Skip Bifferty
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne , England |
Key people | Graham Bell, Mick Gallagher, Colin Gibson, John Turnbull, Tommy Jackman, Paul Nichols |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music, singles, albums |
Number of employees | 6 (band members) (1966–1969) |
Skip Bifferty was a psychedelic rock group from England, formed in early 1966, which included musicians who would later join Ian Dury and The Blockheads.
History
The band emerged when the Newcastle-based group The Chosen Few—featuring Alan Hull, who would later become part of Lindisfarne—changed their name and incorporated vocalist Graham Bell. Under the management of Don Arden, known as Sharon Osbourne's father, they obtained a recording deal with RCA Records.
During their tenure with RCA, Skip Bifferty released a number of psychedelic singles such as "Man in Black," produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane of Small Faces. Their 1967 album, Skip Bifferty, was eventually reissued with additional tracks under the title The Story of Skip Bifferty by Sanctuary Records. Their compositions attracted covers from artists including Cilla Black, The Tremeloes, and The Kingsmen. The band developed a solid live reputation, supporting The Who on tour in October 1968 and making an appearance in the cult classic film Smashing Time.
A conflict with manager Don Arden resulted in the dissolution of the group under the Skip Bifferty name in November 1968. Early the following year, adopting the alias 'Heavy Jelly' and with Paul Nichols replacing Tommy Jackman on drums, they released a single titled "I Keep Singing That Same Old Song" through Island Records. This track was included on the Island compilation album Nice Enough to Eat. The pseudonym 'Heavy Jelly' originated from a humorous review published in London's Time Out magazine but was soon claimed by another band featuring Jackie Lomax.
Once their identity as Skip Bifferty was revealed and lacking a recording contract, the ensemble—now with Fred Wheatley on drums—disbanded shortly thereafter.
Subsequently, Graham Bell collaborated with Turnbull and Gallagher to form Bell & Arc in 1971. Bassist Colin Gibson went on to work with notable artists such as Ginger Baker, Bert Jansch, Alvin Lee, and Van Morrison. Turnbull and Gallagher reappeared as Loving Awareness in 1974 before joining The Blockheads as Ian Dury’s backing band in 1977; additionally, Gallagher performed with The Clash and The Only Ones in 1979.
Personnel
- Graham Bell: lead vocals
- Mick Gallagher: keyboard instruments
- Colin Gibson: bass guitar
- John Turnbull: guitar and vocals
- Tommy Jackman: drummer
- Paul Nichols: drums during Heavy Jelly period
Discography
- "On Love" / "Cover Girl" (RCA Victor RCA 1621, 1967)
- "Happy Land" / "Reason to Live" (RCA Victor RCA 1648, 1967)
- "Man in Black" / "Mr. Money Man" (RCA Victor RCA 1720, July 1968)
- Album: Skip Bifferty (RCA Victor SF 7941 [stereo] / RD 7941 [mono], September 1968)
- "I Keep Singing That Same Old Song" / "Blue" [credited as Heavy Jelly] (Island WIP-6049, January 1969)
- Skip Bifferty--The Story of Skip Bifferty (Sanctuary/Castle CMEDD 518, 2003) – 2CD set