Terry Slesser
Encyclopedia
Terry Slesser is a blues rock singer from Newcastle
, England
. He is chiefly known for his role as vocalist in ex-Free
guitarist Paul Kossoff
's band Back Street Crawler
, renamed Crawler
after Kossoff's death in 1976.
, Teesside. Beckett released one self-titled album in 1974. Slesser then joined Back Street Crawler
and its successor band, Crawler
, for the balance of the 1970s.
In 1980, after his time with Crawler, Slesser was considered by AC/DC
when they were looking for a replacement for their much-loved vocalist Bon Scott
, who had died in February of that year. Slesser eventually turned down this opportunity, choosing not to join an established music group, but to start a solo career.
Slesser auditioned for Iron Maiden
when lead singer Paul Di'Anno
left the band in 1981, but Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris
felt that his vocals sounded great with some songs but not with others. Iron Maiden eventually settled on Samson
vocalist Bruce Dickinson
. Slesser is also known to fans of Iron Maiden as the co-writer of "A Rainbow's Gold", which Maiden recorded as a B-side for their single "Two Minutes to Midnight" in 1984. The song was originally recorded by Slesser's first band Beckett, and featured on their 1974 album.
In 1983, Slesser was featured as lead vocalist with Charlie
on their US hit single "It's Inevitable", and the related album. The related video was quite popular on MTV
. . Also in 1983, Slesser was featured on backing vocals on the Def Leppard
album Pyromania
. In 1984, he toured Europe, Japan and the USA as a backing vocalist with the Michael Schenker Group
.
As of 2009, Slesser is still touring as a solo act or with Freeway, with ex-Free drummer Simon Kirke
.
Terry has two sons who are twins called Simon and Adam.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is chiefly known for his role as vocalist in ex-Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
guitarist Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
's band Back Street Crawler
Back Street Crawler (band)
Back Street Crawler was a group of blues and rock musicians founded by guitarist Paul Kossoff , signing to Atlantic Records in 1975. The band took the name from Kossoff's solo album, Back Street Crawler.- History :...
, renamed Crawler
Crawler (band)
There are various bands with the name CrawlerIt was first created from the ashes of Back Street Crawler, following the death of guitarist, Paul Kossoff.-History:...
after Kossoff's death in 1976.
History
In the early 1970s, Slesser joined Beckett, replacing their original singer Rob Turner, who was killed in a hit and run accident after a gig at the La Ronde night club in BillinghamBillingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
, Teesside. Beckett released one self-titled album in 1974. Slesser then joined Back Street Crawler
Back Street Crawler (band)
Back Street Crawler was a group of blues and rock musicians founded by guitarist Paul Kossoff , signing to Atlantic Records in 1975. The band took the name from Kossoff's solo album, Back Street Crawler.- History :...
and its successor band, Crawler
Crawler (band)
There are various bands with the name CrawlerIt was first created from the ashes of Back Street Crawler, following the death of guitarist, Paul Kossoff.-History:...
, for the balance of the 1970s.
In 1980, after his time with Crawler, Slesser was considered by AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
when they were looking for a replacement for their much-loved vocalist Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
, who had died in February of that year. Slesser eventually turned down this opportunity, choosing not to join an established music group, but to start a solo career.
Slesser auditioned for Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
when lead singer Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno
Paul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
left the band in 1981, but Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
felt that his vocals sounded great with some songs but not with others. Iron Maiden eventually settled on Samson
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
vocalist Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
. Slesser is also known to fans of Iron Maiden as the co-writer of "A Rainbow's Gold", which Maiden recorded as a B-side for their single "Two Minutes to Midnight" in 1984. The song was originally recorded by Slesser's first band Beckett, and featured on their 1974 album.
In 1983, Slesser was featured as lead vocalist with Charlie
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
on their US hit single "It's Inevitable", and the related album. The related video was quite popular on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. . Also in 1983, Slesser was featured on backing vocals on the Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
album Pyromania
Pyromania (album)
Pyromania is the third studio album by British rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. It featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album charted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the UK Albums Chart.The album was partially recorded with...
. In 1984, he toured Europe, Japan and the USA as a backing vocalist with the Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Group
The Michael Schenker Group is a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992. After that, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.The...
.
As of 2009, Slesser is still touring as a solo act or with Freeway, with ex-Free drummer Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke is an English rock drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company.-Biography:...
.
Terry has two sons who are twins called Simon and Adam.