FIRST TIME AROUND

For their first time in the States the Savoy Brown are making quite a name for themselves. They played Feb. 7-9-12-15 at the Grande Ballroom and came across very well. Both Sat. and Sun. nights they received standing ovations, that’s how well that’s how well they came across.

It was their first Detroit gig and though they are on tour in the U.S. for the next couple months or so we might not be able to have them back. It’s not that they don’t like it here...for heavens-sake don’t think that! They really dig playing at the Grande and they like the audience too. Their lead signer Chris, said that it was great “the people get into it and, well, let themselves go.” But there does exist such things as managers and schedules, and that’s really to bad.

The original Savoy Brown Blues Band was formed some three or four years, however, the only original member left in the present band is lead guitarist Kim Simmons. This group (with the members today), has been together as the Savoy Brown ...no Blues Band on the end.. for around a year and I hope they stay that way. They are all great musicians.

They have been “strictly blues” for a long time but recently began incorporating a bit of rock n’ roll into one of their numbers called “Savoy Boogie”. While they were in town I bopped in on one of their rehearsals in which they were brushing up on some other rock numbers. Their road manager, Brian Wilcox, seemed a bit undecided about the scene and just said, “It’s actually a page from Fleetwood Mac, but then the Fleetwood Mac are doing things Savoy Brown put down before Fleetwood Mac were around.” No folks, this is not dissent in the ranks of British Blues Bands, the two groups are good.friends from way back and admire each others work...other wise why would they be doing it?

From the little bit I talked to them (and my observing) they seem to be fabulous people who enjoy what they are doing. Not at all egotistic. They got to watch a tape they made for the Lively Spot show and it turned out to be a pretty traumatic experience for, Chris. He now thinks he’s the ugliest man in the world. You probably have gathered that the majority of my “interview” was with with Chris, the lead singer. He’s quiet and sensible ...besides, being a great guy. I also would like to contradict his statement on being the ugliest guy around...he’s not! So there. He has nothing to feel inferior about. At the rehearsal I discovered that he’s the owner of one of those voices that can carry any tune from this human interest thing I’d like to put in a good word for that important man we hear nothing about, the road manager. Brian Wilcox is that personage for the Savoy Brown and speaking of loyalty, this guy’s got a lot of it. The band comes first and he’s willing to drive them where-ever they decide to go."It’s a big job, if anything goes wrong on stage it’s him who takes the blame. It’s also him who makes sure that nothing does go wrong.

Quite a job and quite a guy. I’m really glad that I got to get know him for the little while Savoy Brown was in Detroit.

In conclusion I'll just say that they are a good band for those who can get into blues, like myself, and even for those who just like “heavy music”. If you ever decide that you’d like to find out what this great group is putting down take a listen to their album “Blue Matter”. It was just released in the U.S. a couple weeks ago and may be followed by a single.. .perhaps one of the cuts off their album, “Train to Nowhere”. They are a good blues group with just a dash of rock n’roll, let’s make them fall in love with the United States so they’ll have to come back.