Biography
Detective positioned its sound in a middle ground between fellow Swan Song acts Bad Company and Pretty Things, yet the group never reached the large-scale arena success of the former or matched the staying power of the latter. An improbable roster came together, consisting of former Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye, bassist Bobby Pickett, and the lusty frontman Michael Des Barres. The players nevertheless forged a polished, cohesive style that moved from exuberant blues passages to expansive ballads built for stadium settings. Supportive words from Jimmy Page and strong production values proved insufficient for a major breakthrough, so the band disbanded after issuing its second studio album. Its members thereafter followed separate courses, as Kaye later returned to Yes while Monarch turned to country music. Today the outfit is recalled mainly as a minor note in the larger narrative of Led Zeppelin and the Swan Song label.
Albums
