Biography
Paddy, Klaus & Gibson formed with preexisting ties, both direct and indirect, to the Beatles that predated the trio’s own launch, and those ties largely account for the group’s lasting recognition. Emerging as a distant offshoot of King Size Taylor and the Dominoes, the musicians had first operated in Liverpool as a quartet named the Eyes that built an audience in Hamburg. After the return to Liverpool, guitarist-singer John Frankland and saxophonist John Phillips departed, leaving lead singer and guitarist Paddy Chambers, bassist Klaus Voormann, and drummer Gibson Kemp to continue as the trio Paddy, Klaus and Gibson. Kemp had already served as drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes in the slot previously held by Ringo Starr prior to his recruitment by the Beatles. Voormann, who had begun the 1960s as a successful young designer and a friend of the Beatles during their Hamburg years—his girlfriend having been engaged first to former Beatle Stu Sutcliff and later to Kemp—took up the bass in 1964 and demonstrated sufficient skill to hold a place in a three-piece ensemble.
Once reestablished in the port city, the group became the first act signed by former sports journalist Tony Stratton-Smith, who would later found Charisma Records and manage the Nice and Genesis. In an era when most bands featured four or five members, the trio’s lineup stood out, and Stratton-Smith secured them a booking at the upscale Pickwick nightclub, where the Beatles saw them perform. Paul McCartney produced one of the three singles the group released on Pye Records after signing with the label in 1965. The Beatles also convinced Brian Epstein to add the trio to his roster of artists, prompting him to purchase their contract from Stratton-Smith. By then, however, Epstein’s managerial effectiveness had declined, and few of his clients from that period achieved notable success apart from the Beatles themselves. The trio disbanded by May 1966. Prior to that dissolution, Voormann had already created the cover artwork for the Beatles’ Revolver album, securing his own place in the band’s history. Voormann and Kemp also socialized with Epstein and joined him in taking LSD and experimenting with other recreational substances around 1966. Voormann later replaced Jack Bruce on bass in Manfred Mann and sat in on a pair of Hollies recording sessions, yet he remained largely unknown beyond English music circles until 1969, when he joined John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band as bassist.
Once reestablished in the port city, the group became the first act signed by former sports journalist Tony Stratton-Smith, who would later found Charisma Records and manage the Nice and Genesis. In an era when most bands featured four or five members, the trio’s lineup stood out, and Stratton-Smith secured them a booking at the upscale Pickwick nightclub, where the Beatles saw them perform. Paul McCartney produced one of the three singles the group released on Pye Records after signing with the label in 1965. The Beatles also convinced Brian Epstein to add the trio to his roster of artists, prompting him to purchase their contract from Stratton-Smith. By then, however, Epstein’s managerial effectiveness had declined, and few of his clients from that period achieved notable success apart from the Beatles themselves. The trio disbanded by May 1966. Prior to that dissolution, Voormann had already created the cover artwork for the Beatles’ Revolver album, securing his own place in the band’s history. Voormann and Kemp also socialized with Epstein and joined him in taking LSD and experimenting with other recreational substances around 1966. Voormann later replaced Jack Bruce on bass in Manfred Mann and sat in on a pair of Hollies recording sessions, yet he remained largely unknown beyond English music circles until 1969, when he joined John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band as bassist.