Family (band)

This article is about an English rock band. For other bands with similar names, seeFamily (disambiguation) § Groups.

Family
The original formation of the band. Left to right:John "Charlie" Whitney(guitars),Jim King(saxophones, vocals, harmonica),Rob Townsend(drums),Ric Grech(bass, vocals, violin),Roger Chapman(vocals)
Background information
Origin	Leicester,England
Genres	Progressive rock hard rock psychedelic rock jazz rock
Years active	1966–1973 2013–2016
Labels	Liberty Reprise Raft United Artists
Spinoffs	Streetwalkers
Past members	Roger Chapman John "Charlie" Whitney Jim King Ric Grech Harry Ovenall Rob Townsend John Weider John "Poli" Palmer John Wetton Jim Cregan Tony Ashton

Familywere an Englishrockband, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised asprogressive rock,as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such asfolk,psychedelia,acid rock,jazz fusion,androck and roll.The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours, and appearances atfestivals.

Family's rotating membership during their relatively short existence led to a diversity of sound on their various albums, with lead vocalistRoger Chapmanthe only member who stayed in the band throughout its existence. The group have been described as an "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans".

History

Early years (1966–1969)

Family formed in late 1966 inLeicester,England, from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinasand later briefly The Roaring Sixties, whose sound was grounded inrhythm and bluesthough they did not record under that name. The Farinas originally consisted ofJohn "Charlie" Whitney,Tim Kirchin (born around 1944, Birstall, Leicestershire diedcirca2000), Harry Ovenall (born Richard Harry Ovenall, 12 September 1943, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire), andJim King,forming at Leicester Art College in 1962.Ric Grechreplaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 andRoger Chapmanjoined the following year on vocals. The American record producerKim Fowleysuggested they call themselves "The Family" as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves amafiastyle appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour of a more casual dress code.

The group played the music clubThe Marqueeregularly and other London clubs includingThe 100 Cluband Sybilla's inSwallow Street.Through their friend, Mim Scala, they arrangedJimmy Millerto produce their first single and met manager John Gilbert. Because of their association with Miller,Steve Winwoodhelped with the recording. Shortly afterwards, Ovenall became disillusioned with the group's move away fromsoul musictowardspsychedeliaand was concerned about the management. He subsequently decided to leave the band. Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released byLiberty Recordsin October 1967 but was not a success. Ovenall was replaced byRob Townsend.

The band signed with theReprise Recordslabel (the first UK band signed directly to UK and US Reprise) and their debut albumMusic in a Doll's House,was recorded during early 1968.Miller was originally slated to produce it, but he was tied up with production ofthe Rolling Stones' albumBeggars Banquetand he is credited as co-producer on only two tracks, "The Breeze" and "Peace of Mind". The bulk of the album was produced by formerTrafficmemberDave Mason,and recorded at London'sOlympic Studioswith engineersEddie KramerandGeorge Chkiantz.18 year oldMike Battarranged string and brass overdubs, notably on "The Chase", "Mellowing Grey" and "Old Songs, New Songs" but was uncredited. "Old Songs, New Songs" also included an uncredited tenor sax solo fromTubby Hayes.Mason also contributed one composition to the album, "Never Like This", the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member,and the group also backed Mason on "Little Woman", the B side of his February 1968 single "Just For You". AlongsidePink Floyd,Soft Machine,The Move,andThe Nice,Family quickly became one of the premier attractions on the burgeoning UK psychedelic/progressive "underground" scene. Their lifestyle and exploits during this period provided some of the inspiration for the 1969 novelGroupieby Jenny Fabian (who lived in the group's Chelsea house for some time) and toJohnny Byrne.Family featured in the book under the pseudonym, 'Relation'.

Music in a Doll's Housewas released in July 1968 and charted at number 35 in the UK to critical acclaim,thanks to strong support fromBBC Radio 1'sJohn Peel.Now widely acknowledged as a classic of Britishpsychedelic rock,it showcased many of the stylistic and production features that are archetypal of the genre. The album's highly originalsound was characterised by Chapman's vocals, rooted in thebluesand R&B,combined with several unusual instruments for a rock band, courtesy of the presence of multi-instrumentalists Grech and King, including saxophones, violin, cello, and harmonica.

Family's 1969 follow-up,Family Entertainment,toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering to some extent,reaching number six in theUK Albums Chart,and featured the single "The Weaver's Answer",although the group reportedly had no control over the mixing and choice of tracks, or the running order of the songs.

With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States in April 1969, but it was beset by problems. Halfway through the tour, Grech unexpectedly left the band to join the new supergroupBlind Faith;on the recommendation of tour managerPeter Grant,Grech was replaced byJohn Weider,previously ofEric BurdonandThe Animals.A further setback occurred during their first concert atBill Graham'sFillmore East,whilst sharing the bill withTen Years AfterandThe Nice– during his stage routine, Chapman lost control of his microphone stand, which flew in Graham's direction, an act Graham took to be deliberate;Chapman performed the following shows with his hands by his sides, and by the end of the tour, he had lost his voice; Family's reputation in the US never recovered and they ultimately never achieved great recognition there. Returning to the UK, the band performed at The Rolling Stones'Hyde Parkgig and theIsle of Wight Festivalthat summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalistJohn "Poli" Palmer.

Later years (1970–1973)

In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in San Francisco and Boston. In early 1970, they released their third studio album,A Song for Me;produced by the band, it became the highest-charting album the band had released, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.The album itself was a blend ofhard rockandfolk rock.Family's new line-up played at major rock festivals that summer, including theKralingen Music Festivalin theNetherlandsand theIsle of Wight Festivalfor the second year in a row.The band appeared in the documentary filmMessage to Loveabout the latter festival.

Family's follow-up albumAnyway,released in late 1970, had its first half consist of new material recorded live at Fairfield Halls inCroydon,England, with the second half a set of new songs recorded in the studio, and reached number seven on the UK chart.In March 1971 thecompilation album,Old Songs New Songs,(which contained remixes and rare tracks) was released, but in June Weider left Family to joinStud.He was replaced by formerMogul ThrashbassistJohn Wetton,who had just declined an invitation from Robert Fripp to joinKing Crimson.The band performed at theGlastonbury Free Festival 1971,filmed byNicolas Roegfor the 1972 documentaryGlastonbury Fayre.

As with Grech in Family's original line-up, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up soon released Family's highest-charting single "In My Own Time/Seasons" which reached number four, and the albumFearlessin October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US.In 1972, another album,Bandstandwas released, which leaned more towards hard rock than art rock,featuring the singles "Burlesque" in late 1972, and "My Friend the Sun",which was released in early 1973.

In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new line-up of King Crimson and was replaced by bassistJim Cregan,and at the end of that year, John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardistTony Ashton,previously ofAshton, Gardner and Dyke.After Wetton's departure (but before Palmer's exit), Family toured the United States and Canada as the support act forElton John,but their performances were often greeted with silence and Poli Palmer later recalled that "the only clapping in this huge stadium would be the guys doing the PA".

In 1973, Family released the largely ignoredIt's Only a Movie(and on their own label, Raft, distributed by Warner/Reprise), which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour.

Family gave their final concert at the Hawthorn Building ofLeicester Polytechnicon 13 October 1973.Many of its members went on to different musical projects; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the bandStreetwalkers;John Wetton played with King Crimson and eventually became the lead singer of the bandAsia.Rob Townsend was a member ofMedicine Headbetween 1973 and 1975. He has been a member of The Blues Band since 1979 and of The Manfreds since 1991. Ric Grech died of kidney and liver failure in 1990 at the age of 43, as a result of alcoholism.Tony Ashton died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer.Jim King died on 6 February 2012 in Middlewich, Cheshire, at the age of 69. Wetton died on 31 January 2017, at the age of 67.

Reunion performances (2013–2016)

In September 2012 the band announced a one-off reunion gig on 2 February 2013 at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London featuring Roger Chapman, Poli Palmer, Rob Townsend and Jim CreganDemand for tickets was so great that an extra show was scheduled for the previous night as well and an expanded line-up of the band (also featuring Chapman's regular back-up musicians Paul Hirsh, John Lingwood, Nick Payn, Gary Twigg and Geoff Whitehorn, billed as "The In Laws" )played to sell-out audiences. The setlist on both nights included: Top of the Hill, Drowned in Wine, Holding the Compass, Part of the Load, Ready to Go, Crinkly Grin, Burning Bridges, No Mule's Fool, Sat'dy Barfly, Between Blue and Me, Hung Up Down, Burlesque, In My Own Time. Encore 1: Weaver's Answer; Encore 2: My Friend the Sun, Sweet Desiree.During these performances Chapman paid warm tributes to absent band members Rick Grech, Tony Ashton, Jim King, John Weider, John Wetton and Charlie Whitney during the band's performance. The band went on to appear at the Rockin' the Park Festival at Clumber Park in Notts on 16 August 2013.

The limited edition Family box setOnce Upon a Time,won theStorm ThorgersonGrand Design award at the 2013Progressive Music Awards.

Family again played gigs in the UK in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 they appeared at festivals in England and Italy, as well as two gigs in London on 17 and 18 December and one in Leicester on 22 December, which were billed as the band's last shows. For these gigs, Chapman, Palmer and Cregan were joined by five other musicians.

Music

Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato"and an "electric goat",were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B andsoulsingersLittle RichardandRay Charles,with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally.John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished and innovative guitarist,and Family's often complexsong arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech, Jim King and Poli Palmer in the band and access to keyboards such as theHammond organ,the newMellotron,violin, flute and vibraphone. The band's sound has been variously described asprogressive rock,psychedelic rock,acid rock,folk rock,jazz fusion,not to mention "British art rock," andhard rock.

Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that theJimi Hendrix Experiencewere afraid to follow them at festivals ".

Family was an influence onJethro Tull,withIan Andersonnoting that the band were particularly underrated.Both in his vocal sound and style and his dramatic stage presentation, Chapman was also a strong early influence onPeter Gabriel.

Personnel

Members

Final members

• Roger Chapman– vocals, harmonica, saxophones, percussion(1966–1973, 2013–2016)
• Rob Townsend– drums, percussion(1967–1973, 2013–2016)
• John "Poli" Palmer– keyboards, flute, vibraphone, synthesisers, backing vocals(1969–1972, 2013–2016)
• Jim Cregan– bass, guitars, backing vocals(1972–1973, 2013–2016)

Former members

• John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, sitar, keyboards(1966–1973)
• Jim King– saxophones, harmonica, tin whistle, piano, vocals(1966–1969; died 2012)
• Ric Grech– bass, violin, cello, vocals(1966–1969; died 1990)
• Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion(1966–1967)
• John Weider– bass, guitar, violin, backing vocals(1969–1971)
• John Wetton– bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals(1971–1972; died 2017)
• Tony Ashton– keyboards, accordion, mellotron, backing vocals(1972–1973; died 2001)

Guest musicians

• Dave Mason– mellotron(onMusic in a Doll's House)
• Nicky Hopkins– piano(onFamily Entertainment)
• George Bruno– organ(onA Song for Me)
• Linda Lewis– backing vocals(onBandstand)
• Peter Hope-Evans– harmonica(onIt's Only a Movie)
• Geoff Whitehorn– guitar, backing vocals(2013)
• John Lingwood– drums, percussion(2013)
• Gary Twigg – bass(2013)
• Paul Hirsh – keyboards(2013)
• Nick Payn – saxophone, harmonica(2013)

Producers

• John Gilbert –Music in a Doll's HouseandFamily Entertainment(executive producer)
• Dave Mason–Music in a Doll's House
• Jimmy Miller–Music in a Doll's House
• Glyn Johns–Family Entertainment
• George Chkiantz–A Song for Me,Anyway,Fearless,Bandstand,It's Only a Movie

Lineups

Late 1966 – October 1967	October 1967 – April 1969	April 1969 – Late 1969	Late 1969 – June 1971
Roger Chapman– lead vocals, harmonica, percussion Jim King– saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Ric Grech– bass, backing and lead vocals, violin, cello Harry Ovenall – drums, percussion	Roger Chapman– lead vocals, harmonica, percussion Jim King– saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Ric Grech– bass, backing and lead vocals, violin, cello Rob Townsend– drums, percussion	Roger Chapman– lead vocals, percussion Jim King– saxophones, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Rob Townsend– drums, percussion John Weider– bass, backing vocals, guitars, violin	Roger Chapman– lead vocals, percussion John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Rob Townsend– drums, percussion John Weider– bass, backing vocals, guitars, violin John "Poli" Palmer– keyboards, backing vocals, flute, vibes
June 1971 – Mid-1972	Mid-1972 – End 1972	End 1972 – Late October 1973	Late October 1973 – September 2012
Roger Chapman– lead vocals, percussion John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Rob Townsend– drums, percussion John "Poli" Palmer– keyboards, backing vocals, flute, vibes John Wetton– bass, backing and co-lead vocals, guitars, keyboards	Roger Chapman– lead vocals, percussion John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars, keyboards Rob Townsend– drums, percussion John "Poli" Palmer– keyboards, backing vocals, flute, vibes Jim Cregan– bass, guitars	Roger Chapman– lead vocals John "Charlie" Whitney– guitars Rob Townsend– drums, percussion Jim Cregan– bass, guitars Tony Ashton– keyboards, backing vocals	Disbanded
September 2012 – December 2016
Roger Chapman– lead vocals Rob Townsend– drums, percussion Jim Cregan– guitars John "Poli" Palmer– vibes With: Nick Payn – saxophones, harmonica Geoff Whitehorn– guitars, backing vocals Paul Hirsh – keyboards Gary Twigg – bass John Lingwood– drums, percussion

Timeline

Discography

Main article:Family discography

Studio albums

• Music in a Doll's House(UK & US Reprise, 1968)
• Family Entertainment(UK & US Reprise, 1969)
• A Song for Me(UK & US Reprise, 1970)
• Anyway(UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1970)
• Fearless(UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1971)
• Bandstand(UK Reprise & US United Artists, 1972)
• It's Only a Movie(UK Raft & US United Artists, 1973)

External links

• FamilyatMusicBrainz
• FamilyatRate Your Music
• 45rpm.org.uk– a Family biography
• A Family Affair– reviews of Family albums
• Zeitgeist– reviews of Family albums
• FamilyatAllMusic