Trapeze

Biography

Wolverhampton, England hard rock outfit Trapeze formed in 1968, teaming lead vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (both ex-members of the Montanas, famed for the hit "You've Got to Be Loved") with singer/guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. Signing to the Moody Blues' Threshold Records imprint, Trapeze issued its self-titled debut album in 1970; Jones and Rowley returned to the Montanas soon after, and in 1970 the remaining trio resurfaced with Medusa. The group toured extensively both at home and abroad, and although their fusion of rock and funk was cited as a prime influence on bands like ZZ Top, their commercial success was minimal. In the wake of the third Trapeze album, 1972's You Are the Music...We're Just the Band, Hughes replaced Roger Glover in Deep Purple. Guitarist Rob Kendrick and bassist Pete Wright signed on for Trapeze's 1974 effort Hot Wire, followed a year later by a self-titled LP; in 1976, the core trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reunited, although no new recordings were forthcoming. Hughes again exited prior to 1978's Hold On, which featured Wright in addition to new guitarist Pete Goalby; Trapeze then disbanded, with Galley joining Whitesnake (and, later, Black Sabbath), while Holland tenured with Judas Priest. Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed once more in 1991, with a May 1992 London gig yielding the Welcome to the Real World live album. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide