Wally (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Harrogate , England |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
Wally was a progressive rock group from England, fronted by singer-songwriter Roy Webber, and established in the early 1970s.
Career
By 1973, after performing throughout northern England, Wally advanced to the finals of a New Act contest organized by Melody Maker at London's Roundhouse. Although they were ultimately bested by Druid, their performance caught the attention of judge "Whispering" Bob Harris, who helped secure a recording deal with Atlantic Records. Their first album, Wally (1974), was co-produced by Harris and Rick Wakeman, who had witnessed one of their preliminary shows.
Under the management of Brian Lane, recognized for managing Yes, Wally embarked on extensive tours throughout the UK, Japan, and the United States. They opened for Yes at London's Alexandra Palace and made an appearance on BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973.
Their sophomore release, Valley Gardens (1975), introduced Nick Glennie-Smith as the new keyboardist, replacing Paul Gerrett. However, the demands of continuous touring took a toll on the band, resulting in Atlantic terminating their contract and the group's eventual breakup.
In 1975, Wally also served as backing musicians for French artist Michel Polnareff during performances in Japan.
Following the band's split, Webber launched a graphic design company catering to clients such as Yorkshire Television and the Royal Armouries Museum. Pete Sage transitioned to work as a sound engineer for pop ensemble Boney M in Germany. Keyboardist Nick Glennie-Smith developed a career as a session player and composer for film scores; he was once considered as a potential successor to Rick Wakeman in Yes. Guitarist Pete Cosker died from a heroin overdose in 1990. Drummer Roger Narraway shifted to playing lead guitar, while Paul Middleton became a carpenter and occasionally collaborated with Webber’s country rock project Freddie Alva and the Men from Delmonte. Middleton currently leads 'The Angst Band,' alongside multi-instrumentalist Frank Mizen. Paul Gerrett passed away due to a heart attack in 2008.
Nearly thirty years later, original members reunited with Frank Mizen and Will Jackson for a sold-out show in Harrogate in April 2009; this event was later issued on DVD.
Their third studio album, Montpellier (2010), combined revamped demos with fresh compositions by Webber and Middleton. A second reunion concert took place in April 2010, with proceeds dedicated to memorials honoring Cosker and Gerrett. The live recording from this performance was released under the title To the Urban Man (2010). A third reunion event was scheduled for 2011 in Harrogate.
Band members
- Roy Webber – lead vocals, guitar (1971–1976, 2008–2011)
- Nick Glennie-Smith – keyboards (1974–1976, 2008–2011)
- Pete Sage – electric violin, bass (1971–1976, 2008–2011)
- Will Jackson – lead guitar (2008–2011)
- Frank Mizen – pedal steel, banjo, bass (2008–2011)
- Paul Middleton – steel guitar, bass, vocals (1971–1976, 2008–)
- Roger Narraway – drums, percussion (1971–1976, 2008–2011)
- Phil Dean – electric guitar as concert guest (2008–2011)
- Pete Cosker – lead electric/acoustic guitars, vocals (1971–1976; died 1990)
- Paul Gerrett – Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, harmonium, grand piano, harpsichord, vocals (1971–1974; died 2008)
- Mike Smith – drums (1972–1973)
- Alan Craig – bass guitar and harmony vocals (1971–1972)
Albums
- Wally (1974) released by Atlantic Records
- Valley Gardens (1975) under Atlantic Records
- Montpellier (2010) independently issued
- To the Urban Man (2010, Live 2CD) independently issued