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 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. His replacement as Blue Cheer's lead guitarist was Randy Holden. Red Weather, Stephens' debut solo album, was recorded in February 1969, the artwork was based on a Sutro Baths photo. "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 Silver Metre, named after Ben Dixon's "The Silver Meter" from Along Came John, formed in 1969, evolving out of the Red Weather recording sessions, 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, released on National General Records, produced by their manager, FM rock radio pioneer Tom Donahue.[non-primary source needed] Contributing music and lyrics included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Leigh Stephens, Pete Sears, and Tom Coman. 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. Stephens' 1971 album, And a Cast of Thousands 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. 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. 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. In 2004, High Strung/Low Key, Stephens' third solo album was self-released. 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. He was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Top 100 Guitarists. Albums Vincebus Eruptum (1968) Outsideinside (1968) The '67 Demos (Demo, 2018; BeatRocket) 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) Albums Silver Metre (1969) Singles "Superstar" b/w "Now They've Found Me" Albums Pilot (1972) Singles "Rider" (Promo, Stereo/Mono) 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" "Leigh Stephens | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2020. Pettipas, Keith. "Review". Leigh Stephens (1969) Red Weather. AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 2021. Ruhlmann, William. "Artist Biography". Leigh Stephens. AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 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). William, William Ruhlmann (November 1, 2020). "Leigh Stephens". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 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. Breznikar, Klemen (July 29, 2011). "Blue Cheer interview with Leigh Stephens". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2021. Sears, Pete (November 14, 1969). "1969–70 Silver Metre. National General Records. USA". PETE SEARS. Retrieved January 27, 2021. "Silver Metre". BandToBand. Retrieved January 27, 2021. 2 degrees of separation for Silver Metre comprise 138 bands: Larkin, Colin (January 2009). "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 ... Sears, Pete (May 13, 1999). "1999. "Silver Metre" re-released on CDS". PETE SEARS. Retrieved January 27, 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). "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. Eyries, Patrice, David Edwards and Mike Callahan. (October 21, 2005). National General Album Discography. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved May 1, 2014. Sears, Pete (April 18, 2012). ""Silver Metre" – Fillmore West, San Francisco, California, July 10th 1970". Facebook. Retrieved January 27, 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. Bernie Taupin; Elton John; Silver Metre (April 12, 2011). "Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun)" – via YouTube. Silver Metre. "Lyrics: Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun)". genius.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021. Silver Metre (1969). "Silver Metre". Discogs. Retrieved January 27, 2021. NG-2000 Pettipas, Keith. "Biography & History". Silver Metre. AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 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. "Silver Metre's Concert & Tour History". Concert Archives .org. Retrieved January 27, 2021. 17 July 1970 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL Silver Metre. "Concert Setlists". SetList.fm. Retrieved January 27, 2021. "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 January 27, 2021. Mike Bloomfield; Blues Image; Silver Metre (May 28–31, 1970). "Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA". CHICKEN ON A UNICYCLE. Retrieved January 27, 2021.