On May 3rd last year, Nick was interviewed by the Defenders of the Faith webzine for “what might be the most extensive conversation on the fabled outfit to date”. They are talking about Warhorse, of course. You can read it here.
It was guitarist Pete Parks who suggested back in 2001 that Warhorse should play a reunion gig, just for the fun of it, and, as he put it, “While we are still alive!”
It was with some trepidation that the band assembled, their last performance together being some 26 years before! Luckily, they played their set without too many mishaps and the whole show was recorded live. With the band pleased with the result and their record company keen to release it, unfortunately a deal to obtain the tapes could not be reached. In 2024, nearly a quarter of a century later the tapes finally reached the band members and a CD of the event is now due for release on BGO records. Sadly, drummer Mac Poole is no longer with us, but I know that, along with the other band members, he would be just as pleased and proud to see this album released at last- Warhorse, doing what they loved best- playing rock ‘n’ roll live and loud!
Available for purchase from BGO Records here, and from Airmail Recordings in Japan.
Tracks : Woman Of The Devil / Chest Fever / The Ritual / No Chance / Just Looking / Confident But Wrong / Burning / I Who Have Nothing / St. Louis / Back In Time / Shakin’ All Over / Hollywood Nights / I Can Tell / Lucille
Nick discovers the true story behind his ousting from Deep Purple, but soon joins Marsha Hunt’s new band, and starts planning a new direction. Meanwhile there are a couple of weddings to take care of. Read the full story here.
Nick will be returning with Nasty Habits to the Reigen, Vienna on Saturday, 29th March, for another “unique opportunity to experience an authentic Deep Purple Mark 1 concert”.
From the Reigen web site: “Founding member of the legendary Deep Purple, bassist Nick Simper, will perform a cross-section of his musical work with Nasty Habits, focusing on the first three Deep Purple albums, “Shades Of,” “Book Of Taliesyn,” and “Deep Purple,” as well as pieces by Johnny Kidd, where Simper was the band’s last bassist, and his prog rock band, Warhorse.”
Nick is pleased to announce a new album that he is playing on: “Living the Blues” by Terry Marshall and Friends. “Despite having never released his own album, Terry Marshall remains one of the most ubiquitous and influential individuals in modern music; this of course comes from the guitar amplifiers which bear his name. Debut album ‘Living The Blues’ by Terry Marshall and Friends, including Laurence Jones, Emma Wilson, Alice Armstrong, Krissy Matthews and Zoe Schwarz as well as an array of talented blues musicians, the album is the embodiment of a lifetime of dedication to music and a revitalising take on blues classics. Living The Blues is available on CD and 180g vinyl LP via Marshall Records.”
Once again I have to pay tribute to another departed friend and colleague. Last week saw the sad passing of one of the most talented musicians that I have ever known. The fact that he was a member of the very band I played with for over forty years, The Good Old Boys, brings the blow even closer to home. Simon Bishop joined the group thirty years ago to replace guitarist Alex Chanter who was leaving to form his own band. To say that he was an asset to the group would be an understatement! Although a quiet and unassuming man it didn’t take long for us to realise that his astonishing talent on guitar was something rather special. Simon had the unique ability to embrace all styles of music and his amazing originality made him able to make a song his own.
Although his style differed from Pete Parks the two of them were able to blend together and compliment each other and after thirty years they developed an almost psychic ability to read each other and create the unique sound of the band. Simon also worked as a music teacher and was always inundated with pupils, all hoping to learn to play like he did! A big part of my enjoyment as bassist for The Good Old Boys was knowing that the other members had the ability to suddenly display a little bit of magic which would make everyone sit up and smile. Simon Bishop was no slouch in that department and audiences would often break into spontaneous applause at some outlandish or outrageously clever demonstration of just what he really could do! Sadly, The Good Old Boys have called it a day after more than forty years, but the fun we had will remain with us forever. Simon, like all the members of the band was an integral part of it, and his passing leaves a huge void in the music business, and in our hearts. I consider it a great privilege to have known him and played alongside him for so many years, a truly talented man who deserves recognition as one of the best!
Rest in peace Simon.
It was with great sadness that I heard the news of the passing of Mick Underwood.
I had first witnessed his great style of drumming at the Park Hotel in Hanwell in 1963 where Jim Marshall would host gigs for his pupils and customers. Mick was playing for the Outlaws, a top outfit at that time and he certainly gave an impressive performance. During the following years I bumped in to him several times and when I formed my band Warhorse in late 69 he was the obvious choice, but he was already forming his own outfit, the great Quatermass. Several years later Mick telephoned to offer me the bass job with his new band called Sammy, but by then Warhorse we’re enjoying their best period of touring and recording. As luck would have it Sammy and Warhorse toured together on the same bill for several months which provided an opportunity for me to get to know Mick very well. After the break up of Sammy, Mick continued to work with various outfits including Episode Six, Strapps, and Gillan, always in demand and by now well established as one of the greatest drummers in the business.
It was 1994 when I found myself having a beer with Mick at a record company Christmas party to which we were both invited. As we reminisced we were joined by record producer Derek Lawrence who later suggested that we should form a band together, and to call it Quatermass II. We both thought it a good idea, and, after several false starts we had the right line up which resulted in our album Long Road being completed in 1996. Mick and I were both extremely proud of the album, and I consider it a great privilege to have spent several years working alongside a man who I always considered to be one of the very best. Mick spent the rest of the time working with his own group Raw Glory, but sadly never achieved the level of success that he should have done. I will remember him as a lovely friend and colleague, always fun to be with, the loudest drummer that I ever worked with, and definitely one of the very best!!!! Rest in peace.
The American tour continues, with Ritchie jamming with a roadhouse band in Florida and Tetragrammaton rush-releasing a butchered version of River Deep Mountain High as a single, without the band’s consent. Back home, things start to get weird until on July 1st, Nick gets the bombshell news – but not from the band. Read the full story here .
On April 25th, 2024, Nate and John from the Deep Purple Podcast, “have the privilege of speaking with Nick Simper. We talk about the upcoming Warhorse Remasters, Deep Purple Mark 1, Johnny Kidd, Nasty Habits and the Mark 1 Tours, Rod Evans, Book of Taliesyn, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and much more!”
Release date 26th April 2024, a newly remastered 2CD edition of the recordings by Warhorse, released originally on the Vertigo label between 1970-1972. Includes the self-titled album, Red Sea and 11 bonus tracks. cherryred.co/Warhorse