
After Ashley
Hutching's decision to leave the band at the end of 1971 Martin
Carthy also decided to quit. Their two replacements were a big
surprise to many as both came from a rock background, guitarist, Bob
Johnson and bass player, Rick Kemp. But they were inspired
choices as this was the start of the bands most commercially successful
period.
They were now under contract to Chrysalis Records and they spent
the early part of 1972 rehearsing with this new line-up. Their first
concert was at Bath at the end of January followed by a British tour and
later an American tour supporting Procol Harum.
1972 also saw the release of this line-up's first album, Below
The Salt, but after the release of the next album, Parcel
Of Rogues in 1973 it was decided that the band should look for a
permanent drummer to take some of the pressure off bassist, Rick Kemp.
Copyright Richard Hollis.1999.