By George Fox


Formed in 1971, The Eagles are an award-winning, globally popular band formed in California. The members of the band were Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, and the late Glenn Frey. In addition to giving the world five number one singles, the band gathered numerous Grammy Awards, several American Music Awards and half a dozen number one albums. One of the most successful bands of the 1970s, it is not surprising that there are now a number of Eagles tribute bands. Among the other influential bands of the 70s are Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Derek and the Dominoes, and Boston.

Led Zeppelin, known originally as the Yardbirds and later the New Yardbirds, formed in 1968 Britain. The band was made up of Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, and Jimmy Page. Legendary guitar player, Eric Clapton, is also of the Yardbirds/Zeppelin stable. He, Page and Beck will dwell forever on Rolling Stone's list of Top One Hundred Guitar players.

Derek and the Dominoes released only one album, and yet became one of the leading bands of their time. The title track to the album, Layla, mirrored Eric Clapton's forbidden feelings for Patty Boyd, who was the wife of George Harrison, a member of the Beatles and Clapton's mate. The Boyd/Harrison union eventually cooled and Patty left Harrison to marry Clapton.

The Florida sunshine shown on the Allman Brothers, considered to be the fathers of the Southern Rock music genre. The band was heavily influenced by country, jazz and blues. The leader of the band, Duane Allman, was killed in 1971, the victim of a motorcycle accident. Fellow musician Berry Oakley, who was morosely depressed by Allman's passing, lost his own life in a similar crash not long afterward.

One of the top bands to come out of London was Fleetwood Mac, who got together in 1967. Rumours, an album, rose to number eight in the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 40 million copies. From Rumours arose four singles that made it to the top ten in the US charts.

Pink Floyd was another English rock band, having formed in London in 1965. One of their best known albums was "Dark Side of the Moon, " with the memorable track, "Careful with that Axe, Eugene." Their single, "The Wall, " formed the inspiration for a feature-length film.

British purveyors of heavy metal and hard rock, Deep Purple established themselves in 1968 in a town called Hertford. Hertfordshire County lies to the north of Greater London. The Rising Sun, a pub on the Herts and Essex border, is a haven for real ale drinkers.

Like the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd hail from Florida. Formed in 1964, they went by several different names (One Percent, My Backyard, and the Noble Five) before arriving at Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was based in Jacksonville, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL football team. Two of their biggest hits were Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama. Three of the band's members perished in a plane crash at the peak of their popularity in 1977.




About the Author:



0 comments: