Brand X

Brand X were a British jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974. Primarily an instrumental band, they were initially active until 1981, followed by reformations during 1992–1999 and 2016–2020.The band's first recording and touring line-up consisted of guitarist John Goodsall, bassist Percy Jones, keyboardist Robin Lumley and Genesis drummer Phil Collins. Other members of the band at various times included Morris Pert, Kenwood Dennard, Chuck Burgi, J. Peter Robinson, Mike Clark and John Giblin. Goodsall, Jones and Lumley were involved with all the albums during the band's original 1974–1981 run.Jones ended all Brand X activities in 2020, despite resistance from the band's management and their attempts to revive the band with all-new personnel. John Goodsall died on 10 November 2021 and Robin Lumley died on 9 March 2023.In 1974, Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall plus fellow guitarist Pete Bonas, drummer John Dillon and percussionist/singer Phil Spinelli were carrying out jazz fusion jam sessions at Island Studios in London. Simultaneously, at London's PSL studios, keyboard player Robin Lumley and bass guitarist Percy Jones were playing with the jam band Karass (which also featured members of the Keith Tippett band, Blodwyn Pig, Traffic and Atomic Rooster). Jones and Lumley were introduced to Bonas and Goodsall, who invited them to play at Island Studios, eventually forming a six-piece "Island band" salaried by Island Records under the guidance of A&R man Danny Wilding.Following the departure of Dillon in 1975, the band attempted to recruit Bill Bruford before being introduced to Genesis drummer Phil Collins (at the time unsure about his future with Genesis following Peter Gabriel's departure). Newly christened Brand X (after Wilding wrote down "Brand X" to keep track of their activity on the studio calendar), the band began recording a debut album featuring Spinelli's vocals in addition to the instrumental content. When the vocals were negatively received by Island management, Goodsall, Lumley, Jones and Collins began secretly rehearsing as an instrumental four-piece, subsequently parting company with Spinelli and Bonas.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.