The Gass | |
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Also known as | Gass |
Origin | UK |
Genres | Rock, Funk, Soul |
Years active | 1965–1971 |
Labels | Polydor, CBS, Parlophone |
Associated acts | Catch My Soul |
Past members |
Bobby Tench Godfrey McLean Delisle Harper Derek Austin Michael Piggott Alan Roskans Frank Clark Humphrey Okan Errol McLean |
The Gass was a rock band formed in May 1965 by Bobby Tench, Godfrey McLean, and Errol McLean. They were managed by Rik Gunnell and Active Management. The band fused melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms.
The original line up was Bobby Tench on bass guitar (credited as Robert Tech), percussionist Errol McLean, his brother drummer and vocalist Godfrey McLean, saxophonist Humphrey Oka and guitarist Alan Roskans. Tench soon became the band's vocalist and lead guitarist and between 1965 and 1967 they released singles on the Parlophone and CBS labels and as their music progressed the line up changed. They also played at clubs and venues in U.K and at fashionable music venues in London's Soho such as The Ad Lib club,The Flamingo and the Bag O'Nails. Eric Burdon sang with them at The Scotch of St James where they were employed as the house band and Jimi Hendrix jammed with them. During 1968 they were supporting bands such as Led Zeppelin and became the backing band for Catch My Soul-Rock Othello produced by Jack Good. By this time they were known simply as Gass.
The band released their first album Juju (1970) which featured guitarist Peter Green. and in the same year Godfrey McLean appeared on Peter Green's End of the Game (1970). Gass were also featured on the album Catch My Soul (1971), which was recorded with the original cast of the UK stage production of Catch My Soul-Rock Othello.