Wally (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wally | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  England |
| Genre(s) | Progressive rock |
| Years active | 197? - 1978 |
| Label(s) | Atlantic Records |
| Members | |
| Pete Cosker Paul Gerrett (? - 1975) Nick Glennie-Smith (1975 - 1978) Paul Middleton Roger Narraway Pete Sage Roy Webber |
|
Led by singer songwriter Roy Webber, Wally came out of Harrogate, England in the early 70s and after playing the usual northern pub rock circuit that included venues in Manchester, Harrogate, Leeds, Bradford, they entered a Melody Maker competition and made it through to the finals at London's Roundhouse in 1972. They didn't win with that honour going to a Prog Rock band named Druid.
They caught the eye of one of the judges, Bob Harris of The Old Grey Whistle Test fame. He took the band under his wing and obtained a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Their debut album, Wally, was produced by Bob Harris and Rick Wakeman and released in 1974.
After its release the band, managed by Brian Lane, famous for managing Yes, took off on a series of tours that took in most of Britain, Japan and the USA. Before their second album, Valley Gardens, was recorded they changed keyboard players with Nick Glennie-Smith replacing Paul Gerrett. However by now touring had taken its toll and by 1976 the band had begun to fall apart to eventually split sometime around 1976-78.
Roy Webber started up his own graphic design company, working mostly for Yorkshire Television and in the displays inside The Royal Armouries Museum. Pete Sage went to Germany working as sound engineer for Bony M. Nick Glennie Smith became a leading session musician. Pete Cosker succumbed to a drug habit that eventually hastened his death in 1990. Little is known about Roger Narraway the drummer( he played in a few local Herts bands as a very good lead guitarist, one such band being called Lumpy Engine that did a brilliant version of a Lemon Pipers tune called Through with you). Paul Middleton retreated to the North Yorkshire Dales, became a carpenter, venturing out occasionally to play with Roy Webber in a country rock band, Freddie Alva and the Men from Delmonte. He now gigs on a regular basis with his own band, Paul Middleton & The Angst Band.
