Pluto (UK band)

Alan Warner
Alan Warner
Born	April 21, 1947 (age 79); Paddington, West London, England
Occupation(s)	Musician, guitarist, songwriter, author
Years active	Mid-1960s–present
Known for	Founding member of The Foundations

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Pluto (UK band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025

Alan Warner (also known as Allan Warner) was born on 21 April 1947 in Paddington, West London, England. He is an English musician whose career has spanned from the mid-1960s to the present. As a founding member of The Foundations, he contributed to the band's success with chart-topping songs such as "Baby, Now That I've Found You", "Back On My Feet Again", "Build Me Up Buttercup", and "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)". Warner's roles included playing both rhythm and lead guitar, songwriting, and providing instrumental support to lead vocalists Clem Curtis and Colin Young.

Background

Alan Warner was born to John and Mary Warner on 21 April 1947 in Paddington, as the youngest among four children. Although initially drawn to the trumpet, he switched focus to guitar at age eleven after receiving a Spanish guitar as a Christmas gift. His musical style was shaped by inspirations such as Duane Eddy and Hank Marvin, motivating him to pursue a professional career in music.

Prior to establishing himself as a musician, Warner worked in printing. In 1967, he resided with his parents in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It is noted that he once fashioned guitars out of old bed frames, demonstrating early creativity with instruments.

Musical career

After leaving school at fourteen during the early 1960s, Warner played with several semi-professional ensembles before turning fully professional at sixteen. His experience included performing with groups like The Leesiders Sect, The Skeletones, and The Line-up based in Dublin.

Warner’s first band, The Select, focused primarily on R&B covers. In 1965, they participated in a Beat music contest that required original compositions; Warner penned "Red, White And Blue For You" for this event. Following a short stint with the Skeletones, he relocated to southern Ireland and nearly joined The Black Eagles—a band featuring future Thin Lizzy members Phil Lynott and Brian Downey—but ultimately declined the opportunity.

The Ramong Sound

By 1966, Warner sought involvement in a soul band during the genre’s growth in England. He successfully auditioned for The Ramong Sound, a London-based black soul and ska ensemble led by Raymond Morrison (known as Ramong) alongside vocalist Clem Curtis. The lineup also included Nigerian trumpeter Mike Falana, formerly of the Graham Bond Organisation.

The band operated out of the Butterfly club and went through several name changes while Warner remained a constant member. Morrison was later incarcerated for six months. During this period, Rod Stewart briefly participated in jam sessions but eventually pursued other musical directions. Arthur Brown shared lead vocal duties with Clem Curtis before departing to form the Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

The Foundations

The group caught the attention of Ron Fairway, manager of The Ways and Means, who introduced them to entrepreneur Barry Class. The initial lineup consisted of Clem Curtis (vocals), Tim Harris (drums), Peter Macbeth (bass), Eric Allan Dale (Eric Allandale) (trombone), Allan Warner (lead guitar), Tony Gomesz (organ), Pat Burke (tenor saxophone), and Mike Elliott (tenor saxophone).

Ron Fairway’s band, The Ways and Means, declined to record "Baby Now That I've Found You", which The Foundations then took on with Curtis as lead vocalist and Warner on guitar, leading to significant commercial success.

After two additional hits featuring Curtis—"Back on My Feet Again" and "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)"—Curtis departed from the group. Subsequent auditions included singers such as Warren Davis from the Warren Davis Monday Band and reportedly Hue Montgomery, before settling on Colin Young as Curtis’s replacement.

Young was prepared to record "Build Me Up Buttercup" following his contract finalization with Major Minor Records, his former label. Released in November 1968, the single entered the UK charts on 26 November 1968, climbed to number two by 31 December, and remained on the charts for fifteen weeks. Warner co-authored the B-side "New Direction" alongside Macbeth and Gomesz.

Digging the Foundations (album)

In July 1969, the band unveiled their album Digging the Foundations, which included songs penned by Tony Macaulay, John Macleod, and members Warner, Pete McBeth, Tony Gomesz, Colin Young, Pat Burke, and Eric Allandale. Prominent tracks on the record were "I Can Feel It", "My Little Chickadee", along with the successful single "In the Bad Bad Old Days". Additionally, "Till Night Brought Day" appeared on the album, co-written by Warner, Macbeth, and Gomesz.

Further activities with The Foundations

On 19 July 1969, while unloading their van in Birmingham, Warner's Fender Stratocaster was stolen, which caused a delay in recording the B-side for their single "Born to Live, Born to Die" and pushed back its release by one week.

By October 1970, lead vocalist Colin Young departed from The Foundations to embark on a solo career under Barry Class’s management and established a new band named Development. The Foundations ultimately dissolved by the end of that year.

Pluto

After The Foundations disbanded in 1970, Warner became a member of the progressive rock group Pluto, signed to Dawn Records, a branch of PYE. He took over as guitarist within an existing ensemble that featured Paul Gardner (lead guitar/vocals), Terry Sullivan (drums), and Mick Worth (bass).

Significant live appearances included a concert on 13 October 1971 at Coventry's College of Education supporting Barclay James Harvest, followed by a performance on 21 October at Maria Grey College in Twickenham alongside Medicine Head.

In October 1971, Pluto issued the single "Rag-A-Bone Joe" backed with "Stealing My Thunder" on Dawn DNS.1017/Pye PV.15371. Their debut album, titled Pluto, was released in November 1971 on Dawn DNLS 3030. Produced by John Macleod, who also played piano on the record, the album was distributed internationally through Pye in France and South Africa and via Astor in Australia.

The Polecats

The 7 February 1983 edition of Record Business announced Alan Warner as the new guitarist for The Polecats. The band had returned after a year-long hiatus with their single "Make A Circuit With Me".

Reconnection with Foundations members

Warner later reunited with original Foundations frontman Clem Curtis to re-record some of their classic hits. This collaboration resulted in the Greatest Hits album released circa 1994 on Double Play GRF176. Produced and arranged by Keith Bateman, the ensemble featured Warner on guitar, Curtis as lead vocalist, Andy Bennett on drums, and Vince Cross handling keyboards. The album included favorites such as "Build Me Up Buttercup", "Baby, Now That I've Found You", along with Warner’s own songs "New Direction" and "You Can't Fool Me".

During the late 1990s, sparked by renewed interest due to the film There's Something About Mary, Warner reassembled The Foundations with Colin Young and bassist Steve Bingham. After Young left again, vocalist Hue Montgomery assumed lead singing duties. This formation toured extensively throughout both the UK and Australia.

Alan Warner's Foundations

In 2012, Alan Warner and his ensemble, The Foundations, embarked on a brief tour that achieved positive reception, which subsequently led to additional performances, including a February concert in Borehamwood.

The group performed the track "Barefooting," which was made available on YouTube on 30 September 2013. Shortly after, on 2 October 2013, a live rendition of Warner's "You Can't Fool Me," featuring Hue Montgomery as lead vocalist, was also uploaded.

By May 2014, the lineup—consisting of Warner (guitar and backing vocals), Hue Montgomery (lead vocals), Dave Lennox (keyboards), John Dee (bass and backing vocals), Pete Stroud (drums), Nick Payn (saxophone), and Matt Winch (trumpet)—participated in the Superstars of Soul Tour alongside Geno Washington and Jaki Graham.

A February 2020 article in the Ilkley Gazette announced the group’s forthcoming show at King’s Hall, showcasing Montgomery, Warner, Paul Hirsch (keyboards), Roger Nicholas (bass and backing vocals), Stroud, Payn, and Winch.

As of August 2022, Warner remained active with Montgomery as the vocalist for his iteration of The Foundations. Additionally, Montgomery has pursued performances as part of the duo Soul Providers since 2007 and held solo gigs at Leicester’s Crows Nest pub in late 2022.

Further activities

Warner authored the instructional book 100 Lead Licks For Guitar in 2010. In January 2017, he appeared with Iain Houndog Terry and others at the Back In Our Rock ‘N’ Roll Days event, which was headlined by 1960s artist Billie Davis, renowned for the hit "Tell Him".

Collaborating with bassist Roger Nicholas, vocalist Terry Rice-Milton, tambourine player Martyn McCoy, backing singer Nancy Ann Lee, drummer Tristan Long, and vocalist Stefan Long, Warner recorded a version of the northern soul classic "Do I Love You" by Frank Wilson. This recording was uploaded to YouTube on 15 January 2021.

In 2022, the three-CD set Am I Groovin' You was issued on Strawberry, a subsidiary label of Cherry Red Records (catalog number CRJAM011T). The release included liner notes by Lois Wilson based on a recent interview with Warner.

On 20 January 2024, Warner became a member of Edison Lighthouse. An announcement on the 2NUR FM website confirmed his scheduled appearance on Jack Hodgins' Vinyl Vibes program on Sunday, 8 December 2024 at 6:00 pm.

Bibliography

Warner is also recognized as an author of guitar tutorial books and instructional videos, including How To Play Rock Blues Guitar. His initial publication was The Guitar Cook Book, which launched a series of approximately 30 related works. He has contributed to projects by Bob Mortimore and The Bobby Graham band.

Publications

The Blues Guitar, Alan Warner, Waltons Mnf. Ltd, 1986
The Guitar Cookbook, Alan Warner (Unofficial release; distributed at live events)
100 Lead Licks For Guitar, Alan Warner, Omnibus Music Sales Limited, 2010 -
How to Play Electric Blues Guitar, Alan Warner, Music Sales America, 2000 -
Country Guitar Licks: Start Playing Series, Alan Warner, Music Sales America, 2000 -

External links