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Biography
Aynsley was born on January 10, 1946, in Liverpool,
England. Over his career, he has demonstrated the ability of playing many
different styles including jazz, blues, fusion, rock and progressive rock. With
over 30 gold and platinum records from over 112 albums, Aynsley Dunbar has
proven himself one of the finest drummers in the business for over forty years,
whether as a member of a band or as a session musician.
Playing drums since the age of eleven, Aynsley began his professional career on
the Liverpool jazz scene, playing at various gigs until joining a band called
Leo Rutherford at fifteen, and then on to the traditional jazz band Merseysippi
Jazz Band at the age of seventeen. In August, 1963, when rock descended on
Liverpool, Aynsley shifted to rock/R&B and joined Derry Wilkieand the Pressmen.
In January, 1964, the band disbanded and Aynsley joined four of the band members
to form The Flamingos. After a short tour of Germany, they joined Freddie Starr
in April of 1964 to form Freddie Starr and the Flamingos . In 1964, Aynsley
joined the Excheckers, and then off to Stu James and the Mojos, a Liverpool band
who toured from 1963-1966, famous for their pop hit entitled Everything's All
Right.
After leaving the Mojos, Aynsley joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1966 with
Peter Green and John McVie to record such British Blues staples as Hard Road and
many others. As a Bluesbreaker, Aynsley recorded with Eddie Boyd and released an
EP record with Paul Butterfield. It was through Bluesbreaker concerts that
drummers first discover that an Aynsley Dunbar drum solo was something never to
be missed. Aynsley's next gig was drumming for the Jeff Beck Group, with Rod
Stewart and Ron Wood, playing on Jeff Beck's Seminal Truth sessions, Tallyman
and Rock My Plimsoul. Before leaving the band, the whole group appeared in
Donovan's album, Barabajajal. In 1967, Dunbar formed a blues-rock band named The
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, which featured guitarist/vocalist John Moorshead,
keyboardist Tommy Eyre, bassist Alex Dmochowski, organist/singer Victor Brox,
and also back veteran blues artist Champion Jack Dupree and Tim Rose, famous for
his songs Hey Joe and In the Morning Dew. Rod Stewart also fronted Retaliation
on an earlier live recording with members Peter Green and Jack Bruce.
Retaliation disbanded and Aynsley formed a new band, Blue Whale, a progressive
style jamming band that recorded one album that featured a cover of a Frank
Zappa song, Willie the Pimp. While with Retaliation, Aynsley met Frank Zappa in
Belgium at a BYG record festival, where Frank sat in with Retaliation on two
songs.
 One night, upon
randomly wondering into his favorite haunt, the London Club SpeakEasy, Aynsley
was told someone was there waiting for him. There sat
Frank Zappa.
He invited Aynsley to join his new band and move to America. Aynsley arrived in
the U.S., moved into Frank's Los Angeles house and set up his drums in his
basement. Frank immediately put him to the test: OK, now remind me why I hired
you. Aynsley delivered the goods and in that spontaneous moment, he and Frank
created Chunga's Revenge. Not bad for the first day in the basement. Aynsley
first appeared with Zappa on Chunga's Revenge and toured with the old Mothers on
the Mother's Day Tour of 1970. Frank then approached Mark Volman and Howard
Kaylan (The Turtles) to join his new version of the
Mothers of Invention, appearing on such albums as Fillmore East: June 1971 and
200 Motels, and playing music that gave Aynsley a chance to show off his jazzier
chops. In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined Aynsley with Frank and the
Mothers to record the live album Sometime in New York City.
When Howard Kaylan (Flo) and Mark Volman (Eddie) jumped ship from Zappa's band
in 1972 after a strange accident where a fan pushed Zappa from the stage and
caused him to be confined to a wheel chair, Aynsley joined them as a member of
their backing band for a short period. He would return to work with Zappa on
jazzier studio projects like Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, and Apostrophe', as
well as continuing his studio work for other artists. He joined David Bowie in
the 1973-1974 time frame for the albums Pin-Ups and Diamond Dogs. Aynsley
recorded powerful drumming on a cover of his own Mojos hit, Everything's All
right, and Bowie's huge hit, Rebel Rebel. In 1973, Aynsley also recorded Lou
Reed's famous session album Berlin with Jack Bruce, Steve Winwood, and Tony
Levin. In 1974, after recording twelve albums in two years (yes, 12 in two
years), Aynsley was acclaimed by the music industry as the world's leading
session musician. That same year, too busy flying a bi-weekly Atlantic crossing
from Los Angles-to-London to record with Bowie. Aynsley delayed returning
several phone messages from Santana guitarist Neal Schon and manager Herbie
Herbert . When Aynsley finally returned the call, he took a listen to this new
jazz-rock fusion group named Journey. Eager to build a democratic rock-fusion
band, he joined, recorded and co-wrote four albums, including the highly
acclaimed rock-fusion instrumental Kohoutek, Of a Lifetime, which features Gregg
Rolie vocals with high-impact solos, Hustler, which featured Aynsley's first use
of double kick drums, and such mega-hits as Lights, Feeling That Way, Anytime,
Patiently, Something to Hide and Wheel in the Sky. Aynsley departed Journey as
the band shifted their sound away from challenging rock-fusion towards simpler
ballads.
 In 1976, Aynsley
played on rocker Sammy Hagar's album Nine On a Ten Inch Scale and played for the
second time with Nils Lofgren to drum up his hit Back it Up on Cry Tough.
Aynsley next joined Jefferson Starship in 1978, promptly bringing the band a new
hit album with Freedom at Point Zero and such hits as Jane, Girl with the Hungry
Eyes, and the mega hit, Find Your Way Back. He stayed with Jefferson Starship,
touring and recording through 1982's Winds of Change. Aynsley took a
well-deserved breather, to rest on his laurels in the great city of San
Francisco, the same city that awarded him three prestigious BAMMIES. At the
request of David Coverdale, over lunch at Sunset's La Dome, Aynsley was
convinced to leave retirement to join Whitesnake in 1985. Aynsley played drums
on the band's commercial breakthrough album, Whitesnake 1987, producing another
string of hits, Still of the Night, What is Love and Here I go Again.
Aynsley then took another leave to raise his four children, Gretchen, Bibs,
Taylor and Dash but the sticks kept calling and Aynsley headed out on the road
again in 1994, playing and recording with such artists as Pat Travers, UFO, John
Lee Hooker, Michael Schenker, and collaborating with many of the world's top
musicians on tribute albums to Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Black Sabbath,
Aerosmith, Queen and most recently Metallica. In 1996, Aynsley joined guitarist
Alvin Lee from Ten Years After, Eric Burdon and a band of veteran musicians for
a tour entitled Best of British Blues. Soon after, a virtuoso of musicians
formed a hard driving rock band Mother's Army, featuring guitarist Jeff Watson
from Night Ranger, Ozzie Osborne's bassist Bob Daisley, Deep Purple front man
Joe Lynn Turner with Aynsley on the chops for a progressive metal-rock album
Fire on the Moon, now awaiting release in the U.S.
In October 1996, Aynsley returned to his hectic world touring roots and signed
on with Eric Burdon and the New Animals, bringing his powerful, driving beat to
the rock `n roll hits We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It's My Life, Spill the
Wine, Don't Bring Me Down, House of the Rising Sun, and many, many others. He
has recorded three albums and a live recorded DVD which includes one of
Aynsley's tremendous drum solos. As a New Animal, Aynsley reunited last year
with John Mayall and Spencer Davis to perform for the Official 2000 Grammy
Awards. The New Animals joined Spencer again, playing at the U.S. Democratic
National Convention in 2000.
No other modern rock / jazz / blues / fusion drummer has played with as many
successful bands and musicians as Aynsley Dunbar. Although Aynsley has achieved
such professional success, tragedy struck him June 1999, when his youngest son
Dash was diagnosed with brain cancer. Sadly, Dash passed away
on May 9, 2000. Dash's courageous fight proves to be an inspiration for Aynsley
to keep pushing on, never to give up his dream... to continue creating music and
to share his tremendous musical talent with the world.
Bands/Discography:
-
Merseysippi Jazz Band
-
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen
-
The Flamingos
-
Freddie Starr & The Flamingos
-
The Excheckers
-
Stu James & the Mojos
-
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
-
A hard road (Feb 67, Decca)
-
Looking back (Aug 1969, Deram) (CD reissue: 1990)
-
Thru the years (1971, Decca) (2LP) (CD reissue: 1990)
-
London blues (1964-1969) (Oct 1992) (2CD)
-
The Best of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - As
it all began 1964-69 (1997, Decca)
-
Jeff Beck Group
-
unnamed band (I)
-
unnamed band (II)
-
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
-
Blue Whale
-
The Mothers of Invention / The Mothers
-
Flo & Eddie
-
Kaylan/Volman/Rowles/Pons/Dunbar lineup:
-
Kaylan/Volman/Rowles/Herron/Pons/Dunbar lineup:
-
Kaylan/Volman/Reed/Scott/Underwood/Dunbar lineup:
-
several lineups:
-
David Bowie Band
-
The Fallen Angels
-
Journey
-
Schon/Thickner/Valory/Rolie/Dunbar lineup:
-
Schon/Valory/Rolie/Dunbar lineup:
-
Perry/Schon/Valory/Rolie/Dunbar lineup:
-
several lineups:
-
In the beginning (1979, CBS) (2LP) (compilation)
-
Greatest hits (1988, CBS) (compilation)
-
Time 3 (Dec 1992, CBS) (3CD) (compilation)
-
Jefferson Starship
-
Thomas/Kantner/Chaquico/Sears/Freiberg/Dunbar lineup:
-
Slick/Thomas/Kantner/Chaquico/Sears/Freiberg/Dunbar
lineup:
-
Modern times (1981, Grunt/RCA)
-
Winds of change (1982, Grunt)
-
several lineups (although credited to Starship):
-
Whitesnake
-
Pat Travers Band
-
The Best of British Blues
-
Mogg/Way
-
Eric Burdon's I Band
-
Mother's Army
-
Eric Burdon & The New Animals
Very talented drummer, Aynsley T. "The Hawk" Dunbar
was born in January 10, 1946,
in Liverpool, England. He started playing
violin, but he later changed to drums.
He has the ability of playing perfectly
many different styles: jazz (yes, jazz!), blues, rock, and hard rock.
It
isn't easy to play under so different names as Frank Zappa, John Mayall
or Whitesnake, to name a few.
Rumor has it about two different groups.
He was
supposed to be the drummer in a trio with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
He was supposed to be the original drummer in Asia.
Both jobs were
given to Carl Palmer. More facts to his legend:
-
Noel Redding wanted Aynsley to complete the initial
lineup of Jimi Hendrix Experience, but Mitch Mitchell was called instead.
-
Aynsley was chosen to be the drummer in Armageddon
(band formed by Martin Pugh and the late Keith Relf), but he had just signed
with Journey.
-
He also made the odd gig with famous bands, such as
Bonzo Dog Band (on occasion, once with Keith Moon), or Hot Tuna.
Now, we're going to read about the bands he has belonged.
MERSEYSIPPI JAZZ BAND
Sorry, I don't know anything about them, except
that Aynsley played there.
DERRY WILKIE & THE PRESSMEN
Derry Wilkie was lead singer in Howie Casey's band
called Howie Casey & The Seniors. Around 1962, he formed his own band,
The Pressmen, and after several lineup changes, Aynsley joined them in
August 1963:
-
Derry Wilkie (vocals)
-
Dave Carden (guitar)
-
Bob Pears (bass)
-
Phil Kenzie (sax)
-
Dave Roberts (sax)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
But, in January 1964, the band disbanded. Derry and
Phil Kenzie formed Derry Wilkie & The Others,
while the other 4 guys
formed The Flamingos.
THE FLAMINGOS
It was January 1964:
-
Dave Carden (guitar)
-
Dave Roberts (guitar, sax)
-
Bob Pears (bass, vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
After a short tour by Germany, and not getting a recording
contract,
they join lead singer Freddie Starr in April 1964.
FREDDIE STARR & THE FLAMINGOS
Freddie Starr (Freddie Howell) also was lead
singer in Howie Casey & The Seniors. At the end of 1962, he started
forming his own bands, where Keef Hartley even played.
In May 1964, they became Freddie Starr & The Flamingos.
- Freddie Starr (vocals)
-
Dave Carden (guitar)
-
Dave Roberts (guitar, sax)
-
Bob Pears (bass, vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Again, lack of success, so Aynsley left the band in
October 1964.
THE EXCHECKERS
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
-
+ others unknown
This band recorded a single in 1964 for Decca.
STU JAMES & THE MOJOS
The Mojos were a band from Liverpool from the early
times (1963), that is, Beatles contemporaries.
They were commanded by Stu
James, a member from Nomads. The Mojos started on the blues path, although
they made good pop singles. In December 1964, they change lineup and band
name (they became known as Stu James & The Mojos).
-
Stu James (vocals)
-
Nicky Crouch (guitar, vocals)
-
Lewis Collins (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They only recorded two singles, toured a lot, and
in September 1966, Collins and Dunbar leave the group.
JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS
After leaving Mojos, Aynsley joins John Mayall
prestigious band in September 1966
-
John Mayall (vocals, keyboards,
guitar, harmonica)
-
Peter
Green (guitar, vocals)
-
John McVie (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
A great lineup (as almost every Mayall
lineup,). With Peter Green
They made a superb album,
A hard road,
the only one that Peter Green (and Dunbar) made
with Mayall.
A horn section was used in 4 tracks:
Johnny Almond (sax), Alan Skidmore (sax), Ray Warleigh (trumpet).
Recorded
from October to November 1966, it was produced by Mike Vernon.
Looking back
comprises 11 tracks,
none of them ever available on an album. There are songs from 1964 to 1967.
Regarding Aynsley, I can say that there are 3 tracks where he
appears. Keef
Hartley (2 tracks), Chris Mercer (1 track). And with fantastic guitar players: Eric Clapton (1 song), Peter
Green (7 songs!!!), Mick Taylor (1 song).
Thru the years
with just the tracks not included in
Looking
back.
It comprises 14 tracks, none of them ever available on an
album.
Regarding Aynsley, he appears in 7 tracks. Keef Hartley
(1 track), Chris Mercer (2 tracks).
Noted appearances: Peter Green (8 songs),
Mick Taylor (3 tracks), and musicians who formed Coliseum:
Jon Hiseman, Tony Reeves and Dick Heckstall Smith.
They also recorded an EP with Paul Butterfield,
called John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield They also appear as backing band in an album by bluesman
Eddie Boyd,
Eddie Boyd & His Blues Band (featuring the Bluesbreakers)
In April 1967, Dunbar quits. Regarding later compilations,
London blues
(1964-1969) is a 2CD, with several tracks including Aynsley.
In 1997, it has been released the compilation The
best of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - As it all began 64-69. It has
been digitally remastered, and includes Mayall's comments on
every track, from an interview. Aynsley Dunbar plays in
3 tracks: 'Looking back' (from Looking back), 'A
hard road' (from A hard road), and 'Eagle eye'
(from the EP recorded with Paul Butterfield).
( left to right: Aynsley
Dunbar, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood)
Dunbar joins Jeff Beck Group in April 1967. He sits
in the drummer kit after several quick replacements by other people.
But after a brief period, Dunbar leaves in August
1967.
Before leaving the band, the whole Jeff Beck Group
appeared in a Donovan's album, Barabajagal
SUPER BANDS
In November 1967, Aynsley forms his own band. Before
getting a permanent lineup,
He made an attempt to release a single with
an all-star lineup:
-
Rod Stewart (vocals)
-
Peter
Green (guitar)
-
Jack Bruce (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They record the song 'Stone crazy', but it
was not released.
Years later, it was finally released in a blues compilation
from the 60s,
History of British blues (1973, Sire).
In April 1968, there's another attempt to form
a superband. Keith West and Steve Howe left the band Tomorrow,
They
formed a band with Aynsley and former colleagues
Ron Wood and keyboard
wizard Nicky Hopkins:
They recorded some demos in November 1968 for EMI
that remained unreleased until now, when they've appeared in the Keith
West collection of rarities Excerpts from Keith West - Groups and
sessions 65-74 (1995, RPM - 23 tracks, also featuring Herbie Flowers,
Clem Cattini, John 'Twink' Adler). The two songs featured from those sessions
are 'The visit' and 'She'.
AYNSLEY DUNBAR RETALIATION
After all these aborted tries, Aynsley finally
decides to lead his own band.
-
Victor Brox (vocals, guitar,
keyboards)
-
Jon Morshead (guitar, vocals)
-
Keith Tillman (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Sometime later, a new member enters in the bass role:
-
Victor Brox (vocals, guitar,
keyboards)
-
Jon Morshead (guitar, vocals)
-
Alex Dmochovski (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They release two albums, Retaliation
and Doctor Dunbar's prescription.
For the third album, To
Mum from Aynsley and the boys,
there is a new member, the prolific Tommy Eyre.
-
Victor Brox (vocals, guitar,
keyboards)
-
Jon Morshead (guitar, vocals)
-
Alex Dmochovski (bass)
-
Tommy
Eyre (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
This album was produced by former boss, John Mayall.
Several of them were old John Mayall bandmates (Aynsley himself, Tillman
and Dmochovski).
They shared bill with Frank Zappa band in Belgium,
in the Amougies Festival, in October 1969, and in Paris, where Zappa puts
his eyes on him. That would lead to a fruitful team soon later.
There's a last album released, called
Remains
to be heard.
But several songs sound like demos, so I don't know
if the band members appear there.
A curious note: Aynsley appeared in one of the
first Hot Tuna concerts, in April 1969, as a guest.
BLUE WHALE
This is the new band formed by Aynsley in 1969,
only keeping Tommy Eyre from his band:
-
Paul Williams (vocals)
-
Ivan Zagni (guitar)
-
Roger Sutton (bass)
-
Tommy
Eyre (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Robert Fripp (cerebrum in King Crimson) almost joined
the group.
(scan courtesy of Mike Tolan)
They released an album, Blue whale,
in a progressive style, with long jamming songs. But Aynsley dissolved
the band, when he got a call from Frank Zappa to join forces. Coincidentally,
the album contains a long version of Zappa's 'Willie the pimp'.
JOHN MAYALL (again)
This is just a one-off lineup. In the summer of
1970, John Mayall was to play at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive
Music. But, not having a stable band at the time, he asked some of his
old friends to play with him. See the surprising one-off lineup! Peter
Green, soon after leaving Fleetwood Mac, Bassist Ric Grech, & drummer
Aynsley Dunbar!
-
John Mayall (vocals, keyboards,
guitar, harmonica)
-
Peter
Green (guitar, vocals)
-
Ric Grech
(bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION
Around May 1970, Aynsley joins the numerous list
of Frank Zappa alumni. This band incarnation also received the name of
Hot Rats, or The Mothers.
-
Frank Zappa (guitar)
-
Max Bennett (bass)
-
Sugarcane Harris (violin, organ,
vocals)
-
Ian Underwood (keyboards, horns)
-
Billy Mundi (drums)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
THE MOTHERS
Zappa meets Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman (singers
in The Turtles), They form a new band, under the name The Mothers. They play at Bath Festival with this lineup:
-
Frank Zappa (guitar)
-
Howard Kaylan (vocals)
-
Mark Volman (vocals)
-
Jeff Simmons (bass)
-
George Duke (keyboards)
-
Ian Underwood (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They work in the album 200 Motels, where
Simmons is substituted by Martin Lickert,
They are augmented for the
film with Ruth Underwood (drums),
Don Preston, Jimmy Carl Black, Jim Pons
(bass), Jim Sherwood.
200 motels also has the guest collaborations
of Ringo Starr and Keith Moon.
But the live lineup is, in May 1971:
-
Frank Zappa (guitar)
-
Howard Kaylan (vocals)
-
Mark Volman (vocals)
-
Jim Pons (bass)
-
Ian Underwood (keyboards)
-
Bob Harris (keyboards)
-
Don Preston (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They played with John Lennon in his concert at Fillmore
East in June 1971.
Two live albums appeared from this event, Fillmore
East, June 1971, credited to Frank Zappa,
Another one credited
to John Lennon: Sometime in New York City.
But in December
1971, Frank Zappa has a serious accident;
A Moronic Cretin from the audience pushed
him from the stage at Rainbow Theatre, London.
He had to stay in a wheelchair for several months,
The band decide to put together a new idea, called Flo & Eddie.
Zappa was almost abandoned by his musicians,
But his good relationship with them continued
Aynsley later
played as a guest in some later Frank Zappa albums,
FLO & EDDIE
The funny name comes from The Phlorescent Leech
and Eddie. It's 1972, and this was the first lineup:
-
Howard Kaylan (vocals)
-
Mark Volman (vocals)
-
Gary Rowles (guitar)
-
Jim Pons (bass)
-
Don Preston (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Sometime later, Don Preston leaves the band.
They
release their first album, The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie.
They get a new keyboardist.
-
Howard Kaylan (vocals)
-
Mark Volman (vocals)
-
Gary Rowles (guitar)
-
Jim Pons (bass)
-
John Herron (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They release their second album, called
Flo
& Eddie.
They toured supporting wild Alice Cooper. But in
1973, other changes happen within the band:
A third album, still with Aynsley, is released, with
another funny title,
Illegal, immoral & fattening.
With
some session musicians playing, like Leland Sklar (later with James Taylor
and Phil Collins)
or the later member Craig Krampf (drums).
April 1973, Aynsley leaves them for David
Bowie.
DAVID BOWIE BAND
After the
breakup of the original Spiders from Mars band, Aynsley joins David Bowie in 1973.
-
David Bowie (vocals)
-
Mick Ronson (guitar)
-
Trevor Bolder (bass)
-
Mike Garson (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
On 18-20 August 1973, David Bowie recorded an NBC
Midnight Special at London's Marquee Club
Titled
'The 1980 Floor Show',
using an augmented lineup of the band:
-
David Bowie (vocals)
-
Mick Ronson (guitar)
-
Mark Carr Pritchard (guitar)
-
Trevor Bolder (bass)
-
Mike Garson (keyboards)
-
Geoff MacCormack (backing vocals)
-
Jason Guess (backing vocals)
-
Ava Cherry (backing vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
(David Bowie, Mick Ronson
& Aynsley Dunbar at The 1980 Floor Show)
By the
way, this was the only live show Aynsley ever did with Bowie.
After releasing Pin ups, an album
made of covers of songs Bowie always loved
(from The Kinks, The Who, Pink
Floyd, The Easybeats, The Yardbirds, Them... and The Mojos, a band where
Aynsley had played!), The remaining survivors from Spiders from Mars,
The
great ones Mick Ronson & Trevor Bolder
"Uriah Heep" leave David Bowie.
-
David Bowie (vocals)
-
Alan Parker (guitar)
-
Herbie Flowers (bass)
-
Mike Garson (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
David Bowie reforms the band (without Aynsley,
replaced by Tony Newman) in February 1974.
Aynsley still appears in
Bowie's next album, Diamond Dogs.
Recorded with David Bowie (vocals, guitar, sax, keyboards), Alan
Parker (guitar on 1 track),
Herbie
Flowers (bass), Tony Newman (drums), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), and Tony Visconti
(strings).
David Bowie plays all the
guitar parts in the album (except for 1 song).
Marc Bolan is supposed to
be playing guitar uncredited in some songs, as well as Keith Richards.
The two bonus tracks in my edition are "Dodo" and "Candidate",
both recorded in 1973,
but no musicians specified in them.
THE FALLEN ANGELS
Still in 1973, as David Bowie was getting rid of
all his fellow mates Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder
& Aynsley
projected to stay together in a new band,
along with vocalist Scott Richardson:
-
Scott Richardson (vocals)
-
Mick Ronson (guitar, vocals)
-
Trevor Bolder (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Nothing came from this combo, and they finally split
after a few months.
JOURNEY
I Saw Journey
open up for Ted Nugent At The New Haven Coliseum before any one ever heard of
them!!
-
Neal Schon (guitar, vocals)
-
George Thickner (guitar, vocals)
-
Ross Valory (bass, vocals)
-
Greg Rolie (vocals, keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They release their first album,
Journey,
and toured America with many other bands,
including Jeff Beck (Aynsley's old
boss), & Hot Tuna.
In April 1975, George Thickner leaves the band.
They continue as a quartet during two more years:
-
Neal Schon (guitar, vocals)
-
Ross Valory (bass, vocals)
-
Greg Rolie (vocals, keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
In May 75, they play in the "Day on the green Festival",
with some bands that sooner or later were to be very related with Aynsley:
Jeff Beck, Nils Lofgren and Jefferson Starship.
After releasing two more albums, Look into
the future and Next, they decide to put more focus
on vocals, and they search for a frontman. In June 1977, they are a quintet
again:
-
Robert Fleischman (vocals)
-
Neal Schon (guitar, vocals)
-
Ross Valory (bass, vocals)
-
Greg Rolie (vocals, keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
But after a very short period, in September 1977,
Fleischman is substituted for the definitive vocalist, Steve Perry.
-
Steve Perry (vocals)
-
Neal Schon (guitar, vocals)
-
Ross Valory (bass, vocals)
-
Greg Rolie (vocals, keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They release a new album, Infinity,
with huge success. But a year later, in November 1978,
Problems between
the band and Aynsley are followed by Aynsley's departure.
There has been released later compilations.
Greatest
hits mostly covers the Steve Perry period,
In the beginning
compiles songs from the first 3 albums, and
Time 3 is a 3CD
box set.
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
Around the end of 1978, Aynsley joins Jefferson
Starship. The band was in a low point, because two of their leaders, Marty Balin
& Grace Slick had just left them.
-
Mickey Thomas (vocals)
-
Craig Chaquico (guitar)
-
Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals)
-
Pete Sears (bass, keyboards,
vocals)
-
David Freiberg (bass, keyboards,
vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
Freedom at point zero
contains the hit-single
"Jane",
and a very beautiful song penned by Pete Sears,
"Awakening".
In March 1981, Grace Slick comes back to the band,
starting a continuous story of entering and leaving the band along the
years.
-
Grace Slick (vocals)
-
Mickey Thomas (vocals)
-
Craig Chaquico (guitar)
-
Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals)
-
Pete Sears (bass, keyboards,
vocals)
-
David Freiberg (bass, keyboards,
vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
(scan courtesy of Mike Tolan)
They release a new album that year, Modern
times.
In 1982, they release a new album, Winds
of change, but Aynsley quits same year, before the tour was started.
Recently, it has appeared a compilation credited
to Starship. It's called
Greatest hits (ten years and change 1979-1991),
Although it's credited to Starship (not to Jefferson Starship), it
contains several tracks from the Jefferson Starship years, thus Aynsley
appearing here.
WHERE WAS HE ?
After leaving Jefferson Starship, Aynsley took
a rest from music business, until 1985.
WHITESNAKE
Whitesnake's former drummer, Cozy
Powell, had left the band in January 1985, They spent 6 months
trying musicians for the role, until they chose Aynsley in September 1985.
-
David Coverdale (vocals)
-
John Sykes (guitar)
-
Neil
Murray (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
But in 1986 David Coverdale has to take a rest, and
in August 1986, he resumes his activities,
now without Murray or Sykes.
At the end of 1986, Dunbar is out of the band too.
Soon later, it's released the 1987
album, with help from Adrian Vandenberg ,
Don Airey (keyboards)
& Bill Cuomo (keyboards). The album was called
Whitesnake
in the States.
Greatest hits is a compilation including
some songs only available as a single.
David Coverdale (vocals), Micky
Moody (guitar), John Sykes (guitar), Steve Vai (guitar),
Dann Huff (guitar), Neil Murray (bass), Rudy Sarzo (bass),
Don Airey (keyboards),
Alan Pasqua (keyboards),
Cozy
Powell (drums), Aynsley Dunbar (drums),
Denny
Carmassi (drums), Tommy Aldridge (drums).
PAT TRAVERS BAND
I don't know the lineup or the period when Aynsley
was with Pat Travers. Help, please!
-
Pat Travers (guitar, vocals)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
-
+ others unknown to me
THE BEST OF BRITISH BLUES
Around May 1996, Alvin Lee, fantastic guitarist
from the famous blues-rock band Ten Years After, assembles a band of great
veteran musicians, for a tour:
-
Eric Burdon (vocals)
-
Alvin Lee (guitar)
-
Micky Moody (guitar)
-
Boz Burrell (bass)
-
Tim Hinkley (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
But, after only 4 concerts, Boz Burrell leaves them,
being replaced by Tony Franklin. This still was May 1996.
-
Eric Burdon (vocals)
-
Alvin Lee (guitar)
-
Micky Moody (guitar)
-
Tony Franklin (bass)
-
Tim Hinkley (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They finish the tour at the end of March 1997, and
Alvin Lee resumes both his Alvin Lee Band and his old group Ten Years After.
But Aynsley and Eric Burdon would reunite very soon, as we'll read...
MOGG/WAY
In 1996, Phil Mogg
& Pete Way, two founder members of UFO,
start a new chapter of the band, but under the name Mogg/Way.
-
Phil Mogg (vocals)
-
George Bellas (guitar)
-
Pete Way (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They release an album, Edge of the
World,
with help from Matt Guillory (keyboards) and Eric Martin (from Mr. Big,
backing vocals on 1 song).
ERIC BURDON'S I BAND
Aynsley joins Eric Burdon again, after having toured
together along with Alvin Lee in 1996.
Mark Craney was the original drummer
in the band, but his illness finally prevented him to keep on playing live
concerts,
Aynsley arrived, around 1997. guitarist, Larry Wilkins, sadly passed away on May
6, 1997.
I saw these guys at least 15 times
(Excellent Excellent)
-
Eric Burdon (vocals)
-
Larry Wilkins (guitar)
RIP
-
Dean Restum (guitar)
-
Dave Meros (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
In order to compete with the bootleggers who follow
their tour, they issued their own CD,
Called The official live bootleg.
It was recorded in Germany in Nov, 1996. It contains Eric's
greatest hits,
'Don't let me be misunderstood',
'Monterey', 'House of the rising sun', etc.,
& a couple
of covers:
Jimi Hendrix's 'Little wing', plus The Doors'
'Roadhouse
blues',
Aynsley performs a drum solo. It's a very good live album,
I love it!
They are now in the studio polishing work for an
upcoming CD, as well as another live one.
The new guitarist is Neal Morse (from
Spock's Beard,
the same band where Dave Meros and Neal play).
-
Eric Burdon (vocals)
-
Dean Restum (guitar)
-
Neal Morse (guitar, keyboards)
-
Dave Meros (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
There is now available a second I-Band live bootleg
CD.
Eric Burdon has a new studio CD under review (Dunbar is on all the tracks),
Eric's new autobiography
will be issued with a CD Aynsley Dunbar will probably be the drummer
for many of those tracks too.
Aynsley Dunbar, Live with "Eric Burdon's
I Band", Racine, Wis., June, 1998.
(Original photo courtesy of Mike Tolan.
)
  
"Eric Burdon's I Band", from Cabooze
Bar, Minneapolis, June 1998.
MOTHER'S ARMY
This band comprised four virtuoso musicians:
Jeff
Watson (guitar, from Night Ranger), Bob Daisley (bass, ex-
Uriah Heep, Rainbow, lately in Dio),
Carmine Appice (drums). They released
2 albums. But later, Carmine Appice leaves the project,
he is replaced
by Aynsley Dunbar in 1997.
-
Joe Lynn Turner (vocals)
-
Jeff Watson (guitar)
-
Bob Daisley (bass)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
-
They released their third album (first with Aynsley),
Fire on the moon. Initially, it was only released in Japan.
Please note: Aynsley hasn't left Eric Burdon's
band.
In fact, all the musicians in Mother's Army belong to other bands,
but they record a new album from time to time.
ERIC BURDON & THE NEW ANIMALS
In 1999, Eric Burdon decides
to change the name of his "I-Band" to "The New Animals".
But he keeps the
same lineup, except for one change:
-
Eric Burdon (vocals)
-
Dean Restum (guitar)
-
Dave Meros (bass)
-
Martin Gerschwitz (keyboards)
-
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
They have released a live video, Live at The
Coach House, also available on DVD.
The New Animals
Whitesnake
Eric Burdon
John Mayall
Spencer Davis
The Excheckers
Journey
The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Blue Whale
John Moorshead
Tommy Eyre
Alex Dmochowski
Victor Brox
Tim Rose
Jack Bruce
Steve Winwood
Sammy Hagar
Tony Levin
Gregg Rolie
Jefferson Starship
Jeff Beck Group
Rod Stewart
Ron Wood
Frank Zappa
David Bowie
Victor Brox
John Moorshead
Derry Wilkie and the Pressmen
Freddie Starr
The Flamingos
Keith Tillmann
Alex Dmochowski
Tommy Eyre
Champion Jack Dupree
Merseysippi Jazzband
Eddie Boyd
Leo Rutherford
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
Peter Green
Michael Chapman
Mick Ronson
John Mc Vie
Herbie Mann
Keith Emerson
Tony Spinner
Nils Lofgren
Pat Travers Band
Lou Reed
Ian Hunter
Jeff Watson
Bob Daisley
Joe Lynn Turner
Fallen Angels
Flo & Eddie
Wind of Changes
UFO
Alvin Lee
John Lee Hooker
Michael Schenker
Pat Travers
Steve Huey
Lou Reed
Stu James & The Mojos
Paul Butterfield
John Lennon & Yoko Ono
...and many more
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