Larry Wallis
Encyclopedia
Larry Wallis is a guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

 and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...

 and an early member of Motörhead.

Early bands

In 1968, he formed a band called The Entire Sioux Nation with Terry Nolder on vocals, Tim Taylor on bass and Paul Nichols on drums (born in 1949). The band split up in late 1969 at the same time as the Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...

 Mark 1 line-up of Steve Peregrin Took
Steve Peregrin Took
Steve Peregrin Took was an English musician. He is best known for his membership of the duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with Marc Bolan...

, Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...

 and Twink
Twink (musician)
John Charles Alder , better known as Twink, is an English drummer, singer and songwriter who was a central figure in the English psychedelic movement, and an actor.-Early life and career:...

 (with girlfriend Silver Darling) parted company.

Steve Took's Shagrat

Twink formed Pink Fairies Mark 2 with Farren's former band The Deviants leaving Farren bandless. The original intent was for Farren and Took to form Steve Took's Shagrat with ex-Entire Sioux Nation members Tim Taylor and Larry Wallis. Very soon though, Farren left after having a fallout with Took. Shagrat played one gig at the Phun City
Phun City
Phun City was a rock festival held at Ecclesden Common near Worthing, England from July 24 to July 26, 1970. Excluding the one-day free concerts in London's Hyde Park, Phun City became the first large-scale free festival in the UK....

 Festival in July 1970 and recorded a few songs.

Blodwyn Pig, Took and UFO

Wallis then joined Blodwyn Pig
Blodwyn Pig
Blodwyn Pig were a British blues–rock group founded by guitarist–vocalist–songwriter Mick Abrahams, after he left Jethro Tull in 1968 due to a falling-out with Tull leader Ian Anderson.-Career:...

, which changed its name to Lancaster's Bombers (later shortened to Lancaster) with Jack Lancaster
Jack Lancaster
Jack Lancaster is a British composer, record producer and musician.In the late 1960s, Lancaster co-founded the British rock group Blodwyn Pig with Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams...

. They were a short-lived band although they toured supporting Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

 in 1971. Also in 1971, Took, Wallis, and Dave Bidwell (ex-Chicken Shack
Chicken Shack
Chicken Shack are a British blues band, founded in the mid-1960s by Stan Webb , Andy Silvester , and Alan Morley , who were later joined by Christine Perfect in 1968.-Career:...

) recorded four acoustic demos of Took's songs.

In February 1972, Wallis joined UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...

, but left in October 1972, after a tour by Europe. Wallis did not record with the band, although a bootlegged live recording of a UFO performance featuring Wallis is known to exist.

Sometime during 1972 Wallis recorded sessions with Steve Peregrin Took
Steve Peregrin Took
Steve Peregrin Took was an English musician. He is best known for his membership of the duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with Marc Bolan...

 at Took’s basement flat in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...

. These very casual sessions contain appearances by Twink, Mick Wayne, Duncan Sanderson, and almost certainly Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...

.

The Pink Fairies

In November 1972, Wallis joined the Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...

, substituting for Mick Wayne. The band released an album Kings of Oblivion
Kings of Oblivion
Kings Of Oblivion is a 1973 album by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.Paul Rudolph had quit the group on the release of What a Bunch of Sweeties, his replacement being Mick Wayne. This new three piece recorded one single, "Well, Well, Well"/"Hold On", but Sanderson and Hunter were unhappy with...

which contained mostly Wallis-penned tracks. The band played with an extended line-up for a special gig in July 1975. Several years later, in 1982, their only live performance was released as Live at the Roundhouse 1975
Live at the Roundhouse 1975
Live at the Roundhouse 1975 is a 1982 album of a 1975 concert by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.A one-off reunion concert featuring all five previous members of the group was organised by Ted Carroll, head of Chiswick Records. At the time of this gig, Rudolph was also playing bass for...

. In 1991, it was reissued under the name At the Roundhouse/Previously Unreleased, comprising the original live album, plus additional songs by Larry Wallis from 1984, and an EP by Twink from 1977.

Motörhead

While still a member of the Pink Fairies, in May 1975 Wallis joined a new band called Motörhead with Lemmy and Lucas Fox
Lucas Fox
Lucas Fox is a drummer, who was a member of British heavy metal band Motörhead, and London punk rockers Warsaw Pakt.-Motörhead:In 1975 Fox was invited, along with Larry Wallis, to start Lemmy's band, Bastards. After taking advice, the band was renamed Motörhead. The band supported Greenslade at...

. In December 1975 Fox left the band and Motörhead recruited a new drummer, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Wallis recorded an album with the band, On Parole
On Parole
On Parole is the debut recording made by English heavy metal band Motörhead. While it was originally recorded in September 1975, United Artists was not convinced of the album's commercial potential and did not want to release it...

. It remained unreleased until 1979 when Motörhead had established some reputation for themselves. In February 1976 Wallis was joined by "Fast" Eddie Clarke
Eddie Clarke
Edward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...

 on guitar. Later in the same month Wallis left Motörhead. Wallis remained with Pink Fairies, which continued as a trio, until July 1976 when they gained additional guitarist, Martin Stone
Martin Stone (guitarist)
Martin Stone is an English guitarist and book antiquarian. A longtime resident of Fingest in Buckinghamshire, he currently lives in Paris.-Musical career:...

. In September 1976 the band released a single, "Between The Lines"/"Spoiling For A Fight" on Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....

. Four months later in January 1977 the band split up. In the same month Wallis guested at a one-off gig with members of 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...

 and Rat Scabies of The Damned.

Steve Took

During 1975 and 1976 Wallis did further recording work with Took although none of these sessions have been released to date. Wallis was present, by accident, at Pathway Studios
Pathway Studios
Pathway Studios was a North London studio in Islington run by producer Mike Finesilver for many years. Among the well-known artists who made their early recordings at Pathway Studios are Madness, Elvis Costello, The Police, Squeeze, Haircut One Hundred and John Foxx...

 in 1977 when Steve Took's Horns recorded material which would eventually be released in 2004.

Stiff Records - performer and producer

Wallis then became an in-house producer at Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....

. He released a solo single, "Police Car"/"On Parole", produced by Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...

, in November 1977. As well as appearing on a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...

 A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records, also known as A Bunch of Stiffs, is a various artists album to promote some of the first acts to be signed by Stiff Records....

, Wallis was part of an ad-hoc line-up called The Takeaways which included: Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...

, Nick Lowe and Sean Tyla
Sean Tyla
Sean Tyla is an English rock guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, sometimes known as the “Godfather of Boogie”...

. Wallis took part in the Live Stiffs Tour in 1978 and appears as 'Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies' on the album, Stiffs Live
Stiffs Live
Live Stiffs Live is a live album released in 1978, containing performances by various Stiff Records artists from the first "Live Stiffs Tour", which ran from 3 October to 5 November 1977....

, that was released later that year.

Wallis also produced albums for a number of Stiff Records artists including The Adverts
The Adverts
The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the UK, and their line-up included Gaye Advert, whom The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music called the "first female punk star".-Career:The band was...

 and Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...

's EP Screwed Up (November 1977) and album Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
Vampires Stole My Lunch Money is a 1978 album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren.Farren had left music performance after his 1970 album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus to concentrate on journalism and writing. However, in 1976 he had the opportunity whilst in New York to record the single "Play...

(August 1978). His song, "As Long As The Price is Right
As Long As The Price is Right
"As Long As The Price is Right" is a song by the band Dr. Feelgood. From a live recording made in 1979 it appeared on their live album, As It Happens, which was released in May that year. It was recorded at 'The Town House Studios'....

", first appeared on Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...

's 1977 album, Be Seeing You
Be Seeing You
Be Seeing You was the fifth album by Dr. Feelgood, and was released in October 1977. After the departure of Wilko Johnson, this was Dr. Feelgood's first album with guitarist Gypie Mayo....

; and a live version of the track was later issued as a single in April 1979.

Farren/MC5 collaborations and his own bands

In September 1978, Wallis became a member of another Farren project Mick Farren & The Good Guys; featuring Mick Farren (vocals), Andy Colquhoun (guitar), Willy Stallybrass (harmonica), Gary Tibbs
Gary Tibbs
Gary Tibbs is a bass guitarist and actor, who appeared in the film Breaking Glass, alongside Hazel O'Connor....

 (bass) and Alan (Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....

) Powell (drums).

In March 1979 Wallis joined ex-MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...

 band member Wayne Kramer, Andy Colquhoun and George Butler for a series of live gigs.

In February 1982 Wallis formed Larry Wallis & The Death Commandos of Love with Johnny Reverb on guitar, Big George Webley on bass and Jim Toomey on drums.

Two years later in 1984 Wallis was once again working with Mick Farren who resurrected the The Deviants name to record a live album Human Garbage featuring Mick Farren on vocals, Wayne Kramer and Wallis on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and George Butler on drums.

Pink Fairies resurrection

In 1987 the Pink Fairies were revived with Wallis on guitar and vocals, Andy Colquhoun on guitar, Duncan Sanderson on bass and vocals, and both Twink and Russell Hunter on drums. This resulted in the album Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em
Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em
Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em is a 1987 album by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.This is a reformed Pink Fairies, prompted by an offer from Jake Riviera, head of Demon Records. Of the five original group members, Paul Rudolph wasn't involved...

.

Dr. Feelgood links

Around 1991 Wallis worked with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell (both from Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...

) on the On The Bench recording, with Ian Gibbons. This led to the formation of Wallis' new band, The Redbyrds featuring Wallis (guitar, vocals), Mitchell (bass) and Chris North (drums). The Redbyrds released one 12 inch EP, Truth Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch.

Back in business

2002 saw the release of the first Wallis 'solo' album Death in the Guitarfternoon. A comeback gig for The Fairies was planned for The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...

, Chalk Farm, London on 22 January 2007, however, this was cancelled due to Wallis having a trapped nerve in his back. It has not yet been rescheduled.

Discography

Albums with the Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...

, The Deviants and Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...

  • Pink Fairies – Kings of Oblivion
    Kings of Oblivion
    Kings Of Oblivion is a 1973 album by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.Paul Rudolph had quit the group on the release of What a Bunch of Sweeties, his replacement being Mick Wayne. This new three piece recorded one single, "Well, Well, Well"/"Hold On", but Sanderson and Hunter were unhappy with...

    – June 1973
  • Pink Fairies – Flashback – July 1975 (compilation)
  • Mick Farren and the Deviants – Screwed Up – November 1977 (EP produced by Wallis)
  • Mick Farren – Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
    Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
    Vampires Stole My Lunch Money is a 1978 album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren.Farren had left music performance after his 1970 album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus to concentrate on journalism and writing. However, in 1976 he had the opportunity whilst in New York to record the single "Play...

    – August 1978 (produced by Wallis)
  • Pink Fairies – Live at the Roundhouse 1975
    Live at the Roundhouse 1975
    Live at the Roundhouse 1975 is a 1982 album of a 1975 concert by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.A one-off reunion concert featuring all five previous members of the group was organised by Ted Carroll, head of Chiswick Records. At the time of this gig, Rudolph was also playing bass for...

    – June 1982
  • Pink Fairies – Previously Unreleased
    Previously Unreleased
    Previously Unreleased is a 1982 album by the English guitarist Larry Wallis, released under the name Pink Fairies.The decision to release the album as a Pink Fairies album rather than a Larry Wallis album was made by label boss Ted Carroll in the belief it would sell more copies...

    – 1982
  • The Deviants – Human Garbage
    Human Garbage
    Human Garbage is a 1984 live album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren and friends, released under the name The Deviants.Farren had relocated to New York but a return visit to London gave him the opportunity for this one-off performance with Larry Wallis' Previously Unreleased group at...

    – 1984
  • Pink Fairies – Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em
    Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em
    Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em is a 1987 album by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.This is a reformed Pink Fairies, prompted by an offer from Jake Riviera, head of Demon Records. Of the five original group members, Paul Rudolph wasn't involved...

    – 1987
  • Pink Fairies – At the Roundhouse/Previously Unreleased – 1991
  • The Deviants – Fragments of Broken Probes – 1998 with Jack Lancaster
    Jack Lancaster
    Jack Lancaster is a British composer, record producer and musician.In the late 1960s, Lancaster co-founded the British rock group Blodwyn Pig with Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams...

    , Andy Colquhoun
  • The Deviants – The Deviants Have Left the Planet – 1999, with Jack Lancaster


Albums with the 'Live Stiffs' package
  • Stiffs Live
    Stiffs Live
    Live Stiffs Live is a live album released in 1978, containing performances by various Stiff Records artists from the first "Live Stiffs Tour", which ran from 3 October to 5 November 1977....

    – 1978 - Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies - "Police Car", and with Nick Lowe
    Nick Lowe
    Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...

     - "I Knew the Bride
    I Knew the Bride
    "I Knew the Bride " is a song written by Nick Lowe and first popularized by Dave Edmunds. It was released on Edmunds's 1977 album Get It and a year later in a live version by Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop for a compilation released by Stiff Records.Lowe performed the song during a Stiff...

    " and "Let's Eat"


As a member of Motörhead
  • On Parole
    On Parole
    On Parole is the debut recording made by English heavy metal band Motörhead. While it was originally recorded in September 1975, United Artists was not convinced of the album's commercial potential and did not want to release it...

    – 1979


A French Single
  • "Leather Forever" – 1980's


Albums with On The Beach
  • Escape From Oil City – 1991 album shared with Canvey Island All Stars with Lee Brilleaux and Phil Mitchell


12 inch EP as Larry Wallis and the Redbyrds
  • Truth, Justice and a Wholesome Packed Lunch – Shagrat Records, distributed by Pyg Track, 1991


Albums with The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...

 and Friends
  • Live in Concert – 1995


Solo Albums
  • Death in the Guitarfternoon - 2002


Various Artists
  • A Bunch of Stiff Records
    A Bunch of Stiff Records
    A Bunch of Stiff Records, also known as A Bunch of Stiffs, is a various artists album to promote some of the first acts to be signed by Stiff Records....

    - 1977 - one track by The Takeaways - "Food"
  • What's In the Pub in 1996 - 1995 - one track by Wallis, "Touch and Go"

Albums produced by Larry Wallis

  • Wreckless Eric
    Wreckless Eric
    Wreckless Eric is an English rock and roll/new wave singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 single " Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two decades after its release, the song was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time...

    A Louder Silence – 1977
  • Wreckless Eric – Wreckless Eric – 1978 (Wallis also plays guitar)
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