Not to be confused with The Byrds.
| The Birds |
| Background information |
| Also known as |
Birds Birds |
| Origin |
 London, England |
| Genre(s) |
Blues rock, Pop music |
| Years active |
1964 - 1967 |
| Label(s) |
Decca |
| Members |
Ali
McKenzie (lead singer)
Tony Munroe (guitar, vocals)
Ron
Wood (guitar)
Kim
Gardner (bass)
Bob Langham (drums)
Pete McDaniel (drums) |
| Notable instrument(s) |
| Fender
Telecaster |
The Birds was one of the top rhythm
and blues bands in England during the mid-1960s, and part of
the first British Invasion. Even though they recorded fewer than
a dozen songs,
the Birds are remembered for having a sound as hard as other well-known
bands, such as The Who and The
Yardbirds.
The best-known member of the Birds was Ron Wood,
future guitarist
for The
Faces and later The Rolling Stones.
Growing up in the same neighbourhood with several other members of the
band, they came together in 1964 (while still in their teens) as the
Thunderbirds, based in Yiewsley, West London. When they
entered a battle-of-the-bands contest, the organisers of the event
persuaded them to go simply as the Birds, to improve their chances of
winning. Although they lost the contest, they kept the new, shorter
name – a decision which would have significant ramifications later.
When the young band made its first television
appearance, they caught the eye of Decca record company executives. The
ensuing recording contract resulted in
their first two singles, "You Don't Love Me" and
"Leaving Here." The Birds seemed destined for stardom with their loud,
rhythm-and-blues based rock, receiving equal billing with the
Who at some gigs.
However, in the spring of 1965, the Los Angeles based American
band The
Byrds was dominating the British charts with "Mr.
Tambourine Man," released by the newly-formed British CBS
Records label.
The Birds' manager took legal action to prevent the Byrds from using
the name, but the action failed; the Byrds' subsequent tour of England
that summer
was highly received, leaving the Birds feeling that someone else had
stolen their thunder.
They recorded their last single for Decca in late 1965, after
which they moved to Reaction Records, changing their
name to "Birds Birds", to distinguish themselves from their American
counterparts. Unfortunately, their debut album was delayed for nearly a
year due to a contract
dispute. In 1966, their song "That's All I Need" was featured in the horror
film The Deadly Bees. They disbanded in 1967.
Lemmy,
who was a great fan of The Birds, also recorded "Leaving Here" with his
band Motörhead.
He was inspired by their version of the song.
|
Contents
- 1 Artists
- 2 Singles
- 3 References
- 4 Links
|
Artists
- Ali McKenzie (lead singer)
- Tony Munroe (guitar, vocals)
- Ron
Wood (guitar,
harmonica,
vocals)
- Kim Gardner (bass)
- Bob Langham (drums)
- Pete Hocking, aka Pete McDaniel (drums)
Session musicians:
- Clem Cattini (drums on
"Granny Rides Again", recorded in December 1966)
Singles
- "You're On My Mind" / "You Don't Love Me" (November 1964, Decca F 12031)
- "Leaving Here" / "Next in Line" (April
1965, Decca F 12140)
- "No Good Without You Baby" / "How Can It Be?" (October
1965, Decca F 12257)
- "Say Those Magic Words" / "Daddy Daddy" (as "Birds Birds",
September 1966, Reaction 591 005)
Other recorded songs
- "Good Times"
- "Granny Rides Again"
- "La Poupée Qui Fait Non"
- "Run Run Run"
- "That's All I Need"
References
Links
