FM Family Tree

[wetcamelfood]

Now, here's a brief outline of what I've got as an overview for Bekka's career so far (in regards to touring)

Backing vocals for:

Belinda Carlisle (1987-88) (even though she sang BV's on all songs (except one) on BC's "Runaway horses" album released in 1989, she was not on the RH tour but was on the "Heaven on earth" tour (as evident from a "Tonight show" appearance I've got on videotape from '87 and the "Belinda Live" 1988 videotape release.

She possibly toured with Warrant and/or Rod Stewart in '89 (?)

Toured with The Moody Blues between 1990-91

(then joined Zoo, then FM, then Bekka & Billy (see Billy's listing for that stuff!)

Toured with Billy Joel in early '98

Since '99, it seems to mainly be recording sessions, inpromtu gigs, the annual Delbert Mcclinton cruise ship deal etc.

I would say to leave this stuff off as number one, I can't find out much else stuff on any of this (besides what I've listed) and number two, she did do the backing vocals but probably wasn't considered as being in the "band". I just wanted to check with everyone though as I assume Sharon, Lori, etc. are being listed for Stevie's bands but whatever way is decided on this stuff is fine with me. So, I hope some of this stuff helps and we can sort it all out to our liking in some way soon.

John

[wetcamelfood]

Originally posted by David
For the 1992 "Shakin' the Cage" tour, the Zoo was Mick Fleetwood (drums), Billy Thorpe (vocals/guitars), Bekka Bramlett (vocals), Billy Burnette (vocals/guitars), Gregg Wright (guitars), Tom Lilly (bass) & Brett Tuggle (keyboards).

Geez, I saw The Zoo, in '92 at The Paradise club in Boston (Allston) MA a week after the FM convention in Austin TX and Billy Burnette wasn't at my show. Just my luck. Which show did you see that he was at from that tour?

Anyways, thanks for the more detailed info on the CM tour David, I didn't see that tour so I just went by the video but I now know that was done before the tour etc. so this is cool that we're getting better data now!

John

[Johnny Stew]

In regards to John's question about Sharon and Lori, I would think that they should definitely have a place on the tree, since they also have connections to Fleetwood Mac (Lori toured with the band for 'Shake The Cage,' and Sharon toured with them for 'Shake The Cage,' 'Behind The Mask,' and 'The Dance').

Three of Stevie's other backing singers should probably also be included: Elisecia Wright ('Shake The Cage'); Lynn Mabry ('Behind The Mask'), and Mindy Stein ('The Dance').

I'd imagine that the others aren't absolutely necessary.



Johnny Stew

[wetcamelfood]

I'm all for having Sharon/Lori etc. included if that's what everyone else thinks. What I mainly meant though in regards to my Sharon/Lori comment was that if THEY are deemed important enough to be included in the tree as "part of a band" as backing vocalists, then would it be fair to say that Bekka backing up, say The Moody Blues etc. should be included by the same token? I mean, I can't find any further info on any of those bands lineups I discussed in regards to Bekka's touring career so I would say leave them all off (if no one else can find further lineup details of the bands I listed that Bekka had toured with) but I know it would be upsetting to many here if Sharon/Lori etc. were to be left off if no further data can be found on Bekka's other "band" activities in regards to touring in order to "keep things fair" politically speaking so what should be done about this? Brian? I'll go with whatever, but I personally feel that either they all go on or none go on because how can some backing singers be considered important enough to be "part of a band" and others can't (especially in the case of Bekka who WAS a member of FM after all)? JMHO though.

John

[Johnny Stew]

Yikes! This is definitely a grey area!

I know what you mean, John, and that does make sense.
I guess the main reason why I thought to include Sharon & Lori on the tree, is mainly the "importance" of the connection (that they've not only been a part of Stevie's touring bands, but have also toured with Fleetwood Mac).

Though, don't get me wrong, I don't think they warrant their own sub-branches (no mentions are needed of Sharon's appearances with Mick Jagger, for example).

And I definitely see your point about Bekka.

I'm still of the mind that in some instances, a simple notation such as "toured with ______, this date - that date," is enough, and that a breakdown of the full band lineup isnt always necessary.
But that's just me.



I just realized... when Brian's all done with this, the tree is going to be the size of a subway poster!!!



Johnny Stew

[wetcamelfood]

Oh I know, I agree, Johnny, I didn't mean for that last post to sound aggresive or anything. Yeah, I didn't mean that Sharon/ Lori etc. should have the Jagger entries etc. but having the notations would be a good idea for Bekka if no further info can be found on her stuff, I never thought of that and I often forget how Sharon/Lori etc. did tour with FM AS WELL AS SN so it does make for a good connection that should make for interesting reading for anyone that does come across the tree. So I'm cool to go with whatever. As you say though, the subway sized tree poster will make for long time studies, hopefully without too many neck cranes in the process!

John

[bjk3047]

Just got back from a long weekend trip...
I myself would be hesitant to list backup singers. I do definitely see Mindy, Sharon, and Lori's importance, but that begins to get tough as discussed. Although, it wouldn't be fair to Bekka to place even significance to her and Stevie's backups. Afterall, the effort on the tree is map out all the endeavors of all the members of FM. Certainly gray area. I dunno. I was leaning towards no before, but I'm now thinking to myself "If Stevie ever sang backup for a band, would we leave that entry out?" So perhaps we should put Bekka's backup in if we get lineups.
One major concern to Mindy and co. though, perhaps Brian can help me out on this because I never really followed Stevie's solo endeavors: Do you think Stevie's branches could be relisted with the most important 6 (including Stevie)? Once an entry passes six people, it begins to look a little akward and take up a pretty good amount of space. If backups, belong there, by all means, as long as the *band* is represented.

Phew! DM really got around! That one's gonna be a looong one. But hey, you can't beat the detail that John put out on this stuff!
I'll have an update in the next two days,
-Brian

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by bjk3047
Do you think Stevie's branches could be relisted with the most important 6 (including Stevie)?

This will probably be a dumb question, but do you mean a total of six band-members combined from all of her tours.... or a maximum of six members, per tour?



Johnny Stew

[bjk3047]

Perfectly logical question to ask... Six per tour. Six for all would be nearly impossible....although it may not be a bad idea for a thread on the Stevie board.
-Brian

[bjk3047]

Well I didn't want to jump the gun on the Stevie solo shows without the more logical lineups, so I finished off two pieces of the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band branch: http://www.geocities.com/bri3047/familytree.html
ALSO! I discovered a problem (also in the picture with the work). With the additions of Pre-FM Weston, I cut off Spencer and Green Post-FM and the last thing I want to do is cross lines, it would be so much cooler if we could avoid that. And the left side is already cluttered enough. Any aestheticly minded people out there who could figure out how to keep Weston on that side but open up JS and PG? I included a much bigger picture so that someone can firgure this out I'll likely add some post-FM Welch as Brian gets around to Stevie solo (Brian - take your time, I'm not rushing you in the least, there's buttloads of stuff to be done that can come before SN).
-Brian

[wetcamelfood]

That 1/3 size thumbnail is killer Brian! Well, anyways, there may be others but as of now anyways, I've come across a few small things that need to be changed (according to what I see on that 1/3 thumbnail deal):

"Shotgun Express 3" should NOT have Rod Stewart as he left (I presume) at the end of 12/66 and was not replaced as the SE 3 lineup (minus Stewart of course) cut the "Funny 'cos neither could I" b/w "Indian thing" single without him and Beryl & Peter Bardens handled the vocals on FCNCI together in Rod's absence("Indian thing" was/is an instrumental track) That one was my goof, I listed him in "3" earlier. Sorry about that!

"Savoy Brown 1" (with Bob Brunning) should be listed as ending in 10/67 (and not 11/67) and it was SB 2 that recorded the "Taste and try before you buy" b/w "Someday people" single which (I understand) was recorded in 10/67. As a result, SB 2 should start in 10/67 (and not 11/67).

In the Fritz listing, I noticed that Javier is spelled with an "X" instead of a "J" but I know that's the way it was on the Pete Frame original tree so it's his goof more than anything else! I assume "Javier" is the correct spelling as he never said anything about it at his Q & A or anything as far as I know. Is this right?

John

[bjk3047]

Done, done, and done. Someone must have been dictating the lineup for Fritz, that would also explain Bob "Ageary"
-Brian

[wetcamelfood]

Sorry to dig this up again but in case it's of interest anymore, I got a book called "Blues rock explosion" I would recommend (from 2001, Old Goat Publishing, ISBN No.: 0-9701332-7-8) which explains that the Bob Weston line up of Black Cat Bones was:

Bob Weston - Lead guitar
Derek Brooks- Rhythm guitar
Paul Tiller - Vocals
Stu Brooks - Bass
Terry Sims - Drums

Unfortunately the dates are hazy. It does say that this line up of BCB only recorded one song called "The warmth of the day" which was recorded for a mainly narrative commemoration album regarding the Queen Elizabeth II ship. I did track down a copy of this album and it's called "Come aboard! QE2" (1969, Sceptre Records, catalog number: SALR 1216). As there are few songs woven in to the narration of the album, there is no tracklisting as such but it does list BCB as the "pop group" on the album and although the song's lyrics don't say "The warmth of the day" specifically, they do discuss the sun etc. so it stands to reason this is the song in question but back to the "dates". The "Blues rock explosion" book says that Weston was in a band prior to BCB known as Giant Marrowfat and that it included a sax player named Lol Coxhill (but that's it). I would imagine they weren't together too long as it doesn't say anythimg else about them. It does say that as Weston had replaced Paul Kossoff (and Kossoff and Simon Kirke went off to start Free) Free's first rehearsal took place (according to this book) on April 19, 1968 and "Beat instrumental" magazine reported that BCB was to go in to the studio and record a full album for release at the end of 1968 (but of course we now know that BCB's one and only album "Barbed wire sandwich" was not releaed until Nov 1969 (and this book also confirms that Bob Weston was NOT in the line up of BCB that recorded the BWS album) so I think it's safe to assume the ORIGINAL recording sessions for the planned album didn't happen (at least not with this line up). So, if we figure that Kossoff & Kirke needed SOME time to set up Free then maybe we could get away with saying the Weston BCB started in 3/68 and maybe went to 12/68 and then we could have Weston & Sims starting Ashkan in 1/69? Just a thought.

Not sure what to put for Giant Marrowfat (if anything) as I can't find anything else about them and with The Kinetic "Live your life" album in 1967, my guess would be 1/68-2/68 for GM and end The Kinetic in 12/67 (if we can come up with any other members of GM but if it took this long to find out about the story behind BCB then it's not likely we'll find out anything further on GM but here's hoping anyways.

This "Blues rock explosion" book is cool anyways though as it's more accurate than most other similar books of this type and it has a forward by Bob Brunning and a chapter on FM and other interestig related chapters on BCB as well as the Brunning Hall Sunflower Blues Band, Chicken Shack, John Mayall, Savoy Brown, Dave Kelly, Jo Ann Kelly, among many others. OK, end of commercial. If anyone has any ideas on how any of this can be taken further then please do post about it here.

John

[iamstevienicks]

Just been trying to digest all that, fascinating stuff!!

Did anyone ever actually make up a complete timeline with all the info collected?

And for the completist collectors out there, would you want everything by every single related artist?

I dont think I would/could go that far

Good work guys

[bjk3047]

That would be my department Check the link I have in one of my previous posts in this thread.
There were a lot of loose ends at the time...and everything just grinded to a halt. You can imagine my surprise when I saw this up on the top again! I'll have to dig up all the work (I did save it, thank God lol). I think we can complete this tree as a part 1 of 2. For the sake of aesthetics and size of the tree itself, this tree can chart all of the involvements of FM personnel prior to their joining the band. Makes sense?
As I look at it now, all that's left is from Billy and Rick to Dave Mason and the Time crew. True enough, those guys were journeymen, but if we work the tree like that, there's light at the end of the tunnel.
-Brian