Quatermass were a British progressive rock band from London, active between 1969 and 1971, comprising bassist/vocalist John Gustafson, keyboardist Pete Robinson, and ex-Episode Six drummer
Mick Underwood. Underwood had previously spent time with Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow) in the Outlaws, in addition to cutting his teeth with Shadows bassist Jet Harris and an early incarnation of the Herd; Gustafson had a background in the Merseybeats and the Big Three. The band took its name from Professor Bernard Quatermass, a fictional scientist who had been the hero of three science fiction serials produced by BBC Television in the 1950s, and were signed to Harvest Records.
The group formed as a power trio with Hammond organ as the main instrument. Their first and only album sold itself through "...compactness, wealth of ideas, forceful lead vocals and complicated
arrangements, enriched by pianist Robinson's tasteful use of classical strings which are on display along with spacious keyboard passages at their height in the mold of The Nice." One track, "Laughin' Tackle", includes 16 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos, and 3 double basses, arranged by Robinson, and a drum solo by Underwood. Underwood remained in close contact with Blackmore, and visited Deep Purple in the studio while they were recording In Rock.
The group split in early 1971. Gustafson formed a new band, Hard Stuff (Bullet) with ex-members of
Atomic Rooster. A related band, Quatermass II, was active in the mid-1990s. In 1994, Underwood, and founding Deep Purple member Nick Simper joined in a project titled Quatermass II. Gustafson contributed two songs on their album, Long Road (1997), which also involved Gary Davis and Bart Foley on guitars, with Don Airey on keyboards.
[Quatermass' only album is a must-have for prog rock enthusiasts, especially lovers of the keyboard-
dominated style which flourished in the early '70s. Although there are only three members of the band, their histories are just as colorful as the music they produced. Keyboard player Pete Robinson and bass man Johnny Gustafson met drummer Mick Underwood and founded Episode Six, a band which included Ian Gillan who later fronted Deep Purple.
Underwood was also involved with the Outlaws as well as the Herd, only a few years before Peter Frampton arrived. When the band finally formed Quatermass in 1970, they had set their sights on a
power rock format which would use Robinson's keyboards to shape their sound. Both "Black Sheep" and "One Blind Mice" were released as singles which fell mostly on deaf ears, but the band's sound was equally as moving as the Nice's repertoire, for example, at around the same time. Quatermass' sound is far from sounding hollow, isolated, or directionless, but all of the cuts are rather rock-sturdy and instrumentally voluptuous from all points.
The string work that swoops in is encompassing, Underwood's drumming exhibits personality, and the keyboard portions are remarkably striking and distinct. Even Gustafson's robust vocals work well within the music's structure, subsiding and ascending when called for, and all of the cuts result in
worthy examples of well-built progressive rock, in both ballad and power rock form. Following this album, the band broke up, with Gustafson later doing session work for Kevin Ayers, Steve Hackett, and Ian Hunter, among others, while Robinson found new life within the jazz-prog band Brand X. Beautifully packaged with informative liner notes, Quatermass sounds as resounding today as it did in 1970, and upon hearing it, one can only wonder why it was so overlooked during its release.]
LINE - UP
Mick Underwood – drums, percussion (1969–1971)
John Gustafson – bass, lead vocals (1969–1971; died 2014)
J. Peter Robinson – keyboards (1969–1971)
Quatermass – Quatermass
Label: Repertoire Records – RR 4044-C
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Germany
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Art Rock, Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock
TRACKS
01. Entropy 1:10
Written-By – P. Robinson
02. Black Sheep Of The Family 3:35
Written-By – S. Hammond
03. Post War Saturday Echo 9:39
Written-By – Ross, Gustafson, Robinson
04. Good Lord Knows 2:51
Written-By – J. Gustafson
05. Up On The Ground 7:05
Written-By – J. Gustafson
06. Gemini 5:51
Written-By – S. Hammond
07. Make Up Your Mind 8:41
Written-By – S. Hammond
08. Laughin' Tackle 10:32
Arranged By [Strings] – Peter Robinson
Written-By – P. Robinson
09. Entropy (Reprise) 0:40
Written-By – P. Robinson
10. One Blind Mice 3:15
11. Punting 7:18
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