Hydra (band)
Encyclopedia
Hydra is an American Southern rock
band founded in the late 1960s by Spencer Kirkpatrick (guitar), Wayne Bruce (vocals and guitar), and Steve Pace (drums). Pace and Kirkpatrick first played together in 1968 in the band Strange Brew. Wayne Bruce was playing with the band Nickelodian and accepted the offer to join Pace and Kirkpatrick in the short-lived Noah Mayflower. These three remained together in the band Osmosis until 1969 when, after enlisting a succession of bassists, Hydra finally emerged with the inclusion of Trip Burgess in 1970, and later Orville Davis in 1971. Their reputation as a solid live act in the Atlanta, Georgia
area began to spread and the band expanded their territory. They began supporting major internationally known acts in concert. They have been referred to as the first heavy
southern rock
band.
The band signed a recording contract with Capricorn Records
in 1973
and released a self-titled album Hydra in 1974
. In 1975, Land of Money followed. The producer Dan Turbeville used a horn section (without the band's knowledge) on the first album and musician
s like Chuck Leavell
(Allman Brothers band, The Rolling Stones
, and Eric Clapton
) (piano
and keyboards
) and Randall Bramblett
, who later founded his own Randall Bramblett Band, on the second.
In 1977, as a three-piece band (with Wayne Bruce now on bass), Hydra released Rock The World. Some reviewers, including Edgar Brimer, their road manager, consider this to be their best record. By the end of 1977, the band broke up and reformed only occasionally thereafter, except for a series of shows in 1997, first with Jimmy Cobb
and later with Tommy Vickery on bass, replacing Davis, who had been erroneously reported as deceased.
Spencer Kirkpatrick later performed on albums by blues
guitarist Wayne 'Bear' Sauls and on records by Eddie Stone, and Donnie McCormick. He also contributed to "Georgia Jam" from Stevie Hawkins. Steve Pace went on to work with Whitford St. Holmes (Brad Whitford
from Aerosmith
and Derek St. Holmes
from Ted Nugent
band) and the band Krokus
. Wayne Bruce formed his own band (The Wayne Bruce Band) and Orville Davis launched a solo career as a country music
singer.
Hydra's two Capricorn LPs were briefly reissued on CD in the late 1990s in limited editions (which have become collector's items), while Rock The World, though remastered for CD, has not been reissued as of April 2011. According to Wayne Bruce, the Rock The World CD reissue remains in limbo due to licensing problems with the now defunct USA branch of Polydor. In 2005, the band reunited for two shows (with Vickery on bass), resulting in the release of their fourth album, Hydra: Live After All These Years. The album created fresh interest in the band and was played in heavy rotation on XM-Radio's fresh tracks. The station featured the album along with an interview with members and included old tracks from previous albums. There have been discussions about a new studio album.
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band founded in the late 1960s by Spencer Kirkpatrick (guitar), Wayne Bruce (vocals and guitar), and Steve Pace (drums). Pace and Kirkpatrick first played together in 1968 in the band Strange Brew. Wayne Bruce was playing with the band Nickelodian and accepted the offer to join Pace and Kirkpatrick in the short-lived Noah Mayflower. These three remained together in the band Osmosis until 1969 when, after enlisting a succession of bassists, Hydra finally emerged with the inclusion of Trip Burgess in 1970, and later Orville Davis in 1971. Their reputation as a solid live act in the Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
area began to spread and the band expanded their territory. They began supporting major internationally known acts in concert. They have been referred to as the first heavy
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band.
The band signed a recording contract with Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
in 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
and released a self-titled album Hydra in 1974
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
. In 1975, Land of Money followed. The producer Dan Turbeville used a horn section (without the band's knowledge) on the first album and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s like Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
(Allman Brothers band, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, and Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
) (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) and Randall Bramblett
Randall Bramblett
Randall Bramblett is an American musician and singer-songwriter, whose career as a solo artist, session player, and touring musician, has spanned more than three decades. He has worked with such notable performers as Gregg Allman, Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Robertson, Elvin Bishop, Steve Winwood,...
, who later founded his own Randall Bramblett Band, on the second.
In 1977, as a three-piece band (with Wayne Bruce now on bass), Hydra released Rock The World. Some reviewers, including Edgar Brimer, their road manager, consider this to be their best record. By the end of 1977, the band broke up and reformed only occasionally thereafter, except for a series of shows in 1997, first with Jimmy Cobb
Jimmy Cobb
-External links:* - includes full discography* * * * * * *...
and later with Tommy Vickery on bass, replacing Davis, who had been erroneously reported as deceased.
Spencer Kirkpatrick later performed on albums by blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist Wayne 'Bear' Sauls and on records by Eddie Stone, and Donnie McCormick. He also contributed to "Georgia Jam" from Stevie Hawkins. Steve Pace went on to work with Whitford St. Holmes (Brad Whitford
Brad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
from Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
and Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes is an American musician best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's successful early solo career.-Early years:...
from Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
band) and the band Krokus
Krokus (band)
Krokus is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Switzerland. They enjoyed moderate success in North America during the 1980s.Krokus was founded in Solothurn in 1974 by bassist Chris von Rohr and guitarist Tommy Kiefer...
. Wayne Bruce formed his own band (The Wayne Bruce Band) and Orville Davis launched a solo career as a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer.
Hydra's two Capricorn LPs were briefly reissued on CD in the late 1990s in limited editions (which have become collector's items), while Rock The World, though remastered for CD, has not been reissued as of April 2011. According to Wayne Bruce, the Rock The World CD reissue remains in limbo due to licensing problems with the now defunct USA branch of Polydor. In 2005, the band reunited for two shows (with Vickery on bass), resulting in the release of their fourth album, Hydra: Live After All These Years. The album created fresh interest in the band and was played in heavy rotation on XM-Radio's fresh tracks. The station featured the album along with an interview with members and included old tracks from previous albums. There have been discussions about a new studio album.