Them was formed in Belfast in
1963, the original line-up being Billy Harrison (guitar), Eric Wrickson (organ), Alan Henderson (bass), Van Morrison
(vocals/harmonica) and Ronnie Millings (drums). Morrison had
previously played in a showband called The Monarchs. In July 1964
Wrickson departed to join The Wheels and Millings also left to become
a milkman. Decca's Dick Rowe, having seen them perform at the
Maritime, arranged a recording audition in London and to find a debut
single. Seven songs were recorded, Groovin', You Can't Judge A Book,
Turn On Your Lovelight, Gloria, One Two Brown Eyes, Philosophy and
Don't Start Crying Now.
The last number was chosen for their first 45. It
failed to break through nationally but sold well in Belfast. For
their second single they covered the American blues classic, Baby
Please Don't Go. With the stunning garage-punk standard, Gloria, on
the B-side, this was arguably one of the finest R&B singles of the
sixties. Both tracks featured fine vocal performances from Morrison
but the remaining band members contributed little with Rowe utilising
experienced sessionmen like Jimmy Page, who was responsible for the
single's fine guitar moments. In Great Britain, Baby Please Don't Go
made the Top Ten.
American producer Bert Berns (whose earlier
credits included Hang On Sloopy, Twist And Shout and Under The
Boardwalk) wrote and produced their next single, Here Comes The Night,
which had been recorded by Lulu the previous year without much
commercial success. This near-ballad featured another stunning vocal
performance by Morrison and rose to No 2, becoming their biggest but
last British hit. In April 1965 the first in a series of line-up
changes took place, which culminated in the death of the band. Jackie
McAuley left, totally disillusioned by the continual involvement of
session-men on the band's recordings. He was replaced by Pete Bardens.
In July 1965, Jackie's brother Pat left (to be
replaced by Terry Noone) and Billy Harrison was replaced by Joe Boni.
In September 1965, Morrison and Henderson sacked Bardens, Boni and
Noon and headed back to Belfast to look for new personnel. The McAuley
brothers then formed Belfast Gypsies. A debut album, Them (sometimes
referred to as Angry Young Them because that description appears on
the back cover), came out in June 1965. In September 1965 Morrison
and Henderson returned with another new line-up which is credited with
recording the Them Again album, which mixed R&B standards with some
Morrison originals.
However, the album was apparently made with the
assistance of other session players. Them finally split in June 1966
but later re-grouped in Los Angeles with Belfast vocalist Kenny
McDowell (Moses K of The Prophets) in Morrison's place. This line-up
cut two albums on Tower and continued, based in the US, into the
seventies. The Now And Them album was a curious mixture of blues-rock
and psychedelia. Prior to the follow-up Roy Elliot departed and the
band became a quartet. By the time of their second Tower album, Them
were a fully fledged psychedelic rock band. Sadly, it marked the end
of this line-up who split in 1968, disillusioned by their financial
situation. Armstrong and McDowell formed Sk'boo back in Belfast. |