COLOSSUS - LAST DEMO - 80'S

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a demo track by Colossus that featured Gordon Band on vocals, dating from the late 70's.
Well this is another track of theirs, this time from the early 80's, and in fact comes from what turned out to be, the bands last demo session. The same line-up as before except Fran Docherty has taken over the singer's spot.
So here is a tune called "Anything You Want" - the first 90 seconds or so has a kind of Canterbury vibe to it, intricate interchanges knotting the intro together, before unravelling itself into a rocking groove that churns along like a tag match between Uriah Heep v Rush!
It's a bit of a bruiser!
Big thanks to Ewen.

COLOSSUS MEMORABILIA PART 2

The first 7 photos were all taken at the Caird Hall in December 1979 when Colossus were supporting UFO.
Not often a support act gets the crowd rushing the stage!
The newspaper article is a review of the same gig, featuring a photo of both Colossus and UFO.
Well when I say review, that may be pushing it a bit! I don't know who the journalist from Mennies was but when someone begins their music review with "I wandered down to the Caird Hall armed with cotton wool...", it may not have been the best person for the job!
The last photo is of Gordon Band at the Camperdown outdoor festival.
So finishing off with a reminder of how the guys sounded back in 79/80, here's another demo track of theirs, a tune called "Make It Last". Typical prog rock ingredients - moody intro, raucous guitar, synth solo, anthem chorus and tempo changes. Get a load of the hyperactive work on the snare and hi-hat!
The 2 days worth of Colossus goodies were from Gordon Band. Cheers!
Thanks too to Bowling Alley DJ, Brian Wilson, for the track.
Click on the review to enlarge.

COLOSSUS MEMORABILIA PART 1

Here we go then - get your denim waistcoats on and let's see your hair flying for this little lot...a few bits & pieces about Dundee prog rockers, Colossus.
Starting from the top...
The band line-up circa 1979/80: Drew Scobie, keyboards - Ronnie Boyd, bass - Pete Caithness, guitar - Mike McIntosh, drums - Gordon Band, vocals.
Next is a review about Colossus winning a stage in a battle of bands called Marketgait Marvels Talent Contest which was held at the Bowling Alley in 1979. This particular round took place on 17th October and featured the other talents of TV21, Legal Aid and Megazones. The final took place on 30th November and included, Lipstick, Friction, Legal Aid, Distorts, and I think I'm right in saying that Colossus won that one too.
3rd item down is an article about a gig at Junction 9.
Then we have an ad from the Tele for a gig at Caird Hall on 17th December 1979 with UFO the headline act and Colossus the support.
Followed by a review of the gig itself. Colossus cheekily dropped a few bars of UFO's most well known tune "Doctor Doctor" into their set before slipping into their own material and causing a bit of a stir with the UFO team behind the scenes!
The wee article after it is for an outdoor do that took place up at Camperdown Park one Easter Sunday in 1980. Colossus were top of the bill that day, and the other acts sharing the stage were - Mafia, Megazones, Abnormal Load, Top Secret, Bow Street Runners and Jim Borland.
Accompanying the article is a photo of the band taken at the Camperdown fest.
The poster is dated 11th April 1980 and again Colossus are the main attraction for an under 18's Heavy Rock Night at the Marryat Hall. Support band was Bonded.
And rounding things off with a promo photo of the guys that they used to give away at their gigs. This collage was assembled by John Maguire who was their manager for a period as well as being manager of the Caird Hall.
I think you should be able to read all the items ok as they are, but if you're struggling, just click them to enlarge.
Big thanx to Gordon Band.

COLOSSUS - DEMO TRACK - LATE 70'S

Time to whip the old air guitar out from it's invisible case!

Colossus were a prog-rock heavy metal band, on the go in Dundee in the late 70's. Played locally around venues such as the Bowling Alley, Laings, Queens Sunday Club and even the Caird Hall.

As with this kind of music, good musicianship is pretty fundamental and they were all very talented chaps who could do the biz live.

Can't recall all of their names now but I remember Pete Caithness had a cool Gibson Les Paul (gold? red?). The drummer was technically very good too and was rather partial to dropping in little fancy flourishes when in full flow.

They were all rather clean cut guys, not quite the hairy rockers associated with this music back then. In fact, a common opinion around 78/79 was that this style of music was on it's last legs because of punk, however, just as this viewpoint was taking hold, along came a counter movement called the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and injected some fresh energy into the scene. As a consequence, Colossus were one of the bands who appeared on an album released in 1980 called "New Electric Warriors" showcasing some of the NWOBHM acts that were springing up around the UK.

I don't know what happened to Colossus after that, they just seemed to have vanished! Perhaps they opted for a life of domestic bliss rather than risk the rock 'n' roll rollercoaster ride!

Anyway, here below is a track of theirs taken from a demo tape they made in the late 70's. A composition called "Magnificent 13 Subway Patrol" - a song about New York's Guardian Angels.

If anyone can help fill in a few details about the band, feel free to drop the info in the comments.

Thanks to Bowling Alley DJ Brian Wilson