This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).


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Friday 9 March 2012

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Dennis Cowan


Dennis Cowan [guitar / bass]:

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:

Remarkable bassist, Dennis Cowan was born on May 6th, 1947 in London. He started playing rhythm guitar, but later switched to bass. He also sang vocals in some of the bands he played.


THE DEVIL´S DISCIPLES


Around 1964, Peter Banks joined The Devil´s Disciples:

THE DEVIL´S DISCIPLES #?
1964
Terry Cassidy
vocals
Peter Banks
guitar
Dennis Cowan
guitar
Ray Alford
bass
Malcolm Raye
drums

They recorded some tracks that were released many years later in a Peter Banks compilation.

Other info on members of The Devil´s Disciples (I know up to 5 members)
To be covered (1): Peter Banks
Not enough info (3): Ray Alford, Terry Cassidy, Malcolm Raye


THE TRIBE


The Tribe was formed in January 1965 in London:

THE TRIBE #?
1965-1967
John Neighbour
vocals
Frank Torpey
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Martin Slavenic
keyboards
Malcolm Wolffe
drums
The Dreamê
The Dreamê
The Dreamê
The Dreamê
The Dreamê

They recorded two singles, ´The gamma goochie / I’m leaving´, followedy by ´Love is a beautiful thing / Steel guitar and a glass of wine´.

In August 1967, they changed their name to The Dream.

Other info on members of The Tribe (I know up to 5 members)
To be covered (1): Frank Torpey
Not enough info (3): John Neighbour, Martin Slavenic, Malcolm Wolffe


THE DREAM


The Dream was the same band as The Tribe, who changed the band name in August 1967:

THE DREAM #1
Aug 67-Oct 67
John Neighbour
vocals
Frank Torpey
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Martin Slavenic
keyboards
Malcolm Wolffe
drums

But they folded soon after that, in October that same year.

Other info on members of The Dream (I know up to 5 members)
To be covered (1): Frank Torpey
Not enough info (3): John Neighbour, Martin Slavenic, Malcolm Wolffe


BONZO DOG BAND


I think there were more lineups with Dennis, but can´t find proper info. Help, please!

This was the Bonzo Dog Band in April 1968:

BONZO DOG BAND #?
1968
Neil Innes
vocals
Viv Stanshall
vocals
Dave Clague
bass
Dennis Cowan
bass
Roger Ruskin Spear
sax
Rodney Slater
sax
Legs Larry Smith
drums
Sam Spoons
drums

This was the Bonzo Dog Band in March 1969:

BONZO DOG BAND #?
1969
Neil Innes
vocals
Viv Stanshall
vocals
Vernon Nowell
banjo, bass
Dennis Cowan
bass
Roger Ruskin Spear
sax
Rodney Slater
sax
Legs Larry Smith
drums
Sam Spoons
drums


BIG GRUNT


Big Grunt was a band formed by Viv Stanshall right after the breakup of Bonzo Dog Band, retaining Roger Ruskin Spear and Dennis Cowan with him. This was their lineup in 1969:

BIG GRUNT #?
1969
Viv Stanshall
vocals
Bubs White
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Roger Ruskin Spear
sax
Fred Munt
percussion, sax
Ian Wallace
drums

This was Big Grunt in March 1970:

BIG GRUNT #?
1970
Viv Stanshall
vocals
Bubs White
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Roger Ruskin Spear
sax
Ian Wallace
drums

But the band´s life was very short-lived, due to some health problems with Viv.

Other info on members of Big Grunt (I know up to 6 members)
To be covered (2): Viv Stanshall, Ian Wallace
Not enough info (3): Fred Munt, Roger Ruskin Spear, Bubs White


THE WORLD


The World was a band fronted by Neil Innes, with superb players, in May 1970:

THE WORLD #1
May 70-?
Neil Innes
vocals
Roger McKew
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Ian Wallace
drums
King Crimsonê

They released one album, Lucky planet, but Ian Wallace soon left to join King Crimson in November 1970.

Other info on members of The World (I know up to 4 members)
To be covered (3): Neil Innes, Roger McKew, Ian Wallace


ABEDNEGO


Abednego was a band formed around 1971, with some great players:

ABEDNEGO #1
1971-1972
John Etheridge
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Lynton Naiff
keyboards
John Altman
sax
+ maybe others, unknown to me. Help!
Darryl Way´s Wolfê

I don´t know if I´m missing more members (maybe a drummer?). They split in 1972.

Other info on members of Abednego (I know up to 4 members)
To be covered (3): John Altman, John Etheridge, Lynton Naiff


THE GRUNT BAND


The Grunt Band was formed by Dennis Cowan in the early 70s:

THE GRUNT BAND #?
?
Dennis Cowan
bass, vocals
Bubs White
guitar
Adrian Gurvitz
guitar, as Adrian Curtis
Mick Holmes
sax, flute
Dieter Newmann
drums

The band released one single, ´Show me the light´, and recorded several tracks for an album that was never released.

Other info on members of The Grunt Band (I know up to 5 members)
To be covered (1): Adrian Gurvitz
Not enough info (3): Mick Holmes, Dieter Newmann, Bubs White


ZEUS


Dennis Cowan played in a band called Zeus, but don´t know if it´s the same band where Phil Little played drums (or if it maybe was Curtis Knight Zeus). Can someone give me more info about them, please?

ZEUS #?
?
Dennis Cowan
bass
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Zeus (I know up to 6 members)
To be covered (3): Tony Clarkson, Phil Little, Paul Olsen
Not enough info (2): Dave Cowell, Tony Kenna


RAMSHACKLE


Around 1972, drummer Phil Little formed a new band, loosely called Ramshackle. This was the core of the band:

RAMSHACKLE #?
1972
Dennis Cowan
bass
Phil Little
drums

After a short period, they augmented the band to a sextet.

Ramshackle was augmented with two new members:

RAMSHACKLE #?
1972
Mick O´Donnell
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
John Malam
sax, trumpet
Phil Little
drums
+
Christine Green
vocals, sometimes

The band rehearsed for six months, also recording four songs, but Dave Caswell left before the band played their only gig.

Ramshackle finally played their only gig at The Blaises Night Club in London´s West End:

RAMSHACKLE #?
1972
Christine Green
vocals
Mick O´Donnell
guitar, vocals
Dennis Cowan
bass, vocals
John Malam
sax, trumpet
Phil Little
drums

Not sure if Phil Little was still the drummer in the band (probably not, as he doesn't recall any gig by Ramshackle). But the band soon folded, starting other projects.

Other info on members of Ramshackle (I know up to 10 members)
Already covered (3): Dave Caswell, Lyle Jenkins, Noel Norris
To be covered (1): Phil Little
Not enough info (5): Steve De Ville, Christine Green, John Malam, Mick O´Donnell, Pat Valentine


VECCHIO


Vecchio was a band formed by Louis Vecchio, keyboardist from Argentina (who would come to play in Spain years later). I don´t know the live lineup(s), as I can´t be sure if there were the same musicians as in their album, released in 1972:

VECCHIO #?
Louis Vecchio
keyboards
Dennis Cowan
bass
Dick Pearce
trumpet
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Vecchio (I know up to 7 members)
Old pages (1): Ray Russell
To be covered (2): Dick Pearce, Frank Ricotti
Not enough info (3): Mike Ashley, Peter Matthews, Louis Vecchio


BONZO DOG BAND (again)


In 1972, Bonzo Dog Band reunited to record a new album (Let´s make up and be friendly):

BONZO DOG BAND #?
1972
Neil Innes
vocals
Viv Stanshall
vocals
Dennis Cowan
bass
Roger Ruskin Spear
sax
Legs Larry Smith
drums
Grimmsê

But the reunion was short-lived, and they folded again before a year had passed.

Other info on members of Bonzo Dog Band (I know up to 19 members)
To be covered (8): Steve Barnacle, Neil Innes, John Marter, Dudu Pukwana, Andy Roberts, Sam Spoons, Viv Stanshall, Ian Wallace
Not enough info (10): Bill Bailey, Dave Clague, Joel Druckman, Adrian Edmonson, Phill Jupitus, Paul Merton, Vernon Nowell, Rodney Slater, Legs Larry Smith, Roger Ruskin Spear


NEIL INNES BAND


In 1973, Neil Innes assembled this superb band (named Fatso) to back him in some BBC sessions:

NEIL INNES BAND #?
1973
Neil Innes
vocals, keyboards
Ollie Halsall
guitar
Andy Roberts
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
John Halsey
drums
+ harmonica player unknown to me. Help!

They played only one gig, in Islington at the Pied Bull.

Other info on members of Neil Innes Band (I know up to 7 members)
To be covered (4): Ollie Halsall, John Halsey, Neil Innes, Andy Roberts
Not enough info (2): Tom Fry, J J Jones


DARIEN SPIRIT


Around February 1973, Dennis Cowan was a member of Darien Spirit:

DARIEN SPIRIT #?
1973
Jack McAllister
vocals, guitar
Harry MacDonald
vocals, guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Alan Waterson
drums

Other info on members of Darien Spirit (I know up to 4 members)
Not enough info (3): Harry MacDonald, Jack McAllister, Alan Waterson


THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (CAST)


This was the original London cast for The Rocky Horror Show in 1973:

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (CAST) #?
1973
Jonathon Adams
vocals
Tim Curry
vocals
Richard O´Brien
vocals
Christopher Malcolm
vocals
Belinda Sinclair
vocals
Rayner Bourton
vocals
Patricia Quinn
vocals
Little Nell
vocals
Paddy O´Hagan
vocals
+
Ian Blair
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Richard Hartley
keyboards, musical director
Phil Kenzie
sax
Martin Fitzgibbon
drums

They released an album.

This was a different backing band for The Rocky Horror Show cast in London:

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (CAST) #?
?
Ian Blair
guitar
Dennis Cowan
bass
Nick Rowley
keyboards
Phil Kenzie
sax
Will Hill
drums
+ vocalists unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of The Rocky Horror Show (cast) (I know up to 42 members)
Already covered (1): Chris Parren
To be covered (6): Clem Cattini, Geoff Driscoll, Derek Griffiths, Paul Hart, Will Hill, Phil Kenzie
Not enough info (34): Jonathon Adams, Ted Anderson, Gina Bellman, Ian Blair, Rayner Bourton, Dave Brown, Adam Caine, Tim Curry, Linda Davidson, Adrian Edmonson, Martin Fitzgibbon, Hans B Goetzfried, Sherry Hart, Richard Hartley, Ellen Hoffman, Gordon Kennedy, Caroline Liadakis, Mary Maddox, Christopher Malcolm, Tim McInnerny, Peter Moss, David Nehls, Little Nell, Richard O´Brien, Paddy O´Hagan,... up to 34 musicians.


AND THEN


After that, Dennis Cowan started playing sessions, also involved in his own record labels, as well as releasing some solo albums.


DENNIS COWAN BAND


Dennis Cowan assembled his own band, Dennis Cowan´s Iceberg, in 1989:

DENNIS COWAN BAND #?
1989
Dennis Cowan
bass, vocals
Pete Aindow
guitar
Ian Westlake
guitar
Maz
keyboards
Collette Winter
backing vocals
Michelle Smith
backing vocals
+ drummer unknown to me. Help!


They released the self-titled album, Dennis Cowan´s Iceberg, played at the Wembley Arena London with U2 and did a single, ´Rosanne´, finally disbanding before 1990.

In 1992, Dennis released Two sides of a coin, featuring some of his old mates, such as Ian Wallace and Lyle Jenkins. Mainly a recording project, when it became a hit due to ´Room with a view´, a 12 date tour took place with a session band called Dark Stranger to promote the hit.

Other info on members of Dennis Cowan Band (I know up to 6 members)
Not enough info (5): Pete Aindow, Maz, Michelle Smith, Ian Westlake, Collette Winter


   16 BANDS (WITH 16 SELECTED RECORDINGS):

BAND / ARTIST.RECORDINGS
Abednego   
Other info on members of Abednego (I know up to 4 members)
To be covered (3):John Altman, John Etheridge, Lynton Naiff
Big Grunt   
Other info on members of Big Grunt (I know up to 6 members)
To be covered (2):Viv Stanshall, Ian Wallace
Not enough info (3):Fred Munt, Roger Ruskin Spear, Bubs White
Bonzo Dog Band  6 RECORDINGS:
  • Keynsham - Bonzo Dog Band (1969)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
  • Tadpoles - Bonzo Dog Band (1969)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
    • Producer: Paul McCartney (RIP: Gus Dudgeon)
    • Comments: The album was reissued under the new title I´m the urban spaceman.
  • Let´s make up and be friendly - Bonzo Dog Band (1972)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes, Andy Roberts (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
    • Guests: Hughie Flint, Tony Kaye, Dick Parry, Dave Richards
    • Comments: Rodney Slater is mentioned in the credits as "in spirit".
  • The History of The Bonzos - Bonzo Dog Band (1974)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes, Andy Roberts, Sam Spoons (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
    • Guests: Hughie Flint, Dick Parry, Dave Richards
  • The Peel sessions - Bonzo Dog Band (1987) (LIVE)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
    • Producer: (RIP: John Walters)
    • Comments: Recorded for BBC in July 1969.
  • Unpeeled - Bonzo Dog Band (1995) (LIVE)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes, Sam Spoons (RIP: Viv Stanshall)
    • Comments: Recorded live for BBC in different sessions from 1967 to 1969.
    Other info on members of Bonzo Dog Band (I know up to 19 members)
    To be covered (8):Steve Barnacle, Neil Innes, John Marter, Dudu Pukwana, Andy Roberts, Sam Spoons, Viv Stanshall, Ian Wallace
    Not enough info (10):Bill Bailey, Dave Clague, Joel Druckman, Adrian Edmonson, Phill Jupitus, Paul Merton, Vernon Nowell, Rodney Slater, Legs Larry Smith, Roger Ruskin Spear
    Dennis Cowan Band  2 RECORDINGS:
  • Dennis Cowan´s Iceberg - Dennis Cowan (1989)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan
  • Two sides of a coin - Dennis Cowan (1992)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan
    • Guests: Lyle Jenkins (RIP: Ian Wallace)
    Other info on members of Dennis Cowan Band (I know up to 6 members)
    Not enough info (5):Pete Aindow, Maz, Michelle Smith, Ian Westlake, Collette Winter
    Darien Spirit  1 RECORDINGS:
  • Elegy to Marilyn - Darien Spirit (April 1973)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan
    • Guests: Frank Ricotti
    Other info on members of Darien Spirit (I know up to 4 members)
    Not enough info (3):Harry MacDonald, Jack McAllister, Alan Waterson
    The Devil´s Disciples   
    Other info on members of The Devil´s Disciples (I know up to 5 members)
    To be covered (1):Peter Banks
    Not enough info (3):Ray Alford, Terry Cassidy, Malcolm Raye
    The Dream   
    Other info on members of The Dream (I know up to 5 members)
    To be covered (1):Frank Torpey
    Not enough info (3):John Neighbour, Martin Slavenic, Malcolm Wolffe
    The Grunt Band   
    Other info on members of The Grunt Band (I know up to 5 members)
    To be covered (1):Adrian Gurvitz
    Not enough info (3):Mick Holmes, Dieter Newmann, Bubs White
    Neil Innes Band  1 COMPILATIONS:
  • Re-cycled vinyl blues - Neil Innes (1995)

    • Members: Neil Innes + Dennis Cowan, John Halsey, Roger McKew (RIP: Ollie Halsall)
    • Guests: Gerry Conway, Dave Richards (RIP: Mike Kellie)
    • Comments: It contains the whole album How sweet to be an idiot, plus unreleased tracks.
    Other info on members of Neil Innes Band (I know up to 7 members)
    To be covered (4):Ollie Halsall, John Halsey, Neil Innes, Andy Roberts
    Not enough info (2):Tom Fry, J J Jones
    Ramshackle   
    Other info on members of Ramshackle (I know up to 10 members)
    Already covered (3):Dave Caswell, Lyle Jenkins, Noel Norris
    To be covered (1):Phil Little
    Not enough info (5):Steve De Ville, Christine Green, John Malam, Mick O´Donnell, Pat Valentine
    The Rocky Horror Show (cast)  1 RECORDINGS:
  • The Rocky Horror Show - original London cast - OST (1973)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Phil Kenzie
    Other info on members of The Rocky Horror Show (cast) (I know up to 42 members)
    Already covered (1):Chris Parren
    To be covered (6):Clem Cattini, Geoff Driscoll, Derek Griffiths, Paul Hart, Will Hill, Phil Kenzie
    Not enough info (34):Jonathon Adams, Ted Anderson, Gina Bellman, Ian Blair, Rayner Bourton, Dave Brown, Adam Caine, Tim Curry, Linda Davidson, Adrian Edmonson, Martin Fitzgibbon, Hans B Goetzfried, Sherry Hart, Richard Hartley, Ellen Hoffman, Gordon Kennedy, Caroline Liadakis, Mary Maddox, Christopher Malcolm, Tim McInnerny, Peter Moss, David Nehls, Little Nell, Richard O´Brien, Paddy O´Hagan,... up to 34 musicians.
    Viv Stanshall Band   
    Other info on members of Viv Stanshall Band (I know up to 11 members)
    Already covered (1):Mike Kellie
    To be covered (6):Jack Bruce, Rosko Gee, Ollie Halsall, John Halsey, Viv Stanshall, Ian Wallace
    Not enough info (3):Peter Moss, Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin Spear
    The Tribe  2 RECORDINGS:
  • The Gamma goochie / I´m leaving (SINGLE) - The Tribe (February 1966)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Frank Torpey
  • Love is a beautiful thing / A steel guitar and a glass of wine (SINGLE) - The Tribe (May 1967)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Frank Torpey
    Other info on members of The Tribe (I know up to 5 members)
    To be covered (1):Frank Torpey
    Not enough info (3):John Neighbour, Martin Slavenic, Malcolm Wolffe
    Vecchio  1 RECORDINGS:
  • Vecchio - Vecchio (1972)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Dick Pearce, Frank Ricotti
    • Guests: Dave Amis, John Williams
    Other info on members of Vecchio (I know up to 7 members)
    Old pages (1):Ray Russell
    To be covered (2):Dick Pearce, Frank Ricotti
    Not enough info (3):Mike Ashley, Peter Matthews, Louis Vecchio
    The World  2 RECORDINGS:
  • Angelina / Come into the open (SINGLE) - The World (1970)

    • Members: Dennis Cowan, Neil Innes, Roger McKew (RIP: Ian Wallace)
  • Lucky planet - The World (1970)

    • Members: Neil Innes + Dennis Cowan, Roger McKew (RIP: Ian Wallace)
    • Comments: Recorded in August 1970.
    Other info on members of The World (I know up to 4 members)
    To be covered (3):Neil Innes, Roger McKew, Ian Wallace
    Zeus   
    Other info on members of Zeus (I know up to 6 members)
    To be covered (3):Tony Clarkson, Phil Little, Paul Olsen
    Not enough info (2):Dave Cowell, Tony Kenna

       1 ALBUMS AS PRODUCER:

    BAND / ARTIST.RECORDINGS
    Dave Armour Band  1 RECORDINGS:
  • Chasing rainbows (SINGLE) - Dave Armour ( - )

    • Members: (RIP: Dave Armour)
    • Guests: Lyle Jenkins
    • Producer: Dennis Cowan
    Other info on members of Dave Armour Band (I know up to 1 members)
    Not enough info (1):Dave Armour

       1 ALBUMS FOR 1 BANDMATES AND FRIENDS:

    BAND / ARTIST.RECORDINGS
    Roger Ruskin Spear Band  1 RECORDINGS:
  • Electric shocks - Roger Ruskin Spear (1972)

    • Guests: Dennis Cowan, Sam Spoons + B J Cole, Mike Davis, Bob Hall, Tony Hazzard, Tony Newman, Bud Parkes, Graham Preskett (RIP: Peter Banks, Roy Hollingworth, Andy Newman, Steve Waller)
    • Comments: First solo album by Roger Ruskin Spear. The CD reissue contains 4 bonus tracks.
    Other info on members of Roger Ruskin Spear Band (I know up to 1 members)
    Not enough info (1):Roger Ruskin Spear

    QUESTIONS:

    01. Dennis played in a track with David Bowie. In which album can this track be found?

    02. Was Ian Wallace a member of Bonzo Dog Band in their last tour, or the project already was Big Grunt instead? Or was Dudu Pukwana the last Bonzos drummer?

    03. Was Big Grunt the same as The Grunt Band? Were there any lineups without Viv Stanshall?

    04. Were Mike Liddel and Cliff Homewood members of The Grunt Band? And was there another guitarist before Bubs White?

    05. I need info about Vecchio. Was the same lineup in the album and the gigs? Were Ricotti and Ray Russell only guests or band members?

    06. There was a band around 1971, with Frank Torpey (g), Ian Baldwin, Kenny Simon, Pete Moss (k), and probably others, also with Dennis Cowan. Which was the name of the band? Other members?

    07. Did Dennis play with Madeline Bell?

    08. Did Dennis play with Long John Baldry?

    09. Did Dennis play with Gary Wright?


    RELATED MUSICIANS:

    Dennis Cowan mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
    Neil Innes (9)
    Roger Ruskin Spear (7)
    Legs Larry Smith (6)
    Viv Stanshall (6)
    Rodney Slater (5)
    Dave Clague (3)
    Roger McKew (3)
    Dave Richards (3)
    Sam Spoons (3)
    Ian Wallace (3)

    Page created by Miguel Terol on: 23/June/2016 - Last modified on: 08/March/2017. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

    Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.

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