Rock'n'Soul Extraordinary, Terry Reid
“Superlungs” plays Norwich Arts Centre
Thursday 19th September, 2024
One of the most remarkable and revered rock musicians of all time is coming to the Norwich Arts Centre on Thursday, 19th September. Make sure you catch Terry Reid, who is a living testament to the University of Life, the embodiment of making a living from what you love.
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| Terry Reid - Superlungs with guitar |
Reid left school in St Ives, Cambridgeshire aged 15 years, way back in 1966 and to all intents and purposes just wanted to perform in a local band, Peter Jay and The Jaywalkers. As seemed to happen in those heady 60s days, something magical occurred and this group of lads from The Fens became a support act for The Rolling Stones on a twenty-three concert tour of the UK. The young Reid later on that tour befriended Graham Nash, then of The Hollies, when they met at The Royal Albert Hall gig of that Stones’ tour.
One thing led to another and after a minor hit single, Reid’s astounding debut album, Bang, Bang You’re Terry Reid led him to tour the USA with his own band, opening for Cream to critical acclaim. Listening to his album, Seed of Memory, one is very much reminded of Neil Young and Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Rather than a mimic of the emerging folk-rock style, Reid was an innovative singer and song-writer, who subsequently had several big names record “Without Expression” (under various adapted titles) which he had written when just fourteen.
As Reid toured with the The Rolling Stones, he became friends with many celebrated acts of the time, not least Tina Turner and B B King. He played at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival and he and his band were the the first ever opening act on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage in 1971, an honour he shared with the late Linda Lewis.
Unfortunately, Reid’s own recording career was somewhat stymied by the producer Micky Most, who had plans for Reid to become a balladeer, rather than rock guitarist and vocalist. Lengthy legal battles proved a huge distraction, as Most tied the young artist in knots, such was the nature of such acquisitive and exploitative impresarios in the early days of rock. As a consequence Reid took regular work as a session musician, a living he settled into for many years.
Reid’s guitar was thought as secondary to his amazing vocal talents, but he managed sustain his creative independence, supporting Jethro Tull and the original Fleetwood Mac. Reid directed Jimmy Page toward a young Wolverhampton singer called Robert Plant, having turned down such a role for himself in Page's new band that was to become Led Zeppelin.
This Old Grey Whistle Test clip features Reid and his band performing Live Life from his 1973 album River.
Aretha Franklin famously said that The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Terry Reid were the only happening things in England when she first visited in 1968. Reid still is innovating, still happening. Having been supportive during Gilberto Gil’s exile from the military dictatorship of Brazil, Terry Reid has constantly shown interest in new artists, being keen to hear what is coming through and encouraging emerging talent, wherever that may be in Europe or the UK.
The respectful label ‘Superlungs’ attached to Terry Reid by his contemporaries, refers to his incredible ability to channel his voice to the most extreme ends of vocal expression. The epithet Rock’n’Soul is also applied to his unique talents because he actually sings at those extremes, not just screams at the top end. To get a fair idea of the inspirational talent of the man, listen to that first album 'bang, bang you're TERRY REID' or the later work, River. These are excellent albums, that stand fair comparison with some of the very best records of those times.
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