Crimp Hill

Crimp Hill
'Thinking Man's Blues" c/w 'Wake Up And Smell The Pickles'
Epic EPC 78665
Mick Guitar (Bass), Slim Geoffries (Guitar), Harry Bass (Piano), Heston Blumenthal (Drums), Scraps Delaney (Drums), Pete Frame (Piano), Carl Marley (Drums), Billy Hamilton-Hamilton (Piano) plus 68 others.

As with many bands during the late Sixties and early Seventies, Crimp Hill suffered from major personnel upheavals that hampered their chances of success.

Effectively, the entire band left the group before it had even formed. "It was a little odd", recalled original bass player Mick Guitar. "The original band was meant to comprise me and three other guys who were busy on the session scene. We'd been working up at Trout Tickle on some folk rock with the Spendel guys. There was me, guitar player Slim Geoffries, piano player Harry Bass and drummer Heston Blumenthal.

"We'd agreed to form Crimp Hill and booked a rehearsal but we all got better offers, though I think Slim left music to concentrate on claiming benefits. So that left a big hole in the band, what with there being no members".

But Crimp Hill soldiered on as a band without a deal, a manager or any members. That was until Mick Guitar mentioned the band to a young drummer fresh out of Grammar School, Scraps Delaney. "Grammar School had folded because everyone was either on drugs or a power trip" says Delaney." I was left high and dry and Mick Guitar told me there might be an opening in Crimp Hill".

"I asked Simon if he wanted to join", says Mick. "He asked me who else was in the group. I said 'no-one'".

"After the chaos of Grammar School, where everyone was either on a power trip or drugs, it came as a relief", sighs Delaney, these days touring with the reformed Grammar School. "Rehearsals went very smoothly. But then I got an offer to team up with Mustard, Beans & Boogie. As they were the hottest band on the pub rock scene - and followed by some of the muckiest hippy groupies in Notting Hill - I had to join".

Once again, Crimp Hill had to carry on without any members.

Overall, seventy six different musicians passed through the ranks of the band in its nine year history. "It was the one Rock Family Tree that Pete Frame gave up on" says Guitar. "Even though he was in the group at one point".

Despite the constant comings and goings, the band did manage to release one legendary 45; the wonderful slice of rock, 'Thinking Man's Blues'. No-one knows who played on it or how it got released but it is now valued at £125 in the collector's market. Seek a copy out if you can!