Dave Greenslade – Through several incarnations – a guiding light.
Greenslade in session tonight. Recorded as part of the Warner Brothers Records promotion for the release of Bedside Manners Are Extra, their second album issued in February of that year and this session, done at Morgan Studios shortly after.
It was very sad news, to hear of the passing of Dave Greenslade, one of the founders of the legendary Colosseum. Leaving in 1972 to put in a few guest appearances on several prog releases by other bands at the time (the Swedish band Nature being one), before finally assembling his own band under his own name – releasing the breakthrough Spyglass Guest in 1974.
Greenslade were only around for a short time – from autumn 1972 until their last gig at Barbarella’s, Birmingham, in December 1975. They recorded for a major label, Warner Brothers, and Spyglass Guest (1974) reached No. 34 in the UK album charts. It followed the group’s 1973 debut, Greenslade, and Bedside Manners Are Extra, also 1973, while 1975’s Time And Tide came last.
Beyond his work in progressive rock, Greenslade composed music for television, released several solo albums and reunited with Colosseum when the band reformed in 1994. He remained an active musician well into his later years, releasing his final solo album, Routes/Roots, in 2011 and later forming the duo G&T with guitarist David Thomas.
Although he never achieved the mainstream fame of some of his contemporaries, Dave Greenslade’s adventurous keyboard playing and innovative compositions helped define the early progressive rock movement. More than half a century after helping shape the genre, his influence continues to be heard in generations of musicians who followed in his footsteps.
To get a better idea, here is that session from 1973 as a tribute to a pioneering musician whose inspiration fed new generations of musicians.
