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Mott the Hoople people
Look, you really ought to read a copy of Campbell Devines authorised biography because I am not going to type everything in, but… A Welshman by birth and a classically trained pianist, Terence Allen moved to Hereford in the early sixtees, where he eventually joined The Inmates. Known to future Mott collegues Griffin, Watts and Ralphs by virtue of the Hereford 'scene' — they used to observe Terence and his brother scrutinising them in The Anchors days — he joined The Shakedown Sound who became Jimmy "Hard Road To Travel" Cliffs backing band. He eventually joined said Griffin, Watts and Ralphs in The Doc Thomas Group — being the last man to join the band that would become Mott the Hoople, apart from Hunter — who changed names to The Silence, via The Shakedown Sound, and signed to Guy Stephens and Island Records in 1969. Bands vocalist Tippins was injured and not fancied by Stephens so auditions were held and they turned-up Ian Hunter Patterson and The Silence briefly became Savage Rose and Fixable before acquiring Mott the Hoople at the further prompting of Stephens. At this point, Stephens suggested that Terence ought to be something else, so Phally (you'll have to read the book!) decided to use his fathers name, Verden. With an e. Verden was first to leave the original Mott the Hoople in January 1973 as a result of Ian Hunters increasing and band-discussed and agreed assuption of the role of leader. Having co-written "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" (one of our favourite Mott tunes, ever) on Brain Capers and then provided "Soft Ground" on All The Young Dudes, Allen demoed a couple of tracks for Mott sessions: "Nightmare" (know to be found on the CBS Anthology), "Black Staff" aka "Son of the Wise Ones", "Two Miles From Heaven", "Wine Ridden Talks", which were not taken up by the band. He did, however, co-write that hit albums "Hymn for the Dudes" track with Hunter. Clearly frustrated and feeling thwarted, Allen quit the band just as they were getting there. He was promptly followed by Mick Ralphs later in the year and in some ways the party was over. It is some tribute to Verdens playing that for touring purposes, Mott the Hoople hired two keyboard players (OK, so in his day Ian Hunter had played piano, but not always), one of whom was his eventual replacement, Morgan Fisher. Personally, I found his playing absolutely vital to the Mott sound; his organ (great sound, and I'm a sucker for it) was the underpinning for Ralphs' guitar. It is a shame that Bowie had to resort to saxaphones on the Dudes album — particularly 'Ready for Love' — where Phally's organ would surely have done the job properly. During 1974 he re-surfaced with a band called Cheeks, who minus Verden became The Pretenders. Here is a contemporary report from Sounds. And since then, he's been playing with various line-ups of local Hereford talent, most notably in a band that became Thunderbuck Ram, with whom he recorded the basis for the 'Long Time No See' CD in 1994, subsequently re-issued by Angel Air in 1998 with bonus tracks. Phally continues to make us all quiver and shiver with that Hammond sound that he seems to make more special than anyone else. Ever. Oh what might have been… For at the time of leaving the band he was, in a way, correct that other forces were starting to lead and allthough he wasn't a major songwriting force within Mott the Hoople, his leaving heralded the beginning of the end.
with Mott the Hoople Singles All singles recorded by Mott the Hoople Line-up 01, between 1969 and 1972 Albums All albums recorded by Mott the Hoople Line-up 01, between 1969 and 1972, and many of the subsequent compilations put out over the years by both Island and CBS.
Verden Allen/Mooni Singles Wine Ridden Talks/Nightmare
Verden & Luther Singles On the Rebound/A New Way
Verden Allen & Thunderbuck Ram Albums Long Time No See
Verden Allen Singles Colleen/Through and Through Sweet Sweet Girl/Colleen/ This Way Now/About Tomorrow Come on Back/Sweet Sweet Girl About Tomorrow/ This Way Now Albums Long Time
No See For Each Other 20 Year Holiday
Guest Appearances Singles On Ilkla Moor Baht'at/Harry Krishna Singles Hard Road to Travel - Jimmy Cliff Ace of Sunlight - Bronco
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Last update 18th January 2008 ©2008 Half Moon Bay
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