Tommyknockers

Tommyknockers were a fine English rock group who released records and performed from 1969 through to 1972. Comprising of guitarist/vocalist Mason Willis and bassist Ian Marian they wrote and recorded three full length LP's that have yet to be released in the UK. However, the reputation of these albums are growing stronger by the year, and plans are to release them in the near future. This site is dedicated to the forgotten band Tommyknockers.The current set of songs are explained in the liner notes of a 60's underground tape that surfaced in the mid 80's."Interest in The Dukes of Stratosphere led many to root out similair bands that brought back memories of those golden 60's years. She Shines On Me, Lost And Found and Tommyknocker Blues are all from Tommyknockers debut LP, Tommyknockers Are Here (Now Serve The Tea)".As previously noted, Tommyknockers was a brief three year project conceived by former folkie Mason Willis (who had struggled to find his niche tripping violently around Haight Ashbury) and Manchester musician Ian Marian. The two were introduced at the Bag O' Nails club in London around 1967. Inspired by the current flux of material generating from England at that time (the two travelled on the Magical Mystery Tour. They are credited as Drunk Man and Drunk Man #2), they decided to form a group. With Marian on bass and vocals and Willis on guitar, piano and vocals they set about recording almost immediately.An interesting fact about Tommyknockers is that at each recording session they would ask strangers passing by the studio to guest on tracks. One notable example is a man credited as "Crazy Eyes McNiff" who plays harmonium on Just Begun (from their first LP).After four albums and various live bootlegs cobbled together from different tours the two parted ways. It is unclear if the two met again. Mason Willis returned to the folk clubs of Portland, Oregon and shunned all aspects of the Tommyknockers dream. In the 80's he went through an avant garde period of producing albums of pure silence (each at individual pitches). Reception was poor. Ian Marian turned into a studio session musician, contributing his bass skills to albums by Kiki Dee and Leonard Nimoy.Who knows if the boys will ever regroup. Regardless, what they wrote and recorded has stood the test of time and shall be heard in the future and enjoyed. What you are hearing is a time capsule of a certain time and a certain feeling. Sit back and savour it.