"HEARING IS BELIEVING"

Approved Unofficial Bobby Tench website

Bobby Tench was born on September 21, 1944.

GASS 

Bobby formed Gass in 1970:

Their eponymous album has the special collaboration of Peter Green on guitar, and Mel Collins producing. Bob Tench sings and play guitar, bass and organ in this album.

The band split in July 1971.

JEFF BECK GROUP 

After the departure of Rod Stewart, Bobby joins the Jeff Beck Group in July 1971:

(from left to right: Bobby Tench, Max Middleton, Jeff Beck, Clive Chaman, Cozy Powell)


They were a smashing band. Listening to some concerts from this period, they were dynamite live. This lineup showed a strong influence of soul music. Bobby's voice is really strong, and the band skills are really impressive.

As a curiosity, while Cozy Powell was ill, his place was taken for a short period by great drummer Mitch Mitchell.

Jeff Beck Group is produced by guitarist Steve Cropper. It contains several covers: Stevie Wonder (Jeff Beck idol) and Bob Dylan, as well as a rendition of blues classic "Going down" (everybody plays this song: from The Who to Peter Green or Freddie King, as well as Joe Satriani/Steve Vai/Eric Johnson G3 trio). With incredible instrumentals, like "Definitely maybe" or "I can't give back the love I feel for you".

After releasing a second album with this lineup, Rough and ready, Jeff dissolves the band in July 1972, to form the power trio Beck Bogert & Appice.

BECK BOGERT & APPICE 

Originally first billed as Jeff Beck Group, the initial lineup was a quintet. But the original singer, Kim Milford, proved not to fit in the band, so after 9 days, Jeff Beck asked Bobby to tour with them in August 1972.

When the tour was over, the band reverted to the original trio.

GONZALEZ 

This great band was formed by Bobby Tench, to experiment with latin rhythms. Originally, they were a quartet.

Bob Tench (vocals, guitar)
DeLisle Harper (bass)
Lennox Langton (percussion)
Godfrey McLean (drums)
Soon a large horn section evolved, with great musicians such as Mick Eve (sax), Chris Mercer (sax), Steve Gregory (sax), Geoff 'Bud' Beadle (sax), etc. They appear in lots of credits for albums in the British blues-rock scene (see Bobby Tench sessions).

Bobby Tench left the band prior to their first album, but from time to time, he still joined (along with Max Middleton) for live concerts.

STREETWALKERS 

Bobby's new project was entitled Streetwalkers, which grew out of the Chapman/Whitney project (both formerly members of Family) in order to secure a stable line up for live shows.

The lineup in May 1974, was:

HUMMINGBIRD 

But in August 1974, Bobby takes time out to form his own band, Hummingbird. This is going to be a high productive period, as Bobby alternates both bands for several years.

The initial Hummingbird lineup was:

Their first album, Hummingbird, contained guest appearance by Linda Lewis on vocals.

STREETWALKERS (#2) 

In February 1975, Streetwalkers new lineup was:

The Downtown flyers album was released entitled Streetwalkers in the USA. It contains contributions from Pete Wingfield and Poli Palmer (formerly in Family).

Many people say that Red card is Streetwalkers' finest album.

HINKLEY'S HEROS 

In July 1976 Tim Hinkley forms Hinkley's Heroes comprising friends and band mates. They were initially together for two months as:

However they reformed from time to time with different line ups such as: The band was often complimented by others with fine musical pedigree, such as Brian Robertson, Jimmy McCulloch and Joe Cocker.

STREETWALKERS (#3) 

In September 1976, Streetwalkers comes to life again:

With new changes in the band, it is significant to notice that this band contained part of the original Whitesnake lineup, but that's another story.

Vicious but fair contains appearances by former member Mel Collins on sax, and Poli Palmer on vocals.

Streetwalkers live (a double album) was released to fulfill record label obligations.

They remained together until December 1977.

HUMMINGBIRD (#2) 

Hummingbird reunites again in July 1976, until late 1977.

Their second album We can't go on meeting like this, contained vocal appearances by Madeline Bell and Liza Strike.

Their third (and last) album was Diamond nights.

VAN MORRISON BAND 

In July 1978, Bobby and fellow companion in Streetwalkers, Micky Feat, join Van Morrison's band:

They record a new album, Wavelength. With help from Garth Hudson (from The Band, who were friends of Van Morrison).

They augment the backing vocals section for live concerts:

In September 1979, the band had lost keyboardist Peter Bardens (ex-Camel): A later lineup was: There is an official release of a live video from Wavelength tour, called "Live in Ireland". Warner Bros issued a promotion demo LP in 1978, Live at the Roxy, later put out on general release in 1989 on the Seagull label.

ERIC BURDON BAND 

At the end of 1979 Bobby moves on from The Van Morrison band and joins the Eric Burdon Band:

The album Darkness-darkness, produced by Tony Meehan (from The Shadows), was recorded in Ireland. It's full of R&R covers (Doc Pomus & Phil Spector, Leiber & Stoller, Chuck Berry), and the band who recorded it was: Eric Burdon (vocals), Bobby Tench (guitar), Brian Robertson (guitar, from Thin Lizzy and Wild Horses), Henry McCullough (guitar), Chris Stewart (bass), Mick Weaver (keyboards), Glenn Penniston (drums), Mel Collins (horns), John Perry (backing vocals). The album mentions a special thanks to the late Ronnie Lane for the use of his mobile studio.

HUMBLE PIE 

(from left to right: Anthony Jones, Jerry Shirley, Bobby Tench, Steve Marriott)
(Click here for a bigger image, 68 Kbs.)

The same year, 1980, Bobby enters in the revamped Humble Pie band:

Their first album with this lineup was On to victory. It includes two songs co-written by Bobby with the band ('Savin' it' and 'Further down the road'). Also included, a superb rendition of an Otis Redding song, 'My lover's prayer'. It was recorded in California. The credits give 'special thanks' to Clem Clempson, who was a former member of the band.

Their second album was Go for the throat. With another song co-written by Bobby and Steve Marriott, the title track. The album has a couple of covers: 'All shook up' (made famous by Elvis Presley, also covered by Jeff Beck) and Small Faces' 'Tin soldier'.

They split that same year, 1981, after the album was released.

HEART AND SOUL 

In the mid eighties, Bobby formed a live soul outfit, with superb musicians, thus rejoining with old bandmate Tim Hinkley.

There were no official albums released.

After Heart and Soul, Bobby concentrated on session work.

THIN LIZZY CELEBRATION 

In April 1991, in one of the periodic Thin Lizzy celebrations, Bobby was part of the tribute band, along with some past members, Brian 'Robbo' Robertson and Brian Downey:

ALAN PRICE AND THE ELECTRIC BLUES COMPANY 

Alan Price was the original keyboardist in The Animals. The Electric Blues Company was formed by Zoot Money, who persuaded Bobby to play with them and Alan Price persuades them to play with him on Covers (1994, AP) and A Gigsters life for me (1995, Indigo) which provides an unexpected diversion within an unlikely alliance:

THE BOBBY TENCH BAND 

Bobby forms yet another band for live shows in April 1998 including Peter Rees (Peter Straker, Gary Moore, The Electric Blues Company), Vic Martin (Bee Gees, Eurythmics, Chris de Burgh, Gary Moore), Darby Todd (Sugarplumfairies) and Papa George (Peter Straker, Micky Moody).

Around March 1999, Darby Todd leaves the band to concentrate on studio work, and Charlie Morgan (Elton John Band, Tina Turner, Gary Moore, Tasmin Archer) becomes a full time member. Around June 1999, Charlie Morgan is released to work in Nashville and Bobby invites Gary Husband (from Level 42, Allan Holdsworth Band and Gary Moore Band - also a great keyboardist) to sit in during his absence. Recent guests who have appeared with The Bobby Tench Band include Gary Moore, P.P. Arnold, Roger Chapman, Raphael Ravenscroft, Leon Rubenhold, Steve Simpson, Paul Williamson, and Tony O'Malley.

Currently, the main members of this band are:

Both Vic Martin and Peter Rees are very experienced players. Vic Martin has played with The Bee Gees, Chris De Burgh, Eurythmics, Gary Moore, Boy George and others. Peter Rees has played with Peter Straker, Electric Blues Company, Gary Moore, etc.

They have been recently joined by other great musicians such as:

Drummers:
Guitarists:
Keyboards:
Vocalists:
OFFICIAL NOTICE from The Bobby Tench Management:
There are references on several web sites that artists such as Charlie Morgan, Gary Moore and P.P. Arnold have played the Blues Head, Lonsdale Road, Barnes, UK with The Papa George Band. Although these artists have performed at the legendary jazz venue it was with Barnes Blues.
Barnes Blues is a casual and unofficial outfit formed by Bobby around 1990 to play with musician friends and acquaintances, jam and relax. At present it contains personnel from the current official Bobby Tench Band.
Barnes Blues plays the Bulls Head, Lonsdale Road, Barnes London, SW13 from time to time attracting a knowledgeable audience and a host of credible and established guest artists.
Although George Papaniclos and his band often appear together on the same stage the show is strictly Bobby's.
 

HUMBLE PIE 

Year 2000 gives us a very nice surprise. Humble Pie is back, and Bobby takes several roles: lead vocalist as well as guitarist. This is the superb lineup:

After a very successful mini-tour along UK, they start recording what will be the first new Humble Pie studio album in 20 years.

On April 20th, 2001, a Steve Marriott Tribute Concert was held at London Astoria. The concert was completely sold out, and was filmed for TV and recorded for a future release. Watch this space for news about it. The concert featured important artists, many of them related to Steve Marriott in the past. Current Humble Pie members also played as the basis of the house band, augmented by some friends:

A long list of Humble Pie classics were performed, with more friends and guests, such as Steve Ellis, Debbie Bonham or Dennis Greaves. Bobby Tench's lead vocals in a stunning rendition of 'Fool for a pretty face' was one of the highlights of the evening. Another surprise came when ex-members Peter Frampton and Clem Clempson joined and played some other classics.
 


SOLO ALBUMS

Bobby is currently working on several studio projects in UK and Europe with the possibility of a solo CD coming closer and closer!

Bobby Tench has released two singles. The first one was released in Germany in 1982. The second one was released in 1986, with the aid of Brian Robertson on guitar. It consisted of a version of a beautiful Thin Lizzy song, "Still in love with you". It was released on the Stiff label.


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Page created by Miguel Terol on: 18/November/1997. Last modified on: 03/July/2001. 1