Trapeze

This is the OFFICIAL Trapeze page endorsed by Mel Galley and Glenn Hughes.

Formed in 1969 in Cannock, Staffordshire, the original five-piece line up consisted of Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, Dave Holland, John Jones and Terry Rowley.

The band made its television debut on BBC TV’s “Colour Me Pop”, a programme that at the time provided a showcase for new talent to the music industry. It was eagerly viewed by the A&R departments of record companies keen to sign new talent. Trapeze won the award for “Most Popular Group” and soon after they were besieged with recording contracts. They signed with a newly formed label called Threshold, which had been set up by The Moody Blues, and their bass player John Lodge produced their first two albums.

The self titled debut album “Trapeze” was released in early 1970 and received rave reviews and vital airplay on BBC Radio 1.  Tours were booked to include Britain, Europe, and America. The world was their oyster. However, a change of direction developed between the Hughes/Galley/Holland camp and the Jones/Rowley camp. Jones and Rowley went back to previous band The Montanas in May 1970, leaving the power trio of Hughes, Galley and Holland to develop what is now generally recognised as the Classic line-up.

On the 13th November 1970 they emerged with an album that shook the foundations of the British rock fraternity. “Medusa” was received with universal acclaim. One of the many press reviews hailed it as, ”One of the biggest finds of the year; three English lads have added a new dimension to the loudest of hard rock. For any Led Zeppelin fan here is the group that is to carry on their legacy”. Their unique blend of entertainment was very much in demand in America and it did not take very long for promoters to ask for them to play in the big stadiums. “Black Cloud/Your Love Is Alright” was released attracting heavy radio exposure in the Southern states. The band toured all over America attracting a cult following with huge audiences. It was however in the south where Trapeze were to find their homeland and became a phenomenon that only previously had existed in the days of Elvis Presley. This was helped by Bill Hamm, their promotion agent and a lover of the power trio ethos, who at the time was also launching a similar project of his own, better known these days as ZZ Top. In Houston they sold out two shows in one evening with hundreds of fans still locked outside. In the second performance the following night the band literally bought the house down when a balcony collapsed due to excess weight and overcapacity. The trio’s on stage performance was as electrifying as their music, their interaction created a musical chemistry that had never been seen before and one that today is still timeless.

Trapeze made fewer and fewer appearances in their homeland, but during these visits they were sure of an electric response to their presence at venues such as the famous Marquee Club in London.  John Bonham of Led Zeppelin would often have his chauffeur drive him to pick up Hughes, Galley, Holland and their manager Tony Perry and take them to the gig booked for that night where he would do an encore with the band. He said, “Trapeze are the best three piece band I have ever seen”.

Throughout 1971 their tour schedule was so hectic it did not permit time to write new material. In the summer of 1972 they began work on their new album and released “You Are The Music…We’re Just The Band” just before Christmas. The album saw guest contributions from Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent) and steel guitarist B.J. Cole . Like “Medusa”, it was to receive critical and universal acclaim. Critic, Chris Knab now saw Trapeze as “.... The first successful merging of black soul and white power rock,” Another critic at the time enthused “to listen to one of Trapeze’s recordings, or to see them in person makes you realise that there is incredible depth to their music. There are delicate poetic fantasies and introspective glimpses into their personal feelings. This and the combination of raw power and delicacy in their musical interpretation makes for a stand that is uniquely that of Trapeze”.

Today it can only be speculated upon as to what new heights Trapeze could have soared to if they had stayed together.  In just three and a half years the band had notched up six tours of America and two masterpiece albums. Perhaps they were victims of their own success? Other more established rock bands saw them as serious contenders to their throne. Without question all three members of the band had undeniable potential. In June 1973 Deep Purple made Glenn Hughes an offer few could have refused – to replace Roger Glover.  The loss of Hughes was seen as a devastating blow to the Trapeze phenomena, and in what was seen as the death blow, Threshold America issued “the last rites” of Trapeze by assembling a best of compilation entitled “The Final Swing” with two previously un-issued tracks “Good Love”/ “Dat’s it ”. With its release, Trapeze's recording obligations to Threshold were completed. Ironically it was their first album to crack the Billboard Top 200, peaking at 172 for six weeks.

The departure of Hughes did not signal the death of Trapeze.  A new line up consisting of Mel Galley (Vocals/Guitar), Pete Wright (Bass), Rob Kendrick (Guitar/Vocals) and Dave Holland (Drums) signed with Warner Brothers. Their first offering was “Hot Wire” which went to 146 in the Billboard charts in January/February of 1975 and had more of a Hard Rock sound to it. In 1976 a second self-titled album “Trapeze” was released by this line-up.

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland then reunited for a short time in late 1976. It was to be a full reunion with an album of new songs but despite playing some live shows Hughes left the band before the album could be completed. Two new so-called Trapeze songs "LA Cut-Off" and "Space High" that they played on this short tour appeared on Hughes first solo album “Play Me Out” in 1977.

A new Trapeze album “Hold On” (also called “Running” in Germany) was released in late 1978, and again featured Pete Wright, plus new addition Pete Goalby (Guitar/Vocals).  This was another great set of songs with both Mel and Pete taking lead vocals.  After this release Dave Holland left to join Judas Priest where he stayed for a decade appearing on 7 albums.  Steve Bray replaced him and this line-up appeared on the 1981 live album “Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos”. Pete Goalby then left to join Uriah Heep and Trapeze disbanded in 1982.

Mel Galley then took some time out before accepting an offer from David Coverdale to join Whitesnake where Mel wrote/co-wrote nine of the ten songs on the Slide It In album which was released in 1984. There were two versions of this album and the re-recorded American version also featured new guitarist John Sykes and sold over 2 million copies. Sadly, in a freak accident, Mel's hand got broken during the tour of 1984 so missed most of it. This meant he also didnt feature in the videos filmed for the singles from the album.

The original trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed again in 1991 with the addition of Asia's and Yes's keyboard player, Geoff Downes, for a small tour and released a live album in 1993 of a reunion show called “Welcome to the Real World”.

In February 1994 the trio reformed again playing in New York for a tribute concert for vocalist Ray Gillen of Badlands and Black Sabbath fame. This led to other dates to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Trapeze and they kicked off a tour in the UK in March with USA shows in April that also included veteran blues guitarist, Craig Erickson.

Sadly, these were the last shows that Trapeze played.

In 1989 "Loser" from “You Are The Music” appeared on Time-Life's Lost 70s Guitar Classic's.  In 2003 “On The Highwire”, a “best of” album that has 23 tracks on it was released.  In 2004 Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee paid homage by covering "Way Back To The Bone" on his album “Retraced”. In 2006 Canadian rock legend Pat Travers covered "You Are The Music" on his album of 70s cover versions “P.T. Power Trio 2”.

Mel Galley wrote (with his brother Tom ) and played on the first two Phenomena Project albums during the 1980s with such people as Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath), John Wetton (ASIA), Neil Murray Whitesnake, Black Sabbath), Ray Gillan (Badlands, Black Sabbath) and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy). He also formed the popular but short lived MGM with Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake) and Neil Murray.

During the 1980’s Glenn Hughes released the legendary Hughes/Thrall album, as well as working with Gary Moore and Black Sabbath to name but two.  Since returning full time to music in 1992 with his Blues album he has released a succession of exciting and varied albums, the most recent two being produced by and featuring on drums Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  He has also written and sung with a whole host of bands as a much in demand guest.

Constantly touring, most recently for his Music For The Divine album, he is set to release another gem in 2008.  His bass playing and voice are still as incredible as they were back in the 1970s - some would say even better - and he has been known as The Voice of Rock by the music press and other bands for well over a decade.