Beggars Opera (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 in Glasgow, Scotland |
| Founder | Ricky Gardiner, Martin Griffiths, Marshall Erskine |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Products | Progressive rock music |
| Website | www |
Beggars Opera was a progressive rock group originating from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner, vocalist Martin Griffiths, and bassist Marshall Erskine.
Career
The founding members initially collaborated while working on the M40 motorway near Beaconsfield before heading back to Glasgow. There, they expanded their lineup by adding organist Alan Park and drummer Raymond Wilson. The band secured a regular performance slot at the Burns Howff club located in central Glasgow.
In 1970, after signing with Vertigo Records, their debut album Act One was released alongside the single "Sarabande," which found chart success across various European countries. Extensive touring followed, particularly achieving notable popularity in Germany, where they appeared on the television program Beat-Club and took part in the British Rock Meeting held in Speyer in 1971. Their sophomore album, Waters of Change (1971), saw the addition of Virginia Scott on Mellotron and Gordon Sellar on bass. The track "Time Machine" became a hit in Germany, facilitating further tours.
After Erskine's exit, the band issued their third album, Pathfinder (1972), which included a rendition of Richard Harris's "MacArthur Park." Personnel changes continued with Pete Scott stepping in for Griffiths in 1972 and Linnie Paterson replacing Scott in 1973. By the time their final 1973 album Get Your Dog Off Me was recorded, Beggars Opera had streamlined to a trio consisting of Gardiner, Park, and Sellar.
Between 1974 and 1976, a reformed lineup produced two albums under Jupiter Records in Germany: Sagittary, featuring Gardiner (guitar), Pete Scott (vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron), and Mike Travis (drums); followed by Beggars Can't Be Choosers, which included Clem Cattini on drums.
Gardiner later collaborated with David Bowie on the Low album and worked alongside Iggy Pop during the production of Lust for Life as well as on the 1976 Idiot tour. He also co-authored Iggy Pop’s well-known track "The Passenger."
Solo Projects
In November 2025, Martin Griffiths, co-founder and original vocalist of Beggars Opera, released his debut solo record titled The Beggar. This album features compositions he originally wrote during the 1970s but reimagined and recorded with his son Philip Griffiths’ band Alias Eye and musician Maxi Sator. The collection blends elements of rock, pop, ballads, and Latin rhythms within a singer-songwriter framework. Included is a condensed version of "Time Machine," co-written with Ricky Gardiner and Alan Park during his tenure with Beggars Opera, along with selected acoustic bonus tracks from the 1970s.
Discography
- 1970 Act One
- 1971 Waters of Change
- 1972 Pathfinder
- 1973 Get Your Dog Off Me!
- 1974 Sagittary
- 1975 Beggars Can't Be Choosers
- 1980 Lifeline
- 1996 The Final Curtain (compilation)
- 2007 Close to My Heart
- 2009 Touching the Edge
- 2010 All Tomorrows Thinking
- 2010 Suddenly Ahead Ahead
- 2011 Lose a Life (EP)
- 2011 Promise in Motion
- 2012 Mrs. Calagari's Lighter
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Martin Keilty, Big Noise: The Story of Scottish Rock 'n' Roll Through the Voices of Its Creators, 2006, Black and White Publishing,