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Steamhammer (band)

From Alfawiki
Steamhammer
Company typeRock group
IndustryMusic
Founded1968 in Worthing, England
FounderKieran White, Martin Quittenton, Martin Pugh, Steve Davy, Michael Rushton
Headquarters
Worthing
,
England
ProductsMusic albums and singles

Steamhammer is a rock group originating from Worthing, England, established in 1968 by vocalist Kieran White, guitarists Martin Quittenton and Martin Pugh, bassist Steve Davy, and drummer Michael Rushton.

Career

The initial formation of Steamhammer supported Freddie King during two UK tours between 1968 and 1969. Their sound combined blues rock with elements drawn from folk, jazz, and classical music, featuring instrumental sections and innovative guitar effects. Their first album, Steamhammer (also known as Reflection), was released in 1968 by Columbia Records. It included the single "Junior's Wailing" along with a mixture of covers and original tracks composed by White, Quittenton, and Pugh. The album also featured contributions from session musicians such as Harold McNair on flute and Pete Sears on piano. Despite limited commercial impact, Steamhammer developed a dedicated live audience, especially in West Germany.

By mid-1969, Quittenton and Rushton left the band; they were succeeded by saxophonist and flutist Steve Jolliffe and drummer Mick Bradley. This ensemble produced the 1969 album Mk II, showcasing exclusively original songs with a stronger emphasis on jazz and progressive rock influences. After Jolliffe's departure in 1970, the group recorded Mountains, released that same year, which combined original compositions with a rendition of Lionel Hampton’s "Riding on the L & N".

In 1971, bassist Davy exited the band and was replaced by Louis Cennamo, formerly associated with Renaissance. Following a European tour during the summer, White also left. The remaining trio—Pugh, Bradley, and Cennamo—created Speech in 1972, an album characterized by heavier progressive rock tones featuring three extended primarily instrumental tracks and guest vocals by Garth Watt-Roy of Fuzzy Duck.

Drummer Bradley passed away from leukemia on 8 February 1972 at the age of 25. A tribute concert held at London’s Marquee Club included performances by bands such as Atomic Rooster, Beggars Opera, If, and Gringo. Steamhammer carried on with new drummer John Lingwood and lead vocalist Ian Ellis (formerly of Clouds), debuting this lineup at Imperial College in London in May 1972. Subsequent tours across Europe and the UK featured American singer/guitarist Bruce Michael Paine replacing Ellis. Paine departed in June 1973; Quittenton returned to the group as they adopted the new name Axis. The band continued under this title until their dissolution later that year.

Post breakup

Two years after Bradley’s death, in 1974, Keith Relf contacted Cennamo and Pugh in California to establish a new project. This collaboration led to the formation of Armageddon toward the end of that year. The group attracted early interest from Rolling Stone magazine even before finalizing a drummer, record deal, or band name. Relf enlisted drummer Bobby Caldwell and secured a contract through producer Jerry Moss of A&M Records, who signed them following a brief live showcase. Their self-titled album released in 1975 achieved moderate success; however, the band never embarked on a tour. Relf and Cennamo returned to England intending to create another group with former Renaissance members but Relf tragically died in 1976 after an electric shock incident involving his guitar.

In the early 1980s, Pugh and Caldwell attempted to revive Armageddon by recording demo tracks for a second album featuring vocalist Jeff Fenholt under Capitol Records. However, this effort stalled before securing a formal contract. Caldwell rejoined Captain Beyond while Cennamo returned to the original Renaissance lineup—later known as Illusion—and collaborated with Jim McCarty on Stairway projects. Pugh stepped away from music but later performed with American rock band 7th Order during 2002–2003.

Following his departure from Steamhammer, White released a solo record titled Open Door in 1975 before relocating to Oregon in the United States where he worked as a truck driver until his death from cancer in 1995. Quittenton contributed guitar work and co-wrote major hits including "Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well" for artist Rod Stewart. Jolliffe joined Tangerine Dream in 1978, participating on their album Cyclone.

Reformation

In 2020, Steamhammer was revived by Martin Pugh, Pete Sears, John Lingwood, and vocalist/guitarist Phil Colombatto. This reunion led to the release of the band's fifth studio album, Wailing Again, in early 2022.

Members

  • Martin Pugh – lead guitar (1968–1973, 2020–present)
  • Steve Davy – bass guitar (1968–1971), backing vocals and keyboards (1970–1971)
  • Kieran White – lead vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar (1968–1971; deceased 1995), guitar (1969–1971)
  • Martin Quittenton – guitar (1968–1969, 1973; deceased 2015)
  • Michael Rushton – drums (1968–1969)
  • Mick Bradley – drums (1969–1972; deceased 1972)
  • Steve Jolliffe – saxophone, flute, backing vocals, keyboards (1969–1970)
  • Louis Cennamo – bass guitar (1971–1973)
  • John Lingwood – drums (1972–1973, 2020–present)
  • Ian Ellis – lead vocals, guitar (1972)
  • Bruce Michael Paine – lead vocals, guitar (1972–1973)
  • Pete Sears — bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (2020–present)
  • Phil Colombatto — lead vocals, guitar, harmonica (2020–present)

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Colors = 

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:sax value:tan2 legend:Saxophone,_flute
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_backing_vocals
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:lines value:black legend:Albums

LineData = 

at:03/01/1969 color:black layer:back
at:11/01/1969 color:black layer:back
at:11/01/1970 color:black layer:back
at:02/01/1972 color:black layer:back
at:02/01/2022 color:black layer:back

BarData = 

bar:Kieran text:"Kieran White"
bar:Ian text:"Ian Ellis"
bar:Bruce text:"Bruce Paine"
bar:Phil text:"Phil Colombatto"
bar:SteveJ text:"Steve Jolliffe"
bar:MartinP text:"Martin Pugh"
bar:MartinQ text:"Martin Quittenton"
bar:SteveD text:"Steve Davy"
bar:Louis text:"Louis Cennamo"
bar:Pete text:"Pete Sears"
bar:Michael text:"Michael Rushton"
bar:Mick text:"Mick Bradley"
bar:John text:"John Lingwood"

PlotData= 

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Kieran from:start till:06/01/1971 color:vocals
bar:Kieran from:06/01/1969 till:06/01/1971 color:guitar width:3
bar:Ian from:02/01/1972 till:06/01/1972 color:vocals
bar:Ian from:02/01/1972 till:06/01/1972 color:guitar width:3
bar:Bruce from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1973 color:vocals
bar:Bruce from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1973 color:guitar width:3
bar:Phil from:01/01/2020 till:end color:vocals
bar:Phil from:01/01/2020 till:end color:guitar width:3
bar:MartinP from:start till:12/01/1973 color:guitar
bar:MartinP from:01/01/2020 till:end color:guitar
bar:MartinQ from:start till:06/01/1969 color:guitar
bar:MartinQ from:06/01/1973 till:12/01/1973 color:guitar
bar:SteveJ from:06/01/1969 till:02/01/1970 color:sax
bar:SteveJ from:06/01/1969 till:02/01/1970 color:keys width:3
bar:SteveD from:start till:02/01/1971 color:bass
bar:SteveD from:02/01/1970 till:02/01/1971 color:keys width:3
bar:Louis from:02/02/1971 till:12/01/1973 color:bass
bar:Pete from:01/01/2020 till:end color:bass
bar:Pete from:01/01/2020 till:end color:keys width:3
bar:Michael from:start till:06/01/1969 color:drums
bar:Mick from:06/01/1969 till:02/01/1972 color:drums
bar:John from:02/01/1972 till:end color:dumps

</timeline>

Singles

  • "Junior's Wailing" (single edit) / "Windmill" (1969)
  • "Autumn Song" / "Blues For Passing People" (1969)
  • "Mountains" / "I Wouldn't Have Thought" (1971)

Albums

Compilations

  • This is ... Steamhammer (1974) – double LP
  • Riding on the L&N – The Anthology (2012) – double CD
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