History of the Space Chords
What can you say about a band like this. The Space Chords. They redefined what it meant to be a rock and roll band. They re-invented the art of songwriting and the craft of delivering live performances. But for all of their momentous talent, they had a suprisingly short life. Perhaps not so suprising. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And the Space Chords burned very bright. What follows is a synopsis of the history of the Space Chords.
Dig the day in 1978 when Morgan Smith , the lead guitarest of the Space Chords, bought an electric guitar. The first thing he did was plug it into the stereo and blow out a speaker. The rest is history.
Brother Dave Smith already knew how to play the guitar. They started to Jam. Friend Pav Wilkinson quickly joined the lineup on bass. But they needed a Drummer. Initially they invited Shedan Magzi to play. He couldn't but he had a drum kit. So they let Andrew Ottens, who could play, use the kit. The lineup was complete. The Space Chords were born.
They started out playing any and every gig they could get. They quickly cultivated a small but deeply disturbed following. In the Spring of 1979 they set out to record their first album. The Album was titled 'Rockin' with the Flow'. The record featured a mix of original and cover tracks and was an instant classic. A tour followed the record and the legend grew.
After the supporting tour in late 1979 , Dave Smith and Andrew Ottens quit the band. The remaining members Pav Wilkinson and Morgan Smith decided to carry on. In the Summer of 1980 they released 'Basement Rock'. The album was leaner than the first reflecting the loss of the band members. Still, it demonstrated that the Space Chords was indeed an entity that transended the members. It was still the best album by any band that year.
After a rest, the band began working on its third album. It became 'Sooner or Later'. This was the apex. No album, by any band ever , could approach the orginality and blistering performance that was captured on tape. This album spun off several hit singles and sold 8 milliion units. The tour in the summer of 1981 was of epic proportions hitting all the large arenas.
When it was over, exhausted, the band went to a dormant period.
After a 5 year hiatus, the Space Chords booked some appearances at a local blues club. They also focused on a blues sound writing many new bluesy numbers as well as playing the standards. In Spring of 1986 'Charlie Walker' was released. Though not a big seller like the heyday records, it was well received by hardcore blues enthusiasts. Soon again though the Space Chords put away their guitars.
Three years later , Morgan Smith was working on a solo album in the summer of 88. Very dark and moody it was never released but the new activity pulled Pav Wilkinson back into the action and they started recording again in January of 1989. The result was 'Freeride' and represented a return to their hardcore rock and roll roots.
Now after 10 years and 5 albums the Space Chords really started to drop off the radar. It really was over. 10 years passed before the band played again in 1999. A short stint of new material the result was 'Deep Freeze' . An eclectic collection of new songs written by Morgan Smith. The album barely sold enough units to pay for itself but it was well received by avante garde critics.
How 3 years after the last effort, it looks like the Space Chords are gone.
Space Chords Discography
Album Year Hit singles
Rockin with the Flow 1979 Crazy Summer Feeling , Rockin with the Flow
Basement Rock 1980 Basement Rock, Dave, get out of the Bathroom
Sooner or Later 1981 Sooner or Later, Fallen Leaf Song
Charlie Walker 1986 Charlie Walker, My Baby is a bitch
FreeRide 1989 Freeride, Rock and Roll Bicycles
Deep Freeze 1999 Deep Freeze, Don't worry
The Space Chords
Morgan Smith : Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Vocals : 1978-1999
Pav Wilkinson : Bass Guitar, Vocals, 1978-1999
Dave Smith : Rhythm Guitar, Vocals 1978-1979
Andrew Ottens : Drums 1979
Guitars : Fender, Gibson, Memphis
Amps : Heathkit,Peavey,Marshall
Dig the day in 1978 when Morgan Smith , the lead guitarest of the Space Chords, bought an electric guitar. The first thing he did was plug it into the stereo and blow out a speaker. The rest is history.
Brother Dave Smith already knew how to play the guitar. They started to Jam. Friend Pav Wilkinson quickly joined the lineup on bass. But they needed a Drummer. Initially they invited Shedan Magzi to play. He couldn't but he had a drum kit. So they let Andrew Ottens, who could play, use the kit. The lineup was complete. The Space Chords were born.
They started out playing any and every gig they could get. They quickly cultivated a small but deeply disturbed following. In the Spring of 1979 they set out to record their first album. The Album was titled 'Rockin' with the Flow'. The record featured a mix of original and cover tracks and was an instant classic. A tour followed the record and the legend grew.
After the supporting tour in late 1979 , Dave Smith and Andrew Ottens quit the band. The remaining members Pav Wilkinson and Morgan Smith decided to carry on. In the Summer of 1980 they released 'Basement Rock'. The album was leaner than the first reflecting the loss of the band members. Still, it demonstrated that the Space Chords was indeed an entity that transended the members. It was still the best album by any band that year.
After a rest, the band began working on its third album. It became 'Sooner or Later'. This was the apex. No album, by any band ever , could approach the orginality and blistering performance that was captured on tape. This album spun off several hit singles and sold 8 milliion units. The tour in the summer of 1981 was of epic proportions hitting all the large arenas.
When it was over, exhausted, the band went to a dormant period.
After a 5 year hiatus, the Space Chords booked some appearances at a local blues club. They also focused on a blues sound writing many new bluesy numbers as well as playing the standards. In Spring of 1986 'Charlie Walker' was released. Though not a big seller like the heyday records, it was well received by hardcore blues enthusiasts. Soon again though the Space Chords put away their guitars.
Three years later , Morgan Smith was working on a solo album in the summer of 88. Very dark and moody it was never released but the new activity pulled Pav Wilkinson back into the action and they started recording again in January of 1989. The result was 'Freeride' and represented a return to their hardcore rock and roll roots.
Now after 10 years and 5 albums the Space Chords really started to drop off the radar. It really was over. 10 years passed before the band played again in 1999. A short stint of new material the result was 'Deep Freeze' . An eclectic collection of new songs written by Morgan Smith. The album barely sold enough units to pay for itself but it was well received by avante garde critics.
How 3 years after the last effort, it looks like the Space Chords are gone.
Space Chords Discography
Album Year Hit singles
Rockin with the Flow 1979 Crazy Summer Feeling , Rockin with the Flow
Basement Rock 1980 Basement Rock, Dave, get out of the Bathroom
Sooner or Later 1981 Sooner or Later, Fallen Leaf Song
Charlie Walker 1986 Charlie Walker, My Baby is a bitch
FreeRide 1989 Freeride, Rock and Roll Bicycles
Deep Freeze 1999 Deep Freeze, Don't worry
The Space Chords
Morgan Smith : Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Vocals : 1978-1999
Pav Wilkinson : Bass Guitar, Vocals, 1978-1999
Dave Smith : Rhythm Guitar, Vocals 1978-1979
Andrew Ottens : Drums 1979
Guitars : Fender, Gibson, Memphis
Amps : Heathkit,Peavey,Marshall
posted by hotair at 1:40 PM
3 Comments:
Excellent history of one of the most influential bands of the seventies and eighties. Some more info about the early Chords would've been cool.
You made it... you played it... your [bleep] is overrated!
The chords, cool. where can I get a live copy of "crazy restless summer feeling" I love the studio version but it doesn't have that dark hard feel of the live shows I saw in dallas back in 79'.
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