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THE STORY OF THE BAND

Site Updated on 17th November 2002 by Terry Willson

It's All Over 'For'Now Baby Blue

1976 - Deke, Phil, John, Terry and Micky

Not only did Micky, Deke and Terry have problems with a lack of members, but also their recording contract with United Artists had finished. Firstly a call went out to Phil Ryan who, despite all the previous animosity was keen to re-join, but the bass player berth was proving to be more problematical. They couldn't call on Martin as he had just left, Ray Williams, the original bass player, was considered and he traveled down to London but despite waiting for weeks the call to join did not come. Eventually ex.Global Village Trucking Company bassist, John McKenzie, was recruited. Finally their Manager Barry Marshall managed to secure a three-album deal with MCA records. Rehearsals and writing for the new album, took place during November 1975 and the recording took place during December. The album, which was called The Welsh Connection, was released on 19th March 1976 during another UK tour, which was followed by a trek round Europe and then a third tour of the States where they once again linked up with John Cipollina.

It was yet another European Tour during September and October 1976, which was full of hassle that proved to be the final straw for the band. Returning home, rehearsals and writing for the next album started but everybody was holding back on material and the atmosphere could be cut with a knife.

Eventually Phil decided he was leaving and John would be going with him. This was it, after years of line up changes and with Phil and John going, Micky, Deke and Terry decided to call it a day "I really don't want to teach another bassist C'Mon" said Terry, which really sums up the attitude that prevailed. They decided to do one final UK tour during November/December as a farewell and that would be it. The tour reached Southend on the 4th December, a gig that I attended, and then for a final time home to the Roundhouse for a three-night residency starting on the 10th December 1976. I was able to get a ticket for the last night of the three and it was difficult to believe it was all over. The atmosphere was so relaxed, almost party like, perhaps too much like a wake in retrospect.The support bands included Alkatraz (with former member Will Youatt) and Tim Hinkley's all-star band, Hinkley's Heroes (with Mitch Mitchell, Mike Patto amongst others).

The Man set list consisted of "Let The Good Times Roll", "7171551", "The Welsh Connection", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", "The Ride And The View", "C'Mon", "Born With A Future", "Many Are Called But Few Get Up", "Hard Way To Live", "Banana's", "Spunk Rock", "Romain" and a Jam. Will Youatt, now a guitarist in Alkatraz, joined them on stage for "Spunk Rock" and "Romain", Jimmy Davies from Alkatraz joined them for "Hard Way To Live" and the effervescent Dave Edmunds, who had produced Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day, joined them for "Spunk Rock", "Romain" and The Jam. It was a wonderful evening, but it was all over and we came away with spirits lifted but slightly dampened by the knowledge it was the last time.

All's Well That End's Well - The Last Album?

Things were not quite the same four days later, 16th December 1976, when they played their final gig at the Fulcrum Theatre in Slough. To quote Julian Gough webmaster of the Manband Archive who was there that night -

"For many of us who were there that night, the last note, of the last song, of the last encore was the moment that much of the joy went out of the music business. From then on the aggressive, skill-free, humourless angst of the Punk movement took over. I can't ever remember being so depressed after a night out."

The contract with MCA was for a three-album deal, but this was not going to be possible and following negotiations between Barry Marshall and MCA, the record company agreed to settle on a live album of the Roundhouse gigs. Alls Well That End's Well was released in October 1977 but the bands involvement was nil.

So it was all over, the Manband were no more - or was it??