Rev Gav

Spirit

This is the story of Magic Sam, not the American blues musician, but the greatest rock band in the 1990s of which no-one has ever heard.
The story begins in Farnborough, England, when four lads came together to fuse the genres of metal, brit-pop, funk, and punk.

Stu, the drummer was from a metal band, Ian the lead singer was from a punk band, Chris and Jay were guitarists who could play both bass and lead. Chris specialised in funky 1960s bass lines on his Rickenbacker, and Jay enjoyed his searing rock leads. Together, they were pure magic.

I was working in a recording studio in Hampshire when I first heard Magic Sam, and it was a great privilege to record their first album. What set them apart was their incredible songwriting. Songs that would get under your skin and up and dancing.

Magic Sam played the local band scene in venues such as The Tumbledown Dick, and at various London venues. Back then it was all ‘pay to play’ at The Rock Garden and The Mean Fiddler, with the band desperately wanting to be noticed but not really having a clue how to go about it.

If they had stuck together, or had just the tiniest bit of luck, then I think they would have gone all the way. They worked incredibly hard, and their recordings, today, are a precious piece of local band history.

It is the 30th anniversary of their first recordings, and to pay homage to this incredible band, I have produced and remastered their song called ‘Spirit’. Crank up your speakers and let me take you back to a pub small stage in 1995.