Trapeze

In 1968 the hard rock group Trapeze assembled in Wolverhampton, England, uniting lead vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley—both previously of the Montanas, recognized for the hit “You’ve Got to Be Loved”—with singer/guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. After inking a deal with Threshold Records, the Moody Blues’ own label, the band delivered its debut album, Trapeze, in 1970. Jones and Rowley promptly rejoined the Montanas, leaving the remaining trio to surface later that year with Medusa. Extensive touring followed throughout Britain and overseas; although the band’s rock-and-funk hybrid was acknowledged as a key influence on outfits such as ZZ Top, widespread commercial success remained elusive. Following the third Trapeze release, 1972’s You Are the Music...We’re Just the Band, Hughes stepped in for Roger Glover within Deep Purple. Guitarist Rob Kendrick and bassist Pete Wright came aboard for the 1974 album Hot Wire, and another self-titled LP appeared the next year. In 1976 the core lineup of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reconvened, yet no new studio recordings materialized. Hughes departed once more ahead of 1978’s Hold On, which retained Wright and added guitarist Pete Goalby; Trapeze subsequently dissolved, sending Galley to Whitesnake and Holland to Judas Priest. The same three musicians regrouped in 1991, and a May 1992 concert in London produced the live album Welcome to the Real World.