Affinity (band)

Affinity
Affinity L-R: Grant Serpell, Mike Jopp, Linda Hoyle Lynton Naiff, Mo Foster
Background information
Origin	University of Sussex, Brighton, England
Genres	Jazz-Rock
Years active	1968—1972
Labels	Vertigo, Angel Air
Associated acts	Ice Russell's Clump Sailor RMS Principal Edwards Magic Theatre
Members	Vivienne McAuliffe Dave Watts Grant Serpell Mo Foster Mike Jopp
Past members	Lynton Naiff Linda Hoyle

Affinity were an English jazz-rock fusion band, active from mid-1968 to January 1972.

The origin of Affinity was, circa 1965 in the science department of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. Three science students Lynton Naiff (keyboards), Grant Serpell (drums), and Nick Nicholas (double bass) had formed the US Jazz Trio, they played at University events and local gigs. When Serpell graduated a year later he was replaced by Mo Foster who had earlier been playing bass guitar in his school band but had now adapted to playing drums.

After university Naiff and Serpell, along with members of other bands gathered from other university bands, formed the pop group Ice. Although Ice was moderately successful commercially it only lasted for about a year before it disbanded.

Although Ice had disbanded, Naiff and Serpell were keen to continue with a career in music. They decided to start a new jazz-influenced pop band. To this end they invited Foster to join them, only this time on bass guitar as Serpell would be carrying out the drummer's duties. After holding auditions they met ex-Tridents guitarist Mike Jopp. They liked his playing and his ability to play both jazz and pop, and perhaps more importantly he had his own amp and a car.

The auditions continued for a singer. They unanimously decided on an English teacher they had met previously, Linda Hoyle.

After obtaining a loan, which was guaranteed by Jopp's father, they bought the equipment needed to start the band. They bought Impact amplifiers, a Hammond M102 organ, a Gibson EBO bass guitar, some microphones and a grey Ford Transit van. They then spent the summer of 1968 rehearsing, writing, and generally chilling out at a rented bungalow on the edge of Brighton. The first thing they needed to do though was invent a name for themselves, eventually they settled on "Affinity" which came from the name of Oscar Peterson's 1961 LP Affinity.