Stone The Crows
Formed around Scottish singer Maggie Bell and guitarist Les
Harvey (brother of Alex), the band worked initially in clubs and
air bases around the UK and Europe before arriving in London in
1969 where they were christened by their manager, Led Zeppelin
Svengali Peter Grant.
The group had fantastic talent in vocalist Maggie Bell (Scotland's
answer to Janis Joplin), guitarist Les Harvey (younger sibling of
Alex), bassist Jim Dewar and drummer Colin Allen.
Tragedy struck the band when Les Harvey was electrocuted on
stage by a live microphone at the Top Rank ballroom in Swansea,
Wales, on 3 May 1972. He was about to announce the first number of
the group's set at the Swansea University Coming Out Ball.
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was given immediately, but he died
a few hours later in a local hospital.
Maggie Bell (who was also Harvey's long-term girlfriend) was
also hospitalised in a state of collapse. Harvey's
replacement was former Thunderclap Newman guitarist, 19-year-old
Jimmy McCulloch.
The group recorded four consistent albums, all critically
acclaimed, but their self-titled debut LP (1970) remains a
stand-out, boasting the captivating 18-minute I Saw America and
a fine rendition of Fool On The Hill.
Unfortunately, their commercial failure ultimately led to the
group's demise, and Stone The Crows broke up in 1973. Maggie went on to enjoy a
modicum of success (and a great deal of critical acclaim) as a
solo artist.
McCulloch developed a drinking problem, drifting around the
London scene until 1975, when he replaced Henry McCulloch (no
relation) in Wings. He contributed some memorable guitar work to
four Wings albums, then left the band in 1978 to play in a
short-lived reconstituted Small Faces.
McCulloch was found dead in his Maida Vale (London)
apartment on 27 September 1979.
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