GREEN BRAIN – Review
| Brian Parrish- composer, singer, guitar player performed in the Star Club Hamburg with his band The Londoners as the Beatles did. They were a popular attraction. Before this he had accompanied original rock n roll artiste, Gene Vincent (Be Bop Alula). He later recorded also with Jerry Lee Lewis, another pioneer. Brian Parrish´s songwriting credits included hits for Johnny Hallyday, who was hugely popular in France. His “pop” credentials included songs for Dave Dee, Dozy Beaky Mick &Titch, Alvin Stardust and others. He played on hits by Medicine Head, albums by Jon Lord, Graeme Edge and others. Together with Paul Gurvitz he formed Parrish & Gurvitz. Sir George Martin produced their acclaimed albums as the Beatles were disintegrating. Hailed as “the new Beatles” Parrish recalls it as “a complement certainly, but the kiss of death!” He formed the band Badger with Yes keyboard man, Tony Kaye. Their first album recorded live in concert (One Live Badger) was widely acclaimed and achieved chart success in the USA. This earned Parrish his prog- rock credentials, although his next solo effort “Love On My Mind” had a “blue eyed soul” funk flavour. Changing direction seems to have been a hallmark of his career. He guested with friend, Eric Burdons band shortly thereafter, and over the following years concentrated more on writing / producing. Performing began to play a secondary role.So it might have remained, but he returned to full time performing in 2004 when he was invited to perform in Hamburg as a special guest for a Star Club reunion concert, with great success. His life changed direction and he now lives and works in Germany. He has a new album TRAVELLER out on Sireena Records. He describes it as a series of musical journeys embracing numerous styles, reflecting many facets of the human experience. It is the “last concept album!” he says, but absolutely different to the Gothic pseudo classical style which typified the genre. “Each experience which contributes to our individual story is a mini journey, you could say. In the end we are all travellers. This is the simple theme which unifies the diverse moods of the album”TRAVELLER is presented with a 24 page booklet with photo illustrations along with lyrics. It begins with the “journey” of dreams (Land of the Night games) and encompasses mortality (Angel of Death) and takes in sex, love, trust, joy and pain along the way. “All the stuff you would expect” says Parrish. Brian Parrish is a “vintage” musician who has brought the music of a lifetime together in one album. Brian Parrish, Komponist, Sänger und Gitarrist war, so wie die Beatles, einer der Originalkünstler des Hamburger Star-Clubs und erreichte mit seiner Band The Londoners große Popularität. In der kreativen Atmosphäre Worpswedes entstand seine neueste CD ‚Traveller‘. 13 wunderbare Originalsongs beschreiben seine eigene Lebensreise, seine Erfahrungen sowie seine Reise durch die eigenen Gefühlswelten. ‚We are all Travellers!‘ Ein sehr persönliches, ausgesprochen starkes Album, das er mit einer Anzahl hochkarätiger Begleitmusker aufgenommen hat. Dabei u.a. Blue Weaver, früher einmal bei den Strawbs und Mott The Hoople und Velvetone-Trommler Steff Ulrich. |