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James Litherland, a history |
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| James
was born in Salford, England. His parents,
who worked in the textile industry, loved
music and always had music on around the
house. While his parents were at work, he
was looked after by their friend Mary Holland.
Mary’s husband, Les, worked in a cotton
mill and ran a kazoo band and Ra Ra girls
with his family and friends to perform at
the Oldham Carnival every year. When “Uncle”
Les started a Harmonica Gang, he gave James
a harmonica and James would sit and watch
the rehearsals whilst waiting for his parents
to collect him after work. |
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| His
parents bought him a guitar when he was
8 years old and the seed was sown. He first
heard blues music and joined a blues band
by about 11 years old. About this time he
saw many blues artists and blues tours that
came to the Manchester and Oldham area and
subsequently played in various local bands
playing Blues, R & B, Soul and Motown
music. |
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On
leaving school he worked for a couple of
years, still playing in bands at night and
it was then he saw the Graham Bond organisation
with Dick Heckstall-Smith.
When he was 19 he answered an advert in
the Melody Maker for Colosseum featuring
Dick Heckstall-Smith ( as he had seen Dick
and liked what he saw ), who were looking
for a guitarist.
1 week later he was living in London and
playing professionally with Colosseum. |
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| 1
year and 2 albums later (Those About
To Die, and Valentine Suite, on which
he wrote some of their most memorable
songs including Elegy and Butty’s
Blues ) he formed Mogul Thrash with
John Whetton ( Asia, King Crimson,
and Roxy Music ) Malcombe Duncan and
Roger Ball (The Average White Band
). |
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After
a turntable hit album, he left to form another
band, Million, who played and recorded with
Long John Baldry, Leo Sayer, and Dick Heckstall-Smith.
After many tours of the UK, Europe and America,
he went to live in San Francisco to play
in a Bay Area band. After a year he returned
to form Bandit with Cliff Williams (AC/DC)
Graham Broad (Roger Waters and Bill Wymans
Rhythm Kings) Danny McIntosh ( Kate Bush)
and Jim Diamond.
Bandit recorded 1 album and toured with
Alexis Korner. |
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After
Bandit split, James became a session musician
(TV ads, Film, Theatre etc.), until he recorded
his first solo album 4th Estate, which was originally
released by Guitarist Magazine, but is now on
the Confidential Records label.
Also on the Confidential Records label is his
latest album, Real Men Cry, an all acoustic work. |
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| Photo
By John Wilson |
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