Bakerloo interview with Terry Poole

Interview:

Hi Terry! Thanks for taking your time to tell us more about Bakerloo. What can you tell us about the time before Bakerloo. You were part of Rupert's People and you released three singles. Would you like to tell us more about this?

I didn’t meet Ruperts People until 1970. I must have answered an ad in the Melody Maker for a bass player. Ruperts People were managed by Miles Copeland and we rehearsed in the basement of his parent’s house in St John’s Wood London. We changed the name Ruperts People to Stone Feather and played at night clubs in Paris, Hyres and St Tropez in the South of France in the summer of 1970. Stuart Copeland is Miles’s youngest brother and he used to “ hang around “ the basement studio after school at the American Academy. Ian Copeland was our “ roady “ who sadly passed way a couple of years ago. Stone Feather never recorded, but quite a few musicians auditioned for places in the band including Gordon Giltrap and Lez Nicholl.

How was the The Bakerloo Blues Line formed.

Bakerloo Blues Line was formed in 1967 originally called The Pinch in Tamworth Staffordshire. The original line up included John Hinch on drums who went on to form Judas Priest. There were a succession of drummers until the Bakerloo album of 1969.

When we started recording the Bakerloo album at Trident studios Soho London, we were still auditioning for drummers and used a session player on Drivin’ Bachwards as Keith Baker hadn’t yet joined us!

On my web site: www.terrypooleretrorocknroll.com

“Bakerloo the early days” you will find a long list of great drummers who played with us before we recorded the album, including Bill Ward (Black Sabbath).

Do you remember some of the early rehearsals?

The early rehearsals were mostly in spare rooms of pubs and youth clubs in and around Tamworth.

In 1969 you were signed up by Harvest Records. How did that happen?

We were signed up by EMI records and the Harvest Label became the brand for “underground progressive music“. Tony Hall Enterprises and Jim Simpson of Big Bear Records were the management. They were responsible for the recording contract with EMI.

Do you remember recording sessions for your LP?

The cost of the recording sessions at Trident Studios were £30 per hour. This was a large sum of money for us, and so, all the tracks on the Bakerloo album were first or second “ takes “. Clem and I had played our songs “live“ for two years and so we knew each others work intimately. Gus Dudgeon was the record producer and the whole album was finished in two to three weeks.

What gear did you guys use?

The amplification was all by Laney. I played a Fender Jazz base and Clem played a Gibson Les Paul…Keith Baker’s drum kit was made by Premier.

The cover artwork is connected with your name. Why did you choose this name?

I had and aunt and uncle who lived in central London and from a boy I stayed with them and my cousins very near Marble Arch.

I knew London quite well and so when the “underground music “ movement stared in the mid sixties I felt that the name of and underground railway station would be a good name for our band as most people would have known the name Bakerloo.

So Bakerloo Blues Line became our name.

I was attending Nottingham Art School whilst playing in Bakerloo, so I also had the idea of including the Bakerloo tube logo on our album sleeve.

Please comment each song from your legendary LP.

A1 Big Bear Ffolly

Big Bear Folly a chance for us to show that we were in tune with jazz.

A2 Bring It on Home

We loved the Blues and so we paid tribute to our Blues hero’s.

A3 Driving Bachwards

Clem’s great talent on show as a classical musician.

A4 Last Blues

More tributes to our Blues Heros.

A5 Gang Bang

Jazz Jazz Jazz

B1 The Worried Feeling

I enjoyed writing these lyrics and Clem was really soulful on this track. Fabulous blues guitar playing, we were both only 19 year old! Probably my favourite track. Aamazing.

B2 Son of Moonshine

This was our grand finale live festival track. Progressive blues rock at its best. One take only in the studio. Hard to believe isn’t it!! One upon a time.. I completely forgot this one, only when Repertoire Records released this as a “ bonus“ track on the Bakerloo CD did it come back to me. Quite interesting, and not too bad for a single of “The day“.

Where all did Bakerloo played and with who?

The Bakerloo gig list is on my web site www.terrypooleretrorocknroll.com

Marquee Club, Wardour, St Soho London, The Round House, Chalk Farm London...

Some of the bands that were on the same bill as us at different venues were Free, Pink Fairies, Pink Floyd, Elma Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Earth (Black Sabbath)Rory Galager, Status Quo, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, King Crimson, Love Sculpture, Jethro Tull, Canned Heat and Led Zepelin.

Any particular stories you would like to share with us?

Opening the first ever Led Zepplin gig at the Marquee Club. Bakerloo appeared countless times at the Marquee Club, so being the opening support act for Led Zepplin seemed like just another gig. We didn’t think anything of it, as Robert Plant and John Bonham were from the Midlands like us, and often jammed at Henry’s Blues House Birmingham were we were also the resident band.

What happened next? I know you played bass for awhile for May Blitz, but you are not on the recording, right?

After Bakerloo disbanded in the summer of 1969 I moved to London and worked and recorded with many musicians and artists including Robert Palmer, Elkie Brooks, Graham Bond, Ray Russell and Colin Blunstone (the Zombies) until 1974.

(left to right) Terry Poole, Paul Varley, Speedy Aquay(front), Keith Bleasby(back), Peter Illingworth.

Sample tracks of this including my own songs recorded with Clive Johnson are on my website www.terrypooleretrorocknroll.com

What were you doing in the 70's and 80's?

I was working in the Casino Industry in the Bahamas Paradise Island 1977-1985. I then worked in casinos on Cruise Ships including the QE2’s last ever World cruise in 2001. Some members of the QE2 Orchestra discovered my former career in rock music and invited me to play with them on the Crew Deck when we were in the Port of Bali Indonesia.

An outstanding concert for the crew (1000) under the stars playing songs from the Blues Brothers Movie Soundtrack!!!

What occupies your life these days?

I am still working in the entertainment industry my other web site www.pokerevening.co.uk. I still play guitar with my mentor Tony Wille. I have written some “ brand new “ songs ready to record and place on my Terry Poole retro site…

Thanks for stopping by. Would you like to send a message to It's Psychedelic Baby readers?

I was so very fortunate to have worked with outstanding musicians and truly wonderfully appreciative audiences.

Psychedelic Baby and it’s Readers are keeping music “ live “ great!!

Terry Poole