Crushed Butler

Crushed Butler
Background information
Also known as	Band moniker changed to Tiger in autumn 1970 Band moniker changed to Helter Skelter in autumn 1971 Band moniker changed to Hammersmith Gorillas in 1973 Band moniker changed to Gorillas in 1976
Origin	London, England
Genres	Protopunk, hard rock
Years active	1969–1971
Associated acts	Jesse Hector And The Rock 'N' Roll Trio, The Cravats, The Clique, The Way Of Life, The Mod Section, Crushed Butler, Tiger, Helter Shelter, Hammersmith Gorillas, The Gorillas, Jesse Hector Sound, Jesse Hector And The Gatecrashers, The Orange Illusion, Krayon Angels, Dizzy, Darryl Read Group, Snatch, Heart Of Darkness, The Nightriders, X-T. Rex, The Sharp Angles, Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists, Aardvark, Killing Floor (British band), Queen (band), The Move, Albert Monk, Small Faces, John's Children, The Deviants (band), Edgar Broughton Band, Stack Waddy, Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Shagrat (band), Third World War (band), T. Rex (band), Slade
Past members	Jesse Hector Darryl Read Alan Butler Stan Aldous Stuart "Mac" MacDonald Barry Wyles Mitchell Arthur Anderson(Tiger) Trevor Bolder(Tiger) Vic Allen(Helter Skelter) Gary Anderson(Helter Skelter) Charlie Harty(Crushed Butler 1998 Reunion)

Crushed Butler were a British protopunk/hard rock band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form The Hammersmith Gorillas aka The Gorillas and The Darryl Read Group, as well as pursue solo careers.

History[]

Crushed Butler formed in 1969 with a line-up of Jesse Hector (guitar, vocals), Alan Butler (bass guitar) and Darryl Read (drums).^[1] They initially played cover versions of other bands' songs such as "Move It" by Cliff Richard, "Son of a Baker" by the Small Faces, and "Keep On Chooglin'" by Creedence Clearwater Revival before writing their own original material.^[1] Darryl Read comes up with the name “Crushed Butler” unlike any of the other thirty band names he jots down, including the unused at the time band moniker of The Clash, which he deemed too corny! The band moniker is an anagram of sorts: Alan’s surname, “Butler”, Darryl’s initials, “D.R.” end the words, and Jesse “Ray” Hector’s (as he was known by then) initials are also imbedded. As well as “SHED” - the football hooligan movement. They dressed with ripped slash-neck T-shirts, studded belts, and straight legged Levis jeans, and their aggressive and energetic live performances, blew many a name top act off the stage. Including Slade, Mott the Hoople, UFO, Atomic Rooster, Third World War (band) Climax Blues Band, Freedom (band), Kevin Ayers, Osibisa, from the Lyceum to the Guildford Civic - they were futuristic and a group to be reckoned with. Graham Breslau was the band's first manager/impresario with boxing trainer Gerald Horgan as co-manager and helping book live engagements. Tony Gohill a friend of the group takes the bombsite photos in Kilburn circa late 1969 (on his Kodak Instamatic 120 camera) of Jesse, Darryl, and Alan, which were used as publicity promo photos for the band.

The band auditioned and recorded for several record labels including a self financed demo to shop to potential interested record labels at Regent Sound Studios, Denmark Street, London (“It’s My Life” & “Let It Ring” aka “Waiting For You” recorded & produced by Neil Sedgwick in October 1969), first audition for EMI Records Ltd. at E.M.I. Demo Studios, E.M.I. House, Manchester Square, London (“Love Is All Around Me” & “Factory Grime” recorded & produced by Roger Ferris in January 1970), second audition for DJM Records aka Dick James Music at D.J.M. Recording Studios, West End, London (two songs recorded & produced by Harold Champagne in March 1970 that remain missing and unreleased as of 2021), and third audition for Decca Records at Decca Recording Studios, West Hampstead, London (four songs recorded & produced by Graham Breslau & Crushed Butler April 1970, including “My Son’s Alive” & “Love Fighter” along with two additional songs of which still remain missing and unreleased as of 2021), but none of these 10 songs failed to secure a record deal for the group. For their 1970 session at EMI Demo Studios, Manchester Square, London, they were only allowed to record their own "Factory Grime" original song after recording producer Roger Ferris' choice, "Love Is All Around Me", written by Roger Ferris and Gloria Macari. Roger Ferris saw the group's potential but failed to convince the heads of EMI to sign the band, who seven years later signed the Sex Pistols.^[2][3] Alan Butler played bass only on the first recording session at Regent Sound Studio in October 1969 before moving to become the groups driver/roadie. Stan Aldous (bassist from the progressive rock band, ) appeared on the EMI recording session and played a few of the bands earliest gigs. After the EMI session, Stan Aldous gave his two weeks notice of his walking papers so an ad was placed in Melody Maker for a new bassist. Stuart McDonald (formerly with Krayon Angels and Killing Floor) was quickly drafted in as replacement bassist for a few live gigs only but was not able to commit to the band. Gerald Horgan found Barry Mitchell, who after his stint with Crushed Butler would serve as second bass player with Queen from August 1970 to January 1971, playing thirteen gigs with the band Queen.^[4] Barry Mitchell was the same size as the rest of the band, his hair was startling blonde and spikey, not dissimilar to Paul Simonon of the The Clash. He played a Gibson SG bass, creating a raw but powerful rhythm section with Darryl Read.

In autumn 1970, the band changed their name to Tiger, and the line-up also changed to include Arthur Anderson. Darryl Read specifically enlisted Arthur Anderson in the band because of his Glaswegian thug abilities, and also because he impressed the band with his aggressive bass style. Anderson cut his hair off and looked like a droog from A Clockwork Orange one year before the film was released in the UK. A friend of Darryl Read, David Palmer (Read and Palmer who both attended Corona Film School together) takes new black and white band photos for the group in late 1970, again in Kilburn, near Jesse Hector’s mother’s council house, as Hector wields bricks, Darryl sports braces, and Arthur sports Converse “Chuck Taylor’s” sneakers. As Tiger they were managed by Neil Christian of The Crusaders as the bands second manager. Neil Christian knew Dave Siddle at the new De Lane Lea studios in Wembley and got Tiger some free studio time as guinea pigs testing the new studio equipment. Tiger recorded five songs at De Lane Lea Studio in October 1970 that remain missing and unreleased as of 2021.

As the new year approaches Alan Butler returns to the band on bass guitar for the departed Anderson. In January 1971, the band record the first version of “High School Dropout” at a demo studio in Tooting. In March 1971, a second version of “High School Dropout” is recorded at Marquee Studios with Tony Taverner engineering the session. However, they still were unable to secure a record deal and the band split up in late spring 1971 when Read took up a job as a songwriter at Track Records.^[1]

In summer 1971, Jesse Hector forms new band Helter Skelter with Gary Anderson on drums who previously played in the band Albert Monk. With Vic Allen drafted in on bass, Helter Skelter record three songs at Regent Sound Studio in Denmark Street (the first studio Crushed Butler recorded at back in October 1969). The three songs recorded include “I Need You”, “Goodbye Baby”, and “I Live In Style In Maida Vale”. David Kassner, son of President Records owner David Kassner, produces the session. The session was deemed too aggressive for public consumption at the time in late 1971. However, a Helter Skelter single was released posthumously on President Records subsidiary, Sticky Records, six years later in 1977. Upon the departure of Vic Allen, Alan Butler joined Helter Skelter and the band played many gigs between 1972 and 1973. With a name change (suggested by Darryl Read) inspired by the song "Hammersmith Guerilla" by the political proto punk band, Third World War (who were the second British proto punk band after Crushed Butler), Hector and Butler went on to form The Hammersmith Gorillas in 1973, (later shortened to The Gorillas in early 1976), while Darryl Read was hired by Track Records and formed a new band in 1975, The Darryl Read Group. The Darryl Read Group (consisting of Steve Forest from the glam band Silverhead on lead guitar.) recorded demos in 1975 and 1976 for EMI Records but were unsuccessful in securing a record deal. Later Read pursued a solo career, as well as working as an actor. Read's works included three albums (Beat Existentialist (1991) and Freshly Dug (1999) with Ray Manzarek and Bleeding Paradise in 2007.^[5] Read was killed in a motorcycle accident in June 2013 in Thailand.

Crushed Butler's recordings were eventually released in 1998 by Dig The Fuzz Records on the Uncrushed album.^[1]

Discography[]

Crushed Butler Recording Sessions[]

• October 1969

Regent Sound Studios, Denmark Street, London, Produced and engineered by Neil Sedgwick, Surviving 8 Track Master Tape, Mono, Alan Butler on bass, 1. It's My Life (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read/Graham Breslau), 2. Let It Ring aka Waiting For You (Graham Breslau)

• January 1970

E.M.I. Demo Studios, EMI House, Manchester Square, London, Produced by Roger Ferris, Surviving EMIDisc Acetate, Mono, Stan Aldous on bass, 1. Love Is All Around Me (Roger Ferris/Gloria Macari), 2. Factory Grime (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read/Graham Breslau)

• March 1970

D.J.M. Recording Studios, West End, London, Produced and engineered by Harold Champagne, Missing Master Tape, Mono, Barry Mitchell on bass, (2 Songs Recorded)

• April 1970

Decca Recording Studios, West Hampstead, London, Produced and engineered by Graham Breslau and Crushed Butler, Surviving Master Tape, Mono, Barry Mitchell on bass, 1. My Son's Alive (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read), 2. Love Fighter (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read), (2 Additional Songs Recorded Are Missing From Master Tape)

Tiger Recording Sessions[]

• October 1970

De Lane Lea Recording Studios, Wembley, London, Produced by Neil Christian, Engineered by Dave Siddle, Missing Master Tape, Mono, Arthur Anderson on bass, (5 Songs Recorded)

• January 1971

? Demo Studios, Fulham or Tooting, London, Produced by Neil Christian, Surviving Acetate, Mono, Alan Butler on bass, 1. High School Dropout (Version 1) (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read)

• March 1971

Marquee Studios, Wardour Street, London, Produced and engineered by Tony Tavener, Surviving Master Tape, Mono, Alan Butler on bass, 1. High School Dropout (Version 2) (Jesse Hector/Darryl Read)

Helter Skelter Recording Sessions[]

• October 1971

Regent Sound Studios, Denmark Street, London, Produced and engineered by David Kassner, Surviving Master Tape, Mono, Vic Allen on bass, Gary Anderson on drums 1. I Need You (Jesse Hector), 2. Goodbye Baby (Jesse Hector), 3. I Live In Style In Maida Vale (Jesse Hector)

Singles[]

• "It's My Life" b/w "My Son's Alive" (2010) vinyl single Windian Records USA

Albums[]

• Uncrushed (1998),Uncrushed: First Punks From The British Underground 1969-1971, Dig The Fuzz Records, U.K. - (First release on 10” black vinyl)
• Uncrushed (2005), RPM Records, U.K. - Reissued as Uncrushed: First Punks From The British Underground 1969-1971 CD Digipack (“High School Dropout” (Version 1) new bonus track)
• Uncrushed (2005), Madstar Records, Germany - Reissue CDBABY digital distribution
• Uncrushed (2009), Radio Heartbeat Records, U.S. (“Let It Ring” new bonus track, 6 photos / card stock posters, and badge on 12" black vinyl)
• Uncrushed (2013), (2015) Crush Records, subsidiary record label of Last Year’s Youth Records, Germany, (with poster, 8 page booklet, and Crushed Butler “Rehearsal Reunion, Camden Town, 1998” Film DVD (DVD only included with Luxus Edition), extras on 10" black vinyl, 2013 and green vinyl, 2015)
• Uncrushed (2017), Radiation Reissues, Italy - Reissued as Uncrushed: Previously Unreleased British Punk From The Underground 1969-1971 on 12” 180 gram black vinyl

References[]

External links[]

• Crushed Butler at AllMusic