| Larry Wallis | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Progressive rock |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, Guitarist, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1968—Present |
| Label(s) | Stiff Records |
| Associated acts |
Shagrat Pink Fairies UFO Motörhead |
| Website | larrywallis.com |
Larry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.
Contents |
Early Bands
In 1968, he formed a band called The Entire Sioux Nation with Terry Nolder on vocals, Tim Taylor on bass and Paul Nichols on drums. The band split up in late 1969 at the same time as the Pink Fairies Mark 1 line-up of Steve Peregrin Took, Mick Farren and Twink (with girlfriend Silver Darling) parted company.
Steve Took's Shagrat
It was 'all change' - Twink formed Pink Fairies Mark 2 with Farren's former band the Deviants leaving Farren bandless. The original intent was for Farren and Took to form Steve Took's Shagrat with ex-Entire Sioux Nation members Tim Taylor and Larry Wallis. Very soon though, Farren left after having a fallout with Took. Shagrat played one gig at the Phun City Festival in July 1970 and recorded a few songs.
Blodwyn Pig, Took and UFO
Wallis then joined Blodwyn Pig, which changed its name to Lancaster's Bombers (later shortened to Lancaster) with Jack Lancaster. They were a short-lived band although they toured supporting Yes around 1971. Also in 1971, Took, Wallis, and Dave Bidwell (ex-Chicken Shack) recorded four acoustic demos of Took's songs. In February 1972, Wallis joined UFO, but left in October 1972, after a tour by Europe. Wallis didn't record with the band, although a bootlegged live recording of a UFO performance featuring Wallis is known to exist. Sometime during 1972 Wallis recorded sessions with Steve Peregrin Took at Took’s basement flat in Mayfair. These very casual sessions contain appearances by Twink, Mick Wayne, Duncan Sanderson, and almost certainly Syd Barrett.
The Pink Fairies
In November 1972, Wallis joined the Pink Fairies Mark 3, substituting for Mick Wayne. The band released a successful album Kings of Oblivion which contained mostly Wallis-penned tracks. The band played with an extended line-up for a special gig in July 1975. Several years later, in 1982, their only live performance was released under the title, At the Roundhouse. In 1991, it was reissued under the name At the Roundhouse/Previously Unreleased, comprising the original live album, plus additional songs by Larry Wallis from 1984, and an EP by Twink from 1977.
Motörhead
While still a member of the Pink Fairies, in May 1975 Wallis joined a new band called Motörhead with Lemmy and Lucas Fox. In December 1975 Fox left the band and Motörhead recruited a new drummer, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Wallis recorded an album with the band, On Parole. It remained unreleased until 1979 when Motörhead had established some reputation for themselves. In February 1976 Wallis was joined by "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar. Later in the same month Wallis left Motörhead. Wallis remained with Pink Fairies, which continued as a trio, until July 1976 when they gained additional guitarist, Martin Stone. In September 1976 the band released a single, Between the lines/Spoiling for a fight on Stiff Records. Four months later in January 1977 the band split up. In the same month Wallis guested at a one-off gig with members of Thin Lizzy and Rat Scabies of The Damned.
Steve Took
During 1975/1976 Wallis did further recording work with Steve Peregrin Took although none of these sessions have been released to date. Wallis was present, by accident, at Pathway Studios in 1977 when Steve Took's Horns recorded material which would eventully be released in 2004.
Stiff Records - Performer and Producer
Wallis then became an in-house producer at Stiff Records. He released a solo single, Police Car/On Parole, produced by Nick Lowe, in November 1977. As well as appearing on a Stiff compilation A Bunch of Stiff Records, Wallis was part of an ad-hoc line-up called The Takeaways which included: Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Sean Tyla. Wallis took part in the Live Stiffs Tour and appears as Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies on the live album that would be released some time later. Wallis also produced albums for a number of Stiff Records artists including The Adverts and Larry Mick Farren's Screwed Up (November 1977) and Vampires Stole My Lunch Money (August 1978).
Farren/MC5 collaborations and his own bands
In September 1978, Wallis became a member of another Farren project Mick Farren & The Good Guys; featuring Mick Farren (vocals), Andy Colquhoun (guitar), Willy Stallybrass (harmonica), Gary Tibbs (bass) and Alan (Hawkwind) Powell (drums). In March 1979 Wallis joined ex-MC5 band member Wayne Kramer, Andy Colquhoun and George Butler for a series of live gigs. In February 1982 Wallis formed Larry Wallis & The Death Commandos of Love with Johnny Reverb on guitar, Big George Webley on bass and Jim Toomey on drums. Two years later in 1984 Wallis was once again working with Mick Farren who resurrected the Deviants name to record a live album Human Garbage featuring Mick Farren on vocals, Wayne Kramer and Wallis on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and George Butler on drums.
Pink Fairies Resurrection
In 1987 the Pink Fairies were revived with Wallis on guitar and vocals, Andy Colquhoun on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and both Twink and Russell Hunter on drums. This resulted in the album Kill 'em & Eat 'em.
Dr. Feelgood links
Around 1991 Wallis worked with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell (both from Dr. Feelgood) on the On The Bench recording, with Ian Gibbons. This led to the formation of Wallis' new band, the Redbyrds featuring Wallis (guitar, vocals), Mitchell (bass) and Chris North (drums). The Redbyrds released one EP, Truth Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch.
Back in Business
2002 saw the release of the first ever Larry Wallis 'solo' album Death in the Guitarfternoon, proving that Wallis could still play a mean guitar. There have also been hints of another Pink Fairies album and perhaps gigs, however this has not yet appeared to have come to fruition. A comeback gig for The Fairies was planned for The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London on 22nd January 2007. However, this was cancelled due to Larry having a trapped nerve in his back. It has not yet been rescheduled.
Discography
Compilations
- A Bunch of Stiff Records 1977 The Takeaways
- What's in the pub in 1996 1995 one track by Wallis, "Touch and Go"
Albums with the Pink Fairies/Deviants/Mick Farren
- Kings of Oblivion - June 1973
- Flashback - July 1975 (compilation)
- Screwed Up - November 1977 (EP produced by Wallis)
- Vampires Stole My Lunch Money - August 1978) (produced by Wallis)
- At the Roundhouse - June 1982
- Human Garbage - 1984
- Kill 'em & Eat 'em - 1987
- At the Roundhouse/Previously Unreleased - 1991
- Fragments of Broken Probes - 1998 with Jack Lancaster, Andy Colquhoun
- The Deviants Have Left the Planet - 1999, with Jack Lancaster
Albums with the 'Live Stiffs' package
- Stiffs Live - 1978
Albums with Motörhead
- On Parole 1979
Albums with On The Beach
- Escape From Oil City - 1991 Album shared with Canvey Island All Stars with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell
A French Single
- Leather Forever - 1980's
Albums with Redbyrds
- Truth, Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch - 1992
Albums with The Stranglers and Friends
- Live in Concert - 1995
Other albums produced by Larry Wallis
- Wreckless Eric - A Louder Silence - 1977
- Wreckless Eric - Wreckless Eric, 1978 (Wallis also plays guitar)
| UFO |
|---|
| Phil Mogg | Andy Parker | Pete Way | Vinnie Moore | Paul Raymond |
| Michael Schenker | Jason Bonham | Paul Chapman | Danny Peyronel | Neil Carter | Mick Bolton | Paul Gray | Atomik Tommy M | Laurence Archer | Clive Edwards | Aynsley Dunbar | Bernie Marsden | Larry Wallis | Robbie France |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: UFO 1 | Flying | Phenomenon | Force It | No Heavy Petting | Lights Out | Obsession | No Place to Run | The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent | Mechanix | Making Contact | Misdemeanor | Ain't Misbehavin' | High Stakes & Dangerous Men | Walk on Water | Covenant | Sharks | You Are Here | The Monkey Puzzle |
| Live albums: Live | Live in Concert | Strangers in the Night | Lights Out in Tokyo | Live in Japan | T.N.T. | Heaven's Gate | On With the Action | Live in Texas | Regenerator - Live 1982 | Showtime |
| Compilations: Space Metal | Anthology | The Essential UFO | Best of UFO: Gold Collection | | | An Introduction to UFO CD | The Best of the Rest |
