The Birds | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Poster for The Birds at The Ealing Club, 1965. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | R&B, blues rock, freakbeat |
| Years active | 1964–1967 |
| Labels | Decca, Reaction |
| Past members | Ali McKenzie Ronnie Wood Tony Munroe Kim Gardner Bob Langham Pete McDaniels Richard Burkwood |
The Birds were an English rhythm and blues band, formed in 1964 in London. They recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles.
Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies.[1] The best known former member of the Birds is Ronnie Wood playing lead guitar, who went on to join the Jeff Beck Group, the Creation, Faces and later the Rolling Stones.[2]
Several members of the Birds grew up in the same neighbourhood in Yiewsley, west London, and began playing together in 1964, while still in their teens.[2] At first calling themselves the Thunderbirds, they started out playing local clubs and a neighbourhood community centre, but they soon expanded to a larger club circuit.[2] When they were hired to play on the same bill as Chris Farlowe, whose back-up band was also called the Thunderbirds, they shortened their name to the Birds – a decision which would have significant ramifications later.[1]
Their hard R&B sound was good enough to get them into a battle-of-the-bands contest held under the show Ready Steady Go!.[2] When the band made their first television appearance, they caught the eye of Decca record company executives. The ensuing recording contract resulted in their first two singles, "You Don't Love Me" and "Leaving Here". The Birds seemed destined for stardom with their loud rhythm-and-blues based music, receiving equal billing with the Who at some concerts.[2]
However, in the spring of 1965, the Los Angeles–based band the Byrds was dominating the UK Singles Chart with their folk-rock version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", released by the newly formed British CBS Records.[2] When the Byrds arrived in England for their first British tour that summer, the Birds' manager, Leo de Clerck, took legal action to prevent them from using the name; the action failed, amid a flurry of national press and television coverage.[1] The group parted ways with de Clerck soon afterwards.[1]
After releasing the third Decca single in late 1965, the band moved to Reaction Records, whose director, Robert Stigwood, suggested they change their name to "The Birds Birds", to distinguish themselves from the American band.[2] In 1966, the band did a cameo appearance in the horror film The Deadly Bees, performing their song "That's All I Need you For",[3], and an excerpt from their recording of "How Can It Be" was featured in the 1966 British horror film "The Psychopath". By 1967 the group had disbanded.[4] Both Gardner and Wood went on to join the Creation, with Gardner then joining Ashton, Gardner and Dyke.
In 2010, Ali McKenzie started to play gigs with the members of Small Fakers (a Small Faces tribute band), under the name the Birds.[5] McKenzie died on 30 April 2021.[6]
Session musician:
