The First Lord Of Horror Rock: Screaming Lord Sutch
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Before the theatrical shock rock of Alice Cooper in America, there was Screaming Lord Sutch in England. Often better known in the UK for his political antics in later life, as the founding member of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. He should however be also remembered, for stomping out a blueprint for the comic horror themed rock music that would later fuse with other influences to become psychobilly. And that influence is no better acknowledged than in the 1981 release by the first true psychobilly band, The Meteors. The 12" mini-album, The Meteors Meet Screaming Lord Sutch, featured four tracks by the psychobilly pioneers on the A-side, and four by Sutch on the B-side. That same year Sutch released the single Loonabilly, with his band The Savages. Which along the early releases of The Meteors, is one of the first examples of the pure psychobilly sound that would come out of the UK in the next few years, creating a whole new sub-genre of rockabilly whose sound would spread through dingy punk/rockabilly clubs and bars throughout the world.
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Along with many of the psychobilly artists of the 1980s, back in the early 1960s, David Edward Sutch was so influenced by the the music of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, that he decided to change his name. Thus Screaming Lord Sutch was born. Sutch's most well known early single was Jack the Ripper (1963), which was a cover of American singer/song writer Clarence Stacy's 1961 song. Sutch's version was produced by pioneering English record producer Joe Meek, at his infamous 304 Holloway Road studio. Meek's first hit from the studio was John Leyton's Johnny Remember Me in 1961. The song reached No.1 in the UK charts, and has been covered by a number of psychobilly bands over the years, including The Meteors on their 1983 Wreckin' Crew album. On its release Jack The Ripper was banned by the BBC.
Screaming Lord Sutch's backing band, The Savages, have had many incarnations over the years since they first formed in 1960. Their earliest line-up featured Ricky Fenson on bass and Carlo Little on drums, who both also played in an early line-up of The Rolling Stones. Other notable members of the ever changing line-up of the Savages over the 1960s are, Ritchie Blackmore and Nick Simper both founding members of Deep Purple; Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell the bassist and drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience; and Paul Dean, who Sutch gave his first break to and would go on to be stage and screen, singer and actor Paul Nicholas. Others that briefly played in The Savages also include Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, who would go on to each play guitar in The Yardbirds after Eric Clapton.
Screaming Lord Sutch's backing band, The Savages, have had many incarnations over the years since they first formed in 1960. Their earliest line-up featured Ricky Fenson on bass and Carlo Little on drums, who both also played in an early line-up of The Rolling Stones. Other notable members of the ever changing line-up of the Savages over the 1960s are, Ritchie Blackmore and Nick Simper both founding members of Deep Purple; Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell the bassist and drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience; and Paul Dean, who Sutch gave his first break to and would go on to be stage and screen, singer and actor Paul Nicholas. Others that briefly played in The Savages also include Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, who would go on to each play guitar in The Yardbirds after Eric Clapton.
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Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends (1970)
Screaming Lord Sutch released a number of singles throughout the 1960s, but didn't release his first album until 1970, with what would be the satirically titled Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends. The album was voted the "worst album of all time" in a 1998 BBC poll. Which is ironic, considering that such British rock luminaries like as the ones mentioned earlier performed on the album. As well as Led Zepplin drummer John Bonham, who co-wrote one of the tracks on the album, along with Zepplin's Jimmy Page and Sutch himself. Jimmy Page also co-wrote five other tracks with Sutch, and produced the album. Most who performed on the album disowned it, thinking they were recording demos, not actual tracks to be released on the final album. Damaging Sutch's reputation with the musicians involved. "I just went down to have a laugh, playing some old rock 'n' roll, a bit of a send-up. The whole joke sort of reversed itself and became ugly," Jimmy Page said of the record. |
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Track Listing
A Side
B Side
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Weird Retro Fact: For his follow-up album, 1972's Hands of Jack the Ripper, Sutch pulled another fast one on the musicians involved. He assembled British rock celebrities for a concert at the Carshalton Park Rock 'n' Roll Festival. The show was recorded (only Sutch knew), and released to the surprise of the musicians. Musicians on the record included Ritchie Blackmore, Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum), Carlo Little, Keith Moon, (The Who), Noel Redding and Nick Simper.
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Cult Film Friday: Slade In Flame - The 1975 music drama, featuring the 70s glam rock band Slade. One scene parodies the infamous incident when Screaming Lord Sutch was locked in a coffin.
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Top Ten: Bands That Dress-Up In Weird Costumes - Since the beginning of rock music, costumes have been part of stage shows. But some bands have take it to weird extremes.
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