Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz that merged a love of American-style country rock, soul, pop, and R&B and had a six year run with United Artists records. They had evolved into its most well-known form by 1969 after achieving some success as Kippington Lodge. Likely most notable for being the early 70s UK pub rock band that spawned the solo career of Nick Lowe, recording the tune "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" in 1974 several years before fan & former roadie Elvis Costello recorded it. The group was popular in the UK and Euro territories, touring the UK in 1972 as an opening act for Paul McCartney & Wings, and playing the UK's regional pub & hall circuit with bands like Dave Edmunds, Atomic Rooster, Ducks Deluxe & Grateful Dead, even headlining the first Glastonbury festival. ...show more

Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz that merged a love of American-style country rock, soul, pop, and R&B and had a six year run with United Artists records. They had evolved into its most well-known form by 1969 after achieving some success as Kippington Lodge. Likely most notable for being the early 70s UK pub rock band that spawned the solo career of Nick Lowe, recording the tune "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" in 1974 several years before fan & former roadie Elvis Costello recorded it. The group was popular in the UK and Euro territories, touring the UK in 1972 as an opening act for Paul McCartney & Wings, and playing the UK's regional pub & hall circuit with bands like Dave Edmunds, Atomic Rooster, Ducks Deluxe & Grateful Dead, even headlining the first Glastonbury festival.

In addition to Schwarz, and Lowe on bass & vocals, the band featured American Billy Rankin on drums, and Bob Andrews on Hammond B-3 organ, with 2nd guitarist Ian Gomm added in 1970. Brinsley Schwarz signed a contract with manager Dave Robinson, who developed a plan to earn the band some publicity. They first played America on a fiscao laden press junket opening for Van Morrison at the Fillmore East in New York City in 1970 but were not well rested or well received and never toured the states again. Before breaking up in 1975, they released 12 albums and 21 singles for United Artists, and were the first band to play live in 1973 on the BBC's "Old Grey Whistle Test" programme and had a cameo in the film "Stardust" with David Essex.

In 1970, Brinsley Schwarz released Despite It All, which had a definite country sound to it, and later added Ian Gomm to the band. Their wild performances soon garnered the band a large fanbase on the London pub rock scene, at venues such as 'The Tally Ho' in Kentish Town. Along with other bands like Eggs Over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz was soon dubbed "pub rock" by rock journalists. They sounded, at times, very much like The Band, with Schwarz's guitar work influenced greatly by Robbie Robertson's. ...show less