Prog Digest – An Xperience Column

By Klyde Kadiddlehumper.

Ladies and gentlemen (and I use those phrases loosely given the nature of most folks I meet reading these fine words), I fear this edition of Klyde’s musings brings bad news.

Horrible news.

News one cannot ignore nor fix.

News we all suspected, but that no one would readily admit.

Ready …

Humpty Dumpty didn’t fall.  He was pushed.

Yes, I know … I know.  Your childhood now seems like a complete lie.

How can you believe anything with this revelation?

Then again, how can you believe the cretins who go around on Facebook claiming to be the “Official Brand X” – which they are not.

Now, for those unfamiliar, Brand X was a brilliant jazz/rock/fusion band that is, in many cases, categorized as prog.  If Prog Magazine can say it and extol the virtues of a new, live album from 1977 – who am I to argue?  

Yes – I am directing that at you – the one known as “The Schwartz.”

Anyway …

There’s a history – and a sordid one at that.

OK, there are many bands with an ”X” in the name: X, X Japan, Generation X.  And my favourite – X-Ray Spex. Oh, how we miss you, Poly Styrene.

Anyway, these cats knew all kinds of interesting musicians and started as a band influenced by AWB and TOP – nice, huh?  

Originally consisting of Peter Bonas, John Dillon, Phil Spinelli, John Goodsall, Percy Jones, and Robin Lumley,  the as-yet-unnamed band signed a contract with Island Records.  With me so far?  Good.

Not having a name, it was suggested they get the generic moniker of – you guessed it – Brand X.

Drummer John Dillon wasn’t interested in moving to the jazz/fusion side of the aisle, and he was, ummm, quietly let go.  So, they needed a drummer.

Oh, where to find a good drummer in England in the mid ‘70s?

Bill Bruford was rather busy and declined.

There was this guy whose lead singer had announced leaving the band after their current tour.  Having some spare time, Phil Collins was the hired gun.  Never a member of the band per se, but Hit & Run became the management; Phil was signed through Phil Collins Ltd. from inside Hit & Run.  Can you see the financial issues that could arise from that?

Anyway – as one might imagine – a whole bunch of people thought “Oh, how nice, Phil has a little side project he runs.”  Not the case at all.  He never signed with (then) Charisma Records and was never a “real” member.

Goodsall, Jones and Lumley were very serious about the band.  As Phil Collins once said, he saw “Genesis as the wife, and Brand X as the mistress with the big t#*!”

As we all know, Phil stayed with Genesis and had a nice little solo career, thank you very much.

Music business monies, expired visas, “new” management for the reunion tours with no real members claiming to be the Official Brand X Facebook page, and more craziness have cost money and time. The last living member, Percy Jones, as well as the family members of the late John Goodsall and Robin Lumley, continue the good fight.

Now for the news that does not suck.

Available for purchase now at a rate that will go up at the end of August is “Theory of Nothing,”  a new 2-CD set of a live show from 1977.  Mostly music from the “Moroccan Roll” album as well as some nuggets from the not-yet-released “Masques.”  Damned fine records, to say the least.

Check these guys out at officialbrandx.com and order the new release from their Bandcamp site.

Music management is run by the same people who are from the government – they all say, “We’re from the government.  We’re here to help.”

Things you know about your old Uncle Klyde: this certainly does not make me a dime.  It’s fun and, sometimes, informative.

They say you have to break some eggs to make an omelet. 

Just don’t get pushed, like Humpty Dumpty.

Until next time.

Klyde