THE FULL STORY ...... QUARTZ: New Album And Compilation In The Works The British hard rockin Heavy Metal legend QUARTZ, who recently teamed up with Gabriel Management (home of acts such as CRYSTAL VIPER, SACRED STEEL or SATANS HOST) in order to help them improve and increase their presence and status, is writing material for new album, and is putting finishing touches on the compilation with previously unreleased studio material from the 80s, which will come out later this year via Skol Records. QUARTZ were formed in 1973 in Birmingham, and their debut same titled album, produced by BLACK SABBATHs Tony Iommi, came out in 1977. Their second studio album Stand Up And Fight from 1980, and the 12 EP Satans Serenade which was released the same year, are considered as classic and legendary releases of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. One of the founding members of QUARTZ, Geoff Nicholls, joined BLACK SABBATH in 1979 as a session musician, and except supporting the band on stage, recorded all keyboards that can be heard on all BLACK SABBATH albums released between 1980 and 1995. Promo picture: 38.media.tumblr/4cb921c18eaacceaeaebf61b70ca1db6/tumblr_n7z0we0ZmI1rxgn02o1_r1_1280.jpg Visit the band: facebook/quartzbackintheband JOURNALISTS: QUARTZ members are available for interviews FESTIVALS/PROMOTERS: QUARTZ are available for booking at any time QUARTZ - COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY Originally formed in Birmingham around 1973 the nucleus of the group came from members of the two short lived Brumbeat outfits namely LEMON TREE (Arnold, Taylor and later Hopkins) and COPPERFIELD (Arnold, Cope and Hopkins). The last piece of the jigsaw was completed when Geoff Nicholls joined the roster and BANDYLEGS as they were initially known came to fruition. The band released three singles between 1974 and 1976 but the bands major breakthrough came whilst they toured with fellow Brummies BLACK SABBATH. Strong friendships and a mutual appreciation were formed during this time which led to BANDYLEGS gaining a manager (Albert Chapman who was SABBATH’s tour manager) and later Tony Iommi would agree to produce their debut album. At this stage it was agreed, that a new name was required, and QUARTZ was the logical and natural choice to reflect the hard rock music that they were now writing and playing. The self-titled QUARTZ debut album was released on 20th May 1977 by Jet Records and was preceded by and a UK tour with WIDOWMAKER to promote the album. But then out of nowhere came the Punk Rock explosion which led to the album being shelved for the foreseeable future. Undeterred QUARTZ continued to write material and tour heavily with some of the monsters of rock e.g. AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN and UFO and they also appeared at the prestigious Reading Rock Festival in 1977 and again in 1978. It was around this time that Danny Reddington took a keen interest in the band. He had the idea and the vision, to set up an independent record label for QUARTZ and other local bands, to use as a vehicle to get their material out into the public domain. Things were now at last beginning to gather momentum, but suffered a temporary setback when Geoff Nicholls answered a telephone call from Tony Iommi in the summer of 1979. Tony asked Geoff to help him launch a new BLACK SABBATH following the departure of Ozzy Osbourne. Geoff initially thought it would be only for two weeks, but actually ended up staying nearly twenty five years. Geoff’s departure seemed to focus the band, and make them even more determined to succeed and produced a heavier raw sound, as they continued on now as a four piece outfit. A cover version of the MOUNTAIN classic “Nantucket Sleighride”, was the first record to be released on the Reddington’s Rare Records label in May 1980. This had an instant and sustained success in the Independent Record Chart, charting for over 26 weeks and peaking at No. 8 in the chart. This was quickly followed by the release of the “Live Quartz” 3 track flexi disc promo sampler, the full live album and then the release of the 12 inch Triple A “Satan’s Serenade”. Logo Records were alerted by the ripples in the rock pool, and licensed the Live Quartz LP and Satan’s Serenade EP from Danny Reddington, and even Jet Records decided to re-release the QUARTZ debut album in a brown paper bag calling it “Deleted”. It wasn’t too long before other major record labels began calling, and were courting QUARTZ for their signature, as the NWOBHM scene began to emerge and take hold in the United Kingdom. In mid 1980 QUARTZ were signed by MCA Records and went into the recording studio with engineer Derek Lawrence to produce the album “Stand Up And Fight”, which is considered by many music experts and aficionados now, as to be one of the finest examples of the NWOBHM genre from that era. Two singles were also taken from the album: “Stand Up And Fight / Charlie Snow” and “Stoking Up The Fires Of Hell / Circles”. QUARTZ toured extensively during this time with DEF LEPPARD, MAGNUM, SAXON, RUSH and GILLAN and also made their third appearance at The Reading Festival in what was an amazingly successful year for the band. It was always going to be difficult to maintain this heightened level, and just over a year later in the summer of 1981 Mike “Taffy” Taylor decided to leave the band to put his time and efforts into his own project (TAFFY TAYLOR’S BIG ROLL BAND). Derek Arnold also decided to take time out at this juncture, with the imminent birth of his second son due, and to return to a regularly paid full time job to support his wife and his family. Mick Hopkins and Malcolm Cope decided to continue as QUARTZ and began holding evening auditions to find a vocalist and a bass player as replacements for Taffy and Derek. David Garner was recommended by Gary Chapman from CRYER as a possible candidate for vocalist, and suitably impressed and was offered the job. Similarly Steve McLoughlin was quickly recruited and the new band began writing and rehearsing in earnest. At this stage, the pressure of trying to combine and juggle work, home life, and a music career began to weigh heavily on David Garner’s young shoulders, especially as he also was a new father too, so something had to give and it was always going to be the band (and to be honest who wouldn’t choose their family first if in that situation). The search was back on to find another vocalist (and quickly), as contracts were waiting to be signed with Heavy Metal Records. Fortunately in stepped Geoff Bate, ex EAZIE RYDER vocalist, and things started to look up as his vocal style was similar to David’s, and he gelled with the band almost immediately. The recording of the third studio album was a tortuous affair, with the first recording studio used which belonged to Raymond Froggatt mysteriously burning down. The second studio used had technical issues with the tape machines, so a third studio was required for post-production and mastering. No wonder the album was entitled “Against All Odds”, given the circumstances that had prevailed and were overcome. Further problems with distribution and promotion, saw any momentum for the release lost and QUARTZ parted company with Heavy Metal Records in 1984 and the band went their different ways. The original line-up of the band had always kept in touch during the Eighties and they reformed in 1989 for a one off gig in aid of ITV’s Telethon Charity Event, which was held at a small club venue in Oldbury along with BLACK SABBATH, whose line up on that night featured Tony Iommi (guitar), Tony Martin (vocals), Geoff Nicholls (bass) and Terry Chimes (ex CLASH) (drums) and several other artists, bands and celebrities. This reunion inspired Derek Arnold to begin writing material again during with his friend, and ex COPPERFIELD band member Bob Dafurn. Mick Hopkins and Malcolm Cope would assist by adding drums and guitars to these compositions. Examples of these works and more information regarding this side project can be found on the QUARTZ website at quartztheband.co.uk In 1992 MCA digitally re-mastered and reissued the “Stand Up and Fight” album in Japan on CD format with the bonus “Circles” track included. This was very well received and rejuvenated interest in the band. Neat Records approached the band to see if they had any unreleased material, that might be of interest to their fan base. Some live tracks from 1977 plus some unreleased live tracks from 1979 were digitally converted thus offering the public a live compilation called “Resurrection”, that was released in 1996. During the Nineties there was a huge resurgence in NWOBHM and this saw Castle Music who were part of The Sanctuary Music Group (another SABBATH connection there) release the “Quartz Anthology” in 2004, which is the “holy grail” for many QUARTZ and NWOBHM fans, as it contains their debut album, the Satan’s Serenade singles, bonus rare unreleased demos plus Live Quartz / Resurrection - all fully digitally remastered in a double CD collectors package, but sadly long out of print now. Without any reference to or knowledge of the band, following on from this renewed interest and success, Majestic Rock were quick to release “Stand Up And Fight” on CD format in 2004, and then the QUARTZ debut album on CD format in 2006. Further repackages and reissues of “Stand Up And Fight” on CD followed from various sources, including a Japanese version on SHMCD format, as part of the “NWOBHM The Hall Of Fame Collection” series in 2007, and on licence from Universal Music in Poland by Metal Mind Productions in 2010 as a special limited edition. To complete the back catalogue reissue merry go round, Krescendo Records released Live Quartz in 2009 and Heavy Metal Records re-mastered the “Against All Odds” album which along with all the other albums are now available as digital downloads. A QUARTZ reunion has long been talked about, and eagerly awaited by their fans. This was finally achieved on the 16th December 2011, at The Asylum in Birmingham. Four of the original members and vocalist David Garner (with Taffy Taylor’s blessing) took to the stage to recreate the 1979 Digbeth Civic Hall night, when QUARTZ and CRYER played together again some thirty two years later. The evening was a fitting tribute and memorial to the late and great Stu Clarke (ex CRYER lead guitarist), who had tragically passed away on 27th July 2009. Following the reception and response received, the band decided to continue down the comeback path. Impressive festival appearances at Keep It True XVI in Germany and at Muskelrock in Sweden during 2013 have firmly re-established the band in the public eye. In connection with these festivals, the band have self-recorded and produced a CD called “Live and Revisited”, which highlights David Garner’s vocal talents, as he and the band reworked some old QUARTZ classics for the Asylum gig, and from rehearsals leading up to these festival appearances. The past year has seen the band working hard in the studio writing new material that is near completion now. The band have recently been approached by Skol Records [ skolrecords ] and teamed up with Gabriel Management [ gabrielmanagement.eu ] in order to help them improve and increase their presence and status.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:33:24 +0000
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