Butts Band

Butts Bandwas a British andAmericangroup formed by ex-DoorsmembersJohn DensmoreandRobby Krieger,active from 1973 to 1975. The band released two albums and, with the exception of Krieger and Densmore, they consisted of different band personnel on each.

Butts Band
Origin	London,England
Genres	Rock
Years active	1973–1975
Past members	John Densmore Robby Krieger Phil Chen Roy Davies Jess Roden Mick Weaver Mike Berkowitz Alex Richman Karl Ruckner Michael Stull David Paul Campbell

History

Butts Band came about as a consequence ofthe Doorstrying to find a replacement for lead singerJim Morrison,who had died in July 1971. The three remaining Doors had released two albums (Other Voicesin 1971 andFull Circlein 1972), withRay Manzarekand Krieger sharing vocals.Unable to recruit a singer in the US, the three Doors went to London in 1973 seeking an experienced lead singer and auditioned several British singers, includingHoward Werth(the singer ofAudience),Kevin Coyne(from Siren) andJess Roden(who was the leader ofBronco).

Werth rehearsed with the band for a week.Elektra RecordsfounderJac Holzmanfavoured Werth to replace Morrison, as he had at one stage foreseen Audience taking over the Doors' spot on Elektra, but Audience had disbanded and Holzman now envisioned Werth and the Doors merging as the "new Doors". However, the three remaining Doors felt that adding a new singer was not working out and decided to disband. With Manzarek returning to Los Angeles, Krieger and Densmore began looking for a new project, linking up with Roden,Phil Chenand Roy Davies to form the Butts Band(allegedly named after a cave where Roden's previous band used to practice).

The band signed withBlue Thumb Recordsand began working on their first album, with longtime Doors sound engineer/co-producerBruce Botnicktaking the producer role.Recording was split between studios in London (three weeks atOlympic Studios) and Kingston, Jamaica (for another three weeks) on their way home to California. Theirself-titled debut albumwas released in 1973.Krieger was quoted as saying, "It's not 'head music', it's 'heart music'. It's 'up music'. It's music you can dance to."

Following the album's release, the band appeared onThe Midnight Specialand theOld Grey Whistle Test.Following the pressure of having two members living in California and three in London, this incarnation of the band split up. The former British musicians were replaced by musicians from the Los Angeles area: Michael Stull (guitar/piano), Alex Richman (keyboards), Karl Rucker (bass), Bobbi Hall (congas) and an additional drummer, Mike Berkowitz.This line-up releasedHear and Nowin 1975.

The Butts Band permanently disbanded after the second album, with Krieger and Densmore embarking on solo projects.In 1978, the three remaining Doors reunited for the first time to recordAn American Prayer.

Former members

• John Densmore– drums (1973–1975)
• Robby Krieger– lead guitar (1973–1975)
• Phil Chen– bass, rhythm guitar (1973–1974; died 2021)
• Roy Davies – keyboards, synthesisers (1973–1974; died 1986)
• Jess Roden– vocals, rhythm guitar (1973–1974)
• Mick Weaver– organ (1973–1974)
• Mike Berkowitz – drums (1974–1975)
• Alex Richman – keyboards, vocals (1974–1975)
• Karl Rucker – bass (1974–1975)
• Michael Stull– vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (1974–1975; died 2002)
• David Paul Campbell– keyboards, vocals (1975)

Timeline

Discography

• Butts Band(1973)
• Hear and Now(1975)

External links

• Butts Banddiscography atDiscogs
• Butts BandatIMDb