Keef Hartley Band, The

Lancashire drummer Keef Hartley, well known for his flamboyant dress-sense (he often dressed as an American Indian – sometimes in full headdress and war paint) replaced Ringo Starr in Rory Storm and The Hurricanes when Ringo moved on to pastures greener.

Hartley also eventually found new pastures with The Artwoods and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Beginning with his debut album, Halfbreed (1969), Hartley went on to record seven acclaimed works in four short years with his own band, although record sales were disappointing and the group eventually called it a day in 1973.

Hartley’s band was one of the few British bands to play the Woodstock Festival, where critics compared him favourably with Blood, Sweat And Tears.

In the mid-90s Keef Hartley had a carpentry business in Preston, Lancashire, and although it was alleged that he no longer owned a drum kit, attempts were made in the mid-90s to re-form the original line-up of this highly undervalued band.

The reunion never transpired, and Keef Hartley died on 27 November 2011, at the age of 67.

Keef Hartley
Drums
Miller Anderson
Guitar, vocals
Gary Thain
Bass
Peter Dines
Organ
Spit James
Guitar
Mick Weaver
Organ
Henry Lowther
Trumpet, violin
Jimmy Jewell
Saxophone
Johnny Almond
Flute
Jon Hiseman
Percussion