Colosseum II - Germany 1977

We have decided to introduce a new occasional series under the banner 'Rarities and Collectors Items' where the audio might not be first class but the interest factor is likely quite high. There are many live recordings and demos to be found in varying degrees of quality and probable interest. These are just some that we are delighted to share.

Several years after the dissolution of Colosseum, Jon Hiseman recruited Gary Moore and Don Airey to form Colosseum II. The mandate this time, however, was not the jazz and blues inflected rock of the original band, but a full-tilt journey into hyperkinetic jazz fusion that stretched the players about as far as they could go.

This is the band live on WDR Radio Nachtmusik, Cologne, Germany from the 29th October 1977.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Good stereo mp3@128kbps some tape hiss between numbers.

Genre: Jazz Rock, Fusion.

Set: Edited set.

Set List:

01. Wardance
02. The Inquisition
03. Trilogy: Star Maiden - Mysterioso - Quasar
04. Lament
05. Desperado
06. Drum Solo
07. Fighting Talk

Comments:

Colosseum II were a British band formed by the former Colosseum drummer and leader, Jon Hiseman, following the 1974 demise of his band Tempest.

Hiseman announced his plan to form the band eventually named Colosseum II in November 1974, but only Gary Moore was named. Rehearsals were due to begin on January 1, 1975, but a permanent unit was not finalised until May 1975. Among musicians who almost made the group were Graham Bell, Duncan MacKay and Mark Clarke. The line-up was completed by Don Airey, Neil Murray and Mike Starrs.

The sound was oriented toward Jazz fusion, much of which was based around the guitar work of Moore, leading to a much heavier sound than the original Colosseum band. After disappointing sales of the first album, Murray and Starrs were unceremoniously sacked by the bands record label (Bronze) in July 1976.

The band continued with a new record label and a new bass player (John Mole), and recorded two further largely instrumental (and still commercially unsuccessful) albums. They also performed on Variations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, which also featured Julian Lloyd Webber on cello, Rod Argent on keyboards and Hiseman's wife, Barbara Thompson, on flute and sax. This album reached number 2 on the UK charts.

In August 1978, Moore left to rejoin Thin Lizzy for a fourth spell, and Airey's brother Keith Airey replaced him on guitar. Sadly plans for a fourth album fell through when Don Airey decided to join Rainbow in December 1978.

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