Brand X - WikiHQ

Brand X were a British jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974. They were initially active until 1980, followed by reformations between 1992–1999 and 2016–2021.

Despite sometimes being considered to be a Phil Collins side project (due to Collins' participation as drummer between 1975 and 1977 in between his commitments to Genesis), the band was in fact centred on a core composing/playing trio of John Goodsall (guitar), Percy Jones (bass) and Robin Lumley (keyboards), with Lumley also playing a prominent production role. Other members of the band at various times included Morris Pert, J. Peter Robinson, Kenwood Dennard, Chuck Burgi, John Giblin, Mike Clark, Frank Katz, Kenny Grohowski and Chris Clark.

Jones would ultimately remain the sole constant member throughout Brand X's existence (both during the original 1970s run and throughout the assorted twenty-first century reunions), with Goodsall and Lumley playing a part in most of the albums and tours. Jones ended all Brand X activities in 2020, despite resistance from the band's management and their attempts to revive the band with all-new personnel. Jones is now the sole surviving core member, with John Goodsall having died on 10 November 2021 and Robin Lumley having died on 9 March 2023.

History

1974: Origins

thumb|right|upright|Brand X co-founder [[Percy Jones (musician)|Percy Jones]]

In 1974, Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall plus fellow guitarist Pete Bonas, drummer John Dillon and percussionist/singer Phil Spinelli were carrying out jazz fusion jam sessions at Island Studios in London. Simultaneously, at London's PSL studios, keyboard player Robin Lumley and bass guitarist Percy Jones were playing with the jam band Karass (which also featured members of the Keith Tippett band, Blodwyn Pig, Traffic and Atomic Rooster). Jones and Lumley were introduced to Bonas and Goodsall, who invited them to play at Island Studios, eventually forming a six-piece "Island band" salaried by Island Records under the guidance of A&R man Danny Wilding.

Following the departure of Dillon in 1975, the band attempted to recruit Bill Bruford before being introduced to Genesis drummer Phil Collins (at the time unsure about his future with Genesis following Peter Gabriel's departure). Newly christened Brand X (after Wilding wrote down "Brand X" to keep track of their activity on the studio calendar), the band began recording a debut album featuring Spinelli's vocals in addition to the instrumental content. When the vocals were negatively received by Island management, Goodsall, Lumley, Jones and Collins began secretly rehearsing as an instrumental four-piece, subsequently parting company with Spinelli and Bonas.

Recordings of the four-piece formed the foundation of what would become the band's debut album Unorthodox Behaviour, recorded in September and October 1975 at Trident Studios with Jack Lancaster guesting on saxophone. At the behest of Collins, Genesis manager Tony Smith became Brand X's manager and publisher (via his Hit & Run company) and signed them to Genesis' record label Charisma Records, who bought out their deal with Island. The band began a full-scale tour across the UK from February 1976, mainly on the college circuit. They had little in the way of funds, resorting to renting a synthesiser and PA system and operating with a small road crew, and often played support for the headlining act. and No. 125 in the US. With Collins leaving the group for Genesis commitments, Kenwood Dennard of Pat Martino's group was recruited in New York City in time for their 32-date US tour in May and June 1977. Collins briefly returned later in 1977 for a series of dates, including a spot at the tenth Crystal Palace Garden Party in London and the Fête de l'Humanité in Paris on the same day on a specially chartered plane, the latter attended by an estimated 200,000 people. Livestock, a live album culled from several shows (some with Collins and some with Dennard), was released in November 1977, and won the "Best Live Recording" in Melody Maker at the end of the same year.

Following the 1977 tour, Brand X parted company with Lumley by mutual consent: Lumley wished to concentrate on record production, and the band was now aiming to make music which would work better in the American jazz fusion market which had previously embraced Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra.

The double line-up began following two weeks of the existing line-up carrying out "managerially-pressured" rehearsals at Rupert Hines' Farmyard Studio. With Jones disgruntled and briefly absent (having been determined that Brand X should create music without "pandering"

Band splits, 1981

Brand X dissolved in 1981, with Robin Lumley stating that "there were no hard feelings; we just ran out of music to write together."

Following John Goodsall's death in November 2021, Percy Jones and Robin Lumley confirmed on Facebook on 14 November that the Brand X name was now officially retired, and that no further activity would be done under that name. In a 2022 interview, Jones explained that he left the band due to tensions with management and percussionist Scott Weinberger. Jones alleges that the band's management has used the Brand X Facebook account to misrepresent the band's status following Goodsall's death and the official retirement of the name. The recent history of the band is explained on their official website which is endorsed by Jones.

Discography

Studio albums

Unorthodox Behaviour (1976)
Moroccan Roll (1977) - UK No. 37,
Product (1979) - US No. 165
Do They Hurt? (1980) - US No. 204
Is There Anything About? (1982) - UK No. 93 - US No. 204
Live at the Roxy L.A. (1997) - recorded 23 September 1979 (taken from a band members' cassette from the venue's PA mixing desk)
Timeline (2000) - live concerts 16 November 1977 Chicago & 21 June 1993 NYC
But Wait... There's More! - LIVE 2017 (2017) - recorded on 6 January 2017 at the Sellersville Theatre, PA
Locked & Loaded (2018) - recorded live June 2017, Longs Park Amphitheater, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Live from the Rites of Spring Festival (2018) - recorded on May 6, 2018, at the Majestic Theatre, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Compilation albums

The Plot Thins: A History of Brand X (26 October 1992) - select tracks from Unorthodox Behaviour, Moroccan Roll, Livestock, Masques, Product and Do They Hurt?

Members

Last members

Percy Jones - bass guitar (1974–1980, 1992–1997, 2016–2020)
John Goodsall - guitars (1974–1978, 1979–1980, 1992–1999, 2016–2021; his death)
Chris Clark – keyboards, synthesisers (2016–2021)
Scott Weinberger – percussion (2016–2021)
Kenny Grohowski – drums (2017–2021)

Goodsall died on 10 November 2021, at the Mayo Clinic Rochester in Minnesota.