Sour Milk Sea (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Chris Dummett, Jeremy Gallop, Paul Milne |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Music |
Sour Milk Sea was an English heavy blues rock ensemble with a brief existence, originating in mid-1969. The group was founded by Chris Dummett, Jeremy Gallop, and Paul Milne, all pupils at St. Edward's School. Initially performing under the name Tomato City, they later adopted the title Sour Milk Sea, taking inspiration from the song by George Harrison. The lineup was completed by the addition of drummer Rob Tyrrell. The band is particularly recognized for having recruited singer Freddie Mercury (then known as Freddie Bulsara), who subsequently joined Smile and played a key role in transforming it into Queen.
History
Tomato City was established in 1968 with Dummett on lead guitar, Gallop handling rhythm guitar duties, and Milne playing bass. Without a dedicated lead vocalist at the time, Dummett primarily provided vocals during their school performances. By 1969, the group rebranded as Sour Milk Sea and incorporated drummer Rob Tyrrell, formerly associated with Anon, a precursor to Genesis. Turning professional in June 1969, their first public appearance took place at Guildford City Hall, where they supported prominent acts such as Deep Purple, Junior's Eyes, and Taste.
Although Sour Milk Sea attracted a modest local audience averaging around one hundred attendees per show, they lacked a permanent frontman. Freddie Mercury, searching for a new musical project following the breakup of Wreckage, answered an advertisement requesting a "Vocalist Wanted" and joined the band as lead singer in February 1970.
Under Mercury’s leadership, Sour Milk Sea increased their performance frequency to two or three gigs weekly. Their notable appearances included shows at Oxford’s Randolph Hotel and a charity event held at Highfield Parish Hall on 21 March 1970. Mercury contributed original compositions such as "Lover" (which evolved into Queen’s "Liar"), "Blag," and "FEWA," alongside covers like "Jailhouse Rock" and Little Richard’s "Lucille." Unfortunately, no recordings are known to exist that document their complete setlist. The Highfield Parish Hall concert marked Mercury’s final performance with the group and was covered by local media featuring biographies of the members and the sole known photograph of the lineup including Mercury.
As Mercury’s artistic vision for the band intensified, creative tensions emerged. Sharing living space with Mercury, Dummett aligned musically with him, while Gallop opted to dissolve the group following intense disagreements. Since Mercury possessed all the band’s instruments, continuing without him proved impossible. Subsequently, in April 1970, Mercury joined Smile and renamed it Queen.
Aftermath
Freddie Mercury’s career flourished with Queen, becoming one of music’s most influential and enduring figures. Within three years of joining Smile/Queen, the band released their debut album, Queen. Chris Dummett reunited briefly with Mercury during a rehearsal session at Imperial Lecture Theatre that included future bassist John Deacon alongside other Queen members. This session involved practicing early Queen material as Mercury sought to add a second guitarist; however, no further collaboration ensued and Dummett ceased involvement. The two did not reconnect until 1987.