| Ashton, Gardner
and Dyke |
Tony
Ashton (R), Kim Gardner (L) and Mick Liber (centre)
|
| Background information |
| Origin |
 London |
| Genre(s) |
rock music |
| Years active |
1969- 1970s |
| Label(s) |
(Polydor) |
Associated
acts |
The Creation |
| Members |
Tony
Ashton
Kim
Gardner
Roy
Dyke
Mick Liber |
Ashton, Gardner and Dyke was a power rock trio,
most popular in the early 1970s.
|
Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Afterwards
- 3 Album
discography
- 4 Band
members
- 5 References
|
History
Founding band member, Tony
Ashton first met the drummer Roy Dyke, when playing with various Blackpool
based groups.
Ashton was invited to join the Liverpool beat
group, The Remo Four as organist/vocalist,
whilst Roy Dyke became the group's drummer, having joined them in 1963.
Their best work came in 1966 when they released their album Smile!.
Before their break-up in 1968, they backed George
Harrison on his album Wonderwall
Music.
Ashton and Dyke then joined forces with the bass
guitar playing Kim Gardner, who had
previously played in minor British groups, The
Birds and The Creation. The
triad simply called themselves Ashton, Gardner and Dyke. Mick Liber
formerly of Python Lee Jackson played lead
guitar with the group.
They released their first single
"Maiden Voyage"/"See The Sun In My Eyes" on Polydor
Records in 1969, but it flopped. However, their next single release on Capitol
Records, made them household names. It was entitled "Resurrection
Shuffle". They poached their brass section, Lyle Jenkins and Dave
Caswell, from Birmingham band Galliard. It entered the UK
singles chart on 16 January 1971, had a chart life of 14 weeks and peaked
at Number 3. This one-off triumph ultimately garnered for them the tag
of one-hit
wonder.
Equally unfortunately, their follow-up single "Can You Get It"
lacked the general boisterous appeal of "Resurrection Shuflle", and
failed to chart. Nevertheless, Ashton Gardner and Dyke persevered and
recorded three albums (see discography below).
Their last recording together was a collaboration with Jon
Lord on the soundtrack for a b-movie called "The
Last Rebel", starring former gridiron star, Joe
Namath. Ashton also appeared on Jon Lord's first solo album Gemini
Suite in 1972.
The trio finally split the same year.
Afterwards
After their demise, Tony Ashton went on to play for Medicine
Head, and was briefly in Family
before teaming up again with Deep Purple’s Jon Lord in Ashton
& Lord. Later still he appeared with Lord and Purple’s drummer Ian Paice as
Paice, Ashton & Lord.
Dyke and then Gardner joined Badger.
Ashton died of cancer, on 28 May, 2001. Gardner also died of
cancer in 2001, in Los Angeles on 24 October (also aged 55).
Album discography
(Polydor 583 081) (1969)
- The Worst Of Ashton, Gardner And Dyke
(Capitol EST 563) (1971)
- What A Bloody Long Day It's Been
(Capitol EST 862) (1972)
Band members
- Tony Ashton — (born Edward Anthony
Ashton, 1
March 1946, Blackburn;
died 28
May 2001) — keyboardist.
- Kim Gardner — (born 27 January
1946, Dulwich, London; died 24 October
2001) — bassist.
- Roy Dyke — (born 13
February 1945,
Liverpool)
— drummer.
- Mick Liber — (born 1 March 1944, Peebles, Scotland) — lead
guitar.
References
- Guinness Book
of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN
0-85112-190-X
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
- Guinness Rockopedia - ISBN
0-85112-072-5
- The Great Rock Discography - 5th Edition - ISBN 1-84195-017-3
- The Dead Rock Stars website
