Rod Evans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| Rod Evans | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rodney Evans |
| Born | January 19 1947 |
| Origin | Slough, Berkshire, England |
| Genre(s) | Rock, pop, Progressive, Hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1965 - 1973, 1980 |
| Associated acts | Deep Purple, Captain Beyond, The Maze, The Horizons |
Rod Evans (born 19 January, 1947 in Slough, Berkshire) is a former English singer and was a founding member of Deep Purple in 1968. He provided vocals for the group's first three albums, including the hit single "Hush". He was replaced by Ian Gillan in 1969. After his departure, Deep Purple became a heavier outfit, as opposed to the more progressive and pop driven sound achieved with Evans.
Contents |
[edit] Early career
Before joining Deep Purple, Evans played together with Ian Paice in The Maze, formerly MI5. He was also in a band called The Horizons in the mid 1960s.
[edit] Post Purple
After leaving Deep Purple, Rod went on to form Captain Beyond, along with former Johnny Winter drummer Bobby Caldwell, former Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman and guitarist Rhino (Larry Reinhardt), who also was part of the last incarnation of the Butterfly. This band proved to be very influential, but sales never reflected their musical achievements. Someone also called them sci-fi rock, but anyway their first self-titled album became a rarity, because it was only distributed by Capricorn Records, a small label from Macon, Georgia, who also held the Allman Brothers Band at the time. Lack of commercial success ended the group after three albums.
Evans left Captain Beyond and the music business after their first two albums. He then became a director of respiratory therapy at a West American hospital until 1980.[citation needed]
[edit] Reformation controversy
In 1980 he was approached by a management company which specialized in questionably reformed bands with big names, and began to tour under the Deep Purple name accompanied by unknown session musicians. The line up was Rod Evans (vocals), Tony Flynn (guitar), Tom de Rivera (bass), Geoff Emery (keyboards), and Dick Jurgens (drums).
After several shows ended in near riots,[citation needed] Evans was sued by the management of the real Deep Purple and they were awarded damages of $672,000. As a result of the lawsuit, Evans no longer receives royalties from the band's first three albums.[citation needed]
[edit] Current whereabouts
Evans has not been seen in public since the end of the lawsuit in 1980. He has become one of the most reclusive ex-musicians in the world, rivalling that of the now deceased Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd.
During the 1990's he worked at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, CA as a respiratory therapist.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- The Highway Star - Information from a Deep Purple fansite.
- Additional information - Further reading.
fr:Rod Evans it:Rod Evans ka:როდ ევანსი nl:Rod Evans ja:ロッド・エヴァンス pl:Rod Evans ru:Эванс, Род fi:Rod Evans sv:Rod Evans
Categories: Articles lacking sources from January 2007 | All articles lacking sources | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since May 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since December 2007 | English male singers | English rock singers | 1947 births | Deep Purple members
