Rich has been playing guitar since he was at school, however with a Spanish guitar to carry and a 3 mile walk home, it soon lost its appeal.
A few years later, at the height of ‘Merseybeat’ boom, a group of school friends thought a beat group would be a good idea. Rich opted to be drummer – but never bought a kit!!
He had continued interest in music though, and thought bass guitar would be the the easiest instrument to play (I thought that as well!). A group evolved which could play.
In late 1967 Rich joined a 7 piece with brass to emulate the STAX & MOTOWN sounds so popular then – think “Blues Brothers”. The band had an audition in Romford with a big agent & was offered the chance to replace Amen Corner in the UK while they toured abroad. However, with half the band still at school & aiming for Uni, it never happened. Disillusion!!! A recurring sensation!!
Then he had a short stint in a 5 piece band called “The System”, led by a friend of Shane’s, the late Bob Elwell. Rich then formed own band, “The Aperture”, which had a tortured existence – a bad car smash on the A38 disrupted progress – he was told by the drummer’s mother he’d been advised not to play again as he’d ruptured his spleen. (He died a few years later of complications from it, which the medical profession only identified some years again after his death.)
Rich then spent a short time with “The Spice”, all guys who he’d watched enviously in bands in the preceding years, and managed by ex-member, lead guitarist/vocalist, Roger Pritchard – aka Lee Sheridan of “Brotherhood Of Man, of “Save your kisses” & Eurovision Song Contest fame. During this period they played gigs supporting “The Electric Prunes” (of Easy Rider fame), The Move, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Simon Dupree, Status Quo & Trapeze, who featured one Glen Hughes – later of Deep Purple.
Rich then retired from music for a few years but resurrected his musical career playing bass again for “Country Al Winter”, a duo, (He was a big pal of the late Kelvin Henderson, & big on ‘Outlaw’ country – Waylon, Willy et al.) When he decided to cut Rich’s fee, he left to form his own duo with a drummer – he’d become reasonably proficient on 6 string by then &, well, how hard could singing be????? That was “Gin & Tonic”. Several years doing pubs & clubs, another brief retirement, then rhythm guitar in “The Corvettes”, a reformed 60’s Rock & Roll band. When that flaked out, he joined the Bath-based band “The Clubmen” for a few years. Another retirement ensued when he was kicked out (his replacement had a vote, and he didn’t!!!! Bands eh!!!). After getting a better, more demanding day job he retired from music once more. The job only lasted a year and a neighbour persuaded him to get back into music, the neighbour on bass & the drummer from “Gin & Tonic”. After a few years they decided to get a female vocalist. After several girls & name changes, this band segued into “Kerry’s Gold”, between 1998 & 2012. It had some pretty good musicians & this was borne out by the fact that they got booked back several times for functions with the comment “we don’t normally book a band a second time but you were that good…”. This ground to a halt in 2012 & a long break followed – Rich needed a complete rest from it!
Earlier this year Rich was having an amp repaired by Shane, and Shane mentioned about depping for Chrys in “The Falcons” to cover his illness. Very sadly Chrys never recovered and Rich was then a permanent member. Rich left the band in January 2022.
The Falcons 