John would assume drum duties. THE PRETTY THINGS now proceeds as a touring band with original members Dick Taylor and Phil May, guitarist George Perez on bass and harmonies with Mark St John on percussion and vocals. In mid 2007, The Pretty Things released their eleventh studio album "Balboa Island" which contains a number of PRETTY THINGS originals, as well as paying homage to their R & B roots. Family illnesses meant Waller and Povey were unable to commit to the band, and Jack Greenwood replaced Skip Allan on drums in 2008. June 2009 saw the May, Taylor, Waller, Povey and Allan ensemble reunite to receive the first ever Mojo magazine 'Heroes' award at the annual Mojo Awards ceremony. In 2009, the band played Hyde Park alongside Bruce Springsteen, and 21010 opened with a bang, with the band's first ever Japanese tour with all five dates sold out... GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!!! THE PRETTY THINGS appear at South Parade Pier, Southsea, on Friday 27th August 2010 ( 8p.m. doors) as part of SOUTHSEA FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL. Tickets are just £14, and available on secure website via Paypal on www.southseafolkfestival.co.uk.