Quartz

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This is not the official band page but a tribute to a great band from the late 70's early 80's NWOBHM scene in Birmingham,England.Dating back to as early as 1974.They were formed by Mike Taylor and former "Idle Race" guitarist Mike Hopkins.Also Mike Hopkins’ other act "Way Of Life", pre Quartz,featured no less than a pre Zeppelin John Bonham on drums.They then recruited Goeff Nicholls,Dek Arnold and Mal Cope after a few years.Quartz had evolved from "Bandy Legs" after they signed to Jet Records in 1976 and supported "Black Sabbath" and "AC/DC" on a few tours.The band changed their name to Quartz for their 1977 debut s/t album,Quartz released a 7'' single "Sugar Rain/Street Fighting Lady/Mainline Riders" prior to the albums release The album was produced by Tony Iommi who had taken them uder his wing and secured them a deal with "United Artists" Quartz toured with "Black Sabbath" to support this release.More melodic than "Sabbath" it was nevertheless derided by the music press.The record was re-issued in 1979 titled "Deleted" when the label suddenly went bankrupt.Leaving Quartz high & dry."Queen" guitarist Brian May handled guitar on the song "Circles," which also features Mr. Ozzy Osbourne on backing vocals.This track did not appear on the album but would turn up as the b-side to the "Stoking the Fires of Hell" single.Quartz toured heavily during this time, playing the Reading Festival three times(1976, 1977 and 1980) and touring in support of some of the larger NWOBHM and Hard Rock bands of the time (Iron Maiden, Saxon, UFO and Rush).A live album was released on some obscure independent label called "Reddington's Rare Records".After releasing their own take on Mountain's "Nantucket Sleighride"(subsequently used as the theme to ITV'S "Weekend World"),both the album and Quartz themselves were taken on by "Logo",who released a 7" single called "Satan's Serenade/Bloody Fool" in June of 1980 it also appeared as a 12'' in "Blue & Red with Roll over Beethoven(live)" as a bonus track.Later in 1980 Quartz released their second studio album, Stand Up and Fight,on M.C.A. wich didnt keep the band on their label for to long.Their third and last album, Against All Odds was released in 1983 on the "Heavy Metal" label also releasing a 7" single from the album "Tell me Why/Streetwalker".Soon after the band took decision of calling it quits. In 1979 Geoff Nicholls left to join Black Sabbath.He contributed keyboards and songwriting from 1980s Heaven and Hell on.In 1996 Quartz were back in action with "Ressurection" an album that has the covering The Easybeat's "Good Times",Rare Bird's "Bird Man",Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven",Wishbone Ash's "Jailbait" and Mountain's "Nantucket Sleighride".This album was released on Metal Blade in the U.S. and Neat Metal in the U.K.And in 2004 Castle music Ltd. released the wonderful double cd collection "Satan's Serenade:the Quartz Anthology".Disc one includes the s/t(AKA Deleted) debut album.Along with a few unreleased tracks.Disc two contains live tracks,not the same as the live album.In 2004 we also saw US doom band Orodruin doing a wonderful cover of "Stand up and Fight" on Their Claw Tower and Other Tales Terror best of/Comp.