Kirby Gregory
Encyclopedia
Graham "Kirby" Gregory, often credited simply as Kirby (born 11 March 1953 in Berkshire
) is a British
musician best known for playing with rock
bands Curved Air
and Stretch
.
Gregory began playing guitar aged seven, and moved to London in 1969 with bass guitarist Steve Emery
. They formed a band called Armada, and recruited vocalist Elmer Gantry
before breaking up. Gregory then joined progressive rock
band Curved Air
, and played on the 1973 album, Air Cut
. He also played on one track on the archival release, Lovechild
.
After leaving Curved Air, Gregory and Gantry became part of a group of musicians assembled by Fleetwood Mac
manager Clifford Davis and drummer Mick Fleetwood
in order to impersonate Fleetwood Mac on a tour of the United States in 1974. Problems between the members of that band had resulted in them being unable to fulfil their concert obligations. After Fleetwood abandoned the idea, audiences quickly realised that this hastily-assembled group was not the band they had paid to see, and the tour collapsed after a few weeks. However, Gregory and the other band members stayed together and formed Stretch later that year.
Gregory wrote the hit single "Why Did You Do It?" about the bogus Fleetwood Mac episode, and it reached No. 16 in the UK in November 1975. Stretch recorded several albums before splitting up in 1979.
Gregory recorded a solo album Composition on the Hot Wax
label in 1978, and subsequently played on ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan
's final album Hello There Big Boy! in 1979. He also took part in a recording session with Thin Lizzy
vocalist Phil Lynott
.
In 2007, Gregory and Gantry reformed Stretch and toured in support of the greatest hits album, Why Did You Do It: The Best of Stretch.
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician best known for playing with rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
bands Curved Air
Curved Air
Curved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
and Stretch
Stretch (band)
Stretch were a 1970s British rock band that grew from the collaboration between Elmer Gantry and Kirby . Gantry was previously the frontman of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera...
.
Gregory began playing guitar aged seven, and moved to London in 1969 with bass guitarist Steve Emery
Steve Emery
Stephen Roger "Steve" Emery is an English former footballer who played for 13 seasons in the Football League. He spent much of his career at Hereford United, where he made 333 competitive appearances, and also played League football for Derby County and Wrexham.He was a versatile midfield player...
. They formed a band called Armada, and recruited vocalist Elmer Gantry
Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as "Velvet Opera", was a British rock band active in the late 1960s. Members of the band would later become members of The Strawbs, Hudson Ford and Stretch.-History:...
before breaking up. Gregory then joined progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Curved Air
Curved Air
Curved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
, and played on the 1973 album, Air Cut
Air Cut
Air Cut is the fourth studio album by Curved Air and was recorded in 1973, following the departure of three of the band's founder members. Only Sonja Kristina and Mike Wedgwood remained in the band from their previous album and Air Cut took them in a more rock-oriented direction.-Reception:While...
. He also played on one track on the archival release, Lovechild
Lovechild (Curved Air album)
Lovechild is the seventh studio album credited to progressive rock band Curved Air, though only half the tracks are actually performed by the group. The album consists of previously unreleased demos overseen by Clifford Adams in the early 1970s: one by John O'Hara, two by Eddie Jobson, a demo for...
.
After leaving Curved Air, Gregory and Gantry became part of a group of musicians assembled by Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
manager Clifford Davis and drummer Mick Fleetwood
Mick Fleetwood
Michael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as the drummer and namesake of the blues/rock and roll band Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of John McVie, was the inspiration for the name of the originally Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac...
in order to impersonate Fleetwood Mac on a tour of the United States in 1974. Problems between the members of that band had resulted in them being unable to fulfil their concert obligations. After Fleetwood abandoned the idea, audiences quickly realised that this hastily-assembled group was not the band they had paid to see, and the tour collapsed after a few weeks. However, Gregory and the other band members stayed together and formed Stretch later that year.
Gregory wrote the hit single "Why Did You Do It?" about the bogus Fleetwood Mac episode, and it reached No. 16 in the UK in November 1975. Stretch recorded several albums before splitting up in 1979.
Gregory recorded a solo album Composition on the Hot Wax
Hot Wax Records
Hot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1968 when they left Motown...
label in 1978, and subsequently played on ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan
Danny Kirwan
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan is a British musician best known for his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972.-Early career:...
's final album Hello There Big Boy! in 1979. He also took part in a recording session with Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
vocalist Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
.
In 2007, Gregory and Gantry reformed Stretch and toured in support of the greatest hits album, Why Did You Do It: The Best of Stretch.