Terry Reid Band, Support: The Ronnie Scotts All Stars Monday 30th August - Wednesday 1st September

Terry Reid: Vocals/Guitar, Ash Soan, drums  Dzal Martin,guitar, Lee Pomeroy, bass, David Tench,piano

‘....The most soulful British vocalist ever...’ The Independent

‘...Terry Reid’s voice has the power to provoke an intense reaction...’ - The Times

‘...Astonishing by any standards: spine tingles, hair prickles on back of the neck...’ The Independent

‘...When Reid bares those emotions it’s heartbreakingly beautiful...’ The Guardian

‘..there are only 3 things happening in England;  The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Terry Reid..' Aretha Franklin circa 1968

‘..this man should have had my life’ Robert Plant.. the Joint ,Beverly Hills 2004

Terry Reid has an impossibly rich story to tell of a life from teen rock prodigy through his years in rock ‘n’ roll.  He possesses an extraordinary, guttural vocal talent and is often called the finest British blue-eyed soulman.  Nicknamed ‘Superlungs’ he’s ventured out more recently in Los Angeles and London with shows that were a talking point for intimacy, showmanship and his interpretive vocal style. Every once in a while his friends and peers will drop by and pay their respects; Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Roger Daltrey and Donovan have all looked Terry up to play when they were in town.

Comparisons are often made with the vocal range and dexterity of Sam Cooke and Ben E King, though fans of Jeff Buckley, Ryan Adams or even Gomez and newcomers Haven would easily connect with his sound and acknowledge his influence and Jack White’s  The Raconteurs  were the latest act to pay homage with their cover of Reid’s classic Rich Kid Blues.

Coming out of the 1960's Terry Reid was on a roll he was a professional rock and roller with Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers at age 15, later pursuing his solo career and touring the UK, US and Europe extensively in the company of Cream, The Rolling Stones etc. and making time to recommend and introduce Robert Plant and John Bonham to Jimmy Page after declining a frontman role for the New Yardbirds.

A catalogue of misfortunes stood between Reid and the commercial success he surely deserved. As a breaking live act with a burgeoning fanbase he signed a management deal with the legendary ‘hitmaker’ Mickie Most.  The pair fell out badly over choice of material and direction and Terry was tied in legal knots for years to come.  He has recently regained control of many his songs from the 1960’s.

Every major label attempted to sign Terry Reid but it took Ahmet Ertegun and Atlantic Records to chisel a deal that would eventually release him from an enforced  lay-off.  During the interim period he moved to the US and paid the rent by performing back-up vocals on albums for Jackson Browne and countless others though he continued to write and occassionally perform, including a still-talked-about-by-those-who-saw-it appearance at Glastonbury Fayre in 1971 and Mick & Bianca’s wedding in St.Tropez.

His comeback heralded a new sound, with R’n’B & Latin influences and this 1973 album ‘River’ together with it’s successor the Graham Nash produced ‘Seed of Memory’ are regarded as the ‘signature’ albums in Terry’s output.

He's recorded 6 studio albums, the last official release being ‘the Driver” in 1991. His first two albums were re-packaged by EMI as  ‘Super Lungs: The Complete Studio Recordings 1966-69’ also comprising  a dozen unreleased tracks and demos. You can hear him diving through his jazz, folk and rock influences. This compilation provides some insight, perhaps, into the creative and commercial disputes that swirled around his head as a young artiste.

There are two live albums also available; Silver White Light from the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970, this recording was available for many years as a bootleg before it’s belated release. The other live offering is ‘Terry Reid - Alive’ .

Terry Reid is the musician’s musician with “ the voice” that has lost none of its power, still singing, still playing, still writing songs. In recent years his songs have featured in the soundtracks of independent films, ‘the Criminal’, ‘Wonderland’ etc.