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Stephen Peter Marriott (30 January 1947 - 20 April 1991), popularly known as Steve Marriott, was a successful and versatile English singer-songwriter, guitarist and musician.
He is best remembered for his powerful singing voice which belied his small stature and for his aggressive guitar playing in the rock groups the Small Faces (1965-1969) and Humble Pie (1969-1975 and 1980-1981).
In Britain, Marriott became a popular, often-photographed mod style icon through his role as lead singer and guitarist with the Small Faces in the mid to late sixties.
Marriott was influenced from an early age by his heroes including Buddy Holly, Booker T & the MG's, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters and Bobby Bland.
In later life Marriott became disillusioned with the music industry and turned his back on the big record companies remaining in relative obscurity.
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Encyclopedia
Stephen Peter Marriott (30 January 1947 - 20 April 1991), popularly known as Steve Marriott, was a successful and versatile English singer-songwriter, guitarist and musician.
He is best remembered for his powerful singing voice which belied his small stature and for his aggressive guitar playing in the rock groups the Small Faces (1965-1969) and Humble Pie (1969-1975 and 1980-1981).
In Britain, Marriott became a popular, often-photographed mod style icon through his role as lead singer and guitarist with the Small Faces in the mid to late sixties.
Marriott was influenced from an early age by his heroes including Buddy Holly, Booker T & the MG's, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters and Bobby Bland.
In later life Marriott became disillusioned with the music industry and turned his back on the big record companies remaining in relative obscurity. He returned to his music roots playing the pubs and clubs around London and Essex.
Marriott died on 20 April 1991 when a fire thought to have been caused by a cigarette swept through his 16th-century home in Arkesden, Essex. He posthumously received an Ivor Novello Award in 1996 for his Outstanding Contribution to British Music, and was listed in Mojo as one of the top 100 greatest singers of all time.
Biography
Early years
Steve Marriott was born on 30 January 1947, at East Ham Hospital, Manor Park, East London, England to parents Kay and Bill Marriott who lived at Strone Road, Manor Park. Born three weeks premature and weighing just 4 lb. 4 oz., he developed jaundice and was kept in hospital four weeks before being well enough to go home. Marriott came from a working class background and attended Monega Junior School. His father Bill worked as a printer and later owned a jellied eels stall called 'Bill's Eels' outside the Ruskin Arms. For a short time he also sold pie and mash. Kay worked at the Tate & Lyle factory in Silvertown. Bill was an accomplished pub pianist and the life and soul of many an 'East End' night. Marriott's father bought him a ukulele and harmonica which Steve taught himself to play. Marriott showed an early interest in singing and performing, busking at local bus-stops for extra pocket money and winning talent contests during the family's annual holiday to Jaywick Holiday camp near Clacton-on-Sea.
In 1959 at the age of twelve, Marriott formed his first band with school friends Nigel Chapin and Robin Andrews. They were called 'The Wheels', later the 'Coronation Kids', and finally 'Mississippi Five'. They later added Simon Simkins and Vic Dixon to their line-up. From a young age, Marriott was a huge fan of American singer Buddy Holly and would mimic his hero by wearing large-rimmed spectacles with the lenses removed. He wrote his first song, called "Shelia My Dear," after his aunt Shelia to whom he was close. Those who heard the song said it was played at a jaunty pace in the style of Buddy Holly and his bandmates also nicknamed him 'Buddy'. They would play the local coffee bars in East Ham and perform Saturday morning gigs at the Essoldo Cinema in Manor Park.
Marriott was a cheeky, hyperactive child, according to his mother Kay, and well-known by his neighbours in Strone Road for playing pranks and practical jokes. When a pupil at local Sandringham Secondary Modern School, Marriott was said to be responsible for starting a deliberate fire in a classroom, though he always denied this.
Juvenile acting career
The Artful Dodger 1960-1961
In 1960, Bill Marriott spotted an advertisement in a London newspaper for a new Artful Dodger replacement to appear in Lionel Bart's popular musical Oliver!, based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, at the New Theatre (now called the Noel Coward Theatre) in London's West End, and without telling his son, applied for him to audition. At the age of thirteen, Marriott auditioned for the role. He sang two songs, "Who's Sorry Now" by Connie Francis, and "Oh, Boy!" by Buddy Holly. Bart was impressed with Marriott's vocal abilities and hired him. Marriott stayed with the show for a total of twelve months, playing various boys' roles during his time there, for which he was paid eight pounds a week.
Marriott was also chosen to provide lead vocals for the Artful Dodger songs "Consider Yourself", "Be Back Soon," and "I'd Do Anything," which appear on the official album to the stage show, released by World Record Club and recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios.
In 1961 the Marriott family moved from Strone Road to a brand new council flat in Daines Close, Manor Park.
Following Marriott's successful acting debut in Oliver!, his family encouraged him to pursue an acting career. In 1961 he auditioned and was accepted as a student at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Because his family were unable to afford the private school fees, it was mutually agreed the fees would be deducted from acting work the school found him.
After Marriott's enrolment at the Italia Conti Academy, he quickly gained acting roles, working consistently in film, television and radio. He was often typecast as the energetic Cockney kid.
Film/TV/Radio (1962-1964)
- Night Cargoes - (1962) Children's adventure film, shot between April and June 1962 in Devon and designed for a very young audience. The film was split into eight, fifteen-minute episodes and shown during Saturday morning picture shows.
- Live It Up! - (1963) Starring David Hemmings and Jennifer Moss. Marriott was typecast as the Cockney drummer called 'Ricky'.
- Be My Guest - (1964) released in 1965 (the follow-up to Live It Up!) again Marriott plays the character 'Ricky'.
- Heavens Above! - (released April, 1963) Starring Peter Sellers as a prison chaplain and co-starring Eric Sykes. Marriott plays a street kid who shoots his mother. There were reports on set of Sellers and Marriott duetting on banjos between takes.
- Dateline Diamonds - (1965) Marriott along with the other members of the Small Faces appear as themselves in the film performing their self-penned second single "I've Got Mine".
- Citizen James - (1961) A popular half-hour comedy starring Carry On Films actor Sid James.
- Dixon of Dock Green - (transmitted in 1963) - Marriott appears in an episode entitled The River People playing a character called 'Clive Dawson'; the episode was written by Ted Willis.
- William the Peacemaker - Marriott's last TV acting role (March 1963). Marriott plays the character of 'Bertie Franks'.
- Mr Pastry's Progress - (1962) b/w BBC television children's sitcom starring Richard Hearne and Barbara Hicks.
- Radio Luxembourg - Reading out listeners' problem letters for well-known agony aunt Marjorie Proops.
- Mrs Dale's Diary - a popular radio show playing a popstar called 'Art Joyful'.
Marriott lost interest in acting and turned his attention back to his first love, which was music.
Marriott's parents were devastated and his decision to give up acting caused a family rift. As a result, he left the family home for a short period to stay with friends.
Music career
In 1963, Marriott wrote "Imaginary Love" and touted it around the big record labels in London. On the strength of "Imaginary Love", Marriott secured a Decca Records deal as a solo artist with Dick Reagan (also an agent for Cliff Richard). Marriott's first single was a song written by Kenny Lynch, "Give Her My Regards", with Marriott's self-penned song as the B-side. The single was released in July 1963 and promptly vanished.
The Moments (1963-1964)
Marriott formed The Moments, originally called The Frantiks. The Frantiks recorded a cover version of Cliff Richard's song "Move It" with ex-Shadows drummer Tony Meehan, who was brought in to help with production. Despite the single being hawked around the major record companies, no one was interested and the song was consequently never released. They then changed the band's name to The Moments or 'Marriott and his Moments'. They played support for artists such as The Nashville Teens, The Animals, Georgie Fame, and John Mayall, playing venues such as the 100 Club in Soho, London, and the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. The Moments gained a loyal following, and for a short time had their own fanzine Beat '64, dedicated to 'Steve Marriott's Moments', started by Stuart Tuck. They are noted as performing a total of 80 gigs in 1964. The group was asked to record a single for the American market, a cover version of The Kinks' UK hit song "You Really Got Me", released on the World Artists record label (1964). When their version of "You Really Got Me" failed to get attention, Marriott was dropped from the band, with members claiming he was too young to be a lead singer.
Small Faces (1965-1969)
On 28 July 1964, Marriott first saw his future Small Faces partners, Ronnie Lane and 16-year-old drummer Kenney Jones. They were all performing at The Albion in Rainham, with their bands.
Lane and Marriott met again by chance in the 'J60', a music shop in High Street North, Manor Park, where Marriott was working after his recent departure from The Moments. Lane came in looking to purchase a new guitar, and afterwards was invited to Marriott's home to listen to his extensive collection of rare American R&B import records. With their shared love of R&B the trio were soon firm friends. Marriott was invited by Lane and Jones to perform with "The Outlaws" (previously called "The Pioneers") at the band's regular gig The Earl of Derby in Bermondsey. However the trio each ended up completely drunk and Marriott enthusiastically destroyed the piano he was playing, much to the amusement of Lane and Jones. The landlord sacked them and the band was finished. According to David Bowie on a 1999 episode of VH1 Storytellers, in 1964 he and his good friend Marriott planned to form an R&B duo called 'David and Goliath'. Instead, Marriott, Lane and Jones decided to form their own band, with Steve bringing along his acquaintance, Jimmy Winston (Winston was later replaced by Ian McLagan). Marriott's friend Annabel, an ex-student from the Italia Conti, came up with the band's distinctive name after commenting that they all had "small faces"; the name stuck in part because they were all (apart from Winston) small (none being over 5 ft 6 in tall), and the term "face" in English mod culture was the name given to a well-known and respected mod.
Small Faces were signed to Don Arden within six weeks of forming and quickly became a successful mod band highly regarded by the youth cult's followers when their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" hit the UK singles chart. Later, they were said to be one of many influences on the formation and musical style of British hard rock group Led Zeppelin. Marriott is reputed to have been Jimmy Page's benchmark when selecting a lead singer, and there are unmistakable stylistic and timbral similarities between the voices of Marriott and Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin's lead singer. In fact, Plant was a fan of Small Faces and a regular at their early gigs where he also ran small errands for them. Zeppelin's classic song "Whole Lotta Love" is said by some to be a direct take of Marriott's version of the classic song "You Need Lovin'", originally written by Willie Dixon and recorded by American blues singer Muddy Waters. Small Faces would regularly perform "You Need Lovin'" in their live set, and the song also appears on their debut Decca album Small Faces, released May, 1966. "It was fantastic, I loved it, Muddy Waters recorded it but I couldn't sing like Muddy Waters so it wasn't that much of a nick. I was a high range and Muddy was a low range so I had to figure out how to sing it. So I did and that was our opening number for all the years we were together. Every time we were on stage that was our opening number, unless we had a short set. That's where Jimmy Page and Robert Plant heard it. Robert Plant used to follow us around. He was like a fan." - Marriott
However Marriott bore no animosity to Plant. He is quoted as shouting "Go on my son!" and wishing him luck when he first heard Plant's version on the radio.
Arden paid the band a wage of twenty pounds a week each, along with accounts in clothes shops in Carnaby Street. On Boxing Day, 1965, Arden arranged for them to move into a rented house, 22 Westmoreland Terrace, Pimlico. In his autobiography, McLagan describes the house as "party central", a place where the likes of Marianne Faithfull, Brian Epstein, Pete Townshend and other celebrities would hang out. Marriott was just 18 years old.
Marriott wrote or co-wrote most of Small Faces' hit singles. In an interview in 1984, Marriott was asked what his best Small Faces songs were: "I think 'All or Nothing', that I wrote, takes a lot of beating. To me, if there's a song that typifies that era, then that might be it. Words regardless, cos it's only a silly love song, but the actual feel and arrangement of the thing, and maybe 'Tin Soldier'".
In 1967, Marriott wrote the evocative rock-ballad "Tin Soldier" to woo model Jenny Rylance. They first met in 1966 and Marriott was immediately smitten, but Rylance was dating up-and-coming singer Rod Stewart and so the two became friends. She later broke up with Stewart and had a brief romantic liaison with Marriott, but much to his disappointment ended it to go back to Stewart. Rylance and Stewart later split for good after a rocky four-year relationship; when Marriott found out he pursued her relentlessly, leading him to write "Tin Soldier". The song was a hit for the band in 1967 and for Marriott a personal triumph. He and Rylance were married at Kensington Registry Office, London, on 29 May 1968.
Later they moved into Beehive Cottage in Moreton, Essex. The property was jointly purchased with Ronnie Lane and wife Susan and was where Marriott established his music studio, "Clear Sounds".
In 1967, after a dispute over unpaid royalties, relations between the Small Faces and Don Arden broke down and Arden sold them on to Andrew Loog Oldham, who owned the Immediate label. The band were much happier at Immediate, spending more time in the recording studio and far less time playing live; however, they lost the dynamic live sound they had become famous for. After the success of the group's number one hit concept album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake Marriott was keen for the group to evolve and wanted to bring in ex-Herd frontman Peter Frampton, but McLagan, Jones and Lane refused. Marriott started to feel the band had reached the end creatively and began to spend more time with Frampton and Greg Ridley. After rumours in the press about the band splitting up, which were always officially denied, Marriott quit the group, storming off stage during a disastrous live performance on New Year's Eve, 1968. In a 1984 interview with NME reporter Paolo Hewitt on the subject of leaving the band, Marriott said:"You grow apart for Christsakes. You're talking about people living together from the ages of seventeen to twenty-two and that's a growing up part of your life and we got to hate each other, no doubt about it. We didn't speak to each other for fucking years. Maybe ten years." - Marriott
Frampton claims that after Marriott's departure from the Small Faces, the remaining members, Lane, McLagan and Jones, turned up at his home and offered him Marriott's role in the band. (Ian McLagan vehemently denies this story). "The following day after the Alexandra Palace gig (where Steve walked off), I was back home and I got a call from Ronnie Lane who said Me, Kenney and Mac would like to come round and see you. I thought, Hello, what's all this about? Anyway, they all came round to my horrible little flat in Earls Court and asked me to join the Small Faces. All I could say was it's a bit late now. Why couldn't you have asked me while we were in Paris? We'd all be in the same band together and Steve wouldn't have left." - Peter Frampton.
Humble Pie (1969-1975)
Shortly after leaving Small Faces, Marriott joined the newly formed rock band Humble Pie with Frampton, drummer Jerry Shirley and bassist Greg Ridley. In the early years, Humble Pie allowed Marriott the artistic freedom he craved but was denied in Small Faces due, in part, to commercial pressures and individual differences. After extensive secret rehearsals at his Clear Sounds home recording studio, the band released on Immediate their debut album As Safe As Yesterday Is, closely followed by the Marriott-penned debut single "Natural Born Bugie" (often mis-spelt "Boogie"), which peaked at # 5 in the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1969. Humble Pie almost disbanded after their first American tour when they returned to England and discovered that Immediate had gone into liquidation. They transferred to A&M Records and focused all their attention on the lucrative U.S. market. Their new manager, Dee Anthony, had the band scrap its 'unplugged' set and crank the volume up.
Humble Pie toured constantly over the next three years, completing nineteen tours in the U.S. alone. The band's next album releases, Humble Pie and Rock On, benefited from their touring. Their live album Performance Rockin' the Fillmore (1971) became the band's most successful release to date. During these recordings, Marriott's strong vocal performances became the focal point of the band. Dee Anthony pushed Marriott to take more of the on-stage spotlight, something he had, up to then, been sharing with Frampton and Ridley. Mariott's new prominence is said to have resulted in Frampton's decision to leave the band. (Frampton was replaced by Clem Clempson.)
Some close to Marriott would say that his personality would change for the worse when he toured America. Eventually, possibly as a result of excessive alcohol and drug use, Marriott started showing signs of mild schizophrenia. He had regularly taken amphetamines (speed) and smoked cannabis in his days in The Moments and Small Faces, and in the latter half of the 1960s he also experimented with LSD. But towards the end of his Small Faces career and in Humble Pie, Marriott allegedly developed a destructive cocaine and alcohol addiction, which is thought to have been the cause of his marriage breakups and to have contributed to his premature death in a house-fire.
"He (Steve) became another person in order to cope with the pressures, he would say things like, Please tell me that you’ll leave me if I go on tour again because if you say that I’ll have justification not to go, if I go and have to be that other person again I’ll just go mad. This would be said in a moment of truth but the next day had changed his mind and he’d be up and off... He was married to his music and I didn’t mind that especially in the early years when he would play me new songs on an acoustic guitar but what didn’t make me happy was when he was in the home studio, out of his brain, trying to come up with the next album because he was being pressurised into it. He would just disappear into the studio for three or four days at a time. He never slept and there would be all sorts of strange people in there with him. It was a crazy business and even the nicest people get mixed up. All sorts of chemicals were presented to him and he became addicted to them in the end. It was drugs that destroyed our relationship. Before the home studio was built Beehive Cottage was our sanctuary, afterwards it just became his workplace." - Jenny Rylance
Rylance finally left Marriott in 1973. She said: "The drugs and the drink I would tolerate no more. It broke my heart to leave Steve but it had to be done, I was ultimately the stronger". Due to the breakup of his marriage and growing drug use, some band members said that Marriott at times became domineering, aggressive and intolerable to work with. Humble Pie disbanded in 1975, citing musical differences as the reason for the split. Financial mis-management and widespread substance abuse within the band also played a part. In an interview in 2000 with John Hellier, Jerry Shirley said:"We were all doing too many drugs, we’d lost sight of our business arrangements and no-one within the band had any control over money matters. But the main reason was that we were making bad records, it all came to a head in early 1975. The rot had set in so deep it was inevitable." - Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie).
Marriott always believed Dee Anthony had syphoned off band earnings to promote his new project, Frampton, and his album Frampton Comes Alive. After Marriott's death, his second wife Pam Stephens claimed in an interview that while they were making the Marriott solo album they were warned off accusing Anthony of any financial misdealings and received threatening phone calls. Anthony was alleged to have links with the Genovese crime family (amongst others). She also claimed that after Marriott confronted Anthony about missing money, she and Marriott were summoned to a meeting at the Ravenite Social Club on Mulberry Street in New York's Little Italy district. Among those present were John Gotti, Frank Locascio and Paul Castellano, all members of the Gambino crime family. Marriott was informed that he would not be getting any money and was warned to drop the matter. Marriott took the threats seriously.
Steve Marriott Allstars
Marriott released his first solo album, Marriott, in 1976 and moved back to England. Pam gave birth to their first child Toby on 20 February 1976, and they were married on 23 March 1977, at Chelsea Registry office in London.
The money from Humble Pie's farewell tour soon ran out, and Marriott was reduced to stealing vegetables from a field next to his home in England. Marriott went on to form The Steve Marriott Allstars with ex-Pie bassist Greg Ridley, drummer Ian Wallace and ex-T.Rex percussionist, Mickey Finn, and found a new manager, Laurie O'Leary. In the 1980s O'Leary asked Marriott to meet a friend of his, the infamous Ronnie Kray, who was incarcerated in Broadmoor Hospital for the murder of George Cornell. Marriott gave him a signed photo.
After the departure of Mick Taylor in 1975 from the Rolling Stones, Marriott was considered as his replacement; however, Mick Jagger allegedly blocked the move after Marriott upstaged him during the audition. According to Ronnie Wood in his autobiography Ronnie, Marriott was Richards' first choice to replace Mick Taylor.
"Steve told me, I was good and stood at the back for a while but then Keith would hit this lick and I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. Keith wanted him in but there was no way that once Steve opened his mouth Mick would have him in the band. He knew Steve would never stay in the background. They were the one band in the world that Steve would have loved to have been in. He just wanted to work with Keith." - Pam Marriott
In 1976 a court ruled that Arden still owed the Small Faces £12,000 in unpaid royalties. He agreed to pay in monthly installments, but disappeared after making just one payment.
Small Faces reunion
Due to the success of re-released singles "Itchycoo Park" and "Lazy Sunday" in 1975 and 1976, McLagan, Jones and Marriott were persuaded to reform Small Faces. Rick Wills took the place of Lane, who pulled out after just two rehearsals. Unknown to the others, Lane was suffering from multiple sclerosis. The band recorded two albums, Playmates and 78 in the Shade, but the albums proved a financial and commercial failure and they disbanded. Marriott did not make any money out of the venture. His earnings were used to extricate him from old binding management contracts. Due to financial problems, Marriott was forced to sell Beehive Cottage, which had been his home since 1968, and move to a small terraced house in Golders Green, London.
The Firm
Late in 1978, the Inland Revenue informed Marriott that he still owed £100,000 in back tax from his Humble Pie days; he thought manager Dee Anthony had made all the necessary payments. O'Leary, Marriott's manager, advised him to leave England or go to jail. He sold the house in Golders Green and moved to California. Marriott, Pam and son Toby were staying with friends in Santa Cruz and Marriott formed a new band with Jim Leverton and (most notably) former Mountain guitarist Leslie West called The Firm, but after Leverton had to leave the U.S. due to visa problems, and disputes over potential royalties, the band broke up. Marriott was by now completely broke and forced to collect empty glass bottles to redeem them for small change. According to Leslie West, Steve needed the money and accepted a lucrative offer to reform Humble Pie.
Humble Pie Mark II
In 1980, Marriott contacted Jerry Shirley, who was living in New York City, to discuss a Humble Pie reunion. Shirley agreed and they recorded "Fool for a Pretty Face", which Marriott had written earlier. The new lineup included Anthony "Sooty" Jones, who was well-respected among American east coast musicians, also vocalist and guitarist Bobby Tench former member of the Jeff Beck Group. The song proved good enough for them to secure a recording contract with Atco. In the UK their material was released by Jet Records, owned by ex-Small Faces manager Don Arden. They recorded the heavy rock album On to Victory, followed by Go For The Throat in 1981, and both proved reasonably successful. They also toured America as part of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon bill. In the latter half of 1981, Marriott was beset with personal problems. His marriage was almost over and after he broke his wrist in an accident and was hospitalised with a suspected burst ulcer, whilst opening for Judas Priest the new Humble Pie line-up disintegrated.
The Majik Mijits
On a visit to England in 1981, Marriott was eager to see Ronnie Lane. By this time Lane was confined to a wheelchair. After an emotional meeting, Marriott suggested they gig together. They got together with Jim Leverton, Mick Weaver, Dave Hynes, Zoot Money and Mel Collins to record an album called The Majik Mijits. The album features songs by Lane and Marriott, though none were co-written. Due to Lane's illness, they were unable to tour and promote the album.
"Steve and Ronnie went to America to see Clive Davis of Arista Records. They played him the tape. Clive Davis was tapping his foot and tapping his very expensive pen on his very expensive desk. He said "Yeah, that’s great man". Steve said "So you like the tape, Clive". Steve then stopped the tape, ejected it and said "WELL YOU CAN’T FUCKING HAVE IT!" The story that Steve told me was that it would have meant touring and Ronnie just wasn’t up to it. It would have meant pretty much carrying him everywhere, no tour, no album. That’s why the Mijits never came out at that point in time. Its been gathering dust for ages" - Jim Leverton.
The album was released nineteen years later. After the Majik Mijits, Marriott went back to New York playing on the club circuit again.. For the next year and a half, Marriott was on the road with Jim Leverton, Goldy McJohn and Fallon Williams. They played mostly Small Faces and Humble Pie material, touring non-stop for the next eighteen months. After the departure of McJohn, the trio changed the band's name to the Three Trojans. Despite attempts at reconciliation, Marriott's marriage finally came to an end when his wife found out that Marriott was expecting a child with Terry Elias, a Canadian girl he had met while they were separated.
Packet of Three
Accepting that his marriage was over, Marriott moved back to England. With no home and no money, he stayed at his sister Kay's house in the spare bedroom. Marriott formed Packet of Three, again playing the pub circuit. He insisted on being paid for each gig in cash as the Inland Revenue were still pursuing him for back taxes. In August 1984, Aura Records released Steve Marriott Live at Dingwalls 6.7.84. Marriott contacted longtime friend Manon Piercey, and they quickly developed a close relationship and rented a house together. Piercey gave birth to daughter Mollie Mae on 3 May 1985. With Piercey's help, Marriott reduced his excessive drink and drug habits. His sister Kay said: "Steve would say, I'm not drinking any more, and he'd stop, six weeks, two months, he was very strong willed, if he wanted to he could". In 1985 Marriott was still touring with Packet of Three playing Canada, America and Europe.
During Live Aid in 1985, London-based Phoenix Modernist Society joined mod revival bands such as The Lambrettas and Purple Hearts, with 1960s stars such as Chris Farlowe and PP Arnold. Together they cut a version of "All or Nothing" for Band Aid Trust. Kenny Lynch persuaded Marriott to get involved, and the single was released under the collective name The Spectrum.
Steve Marriott & the Official Receivers
In 1985, Marriott ended his relationship with Piercey when he met his future third wife Toni Poultney at a Packet of Three gig.
Due to his financial situation, Marriott jokingly later renamed the group Steve Marriott and the Official Receivers. In the mid 1980s Marriott and Toni moved to a rented cottage in the small village of Arkesden. The 16th-century cottage was also used for location shots for the home of the title character in the BBC's long-running television series Lovejoy, starring Ian McShane. Marriott became well-known locally, often popping into the pub opposite his home to buy bottles of brandy and borrowing glasses. He once turned up wearing trainers and a dressing gown and became something of an eccentric figure, playing pranks, particularly on the owner of the pub.
Due to past experiences, in later years Marriott became wary of success and fame as well as involvement with big record companies, and turned down lucrative concert and recording deals with names such as EMI. Because of this attitude, the band grew resentful, believing that he was holding them back, and Packet of Three was disbanded. For the next year Marriott took time off. By now he was 44 years old. He had health problems, was overweight, and had a scruffy appearance. There was little left of the striking 1960s mod icon. Film-maker Paolo Sedazzari recalled, "I remember going to see him in the 1980s, and he was brilliant. Great voice, great guitarist but what I couldn't get over were the dungarees and the mullet haircut. That was really disappointing". According to his wife, Marriott still smoked cannabis and took cocaine, but nothing compared to what he had once consumed. In his later years Marriott liked reading; his favourite authors included Stephen King, Philip K. Dick and anything on Noel Coward, whom Marriott had always admired.
Steve Marriott and The DT's
In May 1988, Marriott started rehearsing with a band from Birmingham, the DT's, though by the time they starting touring they were called Steve Marriott and the DT's. Despite being out of the public gaze, Marriott was still asked to participate in various projects. Andrew Lloyd Webber asked Marriott to record two songs for his musical Evita, though after becoming drunk at the meeting Marriott ungraciously declined. Film composer Stephen Parsons asked Marriott to sing the title track "Shakin' All Over" for the low budget horror film Gnaw: Food of the Gods II (1989); Marriott agreed, seeing it as easy money. While recording the song, Trax Records asked Marriott to record a solo album. Thirty Seconds to Midnite was recorded at Alexandra Palace. Marriott used the money to buy a narrowboat. On 14 July 1989, Marriott and Toni Poultney were married at Epping Registry office. Afterwards, they threw a party at their cottage.
Steve Marriott's Next Band
Jim Leverton got in touch and Marriott formed a new group called Steve Marriott's Next Band, with Leverton and ex-members of both the DT's and The Official Receivers. When several members left due to financial disagreements, the band name Packet of Three resurfaced.
Frampton collaboration
Marriott was playing an average 200 gigs a year, when Frampton flew into England and asked Marriott to reform Humble Pie to produce a one-off album and a reunion tour. The payment would be enough to allow Marriott to take things easier. He agreed, and they flew out to Frampton's recording studio in Los Angeles on 27 January 1991.
They began writing songs, but the project was never completed, as Marriott had a change of heart and returned home. Two recorded songs from this final effort, "The Bigger They Come" and "I Won't Let You Down", with Marriott on vocals (and guitar), appeared on Frampton's album Shine On: A Collection. A third song, "Out of the Blue", featuring both Marriott and Frampton, was featured on the first solo recording Frampton made after Marriott's death. A fourth song, "An Itch You Can't Scratch", has been found on many illegal compilations and even on one of two "authorised" British releases. The recording date, and whether Frampton played on it, have never been verified.
Death
On Friday 19 April 1991, Marriott and his wife Toni Poultney were on a flight home from America, where he had been recording songs for a future album with Frampton. During the flight, according to his wife, Marriott was drinking heavily and was in a foul mood, and they constantly argued. On arrival in the UK they were met by a mutual friend and ate at one of Marriott's favourite restaurants, where he consumed more alcohol. They returned to their friend's house and decided to stay overnight, since it was now the early hours of the next morning, but upstairs in bed, Marriott and Poultney continued to argue. Poultney finally fell asleep and was unaware that Marriott had called a taxi and made his way home alone.
At approximately 6:30 am on 20 April, a passing motorist saw the roof of Marriott's cottage ablaze and called the fire brigade. It was reported that four fire engines were needed to put out the fire. In newspaper interviews, Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Keith Dunatis, who found Marriott, said: "It was a tough fight getting upstairs. We searched the bedroom areas and it was very hot, we knew immediately that no-one could have survived the fire. We began to feel around the walls and discovered him lying on the floor between the bed and the wall. I would say he had been in bed and tried to escape. As soon as I saw the body clearly I knew who it was. I used to be a fan, it's difficult to put my feelings into words. The scene was horrific in that corner of the room. I saw him lying there and thought what a pity it all was. I deal with many fires but this one was like walking down memory lane. We managed to salvage all his guitars and musical equipment. I feel a bit upset, all the firemen do. It was like seeing part of our lives gone forever." - (Fire Officer)
It is believed that the most likely cause of the fire was that soon after arriving home, jet-lagged and tired, in the early hours, Marriott had lit a cigarette whilst in bed and almost immediately fallen into a deep sleep. If he had been able to purchase his usual rolling tobacco earlier at the airport, the fire may not have happened. Unlike conventional cigarettes, pouched tobacco contains no chemicals to keep it alight.
Since Marriott was found lying on the floor between the bed and wall, investigators concluded he may have tried unsuccessfully to escape after being awakened by the blaze. Disoriented and confused after inhaling large amounts of thick smoke, Marriott had turned left instead of right towards the bedroom door and safety. He had been unable to rectify his mistake before being overcome with smoke. At the inquest, a verdict of accidental death by smoke inhalation was recorded. Marriott's blood was also found to contain quantities of valium (taken earlier for flight nerves), alcohol and cocaine.
"He (Marriott) was certainly the most talented person I ever worked with. He was like a brother to me and I was devastated when he died. He always lived on the edge and I was always waiting for a 'phone call to say that he had died but I never dreamed it would be under those circumstances. He's never got the credit he deserves. He should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because he was the greatest white soul singer that England ever produced. I'm certain that if you caught the likes of Rod Stewart and Paul Rodgers in a private moment and asked them who was the main man, they would say, Steve Marriott." - Jerry Shirley
Small Faces song "All or Nothing" was played as the requiem at Marriott's funeral held on 30 April 1991, at the Saffron Walden crematorium. Amongst the mourners, noted attendees included ex-Small Faces drummer Kenney Jones, as well as Peter Frampton, Joe Brown, PP Arnold, Terence Stamp, Jerry Shirley and Greg Ridley. Among those who sent wreaths were David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd), and Rod Stewart and his then wife Rachel Hunter. Nothing was heard from ex-Small Faces members Ian McLagan or Ronnie Lane.
Guest appearances
Throughout his career, Marriott helped out on other peoples' records vocally, instrumentally, and as producer. Here is a selection:
- Bill Wyman invited Marriott to play guitar and backing vocals on the recording of
Their Satanic Majesties Request album, on the track "In Another Land", in Brian Jones' absence. PP Arnold - Marriott wrote and produced "If You Think You're Groovy" - along with Lane and the other members of Small Faces. Joe Brown - collaborated on the singer/entertainer's song "Tin Soldier" The Herd - produced the UK band's single "Sunshine Cottage" Alexis Korner hired Marriott as a guitar player for his UK and European tours in 1975 Mott the Hoople - provided vocals on "Midnight Lady" (1971) Del Shannon - contributed keyboards on the Home and Away album in sessions recorded by Andrew Oldham Traffic - on the Mr. Fantasy album, Marriott is clearly heard on the track "Berkshire Poppies" Donovan - Marriott guested on track "Boy for Every Girl" on the 1973 Essence to Essence album. Chris Farlowe song "My Way of Giving" - contributed guitar and vocals on the single which was produced by Mick Jagger and written by Marriott/Lane. Easybeats - provided vocals on their single "Good Times" from the LP Vigil in 1968. Nescafe coffee's new product - Blend 37 TV commercial (1989). Marriott and Clempson were asked to guest, singing Ike and Tina Turner's hit song "Black Coffee" (which also appears on Humble Pie's (1973) album Eat It). Jim Capaldi - Marriott provided guest vocals on 1984 album One Man Mission on the track "Young Savages". (Marriott and Capaldi were friends from Capaldi's days in the band Traffic). "Seamus" on Pink Floyd's album Meddle - Marriott's dog Seamus made a notable appearance in the song. (He can also be heard on the Small Faces song "The Universal", which Marriott recorded on a cassette player in his backyard. The former track appears on the video Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii; however, the dog featured in the live recording is not the original Seamus. His vocal styling was reprised by a female Afghan Hound named Nobs with similar musical talents, and in the film the title was altered accordingly to read "Mademoiselle Nobs"). Johnny Hallyday - Marriott and Small Faces together with Frampton appear on recordings by the French pop singer New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders - appeared on recordings. John Lee (ex The Dingoes) - wrote and recorded with the Australian drummer and songwriter.
Private life
Marriott was married three times.
- Jenny Rylance
- Pam Stephens, with whom he had one son, Toby, in 1976,
- Toni Poultney
He further had two daughters,
- Tonya, in 1984 with Terri Elias,
- Mollie Mae, in 1985 with his former childhood friend Manon Piercey.
Guitar Legacy
- Gretsch 6120 (& various models) - during the Small Faces, Marriott used the original brown Gretsch 6120 (and various models). Most Small Faces tracks would have been recorded with this guitar. Marriott also used a brown model at the beginning of Humble Pie.
- Fender Telecaster - used towards the end of the Small Faces (1968). Marriott fattened its sound by replacing the neck pick-up with a P90. Interestingly, Eddie Cochran replaced his neck pick-up on his Gretsch with a P90 too. Marriott's Telecaster ended its days with the Small Faces at Alexandra Palace, breaking in two as it was thrown down in disgust during the gig on New Year's Eve when Marriott announced his decision to leave the band.
- Gibson Les Paul Junior - apparently given to Marriott by a fan. Like the Telecaster, Marriott modified it in a whimsical way by removing the original scratch plate and replacing it with the white scratch plate from his Dwight.
- Epiphone Dwight - used during Humble Pie's early days, and can be heard on the band's song "I Don't Need No Doctor". The Dwight was also victim to a rather strange modification, the apparently home-made black scratch plate extended along to the controls and jack socket. The Dwight is probably the most famous Humble Pie guitar icon, and it was stolen in the UK (whereabouts still unknown).
- Gibson Les Paul Custom - Marriott was pictured using a Les Paul in the Small Faces. It was used almost exclusively at Humble Pie performances from 1973 onwards and was possibly still being used right at the end of the band's life. Steve’s son Toby now owns this guitar, and played it at his father's Memorial Concert in 2001.
- Ovation & Ibanez - Marriott advertised an Ovation Electric in the trade and music press in the mid 1970s (he was never seen actually playing one).
- Fender Esquire - used on the Small Faces II reunion. It appeared on the Small Faces II tour and disappeared as quickly after the split. There is video footage of Steve playing a Sunburst Fender Stratocaster during the Blackberries period of Humble Pie.
- Gibson 335 - Manon Piercey bought Marriott this guitar around 1985. His decision to play in three-piece bands in the future reflects the confidence that he had in his guitar playing. After the acquisition of this guitar, he seemed never to play any other, adding to the rumours that this was in fact his only guitar. Toby has this guitar now and the pick-up covers are removed.
Steve Marriott Tribute Concert 2001
On 20 April 2001, the 10th anniversary of Marriott's death, musicians paid tribute at the London Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London. Musicians performing Small Faces and Humble Pie songs included past band members:
The Small Faces Charitable Trust set up by Kenney Jones in memory of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane.
Carnaby Street plaque
In September 2007 Marriott, along with the other members of the Small Faces and manager Don Arden were honoured with a plaque unveiled in Carnaby Street, on the site of Don Arden's offices, the spiritual home of the band in the 1960s.
Solo discography
External links
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