Blue Weaver

Dennis Bryon and Blue Weaver first met in the mid sixties in a group called BROTHER JOHN & THE WITNESSES.

BROTHER JOHN & THE
WITNESSES 1964 - 1966
Blue
Weaver

kybds
Dennis
Bryon

dr/pcs
?

bs
?

gtr/vcl

 

In 1966 Blue Weaver and Dennis Bryon joined a group from Cardiff called AMEN CORNER. This septet, complete with saxes, was led by Andy Fairweather-Low, who at that time was only 16 years old. The group got a recording contract with Deram Records in 1966 and had many big hits during the next four years. These included "Gin House Blues," "Bend Me, Shape Me," and "High In The Sky" for Deram, after signing with Immediate Records they had further hits such as "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice". During the four years of their existance they recorded three albums.

AMEN CORNER 1966 - 1970
Andy
Fairweather-Low

gtr/vcl
Blue
Weaver

kybds
Dennis
Bryon

dr/pcs
Clive
Taylor

bs
Neil
Jones

gtr
Allan
Jones

trumpet
Mike
Smith

sax

AMEN CORNER singles

1967: AMEN CORNER - Gin House Blues b/w I Know (Single; Deram DM136)

1967: AMEN CORNER - The World Of Broken Hearts b/w Nema (Single; Deram DM151)
1968: AMEN CORNER - Bend Me Shape Me b/w Satisnek The Job's Worth (Single; Deram DM172)
1968: AMEN CORNER - High In The Sky b/w Run Run Run (Single; Deram DM 197)
1969: AMEN CORNER - World Of Broken Hearts b/w Gin House Blues (Single; Deram DM228)
1969: AMEN CORNER - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice b/w Hey Hey Girl (Single; Immediate IM073)
1969: AMEN CORNER - Hello Suzie b/w Evil Man's Gonna Win (Single; Immediate IM081)
1969: AMEN CORNER - Get Back b/w Farewell To The Real Magnificent Seven (Single; Immediate IM084)

AMEN CORNER album

1968: AMEN CORNER - Round The Amen Corner (Deram 1021)

1969: AMEN CORNER - Farewell To The Real Magnificent Seven (Immediate 028)
1969: AMEN CORNER - National Welsh West Coast Live Experience Company (Immediate 023)

 

After the end of AMEN CORNER Andy Fairweather-Low founded a new, more progressive group, which he simply called FAIRWEATHER. The musicians of the new group were the same musicians that made up AMEN CORNER except for the horn section, which was missing. The first single release "Natural Sinner" was a big hit. After only one year the group broke up in 1971.

FAIRWEATHER 1970 - 1971
Andy
Fairweather-Low

gtr/vcl
Blue
Weaver

kybds
Dennis
Bryon

dr/pcs
Clive
Taylor

bs
Neil
Jones

gtr

FAIRWEATHER singles

1971: FAIRWEATHER - Natural Sinner (Andy Fairweather-Low) b/w Haven't I Tried (Andy Fairweather-Low) (Single; RCA 1977)

1971: FAIRWEATHER - Tutti Frutti (Fisher / Gaillard) b/w Road To Freedom (Andy Fairweather-Low) (Single; RCA 2040)
1971: FAIRWEATHER - Lay It On Me (Andy Fairweather-Low) / Looking For The Red Label Part 2 (Andy Fairweather-Low) (Single; Neon NE 1000)

FAIRWEATHER album

1971: FAIRWEATHER - Beginning From An End (Neon 1)

 

The STRAWBS had to find a new keyboard player, because Rick Wakeman had left to join YES. It did not take them long to find the right musician. When Dave Cousins heard that FAIRWEATHER had broken up he asked Blue Weaver to join. He arrived in time to help recording the album "Grave New World".

STRAWBS 7 1971 - 1972
Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Tony
Hooper

gtr/bjo/vcl
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
John
Ford

bs/vcl
Blue Weaver
kybds

STRAWBS singles

1971: STRAWBS - Benedictus (Dave Cousins) b/w The Devil Outside (Dave Cousins) (Single; A&M AMS 874)

1972: STRAWBS - Here It Comes (Dave Cousins) b/w Tomorrow (Dave Cousins / Richard Hudson / John Ford / Tony Hooper / Mick Weaver) (Single; A&M AMS 7002)

STRAWBS album

1971: STRAWBS - Grave New World (A&M AMLH 68078)


In 1972 Tony Hooper left the STRAWBS. He was replaced by Dave Lambert. The new line up recorded the album "Bursting At The Seams". One of their concerts was later released on CD.

STRAWBS 8 1972 - 1973
Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Dave
Lambert

gtr/vcl
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
John
Ford

bs/vcl
Blue Weaver
kybds

STRAWBS singles

1972: STRAWBS - Lay Down (Dave Cousins) b/w Back Side (Dave Cousins / Richard Hudson / John Ford / Dave Lambert / Mick Weaver) (Single; A&M AMS 7035)

1973: STRAWBS - Part Of The Union (Richard Hudson / John Ford) b/w New World (Dave Cousine) (Single; A&M AMS 7047)
1973: STRAWBS - Part Of The Union (Richard Hudson / John Ford) b/w Will You Go (Dave Cousins / Richard Hudson / John Ford / Dave Lambert / Mick Weaver) (Single; D: A&M 12545 AT)

STRAWBS album

1973: STRAWBS - Bursting At The Seams (A&M 68144)

1973: STRAWBS - In Concert (Windsong WINCD 069) (veröffentlicht / released 1995)

STRAWBS DVD

1971 - 1975: STRAWBS - Live In Tokyo 1975 / The Grave New World Video (Witchwood Media 2009) (veröffentlicht / released 2003)

Blue Weaver sessions

1973: Lou Reed - Berlin (RCA Victor AP1 0207)

Blue Weaver joined MOTT THE HOOPLE in 1974. They released a live album. Later rereleases of the album almost had the complete concert.

MOTT THE HOOPLE 1974
Ian
Hunter

gtr/vcl
Overend
Watts

bs/vcl
Morgan
Fisher

pno/vcl
Ariel
Bender

gtr/vcl
Blue Weaver
kybds
Dale
Griffin

dr

MOTT THE HOOPLE album

1974: MOTT THE HOOPLE - Live (Columbia CK 33282)
1974: MOTT THE HOOPLE - Two Miles From Live Heaven (Angel Air 99) (veröffentlicht / released 2002)
1974: MOTT THE HOOPLE - Live (30th Anniversary Edition) (Sony International 516051)

The new keyboard player was Blue Weaver, who also had played with AMEN CORNER and later with the STRAWBS. Blue Weaver was able to bring some fresh ideas to the group. More than any other non Gibb member of the group he participated in song writing and arrangements. The new lineup of the BEE GEES was the longest lasting BEE GEES band ever and many believe that this also was the most successful time for the group. Even though many people called the years from 1975 to 1979 the disco period, a lot of the songs released during these years have nothing in common with disco music. The BEE GEES continued to record their typical ballads, but the trademark of this period and also of many years after were the falsetto vocals. The BEE GEES were able to be successful again all over the world. At the same time they also wrote and produced songs for other artists. When RSO ended the cooperation with Atlantic records in America this ment that the BEE GEES could no longer use Arif Mardin as their producer. The BEE GEES chose to produce themselves, with Barry Gibb taking the lead. Karl Richardson and Alby Galuten were responsible for the engineering. Together with Barry Gibb they became a very successful team.

When Vince Melouney and the BEE GEES parted ways in 1968 some people thought that they would never meet again, but in 1976 Vince Melouney visited the group in England and he even wrote some songs together with Barry Gibb.

BEE GEES 12 1974 - 1976
Barry
Gibb

gtr/vcl
Robin
Gibb

vcl
Maurice
Gibb

bs/kybds/vcl
Alan
Kendall

gtr/vcl
Dennis
Bryon

dr
Blue
Weaver

kybds

BEE GEES singles
1975: BEE GEES - Jive Talking (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Wind Of Change (Barry & Robin Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 160)
1975: BEE GEES - Nights On Broadway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Edge Of The Universe (Barry & Robin Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 171=
1975: BEE GEES - Nights On Broadway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) / Wind Of Change (Barry & Robin Gibb) / All This Making Love (Barry & Robin Gibb) / Songbird (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Maxi; BRA: RSO 2252 114)
1975: BEE GEES - Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Country Lanes (Barry & Robin Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 179)
1975: BEE GEES - Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Songbird (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb / Blue Weaver) (Single; MEX: RSO 626)
1975: BEE GEES - Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Nights On Broadway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; IT: RSO 2090 183)
1976: BEE GEES - You Should Be Dancing (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Subway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 195)
1976: BEE GEES - You Should Be Dancing (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) / Subway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) / Love So Right (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) / You Stepped Into My Life (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Maxi; BRA: RSO 2252 119)
1976: BEE GEES - Love So Right (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w You Stepped Into My Life (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 207)
1977: BEE GEES - Boogie Child (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Lovers (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 221)
1977: BEE GEES - Children Of The World (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Boogie Child (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 224)
1977: BEE GEES - Boogie Child (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Love So Right (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; IT: RSO 2090 227)
1977: BEE GEES - Children Of The World (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Lovers (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; AUS: RSO 2090 252)

BEE GEES album
1975: BEE GEES - Main Course (RSO 2394 150)
1976: BEE GEES - Children Of The World (RSO 2394 169)

To reproduce the strings and the synthetic sounds that the group used in the studio they got Geoff Westley back in the live line-up. In 1977 they recorded some shows and put them together for the first ever BEE GEES live album. Even though the material was strongly based on the new songs the group also included many of the old hits, even though in shortened versions. Without Geoff Westley the BEE GEES recorded the songs for the Saturday Night Fever film. September 1977 to January 1978 put the live activities on a hold, as the brothers Gibb concentrated on the shooting of the film "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Most of 1978 was spent recording the next studio album and writing songs for other artists.

BEE GEES 13 1976 - 1979
Barry
Gibb

gtr/vcl
Robin
Gibb

vcl
Maurice
Gibb

bs/kybds/vcl
Alan
Kendall

gtr/vcl
Dennis
Bryon

dr
Blue
Weaver

kybds
Geoff
Westley

kybds*
* live only
BEE GEES singles
1977: BEE GEES - Edge Of The Universe (Live) (Barry & Robin Gibb) b/w Words (Live) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 255)
1977: BEE GEES - Staying Alive (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w If I Can't Have You (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 259)
1977: BEE GEES - How Deep Is Your Love (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Can't Keep A Good Man Down (Live) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO RS-882)
1978: BEE GEES - Staying Alive (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Subway (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; SA: RSO PS 1004)
1978: BEE GEES - Staying Alive (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Night Fever (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; DDR: Amiga 426353)
1978: BEE GEES - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) / With A Little Help From My Friends (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) / Nowhere Man (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) / Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) (Maxi; N: RSO 2814 132)
1978: BEE GEES - Night Fever (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Down The Road (Live) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 272)
1978: BEE GEES - More Than A Woman (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Children Of The World (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO: 2090 290)
1978: BEE GEES - Too Much Heaven (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Rest Your Love On Me (Barry Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 331)
1978: BEE GEES - Oh Darling (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) b/w I'm Leaving Home (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) (Single; RSO 2090 317)
1978: BEE GEES - A Day In The Life (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) b/w Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) (Single: RSO 2090 342)
1978: BEE GEES - A Day In The Life (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) b/w Nowhere Man (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) (Single; I: RSO 2090 325)
1979: BEE GEES - Tragedy (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Until (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 340)
1979: BEE GEES - Love You Inside Out (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w I'm Satisfied (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 349)
1979: BEE GEES - Love You Inside Out (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Living Together (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; BRA: RSO 2090 374)
1979: BEE GEES - Spirits Having Flown (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) b/w Wind Of Change (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (Single; RSO 2090 412)

BEE GEES album
1977: BEE GEES - Here At Last... Live (RSO 2658 120)
1977: v.a. - Saturday Night Fever (RSO 2658 123)
1979: BEE GEES - Spirits Having Flown (RSO 2394 216)
1979: BEE GEES - Greatest (RSO)

BEE GEES recordings
1976: BEE GEES - Golden Slumbers (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) / Carry That Weight (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) Sun King (John Lennon / Paul McCartney) (erschienen auf / released on: "v.a. - All This World War II"; WB 66049)
1978: Peter Frampton & BEE GEES - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (RSO 2658 128)
1979: BEE GEES - Too Much Heaven (Live) (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) (erschienen auf / released on: "v.a. - A Gift Of Song, Music For UNICEF"; Polydor)

Robin Gibb recordings
1978: Robin Gibb - Sesame Street Fever (Joe Raposo) / Trash (Joe Raposo) / C Is For Cookie (Joe Raposo) (erschienen auf / released on "v.a. - Ssesame Street Fever"; Sesame Street Records)

BEE GEES DVD
1976: Peter Frampton, BEE GEES - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal 20415)

Blue Weaver sessions

1976: SURPRISE SISTERS - Surprise Sisters (RCA 1404)
1977: GRAEME EDGE BAND - Paradise Ballroom (London 686)
1978: CHICAGO - Hot Streets (Columbia 35512)
1979: John Cougar - John Cougar (Riva 814995-4)

In 1979 the BEE GEES undertook a farewell tour for their longest lasting band. The BEE GEES touring band was the biggest band the group had employed ever. In addition to Blue Weaver George Bitzer and Harold Cowart were playing the keyboards. Joey Murcia was added as additional guitar player and Joe Lala occasionally played percussion. They had planned to change their touring schedule after the "Spirits Having Flown" tour.

BEE GEES 14 1979
Barry
Gibb

gtr/vcl
Robin
Gibb

vcl
Maurice
Gibb

bs/kybds/vcl
Alan
Kendall

gtr/vcl
Dennis
Bryon

dr
Blue
Weaver

kybds
George
Bitzer

kybds
Joe
Lala

pcs
Joey
Murcia

gtr
Harold
Cowart

kybds

Blue Weaver sessions

1980: Andy Gibb - After Dark (RSO 5006)
1983: Jon Anderson - Animation (Atlantic 19355)

In 1983 Blue Weaver joined the reformed STRAWBS for one tour.

STRAWBS 16 1983
Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Dave
Lambert

gtr/vcl
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
John
Ford

bs/vcl
Mick Weaver
kybds

Blue Weaver sessions

1986: DAMNED - Anything (MCA 6015)
1986: PET SHOP BOYS - Disco (EMI America E2 46450) ^
1986: Miguel Bose - Salamandra (WEA Latina 42083)
1987: PET SHOP BOYS - Actually (EMI America E2 46972)
1988: PET SHOP BOYS - Heart (Chris Lowe / Neil Tennant) (Disco Mix) / I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too) (Chris Lowe / Neil Tennant) / Heart (Chris Lowe / Neil Tennant) (Dance Mix) (Parlophone 2471)
1988: PET SHOP BOYS - Introspective (EMI America E2 90868)
1990: PROPAGANDA - 1234 (Charisma 91375-1)
1993: v.a. - Mick Ronson Memorial Concert (Citadel 02) (veröffentlicht / released 1994)

When Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby recorded their album "The Bridge" together, they assembled a band of former STRAWBS members and friends for the sessions and kept the group for some concerts.

COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY 2 5/93 - 8/93
Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Brian
Willoughby

gtr/vcl
Richard
Hudson

dr/gtr/vcl
Tony
Hooper

gtr/bjo/vcl
Mick Weaver
kybds
Rod
Demick

bs
Mary
Hopkin

vcl

COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY album

1994: Dave Cousins & Brian Willoughby - The Bridge (The Road Goes On Forever RGFCD 020)

In September the Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby played a few concerts with a smaller line-up.

COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY 3 9/93

Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Brian
Willoughby

gtr
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
Rod
Demick

bs/vcl
Blue
Weaver

kybds

As most of the musicians from COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY were former STRAWBS members, Dave Cousins decided to call the group STRAWBS. During the next 5 years the group played some tours. A concert at Chiswick House in 1998 was recorded and later on released on CD.

STRAWBS 21 9/93 - 8/98

Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Brian
Willoughby

gtr
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
Rod
Demick

bs/vcl
Blue
Weaver

kybds

STRAWBS album

1998: STRAWBS - Live At Chiswick House (Witchwood WCCD 2001) (veröffentlicht / released 2000)

During the nineties Blue Weaver continued to do some session work. He was also recording some material in his own studio. Some of the recordings were used for films, some were collected for a self released solo album.

Blue Weaver sessions

1995: PET SHOP BOYS - Alternative (Capitol 34023)
1995: Ian Hunter - Dirty Laundry (Cleveland International Records CIR 1001-2)

Blue Weaver album

1998: Blue Weaver - So-Lo (BWMMP CD-0100)

Whenever the STRAWBS toured between 1999 and 2004 as an electric unit Blue Weaver was a part of the group. He even played on the album "Blue Angel".

STRAWBS 22 4/99 - 7/04

Dave
Cousins

gtr/vcl
Brian
Willoughby

gtr
Richard
Hudson

dr/vcl
Rod
Demick

bs/vcl
Blue
Weaver

kybds
Dave
Lambert

gtr/vcl

STRAWBS album

2003: STRAWBS - Blue Angel (Witchwood WCCD 2008)