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Note:
The original article - see below - had some inaccurate information about how they
came to find Joe Gooch, this was respectfully
corrected, while also elaborating on the bands
continuation of their existing
history. This addition we feel will be more
beneficial to the readers and Ten Years After fans.
Old and new!
Keeping the record straight, so that you can pass the correct
information onto others.
MUSIC
NEWS – HOUSTON – AUGUST EDITION
TEN YEARS AFTER – LABOR DAY WEEKEND – 2006 –
LIVE IN TEXAS
SEPTEMBER
3, 2006 – At The HAWG STOP BLUES FESTIVAL V1
For the majority of the Woodstock generation, there
were several rock bands that were embraced as „their“
bands. Among them was the British band, Ten Years
After. From the moment they appeared at Woodstock;
they helped define the Woodstock generation.
Their
appearance there and in the film by the same name,
Woodstock, pretty much stole the show. Who could
forget the powerhouse rhythm section of “I’m
Going Home.”
From
1968 to 1975 Ten Years After continuously toured
non-stop, garnering friends and fans all over the
globe. If there was an important festival going on,
Ten Years After had to be there, by public outcry.
Their performance at the Isle Of Wight Festival,
Newport Jazz Festival, Miami Pop Festival, The
Toronto Peace Festival and more are legendary.
They
performed at nearly every major venue on the planet,
including Madison Square Garden, The Royal Albert
Hall, Hot Heinz Pavilion, and even The Budokan in
Tokyo.
Who
could forget the many great albums that Ten Years
After put out. Among those were:
The
self titled - Ten Years After (1967) Undead (1968)
Stonedhenge (1969) Ssshh (1969), Cricklewood Green
(1970) Watt (1970) A Space In Time (1971) Rock `n´
Roll Music To The World (1972) Recorded Live (1973)
Positive Vibrations (1974). And how about the great
hit songs that permeated the radio, such as “I’m
Going Home,” “I’d Love To Change The World,”
“Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock `n´ Roll You,”
and “Choo Choo Mama.” These were the songs of
the Woodstock Generation. Their performances became
huge events. There were sold out shows everywhere.
Unfortunately
in 1975, Alvin Lee decided to go solo, creating a
void in the band. Since then there have been a few
short reunions (about every ten years it seemed).
They even performed in Houston at Fitzgerald’s for
one of those shows. The club was packed to the
rafters and yes, we were there too.
In
2001 EMI and Decca Records, along with the bands
drummer Ric Lee, digitally remastered all the tracks
of their first three classic albums, along with some
amazing rarities (bonus tracks) that were added
after they were found hidden / buried
in the record companies vaults. Demand for
the material was great and so was resurgence in
seeing this great band perform live again.
Ric
Lee and Chick Churchill both contacted Alvin Lee to
see if he would be interested in reforming the band,
and he declined. He merely stated that he was now in
“Retirement”.
Public
outcry / demand for the band continued and even
though Alvin was not going to rejoin them, the rest
of the band decided to reunite without him. And as
most Rock `n´ Roll stories go at this point, it was
time to find a new guitarist. So what do great rock
and roll bands do?
But
through Leo Lyons son Tom (who also is employed as
the bands excellent backline technician) the name
Joe Gooch was suggested as a more suitable choice
for what the band was really looking for, guitar
wizardry, good vocals, good song writer and able to
pick up where Alvin Lee left off. Tom and Joe were
schoolmates so Tom was well aware of Joe’s immense
reputation and just as important Joe was about to
add some fresh blood, high energy and some real
passion to the band.
Joe
sent an introductory audition cassette tape to the
band, and in very short order Ric Lee could be found
driving headlong on the highway to meet Joe in
person and give him a personal audition. It wasn’t
long after this inspired and spirited encounter with
Ric, that Joe found himself in a full flight jam on
stage in Germany
with his new colleagues and their very first gig
together.
Ten
Years After was now back on the road once again
after being away for so long, and they were
thrilling audiences all over Europe, as if they’d
never been away.
The core elements of the band consist of and
remain today:
Leo
Lyons on Bass Guitar / Backing Vocals / Song Writer
/ Composer / Producer
Chick
Churchill on Keyboards / Song Writer / Composer
Ric
Lee Drums / Percussion / Song Writer / Business
Affairs Manager / Tour Organiser
They
have reunited in order to thrill a brand new, fresh
generation of music fans with their “Classic Rock
Favourites as well as a vast supply of brand new
band material”.
Now
at 28 years old, Joe Gooch along with the three
globe-trotting
veterans of Ten Years After are generating
new / revitalized interest in the band that helped
define the Woodstock generation.
“NOW”
Ten Years After Now – present new hits from the
band, such as “When It All Falls Down,” “Time
To Kill,” “King Of The Blues,” and “Changes”.
After
nearly twenty years, Ten Years After is back once
again, and they also have some great new material
under their belt. Their first studio release in
years is entitled
“Ten Years After NOW” and was released in April
of 2004. Since then the band has also released a
brand new double CD Live Album called “Roadworks.”
Roadworks was released in 2006 and features some of
their classic material as well as their new songs
for your approval.
Ten
Years After is on the road and touring with a
heartfelt vengeance in order to make up for lost
time. They have been criss-crossing the globe and
playing to sold-out houses / venues everywhere they
go. Reports from the field inform us that guitarist
Joe Gooch is a monster / killer of unleashed raw
talent. Instead of just copying the former guitarist
licks and riffs, Joe is putting a brand new modern
flair to the old songs, and that alone really brings
the band right into the 21st Century,
while also staying true to the original classics,
and their classic hits.
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