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Biography Bands/Discography:
Very talented drummer, Aynsley T. "The Hawk" Dunbar
was born in January 10, 1946, Rumor has it about two different groups. More facts to his legend:
Now, we're going to read about the bands he has belonged. 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:
THE FLAMINGOS It was January 1964:
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.
THE EXCHECKERS
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. although they made good pop singles. In December 1964, they change lineup and band name (they became known as Stu James & The Mojos).
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
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.
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, 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).  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 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:
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.
Sometime later, a new member enters in the bass role:
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.
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. 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:
Robert Fripp (cerebrum in King Crimson) almost joined the group.
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!
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.
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:
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:
They played with John Lennon in his concert at Fillmore
East in June 1971. But in December
1971, Frank Zappa has a serious accident;
The band decide to put together a new idea, called Flo & Eddie. 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:
Sometime later, Don Preston leaves the band. They release their first album, The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie. They get a new keyboardist.
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.
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:
 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 reforms the band (without Aynsley,
replaced by Tony Newman) in February 1974.
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,
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!!
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:
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:
But after a very short period, in September 1977, Fleischman is substituted for the definitive vocalist, Steve Perry.
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 and Grace Slick had just left them.
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.
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. After leaving Jefferson Starship, Aynsley took
a rest from music business, until 1985. 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.
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. PAT TRAVERS BAND I don't know the lineup or the period when Aynsley was with Pat Travers. Help, please!
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:
But, after only 4 concerts, Boz Burrell leaves them, being replaced by Tony Franklin. This still was May 1996.
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,
They release an album, Edge of the
World,
ERIC BURDON'S I BAND Aynsley joins Eric Burdon again, after having toured
together along with Alvin Lee in 1996.
In order to compete with the bootleggers who follow
their tour, they issued their own CD, 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).
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.     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),
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.
ERIC BURDON & THE NEW ANIMALS In 1999, Eric Burdon decides
to change the name of his "I-Band" to "The New Animals".
They have released a live video, Live at The
Coach House, also available on DVD. |
