Procession (band)
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Procession was a jazz-tinged rock band formed in Melbourne in October 1967. The group is most notable for including English guitarist Mick Rogers who later joined Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
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[edit] Early years
Procession evolved out of Australian band, The Playboys and New Zealand group The Librettos. The second group included singer/songwriter and bass player Brian Peacock (born 27 June 1946 in Levin, New Zealand) and drummer Craig Collinge (born 24 August 1948 in Sydney, Australia).
The Librettos had recorded four singles for HMV in New Zealand during 1964 & 1965 before transplanting to Australia later that year and issuing three singles for the Sunshine label, including a cover of Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Kicks”. The Librettos broke up in June 1966 when Peacock and lead guitarist, Rod Stone, joined The Playboys. Collinge formed the heavy rock-trio, The Knack.
Apart from Peacock and Stone, The Playboys line up also included drummer Graeme Trottman and keyboard player Phil Blackmore. In November 1966, this line up relocated to London and hooked up with Australian singer Normie Rowe. In March 1967, Blackmore returned to Australia and former Question member, Trevor Griffin (born 22 December 1946 in Birmingham, England) joined. A few months later, another Englishman, ex-Adam Faith sideman, Mick Rogers (born Michael Oldroyd, 20 September 1946 in Dovercourt, Essex, England) replaced Stone.
While still with Rowe, The Playboys signed to Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate label and recorded a one-off single, “Black Sheep R.I.P” c/w “Sad”, which came out in August 1967. Two months later, the group split from Rowe and moved back to Melbourne where Collinge replaced Trottman on drums.
Emerging as Procession, the group made its live debut at Sebastians disco on 17 December and shortly afterwards signed to the Festival label. Procession’s debut single, Peacock and Rogers’ a cappella “Anthem” backed by the Rogers-Griffin collaboration, “Take Time” came out in January 1968 but failed to chart. Three months later, a second single, coupling Peacock and Rogers’ “Listen” with “Minuet For Moderns” also missed the charts, despite being the first Australian disc to be recorded on newly installed eight-track equipment.
Around this time, the group became a weekly fixture on the national television rock show “Uptight”, produced by the band’s manager, David Joseph. However, when the group’s debut LP “Procession ‘Live’ at Sebastians” also failed to chart, the group left Australia and moved back to the UK in search of a wider audience.
[edit] Procession relocates to London, Mike Hugg produces
Arriving in London, Procession soon found their feet on the burgeoning live scene and became a popular and regular attraction at the Marquee. The band signed to Philips/Mercury and a second eponymous LP, produced by Mike Hugg of Manfred Mann attracted rave reviews but poor sales. Likewise, two singles, Peacock’s “Every American Citizen” c/w “Essentially Susan” and a re-recording of “Anthem” as “One Day Every Week” backed by “Wigwam City”, released in October 1968 and January 1969, also flopped.
With the group at a low ebb, Peacock brought singer Ross Wilson, formely of The Pink Finks and Party Machine, over from Australia but by the end of 1969, Procession fell apart.
[edit] After disbanding
Peacock returned to Australia and played with Gerry and The Joy Band in late 1971. He later played with Western Flyer before moving into rock management. He currently lives in Melbourne.
Griffin also moved back to Australia and joined Wilson in The Sons of Vegetal Mother but dropped out of the scene early on.
Collinge remained in the UK and subsequently recorded with Manfred Mann Chapter III, Third World War and Shoot. He was also involved in the bogus Fleetwood Mac band put together in autumn 1973. He currently lives in Sydney.
Rogers also briefly worked with Manfred Mann Chapter III after a brief stint in Australia playing with Bulldog in 1970. He then became an integral member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, recording with the group from 1971-1975. After a short spell back in Australia with Eclipse and Renée Geyer, he returned to the UK in 1977 to tour with Greenslade. He subsequently recorded with Aviator and has recently rejoined Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
[edit] Trivia
Procession’s manager David Joseph later managed The New Seekers who scored a top 20 UK hit in 1978 with a cover of Procession’s “Anthem (One Day In Every Week)”.
References
- Ian McFarlane’s Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop
