Leigh Stephens

Leigh Stephens is an American guitarist and songwriter best known for being former lead guitarist of the San Francisco psychedelic rock group Blue Cheer.

Leigh Stephens
GenresHeavy metal, acid rock, garage rock, hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, guitarist
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1967–present
Associated actsBlue Cheer
Silver Metre
Pilot

Blue Cheer
Main article: Blue Cheer

Leigh Stephens has recorded two albums with the band, Vincebus Eruptum and Outsideinside. He has claimed to have been the only member of the band who did not use drugs.[1] His replacement as Blue Cheer's lead guitarist was Randy Holden.

After Blue Cheer

Red Weather, Stephens' debut solo album, was recorded in February 1969,[2][3][4] the artwork was based on a Sutro Baths photo.[5]

Silver Metre

"Silver Metre formed in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, California after my first trip to the United States at age 21...We recorded our first of a two-album deal with National General Records at Trident Studios, Wardour St, London. Our managers were Charlie Osborne, and later Tom Donahue who got us the deal...The money for our second album mysteriously disappeared...but I won’t go into that, other than to say it wasn’t the record companies fault."
—Pete Sears [6]

Silver Metre, named after Ben Dixon's "The Silver Meter" from Along Came John, formed in 1969,[7] evolving out of the Red Weather recording sessions,[8] with Micky Waller (drummer), just fired from the Jeff Beck Group, Stephens, Pete Sears, and Jack Reynolds (singer). They recorded one album at Trident Studios in London, England,[9] released on National General Records,[10][11] produced by their manager, FM rock radio pioneer Tom Donahue.[12][13][14] Contributing music and lyrics included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Leigh Stephens, Pete Sears, and Tom Coman.[15][16][17][18][19][20][12][21][22][23][24]

Pilot

Pilot was formed in 1971, with Mick Waller (drums), Leigh Stephens (electric guitar), Bruce Stephens (vocals, keyboards and guitar), Martin Quittenton (acoustic guitar), and Neville Whitehead (bass). Pilot only produced one, self-titled, album in 1972.[4]

Stephens' 1971 album, And a Cast of Thousands[25] featured his fellow band members from Pilot, the power trio Ashton, Gardner and Dyke, the two sax players from If, Dave Quincey, Dick Morrissey, and Jethro Tull bassist, Glenn Cornick.[25]

Foxtrot, Stephens' next band, in 1974, with George Michalski (keyboards), Gary Richwine (bass, vocals), and David Beebe (drummer), signed and recorded an album for Motown Records, but was never released.[4]

Chronic with a "K", Stephens' next band, in 1998, with Melissa Olsen (keyboards, vocals), Ron Stone (bass), and Ryan Goodpastor (drummer), released Ride the Thunder on ChroniCorp Records.[4]

In 2004, High Strung/Low Key, Stephens' third solo album was self-released.[4]

Graphic artist, 1990s

While still involved in the music scene in the early 1990s, Stephens also worked as a graphic artist and studio photographer. He designed automotive illustrations for the advertising and production of a mail order catalog company, ASAP, in Carson City, Nevada.

Recognition

He was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Top 100 Guitarists.[26]

Discography

With Blue Cheer

Albums

Live

  • Live & Unreleased, Vol. 1: '68/'74 (1996; Captain Trip Records)
  • Live & Unreleased, Vol. 2: Live at San Jose Civic Centre, 1968 & More (1998; Captain Trip Records)

Singles

  • "Summertime Blues" b/w "Out Of Focus" (From the album Vincebus Eruptum)
  • "Just a Little Bit" b/w "Gypsy Ball"
  • "Feathers From Your Tree" b/w "Sun Cycle" (From the album Outsideinside)
  • "The Hunter" b/w "Come And Get It" (From the album Outsideinside)

With Silver Metre

Albums

  • Silver Metre (1969)

Singles

  • "Superstar" b/w "Now They've Found Me"

With Pilot

Albums

  • Pilot (1972)

Singles

  • "Rider" (Promo, Stereo/Mono)

Solo

Albums

  • Red Weather (1969, Philips)
  • ...and a Cast of Thousands (1971, Charisma)
  • Chronic With a K - Ride The Thunder (1999, Chronicorp)
  • High Strung Low Key (2004, Self-Released)
  • A Rocket Down Falcon Street (2013, Self-Released)

Singles

  • "Saki Zwadoo" b/w "Red Weather"

References
  1. "Leigh Stephens | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. Pettipas, Keith. "Review". Leigh Stephens (1969) Red Weather. AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. Ruhlmann, William. "Artist Biography". Leigh Stephens. AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2021. In late 1968, Stephens, who later described himself as the only member of Blue Cheer not to be "chemically challenged" (i.e., using drugs), was asked to leave the group after criticizing the behavior of his bandmates. He signed a solo deal with Philips and moved to Great Britain, where he recorded his debut solo album, Red Weather (February 1969).
  4. William, William Ruhlmann (1 November 2020). "Leigh Stephens". Spotify. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Rovi: His next band was called Foxtrot and featured keyboard player George Michalski, bassist/vocalist Gary Richwine, and drummer David Beebe. They signed to Motown Records and recorded an album in 1974, but it was never released.
  5. Breznikar, Klemen (29 July 2011). "Interview with Leigh Stephens". It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine.
  6. Sears, Pete (14 November 1969). "1969-70 Silver Metre. National General Records. USA". PETE SEARS. PETE SEARS. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. "Silver Metre". BandToBand. Retrieved 27 January 2021. 2 degrees of separation for Silver Metre comprise 138 bands:
  8. Larkin, Colin. "Silver Metre". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4. Silver Metre evolved out of the recording sessions for Leigh Stephens ’ solo debut Red Weather. ex-Jeff Beck ...
  9. Sears, Pete (13 May 1999). "1999. "Silver Metre" re-released on CDS". PETE SEARS. PETE SEARS. Retrieved 27 January 2021. CD release of the 1969–70 vinyl album release featuring the band that I formed with Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer), Micky Waller (Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart), and Harry Reynolds (Hair Band).
  10. "Silver Metre". Audiophile USA. 1970 Heavy Duty Gatefold Original. Small Cut Out Hole. Inner Gatefold Has A Small Tear In The Spine. Record Appears Glossy.
  11. Eyries, Patrice, David Edwards and Mike Callahan. (October 21, 2005). National General Album Discography. Both Sides Now Publications. Accessed on May 1, 2014.
  12. Sears, Pete (April 18, 2012). ""Silver Metre" - Fillmore West, San Francisco, California, July 10th 1970". Retrieved 27 January 2021. “Silver Metre” was the third pro band I was a member of. In the summer of 1969 I showed up in Venice Beach, Los Angeles after flying from London to take Leigh (I had met him there) up on his offer to put me up if I ever made it to the USA. We then got a band together called “Silver Metre”. We were managed by Tom Donahue of KSAN FM radio fame, and released an album on National General Records. The record was recorded at Trident Studios in London.
  13. Bernie Taupin; Elton John; Silver Metre. "Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun)". YouTube.
  14. Silver Metre. "Lyrics: Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun)". genius.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  15. Silver Metre (1969). "Silver Metre". Discogs. National General Records. Retrieved 27 January 2021. NG-2000
  16. Pettipas, Keith. "Biography & History". Silver Metre. AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2021. While the album did not make much impact upon its original release on the small National General label in the U.S., it is of interest to collectors because of the early Waller-Stevens connection. Stephens and Waller would later move on to the British-based band Pilot, a short-lived early-'70s outfit, while Pete Sears was later in Stoneground and Jefferson Starship.
  17. "Silver Metre's Concert & Tour History". Concert Archives .org. Retrieved 27 January 2021. 17 July 1970 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL
  18. Silver Metre. "Concert Setlists". SetList.fm. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  19. "Country Joe & the Fish, Blues Image, Silver Metre; Brotherhood of Light - Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco - Fillmore West - May 28-31, 1970". Grateful Dead Archive Online. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  20. Mike Bloomfield; Blues Image; Silver Metre (28–31 May 1970). "Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA". CHICKEN ON A UNICYCLE. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Copyright © 2004-2010 Ross Hannan and Corry Arnold. All Rights Reserved. Thanks to: Jeff Goldstein for his comment.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  21. Sears, Pete (17 June 1970). "Pete Sears with "Silver Metre". Fillmore West". PETE SEARS. Retrieved 27 January 2021. (Me playing a Gibson EBO bass at Fillmore West, San Francisco, with Silver Metre) I was introduced to Janice Joplin by a mutual friend Super Groupie Zany Dani while Silver Metre and Janices band were sitting in adjacent booths at the famous Trident restaurant in Sausalito, California. We hit it off and ended up spending the night together at her house in Larkspur after consuming a bottle of Mathews Southern Comfort. Earlier in the evening we jammed together in her studio...just the two of us. I was later sitting on her sofa when she pulled up a chair and an acoustic guitar and sang me a soulful rendition of Bobby McGhee. I sensed a vulnerability in her I hadn't expected. We had a great time that night. Poor Charlie...Silver Metres manager at the time, was the only other person in the house and had to crash somewhere and make himself invisible till morning listening to us going on. Actually, I think he may have spent the night in the bathtub with a girl…so he was just fine. We left her house for the road the next day...it was rock n roll.
  22. "Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mott the Hoople, Silver Metre - Lights by Brotherhood of Light - Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco - Fillmore West - July 9-12, 1970". Grateful Dead Archive Online. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  23. Quicksilver; Mott The Hoople; Silver Metre (9–12 July 1970). "Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA". CHICKEN ON A UNICYCLE. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Copyright © 2004-2010 Ross Hannan and Corry Arnold. All Rights Reserved. Thanks to: Jeff Goldstein for his comment.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  24. Silver Metre. "Fillmore West July 1970 (live)". MetalMusicArchives. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  25. Pettipas, Keith. "Review". Leigh Stephens ( 1971) Cast of Thousands. AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Cast of Thousands is the second solo album release from Blue Cheer frontman Leigh Stephens. Originally recorded and released in the U.K. in 1971 on the Charisma label, this album is dramatically different from his debut, Red Weather. Cast of Thousands journeys into more of a jazz, AOR style on most of its tracks. The overabundance of horns and female backup vocals makes it rather annoying at times, but Stephens' superb guitar work does manage to shine through in places.
  26. Fricke, David (December 3, 2010). "100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks". Rolling Stone.


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