The Pretty Things

Formed in Erith, Kent (UK) in 1964, The Pretty Things quickly earned a reputation as the dirtiest, loudest, most outrageous and gritty R&B outfit around.

The band were frequent guests on the TV show Ready Steady Go and scored hits with Don't Bring Me Down (1964) and Honey I Need (1965). Educated alongside The Rolling Stones (guitarist Dick Taylor attended Sidcup College with Keith) and covered by Bowie (Rosalyn on Pin-Ups), The Pretty Things were better than beat-era also-rans, but their looks counted against them (think the England rugby squad with bouffant coiffs), despite their tough sound, needling guitars and Phil May's sex-starved yelp.

The group disbanded in 1970 when their album SF Sorrow - the first-ever rock opera - went completely unnoticed despite being voted Rolling Stone Album of the Year. Phil May re-formed the band the following year with a new line-up. Their material in the early 1970s leaned more towards hard rock and early heavy metal, on albums like Silk Torpedo, released in 1974 on Led Zeppelin's Swansong label.

The band continued to perform sporadically through the 80s and 90s (with various line-ups) and released their 11th studio album (Balboa Island) in 2007.