Edgar Broughton Band

The Edgar Broughton Band originated in Warwick, England, and surfaced within London’s underground circuit during 1968. Fronted by brothers Edgar on vocals and guitar and Steve on drums, the lineup also featured bassist Arthur Grant alongside guitarist Victor Unitt, who had earlier spent time with the Pretty Things. The quartet soon joined the Harvest roster and delivered its first album, Wasa Wasa, toward the close of 1969; the set consisted of extended electric-blues explorations driven by Edgar’s vocals in the manner of Captain Beefheart.

In 1970 the group issued Sing Brother Sing, which climbed into the U.K. Top 20 and yielded the modestly charting singles “Out Demons Out” and “Apache Drop-Out,” the latter blending Beefheart’s “Dropout Boogie” with the Shadows’ “Apache.” Although the moment appeared ripe for wider success—especially amid the concurrent rise of heavy-rock acts such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple—the Broughtons reversed direction, shifting toward quieter, overtly political material. Commercial progress halted, and their 1971 self-titled release made little impact.

Both In Side Out in 1972 and Oora the following year fared similarly, prompting a move from Harvest to NEMS. Contractual disputes kept the musicians out of the studio for several months; when they resurfaced in 1975 with Bandages, Unitt had departed and guitarist John Thomas had taken his place. A short-lived split ensued, yet the band reconvened for the 1978 live collection Live Hits Harder. By the time Parlez-Vous English? appeared in 1979, the lineup had grown to six members and adopted the formal name the Broughtons.

Reverting to the Edgar Broughton Band designation, the group pared down to a trio for the 1982 concept album Superchip, which incorporated synthesizers and new-wave rhythms. Live performances persisted through the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Drummer Steve Broughton passed away on May 29, 2022, at age 72.