IAN ELLIS


Biography

Bands/Discography:

Very fine bassist, he comes from Scotland.

1-2-3 / CLOUDS 

This was a progressive band from Scotland, formed around 1966 under the name 1-2-3:

Around 1968, they changed their name to Clouds. They released 3 albums.

In 1996, it was reissued a twofer comprising Scrapbook and Watercolour days.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Billy Ritchie
Harry Hughes
ALEX HARVEY & BAND 

Around 1970, Ian Ellis joined Alex Harvey in a new project:

But the project was sadly short-lived, and they split without making any recordings.
 
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Dave Dufort
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Alex Harvey
SAVOY BROWN 

A mythical band, led during all their career by Kim Simmonds. Many of his musicians have been covered in my site (and more will follow...). Ian Ellis joined in December 1975, replacing Andy Rae:

He is featured on the Skin'n'bone studio tracks (Andy Rae plays on the song Walkin' and talkin', which was recorded live on the Autumn 1975 US tour).

This lineup lasted only through July 1976, when Paul Raymond left the band to replace Danny Peyronel in UFO.

The trio worked through 1977 and in early 1978 recorded the Savage return album with an unknown keyboard player on some tracks who also did some UK dates with the band.

After a late summer '78 US tour headlining over AC/DC (!!), the band split in October 1978, when Kim Simmonds relocated in the States.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Tom Farnell
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Paul Raymond
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Kim Simmonds
NIGHTLIFE 

This was a band formed by Jim Roche and Ian Ellis at the end of the 70s:

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Mac Poole
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Jim Roche
SOUTHSIDE 

This was a band formed by 4 great, veteran musicians from the British scene. When their original bassist, the superb Roger Sutton, left, Ian Ellis joined them:

Some time later, Geraint Watkins also left, and he was replaced by Diz Watson: Later they added a horn section, but I don't know the name of the members. Help, please.

The band was joined onstage with many other great musicians, such as the late Steve Waller (guitar) or Stevie Smith. Waller soon became a permanent member:

They recorded a double album, filled with many of his friends musicians. Apart from the current ones, the former members also appear: Geraint Watkins (keyboards, vocals), Roger Sutton (bass, vocals), plus Diana Wood (vocals), Malcolm Hine (slide guitar), Brendan Hoban (guitar), Len Davies (bass), Matt Irvine (bass), Lou Martin (keyboards), Jamie Rowan (keyboards), Frank Mead (sax), Nick Payne (sax), Nick Pentelow (sax), Pete Thomas (sax), Andy MacDonald (sax), Stevie Smith (harmonica), etc. The CD edition is called Southside United, Vol. 1. I hope a volume 2 will follow...
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Dick Lovejoy
Diz Watson
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Jim Roche
Geraint Watkins
Steve Waller
HERSHEY & THE TWELVE BARS 

Great band, featuring some of the best British instrumentists in the blues-rock scene. Their leader is Richard 'Hershey' Shirman. Ian Ellis has been a member of the band, but I can't find proper info about lineups and periods. Help, please!

STEVE HACKETT BAND 

Around 1990, Ian Ellis joined Steve Hackett, the magical guitarist from Genesis:

There's a live album, Time lapse, containing 7 tracks recorded in October 1990 with this lineup (there are other 7 tracks recorded in November 1981 with a different lineup, featuring Chas Cronk, Nick Magnus and Ian Mosley).

But that's not all. That concert from October 1990 was released complete as a live video (or DVD) called Steve Hackett live. 14 tracks, 63 minutes at full glory.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Julian Colbeck
John Hackett
Fudge Smith
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Steve Hackett
RIC LEE'S BREAKERS 

Ric was (still is) the fine drummer in mythical band Ten Years After. As the band remains inactive during long periods of time (as Alvin Lee also develops his own solo career), Ric keeps himself busy with his own band, Ric Lee's Breakers.

I don't have info about the first lineups, but Ian Ellis is usually always present. Help, please!

In February 1995, Paul Samson (from heavy metal band Samson) joins them:

They toured promoting the album Milan (recorded by Ric and Ian, with Tony Crooks on vocals and featuring special appearances by Chick Churchill and Leo Lyons, both from Ten Years After). Their tours usually saw great guests jamming with them, such as Chris Farlowe or Dick Heckstall-Smith.

Around August 1996, Paul Samson leaves the band, as the band split because Ten Years After started playing gigs again.
 

Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Paul Samson
Ric Lee
METALLIC BLUE 

In Summer 1997, Ian teams again with Paul Sampson. The result is a new band, Metallic Blue:

They toured England in November 1998. In March 1999, this was the lineup: But when a new tour was to start, Guzman is not available, so they quickly get a new drummer: Some shows were played with a different drummer, though: When the tour finished, Paul Samson revived his band Samson, so Metallic Blue ceased to exist.
 
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Paul Samson
Gerry Guzman
Scott Higham
Tony Tuohy
MICK CLARKE BAND 

Obviously formed by great blues-rock guitarist Mick Clarke (from Killing Floor and Salt). Ian Ellis joined him in time to record their album New mountain:

The album also includes apparitions from old member Lou Martin on keyboards.

They toured England in November 1998. In March 1999, this was the lineup:

*** I need to include lineups with Lou Martin ***

Their latest lineup for year 2001 is:

They keep themselves gigging all over Europe.
 
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Mick Clarke
Lou Martin
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Chris Sharley
Dave Lennox
CREAM'D 

Apart from playing in Mick Clarke Band, Ian also finds time to play with the great Ray Minhinnett in this Cream tribute band. The lineup usually is:

xxx.
 
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Ray Minhinnet
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Steve Dixon
RAY MINHINNETT'S BAND 

And, if he wasn't busy enough, he also plays in Ray Minhinnet's other band, with other great veterans from the British scene: x
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Ray Minhinnet
Bob Henrit
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Gary Moberley
Mike Paice
*** QUESTIONS TO SOLVE: 

1. In my old notes from 1985, I have some Ian Ellis listed as backing vocalist for Pete Townshend tour under the name "Deep End". Is he the same Ian Ellis?

2. I've read about a band called Bluebottle, fronted by Ian Ellis. Again, is this the same person? They have an album, "Riley".


Sessions

Press here to read about Ian Ellis sessions

Related links: From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have: From the superb site Knights in Blue Denim: The British Blues Scene '68 - '70 (by Christer Fridhammar & Vanja), we have:
Musicians mentioned in this page that I have projected to cover in my site someday: And short tributes to:

Family tree

Coming soon (I hope so!).

Thanks section

Very special thanks to: Mick Clarke, for the contact.

Special thanks to: Tim Pratt, always ready to help me with his vast knowledge about Savoy Brown; Alex Gitlin, for checking out the facts.

Thanks to:


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Page created by Miguel Terol on: 31/August/2001. First published on: xx/xx/xx. Last modified on: 25/September/2001.