PsychepediA

From: London, England

This obscure British ensemble is best known for including Peter Dunton (drums, vocals, guitar, keyboards), who would later go on to also become a huge creative force with the Flies, Please, Gun and T2. The London based band formed in June, 1967 as a trio consisting of Dunton, along with Rod Harrison (guitar) and Bernard Jinks (bass, vocals). The group promptly relocated to Germany where they hooked up with Pete Bender (keyboards) and became a rather popular live attraction, gigging mainly in jazz clubs. Even though they were experiencing a decent level of success across the pond, Jinks suddenly returned to England and was replaced by two Germans: Jürgen Ermisch (keyboards) and Holger Jung (bass). This lineup didn't last that long however when Dunton also decided to move back to England in late '67 and reform Neon Pearl with Jinks and Nick Spenser (guitar, harmonium). It was this incarnation that recorded a slew of outstanding demos featured here on TWOS, but for some reason wasn't able to secure a record deal and issue any albums or 45s. Their music can best be described as classic Dunton, in that it includes very melancholy but unique melodies laced with complex guitar and keyboard arrangements.

In late 1967, the group renamed themselves Please when Spenser left the fold and was replaced by Adrian Gurvitz (guitar), with Ermisch also relocating to Britain from Germany and being re-added as a forth member. During the spring of 1968, Dunton then left to become a member of the Flies, but this was a rather short-lived, temporary departure, and he rejoined Please later that year along with another Flies alumnus, Robin Hunt (flute, vocals). Upon Dunton's return with Hunt, Gurvitz split to join Gun and was replaced by former Neon Pearl guitarists Spencer and Harrison. It was this lineup that recorded another slew of original, never released tracks, but they did manage to cut a test pressing titled "We Aim To Please" on the United Artists label in late '68. In the spring of 1969, Dunton left Please yet again to join Gun, with Jinks, Harrison and Hunt also moving on to form Bulldog Breed. In the fall of 1969, Dunton reformed Please with Jinks and Spenser, but this final lineup was short-lived due to not being able to find a suitable keyboard player. Dunton and Jinks would of course later join back up in 1970 to form the popular prog-psych band T2.

Artist information sources include: The book, 'Tapestry of Delights Revisited' by Vernon Joynson.