United Kingdom Of the many obscure, trench-coated progressive rock groups that germinated in the garages, sheds and studios of England in the early '70s, Stallion are now recognised as one of the great lost bands of the first progressive era. Hailed critically - by those lucky enough to see them perform - Stallion regularly appeared on the same bill as many of their more well known contemporaries, including, Curved Air , Stackridge, Rare Bird, Stray, Edgar Broughton Band and Traffic. As well as appearing as support act for T. Rex and Motörhead and becoming regulars on the London club circuit, Stallion became London's much loved Saturday night favourites, with their exciting and dynamic live act earning them a record breaking headlining residency at the legendary Marquee Club in Soho's Wardour Street. Stallion were always the band who liked to break the rules and challenge the norm. Reacting to what they saw as the bland state of local music, drummer Steve Demetri, guitarist Tony Bridger and singer Tich Turner formed Stallion in 1972, aiming from the outset to put original compositions at the top of their agenda, performed with a professional and theatrical stage show that was very much in keeping with the progressive musical times. Steve had been influenced by early Genesis, King Crimson, Billy Cobham and Frank Zappa, whilst Tony had developed a guitar style influenced by his love of contemporary rock guitarists, including Rory Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix. Tich, meanwhile, had come from a background of American R&B, listening to everything from Marvin Gaye to Little Feat. This first line-up was completed by Steve Kinch on bass, (who went on to tour with Hazel O'Connor before joining Manfred Mann's Earth Band). Steve was later replaced on bass by Roger Carey in 1974. Despite winning the 1976 Melody Maker magazine competition and playing on the main stage at Reading Festival later that year (CD Rom footage of which is available on their recently released retrospective CD "The Hard Life") and having successfully merged progressive rock moves with punk attitude, major label success eluded Stallion and they broke up in the late '70s a well kept secret. Their new remastered CD "The Hard Life" contains their rare 1975 single and songs from 'the album that never was', together with an extensive history of the band and previously unseen photographs. http://www.myspace.com/stallionuk.
