Cold River Lady

Cold River Lady
Original band lineup, London, March 1973 (left to right) Phil Weaver, Mike Lawley, Paul Cheshire, Paul Griffiths, Will Wright, Pedro Brown
Background information
Origin	Hereford, England
Genres	Rock
Years active	1970 (1970)–1992 (1992)
Labels	Angel Air
Past members	Will Wright Phil Weaver Pedro Brown Mike Lawley Paul Griffiths Paul Cheshire Helen Hardy Pete Farndon Tic Taylor John Clarke John McKenzie Bob Jenkins

Cold River Lady ("CRL") was a rock band that was formed in 1970 in Hereford in the Welsh Marches of England. Their music however drew on far wider influences. With its eclectic mix of acoustic guitar, lazy rural rhythms and a sharp electric edge and strong melodies and lyrics, it combined rock, folk and blues influences, with sophisticated flavours from the likes of Arthur Lee, Tim Buckley and Caravan. The music of the band developed with the various changes of personnel and evolving musical times, whilst keeping its unique "Hereford" feel, until it finally wound up in 1976 when the punk era took a grip. The final twist in the life of this band was that forty years after it was formed its first album Better Late Than Never was released in 2010.

CRL was formed initially by Phil Weaver, Will Wright and Mike Lawley, when they were all together at Hereford Cathedral School in 1970. Will and Mike had also been in the same primary school (Tupsley VA School). Phil had played in one band previously called Carcass on rhythm guitar, with brothers Kevin Williams (vocals) and Ian "Ernie" Williams (lead guitar), Pete Farndon (bass) (much later of The Pretenders) and Paul "Jazz" Jones (drums), playing mostly covers of then current rock bands. Kevin, Ian and Pete were all also at the Cathedral School. After this band Phil started writing original material on 12 string acoustic and his infamous "cocklecaster guitar" with Will playing a variety of recorders. Mike had been persuaded to take up bass and started to contribute lyrics to compliment Phil’s strong melody lines. The first rehearsals were carried out at their homes. With two final recruits being made from the thriving and hip Hereford scene of the early 70’s, Paul "Griff" Griffiths (6 string acoustic) and Pedro Brown (Drums and percussion), the line up started formal rehearsing.

Rehearsals took place at the local YMCA on Aylestone Hill where there happened to be an old harmonium lying around. Will, as the only one having had a few brief piano lessons incorporated this into the band, amplifying it with a microphone fed through a wah-wah peddle, and also commenced providing material writing on piano. Pedro had played in a few local bands and was the most experienced musician amongst the band at that time. Early influences on the song writing side were US West Coast bands such as Arthur Lee and Love, Tim Buckley and Spirit, and from England, Caravan and folk music generally. The style of music also reflected the rural environment and would possibly fall into the "folk rock" genre. The name Cold River Lady was taken from a poem by Paul "Jazz" Jones the drummer from Carcass.