Freedom (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Ray Royer, Bobby Harrison |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people | Bobby Harrison, Ray Royer, Steve Shirley, Tony Marsh, Mike Lease, Roger Saunders, Walter Managham |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Freedom was a British psychedelic rock group active during the late 1960s and early 1970s, established by former members of Procol Harum. Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison, who contributed to the successful Procol Harum track "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (with Harrison performing on the B-side "Lime Street Blues"), were dismissed by lead singer Gary Brooker and succeeded by Robin Trower and Barry Wilson. Following their departure, Royer and Harrison created Freedom alongside 20-year-old singer/bassist Steve Shirley and keyboardist Tony Marsh (who was shortly replaced by Mike Lease). They produced two singles released in Germany as well as the soundtrack for the Tinto Brass/Dino de Laurentiis film Attraction (also titled Black on White).
In 1968, Royer, Shirley, and Lease exited the band, leading Harrison to bring in guitarist Roger Saunders and bassist Walter Managham. This new formation moved toward a hard rock style and earned opportunities to tour with acts such as Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, and The James Gang. The group became known for their rendition of the Beatles track "Cry Baby Cry" featured on their second album Freedom at Last. After additional personnel adjustments, the band dissolved in 1972; subsequently, Harrison became a member of Snafu.
Members
- Bobby Harrison – drums, vocals
- Ray Royer – guitar
- Steve Shirley – bass guitar
- Tony Marsh – keyboards
- Mike Lease – keyboards
- Robin Lumsden – keyboards
- Roger Saunders – guitar
- Walt Monaghan – bass guitar
- Peter Dennis – bass guitar
- Steve Jolly – guitar
Discography
- Black On White (Nero Su Bianco) (1969)
- Freedom at Last (BYG Actuel/ABC Records, 1970)
- Freedom (originally 1970; reissued by Angel Air Records)
- Through the Years (Vertigo Records, 1971)
- Is More Than A Word (Vertigo Records, 1972)