Zany Woodruff Operation
The Zany Woodruff Operation | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cleckheaton, Yorkshire West Riding, England |
| Genres | R&B, Soul, Psychedelia |
| Years active | 1966–1967 |
| Associated acts | Satan & The Disciples The Tonebenders Eden Roc GRoteSqUE gNOmE Museum |
| Website | www |
| Members |
|
The Zany Woodruff Operation was an English R&B band from Cleckheaton in the former West Riding of Yorkshire[1]
Formed in 1966, the band members were Kenneth Rooke (bass), Peter Sewell (lead guitar), Graham Lockwood (hammond organ), Martin Garside (drums).
Their early repertoire was mainly R&B/soul but by 1967 had moved toward psychedelia.
History
Beginnings
The Zany Woodruff Operation evolved from ‘'Satan & The Disciples’’, a notorious beat group led by Ronnie Mosley and fronted by Howard Burnette. The line-up was Martin Garside (drums), Pete Sewell (guitar), Peter Garnett (bass), Ronnie Mosley (lead guitar), Howard Burnette (lead singer) & Graham Lockwood (organ).
The band was based in the Birstall/Dewsbury/Gomersal area of West Yorkshire during the early 1960s. It was however a volatile combination. After losing the lead singer, bass player and the resignation of Ronnie, bass player Kenneth Rooke was recruited and the band was renamed The Tonebenders. The band was then further expanded with Russel Walker enlisted on Tenor Sax. Following that the name of the band changed to The Zany Woodruff Operation.[2]
Early Recordings
Recordings were made in 1966-67 at the studio of Mat Mathias[3] which was located at his radio repair shop in Huddersfield. Mathias produced amplifiers when his company became known as 'Matamp', which also later partnered with 'Orange Amps'.
The recordings consisted of some cover versions and original compositions
In July 1967 the band did some further recording at RG Jones’s studio in Morden
Search For Sound
The Zany Woodruff Operation were one of eight finalists to be invited to appear at the National Finals of the Search For Sound competition organised by Mecca Silver Blades in Streatham on April 1st, 1967. The event was sponsored by 'Fabulous' magazine and Pye Records.
They were declared runners up in the competition, winning the second prize, with the band Mud taking first place.
Demise
The Zany Woodruff Operation tried to evolve into a psychedelic style band with Garside & Lockwood reforming the group under the name of 'Museum' with guitarist Allan Holdsworth[4] and bassist Alan Rogers aka ‘MacThrirt'. However the outfit became relatively short lived, deemed too progressive for the soul dominated Northern scene. Holdsworth went on to develop his career as a British jazz fusion and progressive rock guitarist and composer.
Members
As Satan & The Disciples
- Ronnie Mosley (lead guitar)
- Howard Burnette (lead singer)[5][6]
- Martin Garside (drums)
- Pete Sewell (guitar)
- Peter Garnett (bass)
- Graham Lockwood (organ)
As The Tonebenders
- Martin Garside (drums)
- Graham Lockwood (organ)
- Kenny Rooke (bass)
- Pete Sewell (guitar)
- Graham Layden (vocals, harmonica)[7]
As The Zany Woodruff Operation
- Martin Garside (drums)
- Graham Lockwood (organ)
- Kenny Rooke (bass)
- Pete Sewell (guitar)[8]
- Russ Walker (sax)
- Gill Stuart (dancer)
- Maureen Fordham (dancer)
- Andrea Hanson (vocals)
- Tony Light (trumpet)
Graham Lockwood emigrated to Australia in 1979 and formed a band called The Graham Lockwood Trio[9]
Pete Sewell died in Hospital after a stroke on 24th November 2009. He was 58 years old.[8]
Reunion Gig
On 1st April 2006, 40 years after the band first formed, the original members got together for a reunion gig at the Park View in Cleckheaton[10]
It was to be the last time the original 5-piece band would ever play together.
Noise of the Valleys
TZWO appears in Bradford’s Noise of the Valleys[11] – A History of Bradford Rock and Pop 1967 – 1987 by Gary Cavanagh with Matt Webster Published in 2009 by Bank House Books, New Romney. https://www.bradfordnoise.com ISBN 978-1-904408-54-3. There is a page dedicated to the Zany Woodruff Operation which shows the history and development.
Discography
In March 2020 the 1966 recording "Crawling Up A Hill" appeared as the title track on the 3-CD Compilation "Crawling Up A Hill" released by Grapefruit/ Cherry Red Records[12][13]
In October 2021 the 1967 recording "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" appeared as a track on the 5-CD Compilation "Think I’m Going Weird" released by Grapefruit/ Cherry Red Records[13][14]
References
- ↑ "The Zany Woodruff Operation". The Zany Woodruff Operation. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Cavanagh, Gary (2009). Bradford’s Noise of the Valleys – A History of Bradford Rock and Pop 1967 – 1987. Bank House Books, New Romney. ISBN 9780992675516. Search this book on
- ↑ Mathias, Mat. "Matamp". Matamp. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Holdsworth, Alan (19 April 2017). "Allan Holdsworth obituary". The Guardian.
- ↑ Burnett, Howard. "Benidorm Legends Live Forever". benidormseriously.com. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Burnette, Howard. "HOWARD BURNETTE "Uno Momento Por Favor"". YouTube. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Layden, Graham. "The Garage Recording Studio, London UK (1986 – 1996)". The Garage Recording Studio. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sewell, Peter (27 Nov 2009). "Orbituary". Batley News.
- ↑ Lockwood, Graham (27 Aug 2014). "Graham Lockwood Trio". YouTube. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Our zany, crazy musical days". Spenborough Guardian. February 2006.
- ↑ "Noise of the Valleys". Bradfords Noise of the Valleys. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Crawling Up A Hill – A Journey Through The British Blues Boom 1966-71". Cherry Red. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Cherry Red Records | Cherry Red Records Official Website". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Think I'm Going Weird: Original Artefacts From The British Psychedelic Scene 1966-68". Cherry Red. 29 October 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External Links
- Official Website : https://www.zanywoodruff.com
- The British Music Archive : Zany Woodruff Operation
- Roll Back The Years: Zany Woodruff Operation
- Bradford’s Noise of the Valleys
This article "Zany Woodruff Operation" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Zany Woodruff Operation. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
