Steamhammer

Steamhammer came together as a blues-rock outfit in 1968 within the English coastal town of Worthing. Its ranks drew from experienced players who had previously worked in blues and folk groups and now sought a fresh direction. Almost immediately after forming, the musicians were recruited by blues legend Freddie King to serve as his backing band on a European tour. In spring 1969 they secured a deal with CBS Records and issued a self-titled debut that blended original songs with several standards, yet the record found little traction amid an already crowded blues-rock market. Live performances, however, quickly built a strong following, even after original members Michael Rushton and Martin Quittenton departed. Their follow-up effort revisited the same stylistic approach, though new saxophonist Steve Jollife’s exceptional technical ability produced modestly different results. In 1970 the group captured what many regard as their definitive statement, the widely praised Mountains, an album that brought modest mainstream attention while signaling a sharper turn toward their rock-oriented side. Subsequent touring thinned the lineup until only original guitarist Martin Pugh and drummer Mick Bradley remained. The reduced unit issued one final release, 1972’s Speech, which met with poor notices and little public interest. The band dissolved before any promotional campaign could begin, and Bradley succumbed to leukemia later that same year. No reunion ever occurred, though several former members later collaborated in ventures such as Armageddon.