Roger Chapman

Last updated

Roger Chapman
Roger Chapman - Werner Rennen 2018 09.jpg
Chapman in 2018
Background information
Birth nameRoger Maxwell Chapman
Also known asChappo
Born (1942-04-08) 8 April 1942 (age 81)
Leicester, England
OriginEnglish
Genres Rock, blues rock, art rock, progressive rock
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • Singer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • harmonica
  • saxophone
Labels

Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chappo, is an English rock vocalist. [1] He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock, R&B band Streetwalkers formed in 1974. His idiosyncratic brand of showmanship when performing and vocal vibrato led him to become a cult figure on the British rock scene. Chapman is claimed to have said that he was trying to sing like both Little Richard and his idol Ray Charles. Since the early 1980s he has spent much of his time in Germany and has made occasional appearances there and elsewhere.

Contents

In Germany, he was awarded an Artist of the Year award during the 1980s, followed by a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. [2]

History

Chapman was originally the vocalist for Farinas, who released the single "You'd Better Stop" b/w "I Like It Like That" in August 1964. (However, lead vocals on that single were performed by Jim King.) He moved on to join The Roaring Sixties who were renamed Family in 1966. In 1967 the first single was released, "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens", something of a psychedelic classic. Chapman wrote most of Family's songs with Charlie Whitney and their debut album Music in a Doll's House was released in 1968. Their bluesy, experimental rock music gained them a reputation as a progressive underground band.

The release of Family Entertainment (1969), A Song for Me (1970) and Anyway (1970) established Family as a fast and loud rock band also capable of producing the most intense acoustic music, in the British underground music scene, at that time. Their single "The Weaver's Answer" from the Family Entertainment album was a hit in 1969. On 28 August 1970 they appeared at the third Isle of Wight Festival. Although the band was popular in UK and Europe, success in the US eluded them and in 1973 they broke up. [3]

Roger Chapman (1974) RogerChapman1974.png
Roger Chapman (1974)

Chapman formed Chapman-Whitney with Whitney, late in 1973. They signed to the Vertigo label and recorded an album Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers (1974), with a line-up including other members of Family and King Crimson, as well as future Iron Maiden member Nicko McBrain. Chapman and Whitney morphed their band into Streetwalkers, who were a polished album-oriented rock band who used more white soul than Family had. They released Downtown Flyers (1975), moving on to record the groove heavy album Red Card (1976) [4] which was released in the UK in 1976 and remains a much respected album by music fans and the music press. [5] Two more albums followed before the band broke up in 1977, ending eleven years of the Whitney-Chapman musical partnership.

In 1979 Chapman began a solo career and recorded his first solo album Chappo . [6] His backing band became known as The Shortlist at this time and he toured Europe extensively. Mike Oldfield's song "Shadow on the Wall" from the album Crises (1983) featured Chapman on vocals and became a hit. [7] He appeared as a guest artist on the second Box of Frogs album Strange Land (1986) singing lead vocals on two songs. Chapman went on to record Walking the Cat (1989) and Hybrid and Low Down (1990).

Since then Chapman has released eleven albums of new and live recordings. His album Hide Go Seek (2009) was produced by former Family bassist Jim Cregan and released during May 2009. His appearance on Saturday 21 August 2010 at the Rhythm Festival was billed as: "The farewell performance from Roger Chapman & The Shortlist". [8]

Discography

Family

Streetwalkers

Albums

  • Streetwalkers Reprise K 54017 (1974)
  • Downtown Flyers Vertigo 6360 123, Mercury LP SRM-1-1060 (US) (1975)
  • Red Card Vertigo 9102 010, Mercury SMR-1-1083 (US), Repertoire REP 47-WP (CD) (1976)
  • Vicious But Fair Vertigo 9102 012, Mercury LP SRM-1-1135 (US) (1977)
  • Streetwalkers Live Vertigo 6641-703 (1977)
  • Best of Streetwalkers CD, CA, LP Vertigo 846-661 (1990)
  • BBC Radio One Live CD Windsong (1995)

Singles

  • "Roxianna" b/w "The Crack" Reprise K 14357 (1974) - released as Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers
  • "Raingame" b/w "Miller" Vertigo 6059 130 (1975)
  • "Daddy Rolling Stone" b/w "Hole in Your Pocket" Vertigo 6059 144 (1976)
  • "Chilli Con Carne" b/w "But You're Beautiful" Vertigo 6059 169 (1977)

Solo

Albums

  • Chappo (1979)
  • Live in Hamburg (1979)
  • Mail Order Magic (1980)
  • Hyenas Only Laugh For Fun (1981)
  • The Riffburglar Album (Funny Cider Sessions) (1982)
  • He Was... She Was... You Was... We Was... (Double, Live) (1982)
  • Swag (as the Riffburglars) (1983)
  • Mango Crazy (1983)
  • The Shadow Knows (1984)
  • Zipper (1986)
  • Techno Prisoners (1987)
  • Live in Berlin (1989)
  • Walking The Cat (1989)
  • Strong Songs – The Best Of ... (1990)
  • Hybrid and Lowdown (1990)
  • Kick It Back (UK compilation) (1990)
  • Under No Obligation (1992)
  • King of the Shouters (1994)
  • Kiss My Soul (1996)
  • A Turn Unstoned? (1998)
  • Anthology 1979–98 (1998)
  • In My Own Time (live) (1999)
  • Rollin' & Tumblin (live) Mystic (2001)
  • Chappo-The Loft Tapes, Volume 1: Manchester University 10.3.1979 Mystic (2006)
  • Chappo-The Loft Tapes, Volume 2: Rostock 1983 Mystic (2006 )
  • Chappo-The Loft Tapes, Volume 3: London Dingwalls 15 April 1996 Mystic (2006)
  • Chappo-The Loft Tapes, Volume 4: Live at Unca Po's Hamburg 5.3.1982 Mystic (2006)
  • One More Time For Peace Mystic (2007)
  • Hide Go Seek Hypertension Records (2009)
  • First Cut: Chapman-Whitney Streetwalkers, digital rerelease Mystic Records (2010)
  • Live at Rockpalast Markthalle Hamburg 1979 (2014)
  • Live at Grugahalle Essen 1981 (2014)
  • Maybe the last time (live 2012)
  • Life In The Pond (2021)

Singles

  • "Imbecile" (1979) Mike Batt with Roger Chapman. From the album Tarot Suite.
  • "Shadow on the Wall" (1983) Mike Oldfield with Roger Chapman
  • "How How How" (1984)

DVDs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boz Burrell</span> British singer and bassist

Raymond "Boz" Burrell was an English musician. Originally a vocalist and guitarist, Burrell is best known for being the vocalist and bassist of King Crimson from 1971 to 1972 and the original bassist of Bad Company, formed in 1973, with whom he stayed until 1982 before re-joining for a reunion of the original line-up during 1998 to 1999. He died of a heart attack in Spain in 2006, aged 60.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Collins</span> British musician

Melvyn Desmond Collins is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family (band)</span> English rock band

Family were an English rock band, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such as folk, psychedelia, acid rock, jazz fusion, and rock and roll. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours, and appearances at festivals.

Richard John Whitney, also known as John "Charlie" Whitney, John Whitney and Charlie Whitney, is an English rock musician and a founder member of the bands Family, Streetwalkers and Axis Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streetwalkers</span> Musical artist

Streetwalkers were an English rock band formed in late 1973 by two former members of rock band Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney. They were a five piece band which evolved from the Chapman Whitney Band.

James Cregan is an English rock guitarist and bassist, best known for his associations with Family, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart. Cregan is a former husband of the singer Linda Lewis and worked with her as a record producer. He has also worked with London Quireboys, Glass Tiger, Katie Melua and formed Farm Dogs with Bernie Taupin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaleidoscope (British band)</span> English psychedelic rock band

Kaleidoscope are an English psychedelic rock band from London that originally were active between 1967 and 1970. The band's songs combined the elements of psychedelia with whimsical lyrics. The band were also known at various times as The Sidekicks, The Key, I Luv Wight and Fairfield Parlour.

<i>Rockpalast</i> German television show

Rockpalast is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). Rockpalast started on January 22, 1976 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock, heavy metal and jazz bands have performed on Rockpalast. Some acts were recorded for broadcast and for retail sale. All-night marathon shows called “Rock Night” (Rocknacht) were produced once or twice a year from 1977 through 1986 and simulcast throughout Europe via the Eurovision network of TV broadcasters, thereby reaching around 25 million listeners on average. Rockpalast is involved in several German pop, rock and underground music festivals, once sponsoring the Bizarre-Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micky Moody</span> English musician (born 1950)

Michael Joseph Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes, having previously collaborated with unofficial 5th Status Quo member Bob Young in Young & Moody. Along with Marsden and ex-Whitesnake bassist, Neil Murray, he formed The Company of Snakes and M3 Classic Whitesnake with which they mainly performed early Whitesnake songs. From 2011 to 2015, Moody toured and recorded with Snakecharmer, a band he co-formed.

<i>Bandstand</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Family

Bandstand is the sixth studio album by the British progressive rock band Family. Released in 1972, it was their second and last album to chart in the United States. The original album cover was die-cut in the shape of a Bush TV22 television set, with a black-and-white image of the band onscreen.

David 'Duck' Dowle is an English drummer who has played with the bands Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Runner, Midnight Flyer, Bernie Marsden.

<i>Its Only a Movie</i> 1973 studio album by Family

It's Only a Movie is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock band Family, released in 1973, and their last original studio album before they disbanded that year.

<i>A Song for Me</i> 1970 studio album by Family

A Song for Me is the third album by the British progressive rock band Family, released on 23 January 1970 on Reprise Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Jupp</span> Musical artist

Michael Graham "Mickey" Jupp is an English musician and songwriter, mainly associated with the Southend music scene.

<i>Red Card</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Streetwalkers

Red Card was the third and most successful studio album by the UK rock group Streetwalkers, which made the #20 in the UK album charts. The album features the lineup of Roger Chapman, Charlie Whitney, Bobby Tench of The Jeff Beck Group and Hummingbird, Nicko McBrain, who later played drums with Iron Maiden and bassist Jon Plotel. This groove-heavy album was released in the UK by Vertigo and in the United States by Mercury during 1976 and remains a much respected album by many.

<i>Chappo</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Roger Chapman

Chappo is the debut solo album of singer Roger Chapman, released in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Grech</span> British musician (1945–1990)

Richard Roman Grechko, better known as Ric Grech, was a British rock musician. He is best known for playing bass guitar and violin with the rock band Family as well as in the supergroups Blind Faith and Traffic. He also played with ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Tench</span> English musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter

Robert Tench is a British vocalist, guitarist, sideman, songwriter and arranger.

<i>Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers</i> 1974 studio album by Chapman Whitney

Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers was the first post-Family album by Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney, following the late 1973 dissolution of that band. The musicians used here included other former member of Family, and the band soon evolved into the Streetwalkers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Count Bishops</span> British rock band

The Count Bishops were a British rock band, formed in 1975 in London and which broke up in 1980. The Count Bishops had limited commercial success, but forged an important stylistic and chronological link between the root rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood and the proto punk sound of Eddie and the Hot Rods; together forming the foundation of the pub-rock scene, which influenced the emergence of punk rock. The group made history in England by releasing the first record from independent label Chiswick Records. They splintered following the death of guitarist Zenon DeFleur on 18 March 1979.

References

  1. Roger Chapman at Allmusic
  2. "Roger Chapman. rock Stars interview". www.getreadytorock.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. Dougan, John. "Family, biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  4. Red Card John Dougan at Allmusic
  5. British Hit Singles & Albums ISBN   1-904994-10-5
  6. "Roger Chapman discography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  7. "Mike Oldfield, Crises album". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  8. "Rhythm Festival 2010". efestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2010.