Colosseum II

Colosseum II

Company type	Ensemble / Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1975
Founder	Jon Hiseman
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Progressive rock, jazz-rock music

Colosseum II was a British ensemble blending progressive rock and jazz-rock, established in 1975 by drummer and leader Jon Hiseman, formerly of Colosseum, with guitarist Gary Moore as a prominent member.

History

Following the dissolution of his earlier group, Tempest, Jon Hiseman revealed intentions to create a new band in November 1974, initially announcing only Gary Moore as part of the lineup. Rehearsals commenced in January 1975, and by May the roster was completed, including vocalist Mike Starrs, keyboardist Don Airey, and bassist Neil Murray. The band’s sound gravitated towards jazz fusion, characterized by Moore’s guitar work, delivering a heavier tone compared to the original Colosseum.

After their debut album Strange New Flesh failed to achieve strong sales, Murray exited the group and Starrs was removed in July 1976. The band then signed with a different record label and brought in bassist John Mole, producing two additional albums that were mostly instrumental but did not attain commercial success. Additionally, Colosseum II participated in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Variations, which reached number 2 on the UK charts in early 1978.

In August 1978, Moore departed to rejoin Thin Lizzy and was succeeded by Keith Airey. Plans for a fourth studio album were abandoned when Don Airey accepted an offer to join Rainbow in December 1978.

Members

• Jon Hiseman – drums, percussion
• Gary Moore – guitars, vocals
• Don Airey – keyboards, synthesizers
• Neil Murray – bass
• Mike Starrs – vocals
• John Mole – bass
• Keith Airey – guitars

Strange New Flesh

Issued on 19 April 1976 through Bronze Records. Production was handled by Jon Hiseman.

Track listing

1. "Dark Side of the Moog" (instrumental) (Airey/Moore) – 6:22
2. "Down to You" (Joni Mitchell, with an instrumental section by Airey) – 9:10
3. "Gemini and Leo" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:50
4. "Secret Places" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:00
5. "On Second Thoughts" (Moore) – 7:29
6. "Winds" (Moore/Hiseman) – 10:25

Expanded edition

Reissued in 2005 by Castle Music and again in 2012 via Esoteric Recordings (excluding the final three tracks).

Disc 1:

1. "Dark Side of the Moog" (instrumental) (Airey/Moore) – 6:22
2. "Down to You" (Joni Mitchell, with instrumental middle section by Airey) – 9:10
3. "Gemini and Leo" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:50
4. "Secret Places" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:00
5. "On Second Thoughts" (Moore) – 7:29
6. "Winds" (Moore/Hiseman) – 10:25
7. "Castles" (version 1) (Moore/Hiseman) – 11:09
8. "Gary's Lament" (instrumental) (Moore/Hiseman) – 7:00
9. "Walking in the Park" (Graham Bond) – 7:05

Disc 2:

1. "Night Creeper" (Airey/Moore/Hiseman) – 3:46
2. "The Awakening" (Moore/Hiseman) – 11:43
3. "Siren Song" (Moore/Hiseman) – 6:55
4. "Castles" (version 2) (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:00
5. "The Scorch" (instrumental) (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:39
6. "Rivers" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:27
7. "Interplanetary Slut" (instrumental) (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:32 (recorded on Electric Savage under the title "Intergalactic Strut")
8. "Dark Side of the Moog" (live) (Airey/Moore) – 9:00
9. "Siren Song" (live) (Moore/Hiseman) – 11:16
10. "The Awakening" (live) (Moore/Hiseman) – 15:16

Tracks one through six on Disc 1 represent the original album; tracks seven to nine are previously unreleased demos from August 1975. Disc two contains unreleased demos from mid-1976 and July of that year, along with BBC In Concert performances from June 1976.

Personnel

• Mike Starrs – lead vocals
• Gary Moore – guitar, vocals
• Don Airey – Fender Rhodes electric piano, grand piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, ARP Odyssey, Solina String Ensemble, Clavinet
• Neil Murray – bass guitar
• Jon Hiseman – drums and percussion
• John Mole – bass guitar (disc 2, tracks 1–10)

Electric Savage

Issued in January 1977 via MCA Records, with production handled by Jon Hiseman. This album is largely instrumental, featuring Gary Moore’s vocal performance solely on the third track.

Track listing

1. "Put It This Way" (Moore/Hiseman) – 4:55
2. "All Skin & Bone" (Moore/Hiseman) – 3:46
3. "Rivers" (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:50
4. "The Scorch" (Moore/Airey) – 6:02
5. "Lament" (Traditional; arranged by Moore/Hiseman/Airey/Mole) – 4:40
6. "Desperado" (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:59
7. "Am I" (Airey) – 4:16
8. "Intergalactic Strut" (Airey) – 5:58

Personnel

• Gary Moore – guitars, vocals on track 3
• Don Airey – Fender Rhodes electric piano, grand piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, ARP Odyssey, Solina String Ensemble, Clavinet
• John Mole – bass guitar
• Jon Hiseman – drums, percussion, cymbals, gong, bells

Wardance

Launched in November 1977 under MCA Records, this album was produced by both Martin Levan and Jon Hiseman. Except for the fourth track featuring Gary Moore’s vocals, all pieces are instrumental.

Track listing

1. "Wardance" (Airey) – 5:56
2. "Major Keys" (Mole/Moore) – 5:10
3. "Put It That Way" (Moore/Hiseman) – 3:37
4. "Castles" (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:40
5. "Fighting Talk" (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:50
6. "The Inquisition" (Moore/Hiseman) – 5:45
7. "Star Maiden" (Mole) / "Mysterioso" (Airey) / "Quasar" (Airey) – 6:15
8. "Last Exit" (Moore/Hiseman) – 3:22

Personnel

• Gary Moore – guitar and vocals on track 4
• Don Airey – Fender Rhodes electric piano, grand piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog synthesizer, ARP Odyssey, Solina String Ensemble, Clavinet, tubular bells
• John Mole – bass guitar and piano
• Jon Hiseman – drums, percussion instruments including cymbals and gong