Warhorse (British band)

Warhorse was a British rock band formed by Deep Purple's first bassist Nick Simper.

This article is about the English band. For the American band who shares the same name, see Warhorse (American band). For other uses, see War horse (disambiguation).

Warhorse
OriginEngland
GenresHard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Years active1970–1974, 1985, 2005
LabelsVertigo
Associated actsDeep Purple, Rick Wakeman, Velvett Fogg, Marsha Hunt Band, Nick Simper's Dynamite, Fandango
Past membersAshley Holt
Nick Simper
Mac Poole
Ged Peck
Rick Wakeman
Frank Wilson
Pete Parks
Barney James

Career

After being sacked by Deep Purple in 1969, Simper joined Marsha Hunt's backing band. Not long after, Simper replaced her backing band with Ged Peck on guitar and Mac Poole on drums. When Hunt became pregnant, the band stopped touring, and Simper and Peck re-organized the group as Warhorse. Ashley Holt became the band's singer, and they recruited keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When their first demo was recorded in April 1970, Wakeman left to join the Strawbs and was replaced by Frank Wilson.

Warhorse signed to Vertigo, and released their first album, Warhorse in November 1970. Warhorse was managed by Ron Hire, originally part of HEC Enterprises, the original investors in Deep Purple.

The band began to tour, but made little progress, and the album failed to chart. A single, "St. Louis", was released, which failed to chart. By 1971, after arguments about style, Peck left and moved to classical guitar playing. He was replaced by Pete Parks.

In June 1972, their next album, Red Sea, was released, but soon after Warhorse was dropped from the label. Around the same time, Poole decided to leave Warhorse for Gong. The band carried on, and replaced Poole with Barney James. Rick Wakeman remembered Ashley Holt and Barney James and recruited both when he formed his band The English Rock Ensemble for his solo albums, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Warhorse's last concert in 1974 was at Polhill College, Bedford.

Warhorse musicians (Holt, Parks, Simper, Wilson, and Poole) have since played together on several occasions, including 1985 and 2005, latterly for drummer Poole's 60th birthday. Poole died on 21 May 2015.[1]

Personnel

Members
  • Ashley Holt - lead vocals (1970-1974, 1985, 2005)
  • Nick Simper - bass guitar (1970-1974, 1985, 2005)
  • Mac Poole - drums (1970-1972, 1985, 2005; died 2015)
  • Ged Peck - guitar (1970-1971; died 2015)
  • Rick Wakeman - keyboards (1970)
  • Frank Wilson - keyboards (1970-1974, 1985, 2005)
  • Pete Parks - guitar (1971-1974, 1985, 2005)
  • Barney James - drums (1972-1974; died 2016)

Line-ups
1970 1970-1971 1971-1972
(Reunions in 1985 and 2005)		 1972-1974
  • Ashley Holt - vocals
  • Ged Peck - guitar
  • Mac Poole - drums
  • Nick Simper - bass guitar
  • Frank Wilson - keyboards
  • Ashley Holt - vocals
  • Mac Poole - drums
  • Nick Simper - bass guitar
  • Frank Wilson - keyboards
  • Pete Parks - guitar
  • Ashley Holt - vocals
  • Nick Simper - bass guitar
  • Frank Wilson - keyboards
  • Pete Parks - guitar
  • Barney James - drums

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums
  • Best of Warhorse (1986)
  • Outbreak of Hostilities (1991)

References
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