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Family was an English rock band that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1973. Their style has been characterised as Progressive Rock , although their sound often explores other genres, incorporating elements of such styles as Folk , Psychedelia , Acid , Jazz Fusion and basic Rock 'n' Roll . The band was never particularly successful in the United States , although Family did achieve recognition in the UK , appearing at several Festivals . Only Solitaire: George Starostin's Music Reviews All Music Guide - Family biography Strange Band - a Family introduction Rate Your Music - Family biography The band's rotating membership throughout its relatively short existence led to a diversity in sound throughout their different albums. Family are also often seen as an unjustly forgotten act, relative to some other bands in existence during the same era, and have been described as "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans". HISTORY Early years (1967–1969) Family formed in 1967 in , Tim Kirchin, Harry Ovenall and Jim King , forming at Leicester Art College in 1962. Ric Grech replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and Roger Chapman joined the following year on vocals. The American record producer Kim Fowley suggested they call themselves "The Family", as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves a Mafia appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour a more casual dress code. Family's debut single, "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman", released by Liberty Records in October 1967, was not a particular success. Around this time, drummer Harry Ovenall was asked to leave the band and was replaced by Rob Townsend . The band's debut album ''". With the UK success of Family's first two albums, the band undertook a tour of the United States, although they ultimately never achieved great recognition there due to several problems with the tour. During their first tour of the US in 1969, Ric Grech left the band to join the new supergroup Hyde Park gig and the Isle Of Wight Festival that summer. In late 1969, Jim King was asked to leave Family due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist John "Poli" Palmer . Later years (1970–1973) In 1970, Family played a few more gigs in the United States, appearing in and the Isle of Wight Festival for the second year in a row. The band appeared in the documentary film Message To Love about the latter festival. Artist Direct: Message to Love Family's followup album '''' in October 1971, which charted in both the UK and the US. In 1972, another album, '' Bandstand '' was released, which leant more towards hard rock than art rock, All Music Guide: Bandstand featuring the single "My Friend the Sun" which was released in early 1973. In mid-1972, John Wetton left Family to join a new lineup of King Crimson and was replaced by bassist Jim Cregan , and at the end of that year John "Poli" Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Tony Ashton , previously of Ashton, Gardner And Dyke . After Wetton's departure but before Palmer's exit, Family toured the United States and Canada, as the support act for Elton John . In 1973, Family released the largely ignored '' It's Only A Movie '', which would be their last studio album, followed by another tour. All Music Guide: It's Only a Movie" Family gave their final concert at . All Music Guide: Ric Grech Tony Ashton died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer. Strange Band: Tony Ashton MUSIC Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato" In Music We Trust: Family Live and an "electric goat", were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B and Soul singers Little Richard and Ray Charles , with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally. John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished guitarist, and Family's often complex song arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech and Jim King in the band. The band's sound has been variously described as Progressive Rock , Psychedelic Rock , Acid Rock , Folk Rock , Jazz Fusion and Hard Rock . Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "as one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the Jimi Hendrix Experience were afraid to follow them at festivals". Georgiy Starostin notes that the band's sound can most closely be compared with Traffic , but that Family were a considerably stronger group. Family was an influence on Jethro Tull , with Ian Anderson noting that the band were particularly underrated. PERSONNEL Musicians
Session musicians
Producers
DISCOGRAPHY See Also: Family discography Studio albums
REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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