Stone The Crows

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[edit] Stone The Crows

'Stone The Crows!', shouted legendary manager Peter Grant, when he first heard this splendid young Scottish band roaring into action. Although it was the Londoner's favourite Cockney expression, he wasn't a man to be easily impressed. After all, he was the manager of Led Zeppelin, the most successful heavy rock band in history. Yet there was something earthy and appealing about the Crows that excited his enthusiasm and support. Rock fans too were enthralled by the band, founded by guitarist Leslie Harvey and featuring the passionate vocal style of dynamic singer Maggie Bell. Their blues-based rock was imbued with that extra power and authentic flavour that sprang from their tough Glasgowegian roots.

Maggie Bell was just 16 years old when she recorded a few singles with Frankie And Johnny. Afterwards she met guitarist Les Harvey through his brother Alex Harvey (supposedly, Bell's first onstage performances was with Alex Harvey). Bell and Harvey would play clubs and U.S. Army/Air Force bases in Europe. They formed Power with bassist Jim Dewar and keyboardist John McGinnis in late '69. They were soon discovered by Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant who renamed them Stone The Crows (the term "Stone The Crows" is from a Scottish curse meaning "the hell with it"). After former John Mayall's Bluebreakers' drummer Colin Allen joined, they recorded and released their self titled debut which featured a cover of The Beatles' Fool On The Hill as well as a side 2 epic entitled America.

After the release of their follow up album, Ode To John Law, McGinnis and Dewar left (Dewar would later join with Robin Trower) and were replaced with bassist Steve Thompson and keyboardist Ronnie Leahy. After the successful 1971 release of Teenage Licks, Bell was voted by a Melody Maker readers poll as Best Female Vocalist as many critics hailed her as an obvious successor to Janis Joplin. As the group was doing a sound check for a show in Swansea Wales, Les Harvey was electrocuted and died instantly. The band was devastated.

Deciding to carry on they chose Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green for a possible replacement. Even though Green rehearsed with the group, he cancelled at the last minute. Yes guitarist Steve Howe filled in for a few gigs until Thunderclap Newman guitarist Jimmy McCulloch joined. McCulloch helped out with the recording of 'Ontinuous Peformance which had began before Les Harvey's death. Never really recovering after the demise of Harvey, the group would split up in 1973. Drummer Colin Allen would join Focus and McCulloch joined Paul McCartney And Wings. Maggie Bell went solo with the release of Queen Of The Night which featured her cover of Ringo Starr's Oh My My. She recorded Suicide Sal for Swan Song Records in '75 which featured guest guitarist Jimmy Page, both albums charted in the U.S. Bell formed Midnight Flyer with former Foghat bassist Tony Stevens in 1978. She sang a duet with B.A. Robertson in which the song Hold Me went Top Twenty in 1981. She worked with a reformed Alex Harvey Band until his death in 1982. After years of touring Bell settled down with her family. She has recently worked with Long John Baldry and shared the stage with vocalist Chris Farlowe.

[edit] Discography

Stone the Crows 1969
Ode to John Law 1970
Teenage Licks 1971
'Ontinuous Performance 1972

[edit] Lineup

Maggie Bell - Vocals
Les Harvey - Guitars
Jim Dewar - Bass, Vocals
John McGinnis - Keyboards
Colin Allen - Drums

Steve Thompson - Bass 1971
Ronnie Leahy - Keyboards 1971
Jimmy McCulloch - Guitars 1972