THE NOTORIOUS BROTHERS BAND HISTORY
The Notorious Brothers were formed ten years ago by lead singer and hamonica player Reg Jones, ex "Way of Life" a band which included his brother Chris on guitar, Dave Pegg on bass (later of Fairport & Jethro Tull) and John Bonham on drums (pre Zeppelin days). Reg and Chris had also formed a band called "Gritt" in the mid '70's featuring their nephew "Ace Kefford" of "The Move" on bass. Reg had been a regular on the Birmingham music scene since the early '60's. The other Notorious Brother from the inception is lead guitarist Melvin Hancox of the original "Vincent Flatts Final Drive" line up and previously of "Mack & the Boys" with whom he gained his first experience of radio & television work and at the mere age of 15 earned himself his first record contract. Melvin had just left "The Flatts" because of bad management, so the decision was taken to perform as a duo for the first six months, to have as hassle free time as possible, keep costs down and most importantly to enjoy creating and performing music again.
The idea happened to work and gradually expanded to a four piece outfit with the addition of John Hill ex "Robert Plant's Band of Joy" on bass, another original member of "The Flatts" and a good friend of Melvin's from when they'd performed in front of 70,000 open air and toured America & Costa Rica together. On the drum stool they were lucky enough to enjoy Kex Gorin, a fast, powerful and effortless musician, formally of melodic rock band and million album sellers "Magnum", appearing on their first five albums. Both Kex & John had also previously worked with Reg in the past and all three can be found in the pages of the excellent "Brum Rocked On!" by Laurie Hornsby.
This band recorded four studio and two live sets (one at Silverstone race track believe it or not!) and travelled extensively. They always had a full gig sheet and a good time entertaining thousands with their brand of blues based rock with a touch of flair and imagination that unfortunately so many bands on the circuit in my opinion are lacking. This was due in no small part to Reg's natural ability to communicate with a variety of audiences and the unusually high standard of musicianship this group possessed.
During this period Kex had a side project who recorded an album of his original work, this was entitled "The Roulette World Pt.1" and is credited to the "K.G.B." or (Kex Gorin Band). Melvin in particular performed and recorded on a variety of other projects.One of these was with Ray Phillips of Welsh rock legends "Budgie" who appeared together on the as yet unreleased album "Birds of a Feather" under the banner of "Six Ton Budgie", on a rock album by "Trevor Crump's Blok", gigged and worked with Tony McPhee, Paul Hancox (no relation) of "Chicken Shack" and double headlined with "Stan Webb's Chicken Shack" which was a really big thrill for Melvin because along with Danny Kirwan & Peter Green, Stan Webb's playing inspired him to pick up a guitar in the first place. He also formed a three piece side project with his good friend and right hand man Richard Shelton and recorded the "Superseeed" album, whilst also producing and making guest appearances on other local bands work.
For a while The Notorious Brothers were known as "the human jukebox", because no matter what song the crowds shouted for they would invariably be able to play it, even if they never had before!. This behaviour was particularly evident on acoustic nights where just Reg & Melvin (& quite often an array of musician friends) would sit in the corner of the room and entertain until the early hours. This line up ended just as it had begun, with Reg & Melvin performing as a duo.
Unfortunately the good times ended too soon when in late 2004 Reg passed away, leaving the band and audience without the unique voice, front and charisma that only he possessed and would be impossible to replace with anybody else. But still the band, now a three piece with Melvin handling the vocals soldiered on. Which, for the audience and particularly the musicians, must have been an emotional time to say the least. Too difficult for some which is perhaps why Kex called it a day a month later.
With the band now barely in existence, but still with plenty of work it was up to Melvin to keep the band and name alive, which he just managed to do at the time. After talking with John about still working together and even considering a change of name, they decided it would be better to find a new drummer and build on what they still had. Enter Richard Rivett.
Richard had been playing with a variety of blues based bands and had been asked along to deputise for the percussionist that didn't exist. Right away it felt like a unit again, it all just clicked into place. Melvin had met Richard at a musician's jam night some years before and always remembered him and his playing, because apart from the obvious thing of he can't see you, he intuitivley knew what twists and turns Melvin's music would take, which is unusual in itself because Melvin plays across timings alot and most musicians, until used to it, find him difficult to work with. Jim Knowels who played on "Superseed" put Melvin back in touch with Richard and now together with John they set to work on reestablishing the band and most importantly the music.
This was not an easy task and it would almost have been easier to start from scratch as a new quantity, because the music was gradually and delibertately changing, which had to happen. There was no way of replacing what had gone before, although that seemed to be what some of the audience expected, it would have been wrong and impossible. Richard, John & Melvin did a lot of behind the scenes work, both physically rehearsing and mentally with purpose and direction. The work paid off and The Brothers triumphed once again.
The Notorious Brothers released their first three piece album "Shine On" in the summer of 2005, it included a very musical drum solo from Richard and instantly solidified a fan base and apreciative audience of both old and new, whilst also putting to rest any fears the band may have had that it was all over, on the contrary, the band had been reborn.
Their second opus "Tune in to Radio B.O.S.S" was released early 2006. The Brothers, now a stronger, bolder and more inventive unit than ever had released an album displaying not only a thread and general concept to the piece, but also introduced the writing team of Steven & Melvin Hancox who have an abundance of imagination and musicality to share. As do indeed Richard & John whose bass lines particularly on the titles "Big Oversoul" & "Karmic Condition" transcend the obvious role of the bass player who just does his job.
It was also around this time that the band expanded, not just musically but graphicly too with the addition of Chris "Sensibility" Wilkes & Chris "Tactless" Pye, on graphic design & photography respectively, creating album cover & poster art that most band units unfortunately are not lucky enough to enjoy in such a professional capacity. There's also Glenn Brough whom has created this marvellous internet site for your delectable enjoyment along with the graphic expertise of "Sensibility" of course!
Melvin wanted now to keep moving forward and expanded the Brothers line-up once again to a four-piece with the addition of Andy "Rocko" Flynn, from the ashes of "Smokestack", on guitar with whom Melvin was already gigging regularly as a duo, just as he had with Reg. Andy & Melvin hold a mutual admiration for each others playing & singing and felt the time was right to work in a more serious capacity together.
Which brings us right up to date with the latest album, which at the time of writing has not yet been released, but I've got a copy and I'm listening to it right now and let me tell you "Radio B.O.S.S. presents The Marigold Summerday Show", as it is tentativley titled, is another huge step (in my opinion) in the right direction. Not only is it musically superior to any previous efforts, it's right off the wall with the addition of Jen Ford, flown in especially from Missouri, as Marigold presenting her often demented stoned-out narration that not only compliments the music but sends her and it into another statosphere altogther, so follows the Brothers further path of progression.
To sum up, this is and always has been a great blues rock band and looks as though it will continue to be. The music's changed a bit but not too much and John, Andy, Richard & Melvin are certainly taking it places it's never been before, by just being themselves. Whilst others act out the music, the Brothers are the music. When they play it's from their hearts and their souls directly to yours.
Harvey Baker - April 2007