Colosseum (band)

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For other uses, see Colosseum (disambiguation).

Colosseum is a British jazz fusion/jazz rock band considered also to be part of early progressive rock. The band was formed in 1968 by founding members drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves. All three had previously played together in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Dave Greenslade, (organ), was immediately recruited, and the line-up was completed by Jim Roche on (guitar). Roche only recorded one track before being replaced by James Litherland, (guitar and vocals).

Colosseum made their live debut in Newcastle, and were promptly recorded by influential BBC Radio One DJ John Peel for his Top Gear Radio program. This appearance gained them valuable exposure and critical acclaim.

Colosseum's first album Those About To Die Salute You was released by label Fontana in 1969. Colosseum's second album, their second release in 1969, was Valentyne Suite. It is well-known as the first album release from the label Vertigo Records, which also first signed heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. Vertigo Records was a branch of Philips, established to sign and develop artists which may not fit the main Philips Records brand.

After the second album, James Litherland was replaced by Dave "Clem" Clempson for the 1970 album, The Grass Is Greener, which was oddly released only in America. Tony Reeves was then replaced by Mark Clarke, and Jon Hiseman recruited vocalist Chris Farlowe to enable Clempson to concentrate on guitar. This is considered by most critics and fans to be "the definitive line-up". Colosseum recorded with this line-up the 1970 album Daughter of Time.

In March 1971, the band recorded a gig at the Big Apple in Brighton, followed by one at Manchester University. Hiseman was impressed with the atmosphere at the Manchester gig, and the band returned five days later for a free concert which was also recorded. The recordings were released as a live double album in 1971, shortly before the original band broke up.

After Colosseum split, Jon Hiseman formed Tempest with bassist Mark Clarke, Dave Greenslade formed Greenslade with Tony Reeves, Clem Clempson moved to Humble Pie, Chris Farlowe to Atomic Rooster and Dick Heckstall-Smith went on a solo career.

Colosseum has undergone various changes in their line up. When the band split and then reformed with a stronger orientation towards jazz-fusion rock and with a totally new lineup, it was renamed itself Colosseum II. It featured guitarist Gary Moore, percussion from Jon Hiseman, and the keyboards of Don Airey).

A reunion tour for Colosseum happened in 1994, which was the catalyst for a live CD and DVD releases, and new studio CD releases. After the reunion, Colosseum also released expanded editions of Valentyne Suite and Colosseum Live, as well as several compilation albums.

Hiseman's wife, saxophonist Barbara Thompson, joined the band on various occasions after the 2004 death of Dick Heckstall-Smith and is now a permanent member of the band.

1 Line-ups
2 Discography
- 2.1 Post-reunion
- 2.2 Compilations
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Line-ups

Original band members:

Jon Hiseman – Drums (founder)
Dick Heckstall-Smith – Saxophones (founder member, died 2004, replaced by Thompson)
Tony Reeves – Bass (founder member, replaced by Clarke) (born Anthony Reeves, 18 April 1943, in London.
Dave Greenslade – Organ, Vocals (from 1968)
Jim Roche – Guitar (first line-up, only one track on the first album, replaced by Litherland)
James Litherland – Guitar (replaced by Clempson)

Later band members who all are still involved: