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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZJOHN'S CHILDRENUK hippy/progressive rock band formed '64 as R&B band the Few (later renamed Silence). Discovered by pop impresario/ Yardbird manager Simon Napier Bell, they recorded "The Love I Thought I'd Found'/"Just What You Want, Just What You Get' for Columbia/EMI with lineup of Andy Ellison, vocals; Geoff McLelland, guitar; Chris Townson, drums; John Hewlett, bass. McLelland was replaced by Marc Bolan, a Napier Bell protégé who later became a solo star; EMI rejected "Not The Sort of Girl (You'd Take To Bed)' and album Orgasm '67, though latter was issued in USA on White Whale, finally by UK indie Cherry Red '82 as an historical artifact with extra tracks. (The phoney "live' album had audience from Beatle film soundtrack added.) They signed to Who management's Track label and released "Desdemona', a Bolan tune banned for mildly suggestive lyric. Live shows were legendary, especially Fourteen Hour Technicolour Dream on 29/30 April '67 at London's Alexandra Palace, where Bolan caused ear-splitting feedback; other shows featured violence that caused a riot in Germany; they were thrown off a tour supporting Who. Bolan left to form Tyrannosaurus Rex after arguments about follow-up "A Midsummer Night's Scene'; another Bolan song "Go Go Girl' released after his departure later turned up in Rex repertoire as "Mustang Ford'; to milk the last of his departed talent, B-side of "Desdemona' ("Remember Thomas A Becket') was reworked as "Come And Play With Me In The Garden'. They split after another disastrous tour of Germany. Ellison made solo singles for CBS, then formed Jet with Townson and ex-Sparks bassist Martin Gordon, Peter Oxendale on keyboards, ex-Nice guitar David O'List: eponymous LP for CBS flopped '75; Ellison and Gordon formed pseudo-new wavers Radio Stars with Ian McLeod on guitar, Steve Perry, drums (three LPs for Chiswick). Ellison's energy as frontman lent some entertainment value to John's Children; their reputation grew out of proportion due to Bolan's involvement. |