PAUL GURVITZ

Biography

Bands/Discography:

Solo albums:
(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Paul was born Paul Anthony Gurvitz on July 6th, 1947, in High Wycombe, England. His career has been made together with his brother Adrian Gurvitz for many years. Both brothers started using the stage name Curtis (Paul Curtis and Adrian Curtis), but they soon changed into their real last name.

THE LONDONERS / GENE VINCENT BAND 

They were a band from Ilford, in spite of their name. They formed in 1963:

As it was usual those times, they spent some time playing in Germany.

Back in England, they were asked to act as backing band for rock legend Gene Vincent in 1964. Gene, although American, went to live to London in December 1959, leaving the Blue Caps (his famous backing band) behind. From then onwards, he used British musicians:

In May 1964, they change their drummer. Around 1965, they resume their career as a band, coming back to Germany: They only released a single in 1965 for the Star Club label in Germany. In 1966, they change their name to The Knack.
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Brian Morris
Mick Palmer
Topper Clay
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Gene Vincent
THE KNACK 

The same lineup as The Londonders, but a new name:

After a while, their bassist left them, being replaced by Gearie Kenworthy: In early 1967, Topper Clay left the band: In 1968, it was Brian Morris who left. That's when Paul started thinking about forming his own band, Gun.

The band released 7 singles in the period from 1965 to 1967, all featuring Paul.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Brian Morris
Mick Palmer
Topper Clay
Gearie Kenworthy
GUN 

A great band, especially famous due to their big hit, the killer 'Run with the devil'. The first lineup was as quartet, around November 1967:

In 1968, Mycroft and Kenworthy left, and Paul calls his brother, the great guitarist Adrian. Paul switchs to bass guitar. This was the golden lineup:


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

The first album, Gun, featured a nice album cover by famous artist Roger Dean. It has been reissued on CD with 3 bonus tracks. It features Barry St. John and Sue Glover on backing vocals.


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Their second album was called Gunsight.

Finally, Louis Farrell leaves the band, being replaced by Pete Dunton:

But in 1970, the band was over, and Adrian and Paul started a brand new project.
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Tim Mycroft
Gearie Kenworthy
Louis Farrell
Pete Dunton
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Adrian Gurvitz
THREE MAN ARMY 

Adrian Paul teamed with great drummer Mike Kellie, in 1970.


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

They released a very good album, A third of a lifetime, recorded with help from Brian Parrish and Buddy Miles. But Mike was to leave the band soon, although he rejoined Paul Gurvitz (and Brian Parrish) soon later.
 

Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Adrian Gurvitz
Mike Kellie
PARRISH AND GURVITZ 

Brian Parrish (Three Man Army) & Paul Gurvitz (Gun, Three Man Army, later in Baker-Gurvitz Army) assembled a great band to play in a US tour from May to June 1972 to promote his Parrish and Gurvitz album (produced by George Martin), where Mike had played:


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

They recorded a second album, again with George Martin, but it sadly remains unreleased. Shortly afterwards, the three musicians left the duo to join Peter Frampton.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Brian Parrish
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Rick Wills
Mickey Gallagher
Mike Kellie
THREE MAN ARMY (again) 

After Parrish & Gurvitz venture ended, Paul and Adrian resurrected their band. This time, Mike Kellie was replaced by another fantastic drummer, Tony Newman:

The band 2nd album was called Three Man Army, released in 1973.


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

It was followed by Three Man Army II, recorded with help from Peter Robinson (keyboards, from Quatermass) and backing vocals by Madeline Bell, Doris Troy and Ruby James.


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Their last album was Mahesha. In 1974, Tony Newman left to join David Bowie band (with Michael Kamen) so the Gurvitz brothers teamed with Ginger Baker.
 

Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Adrian Gurvitz
Tony Newman
BAKER GURVITZ ARMY 

What a team! Ginger Baker together with Adrian and Paul! This happened in 1974:


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Their first album, The Baker Gurvitz Army, also contained guest appearances by vocalists Madeline Bell, Rossetta Hightower, Barry St. John and Liza Strike, plus keyboards by John Mitchell and orchestrations by Martyn Ford.

The band was soon augmented to a quintet with a lead singer, Snips, and a talented, experienced keyboardist, Pete Lemer:


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

This lineup recorded their next album, Elysian Encounter. But Pete Lemer left them next year:


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Their last album was Hearts on fire, after which they parted ways in 1976.

Offbeat passages is a live album that has recently been released, although it was recorded back in 1974.

Musikladen is a DVD taken from their appearance at German TV show from the same name.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Snips
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Adrian Gurvitz
Pete Lemer
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Ginger Baker
GRAEME EDGE BAND 

Graeme Edge was the drummer in The Moody Blues. Surprisingly (as he wasn't in the same vein as the Gurvitz brothers), they teamed to develop a couple of superb albums:

Their first album was Kick off your muddy boots, also including Ray Thomas (vocals, from Moody Blues), Ginger Baker (drums), and vocals by the magnificent ones Lesley Duncan, Sunny Leslie, Barry St. John, Joanne Williams, Brian Parrish, Ruby James and Nicky James. A magnificent album, with great songs. Paul co-wrote the song 'The tunnel'. The CD reissue has 1 bonus track, 'We like to do it'.

By the time of their second album, Paradise ballroom, they had already lost their keyboardist:

Thus, the album was recorded with many different players: BJ Cole (pedal steel guitar), Ann Odell (keyboards), Tony Hymas (keyboards), Blue Weaver (keyboards), Rebop Kwaku Baah (percussion), and horns by Bill Easley (sax, flute), Ben Cauley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Edgar Matthews (trumpet, flugelhorn), Lawrie McMillan (flute), Bill Floores (trombone), Emerson Able (sax) and Ken Spain (trombone). Guest vocals by old mate Brian Parrish. The album was co-produced by Adrian and Paul. Also a very good album (although I prefer the 1st one).
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Graeme Edge
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Adrian Gurvitz
Mickey Gallagher
And then? 


(scan courtesy of Alex Gitlin)

Apart from appearing in the albums by his brother Adrian, Paul dedicated to songwriting for many years.

PAUL GURVITZ & FRIENDS 

It was about time! Paul is back! Surrounded by a great bunch of musicians and friends, he plays some gigs in October 1999 in LA:

Paul Gurvitz (vocals)
Chris Spedding (guitar)
Paul Bushnell (bass)
Adrian Lee (keyboards)
Rogerio Jardim (drums)
Lorna Lee (backing vocals)
Peter Byrne (backing vocals)
I wish this would be a stable band!
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Paul Bushnell
Adrian Lee
Rogerio Jardim
Lorna Lee
Peter Byrne
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Chris Spedding
SOLO ALBUMS 

Almost 40 years after he started his career in rock music, Paul Gurvitz finally releases his first, own solo album. Funnily called No gun - no army, obviously in reference to his most famous past bands. Paul plays all the instruments as well as the vocals in the album.

QUESTIONS TO ASK: 

1. Was Graeme Edge Band a "real" band, or a studio project? Were there any concerts under this name?

2. Did keyboardist Morgan Fisher play in any of the Gun albums?

3. Which is the relationship between Paul Gurvitz and Nick Trevisik? They wrote some songs together.

4. Was Brian Parrish also a member of Gene Vincent's touring band, at the same time as Paul? I.e. was Brian a member of The Londoners? Even going further... is maybe Brian Morris the same guy as Brian Parrish?

5. Was Jon Anderson an early member of Gun?


Sessions

Press here to read about Paul Gurvitz sessions

Related links:
From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have:

Family tree

Coming soon (I hope so!).

Thanks section

Very special thanks to: .

Special thanks to: .

Thanks to: Alex Gitlin, big fan, for some albums, and most of the scans.


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Page created by Miguel Terol on: 16/March/2002. First published on: xx/xx/xx. Last modified on: 16/March/2002. 1