Adrian Gurvitz (born Adrian Curtis, 26 June 1949 [1], Stoke
Newington, London)
is an English singer/songwriter.
Career
Gurvitz is mostly known for the 1982
worldwide hit ballad "Classic". This is in total contrast
to his first chart success in 1967, as the lead guitarist /
lead singer
with the band, The
Gun. The Gun's first (and only) UK
Singles Chart success was "Race With the Devil", rarely heard today but
widely regarded as the "ancestor" of the entire Heavy
Metal genre.
Ironically, The Gun was originally billed as a "psychedelic
/ crossover" band, plus "Race With the Devil" was just a whimsical
experiment, with a mixture of orchestration and hard rock
and roll. Jimi Hendrix performed the song at the Isle
of Wight concert in 1970, but no recordings appear
to exist.
Gurvitz was also the lead guitarist in the band Three Man
Army, (together with his brother Paul Gurvitz). Their album, Third
of a Lifetime (1971), predominantly featured a selection of
hard-driven blues
tracks such as "Butter Queen", but also featured the melodic instrumental
title track. The album is now available on a remastered CD
format.
After Three Man Army split, Gurvitz teamed up with Graeme
Edge for two albums for Threshold
- Kick Off Your Muddy Boots (1975) and Paradise
Ballroom (1977); both albums illustrated by Joe
Petagno.
After this Gurvitz and his brother Paul teamed up with Ginger
Baker to form The Baker Gurvitz Army - the first two vinyl
releases The Baker Gurvitz Army (1975), and Elysian
Encounter (1975), again being illustrated by Petagno.
Solo discography
- Sweet Vendetta - (1979) - Jet
- The Way I Feel - (1979) - Jet
- Il Assassino - (1980) - Jet
- Acoustic Heart - (1996) - Playfull
Records
- No Compromise - (2000) - Cool Records
Classic Songs - (2000) - Cool Records
External links
