Graham Bond

1 Biography
2 Discography
3 Further reading
4 External Links

Biography

Bond first gained attention as a jazz saxophonist as a member of the Don Rendell Quintet.

Afterwards, he was briefly a member of Alexis Korner's group before forming the 'Graham Bond Organization' (GBO). With a lineup of Bond on vocals and organ, Ginger Baker on drums, Jack Bruce on double bass, and, briefly, John McLaughlin on guitar, they generally stayed close to their jazz and R&B roots. Bond was the primary songwriter, and he also produced the group's two studio albums, The Sound of '65 and There's a Bond Between Us.

The GBO is notable in popular music history for jump-starting the careers of two future Cream members, bassist/singer Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. One song Bruce and Baker originally recorded with Bond, "Train Time," later wound up in the repertoire of Cream.

Later when blues and R&B scenes erupted on the British gig circuit, the Graham Bond Organization became known for playing the most evil-sounding and dirty R&B heard in the UK. Other notable personnel included Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall-Smith. In a sense, Bond was a catalyst in the formation of British groups Cream and Colosseum, as members of those groups came from Bond's group.

Although highly influential within UK music circles, the GBO never experienced the popular chart success of their peers. One factor for this could have been Bond's rough, growling singing voice, which was an acquired taste. Another was the decided lack of conventional star appeal of the four members: Bond, Bruce, Baker, and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith. In addition, the group's studio albums were never released in the United States.

Amid internal band struggles and Bond's worsening problems with substance abuse, the GBO disbanded in 1967. In the years which followed the breakup of his band, Bond's mental and physical health deteriorated. He exhibited symptoms of what today would be called bipolar disorder: erratic, manic episodes, wild mood swings, and periods of intense depression.

After the break-up of the last Organization line-up, Bond did some solo recording and session work and eventually turned up in Ginger Baker's Air Force. He went to the USA to record and do session work (playing saxophone on Dr. John's The Sun, Moon & Herbs (1971), among other sessions). Upon returing to the UK, Bond married singer Dianne Stewart. Later the couple teamed up with Pete Brown to record Two Heads are Better Than One in 1972.

Bond and his wife shared an interest in magick, and together they subsequently formed and disbanded several groups, including Holy Magick which recorded We Put Our Magick On You (released in 1971).

After the near-simultaneous collapse of his band and his marriage, Bond formed Magus with British folk-singer Carolanne Pegg. However, mainly due to financial problems, the group disbanded around Christmas 1973 without recording.

The following year found Bond at his lowest ebb. His financial affairs were in chaos, and the demise of Magus had badly hurt his pride. Throughout his career he had been hampered with severe bouts of drug addiction, and in January 1973 had spent a month in hospital after a nervous breakdown.

He seemed on course again in 1974 however, until on May 8 of that year, when Bond died under the wheels of a train at Finsbury Park station, London (most sources list the death as a suicide). He was 37 years old. Friends agree that he was off drugs, although he was becoming increasingly obsessed with the occult (he believed he was Aleister Crowley's son).

Discography

1961 Roarin' with Don Rendell (Jazz)
1964 Live at Klooks Kleek
1965 The Sound of 65
1965 There's a Bond Between Us
1969 Love Is the Law
1969 Mighty Grahame Bond
1970 Solid Bond
1970 Holy Magick
1971 Bond in America
1971 We Put Our Magick on You
1972 This Is Graham Bond
1972 Two Heads Are Better Than One

External Links

Graham Bond Net

Graham Bond

Graham Bond

Contents

Biography

Discography

Further reading

External Links