NB: I knew I had seen this press release around the end of the week last week...when I went to find it again, I couldn't. At that point I honestly thought I had been imagining this announcement. Apologies for the delay, then, in posting this...
In 1971, Colin Carter, formerly lead singer with Peter Barden’s Camel, initiated an idea with Peter Banks, recently the first ex-Yes guitarist, to form a new band. Musician Ray Bennett had previously met Banks while staying with Bill Bruford, Bennett's former bandmate from The Breed. Recently returned to London, Bennett arrived right on time to fill the bass spot. Carter and Banks discovered Mike Hough, a hard working drummer with a jazz, rock and big band background, playing in a ballroom in London. Together they formed Flash.
In the early 70s Flash put out three albums on EMI/Capitol Records, had the hit single "Small Beginnings" (#28 Billboard), and toured Europe and the USA four times. They even made it to Australia. But after two and a half years, Flash disbanded. All four members later reunited in various combinations during the late 70's and early 80's. But by 1982 the Flash members had gone their separate ways.
In 2002 all four original members made contact again and were initially enthusiastic about a Flash reunion. Now spread out across the globe, plans to get together were discussed over several months. However, in the end, Banks and Hough failed to commit. In late 2004 it was Flash songwriters Ray Bennett and Colin Carter who began working together again. They discovered that the old chemistry was still there and in 2005 they officially re-launched their musical partnership as Flash.
2009 saw the almost miraculous resurrection of the fully realized Flash. Gibson Guitars listed Flash's In the Can as one of their top 10 vintage classic prog-rock albums. Also in 2009, all of their albums were reissued. Now, with a spectacular new 5-piece line-up and a studio album of new material in the works, these prog-rock pioneers set sail again with renewed vigor and their hallmark originality, ready to continue their saga. Advance copies of the new album should be available in September at Progday.
Mars Hollow, The Muffins, Half Past Four and Mahogany Frog join Flash at ProgDay 2010. ProgDay is the longest running progressive rock festival in the world. The 16th edition will take place on Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, at Storybook Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, and to hear music from this year's bands, please visit us at www.progday.net. Three more bands to be announced soon!
Current Line Up:
Colin Carter: Lead Vocals
Ray Bennett: Guitar, Vocals
Mark Pardy: Drums
Wayne Carver: Bass
Rick Daugherty: Keyboards
Discography:
Flash (1972)
In The Can (1972)
Out Of Our Hands (1973)
Psychosync (archival recording from 1973) (1997)
Flash 4 (To be released 2010)
http://www.myspace.com/flashbennettcarter
1 comment:
Banks also was in a band called "Empire" whom we don't hear much about!
Haven't heard much out of Banks since then ...
"Two Sides of Peter Banks" is worth seeking out, too, IMO!
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