1963 In Belfast!
The beginning of one of the great names in Rhythm & Blues.
Alan Henderson, Van Morrison, Eric Wrixon, Ronnie Millings, Billy Harrison
Van Morrison, Eric Wrixon, Billy Harrison, Alan Henderson and Ronnie Millings set out to play their own brand of music which was characterised by Morrison’s raw vocal style, Harrison’s guitar riffs, Wrixon’s funky organ and a lot of overall energy.
From humble beginnings in the ‘Maritime’ in Belfast, the band’s legendary live performances attracted the attention of Dick Rowe at Decca records who signed THEM in 1964.
Hits like “Baby please don’t go”, “Gloria” and “It’s all over now baby blue” took THEM to stages all over the world and ensured a place in musical history. Despite some memorable stage performances in Europe and America, poor management failed to provide strategy, stability or support. The resulting chaos, including many personnel changes, totally undermined the band’s ability and will to continue. The band which Rolling Stone Magazine had singled out as the only real competition to the ‘Stones’ was off the road and the first chapter came to a close.
Morrison departed in 1967 to pursue a solo career. Wrixon, after a spell in England with Belfast cult band ‘the Wheels’, went on to Germany to become the central figure in the “Never Never Band”, accompanying top soul and blues artists on tour in Europe. He turned up briefly with Thin Lizzy in Dublin before returning to Germany and his blues/soul roots.
THIN LIZZY | Phil Lynott, Eric Bell, Eric Wrixon, Brian
Alan Henderson had been using the name in the usa with limited success but the next major landmark came in 1977 when Billy Harrison, Alan Henderson, Eric Wrixon, Mel Austin and Billy Bell (as a late replacement for John Wilson) came together in Hamburg under the auspices of the Teldec Company to record the ‘Shut your Mouth’ album with producer Frank Dostal. Release of a single (Street walkin Lady) brought airplay and the band prepared for a promotional tour. But THEM never made things easy for themselves. Before the tour even started Billy Harrison (who had written the bulk of the album) was off to a solo career as a singer songwriter and Jim Armstrong replaced him once more on guitar.
THEM 1977 | Alan Henderson, Billy Bell, Mel Austin, Eric Wrixon, Jim Armstrong
The late eighties/early nineties were full of negotiations and potential projects but these foundered, mainly due to Henderson’s retirement to Minnesota, Billy Harrison’s solo career and Wrixon’s unwillingness to desert the ‘Belfast Blues Band’. Compromise was reached in 1993 when a reshuffling of personnel resulted in a merger of the two bands, which reunited Wrixon, Jim Armstrong and Billy Bell.
There was one very significant change; after working with journeyman vocalists in the 15 years since Morrison’s departure, Eric Wrixon took over vocals and songwriting and the band embarked on their strongest ever phase.
One of the hardest working live bands in Europe, and concentrating on live performances led to a more contemporary, compact and progressive focus. Initially billed as ‘THEM - the Belfast Blues Band’ media and promoters condensed it to ‘THEM’ and so the legend lives on.
Eric Wrixon, Luca Nardi, Peter McKinney, Jim Armstrong
Over the last years, without denying their roots, they have managed to attract new generations of music lovers to their gigs. In all of Europe’s top venues their own special style of material sets THEM apart from the mainstream. If you have heard the current band, you know what to expect; if it’s your first time, well yes, you will hear a few of the old songs, but not all, and hopefully the more recent material will give you the same amount of enjoyment.
THEM the Belfast Blues Band | info@thembelfast.com | disclaimer | last updated: Dienstag, 17.03.2009