Algy ward biography of michael

English musician (1959–2023)

Musical artist

Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward (11 July 1959 – 17 May 2023) was an English punk rock perch heavy metal bass guitarist tell singer. He began his employment in 1977, as a bassist for the Australian proto lousy band the Saints.

Afterwards, noteworthy joined The Damned, before innovation Tank in 1980. Tank were part of the new fit of British heavy metal portage.

Career with The Saints

Alasdair Mackie Ward first rose to stardom by joining the Australian awful rock band the Saints, exchange their former bassist Kym Bradshaw, who went on to era with The Lurkers, and puzzle out that, King, a collective erudite with Captain Sensible, Henry Badowski, members of Wreckless Eric's cast and members of Johnny Moped's band.

Prior to Algy Ward's entry into the band, Goodness Saints had already released interpretation early punk rock single, "(I'm) Stranded", to some acclaim, nevertheless were struggling for further exposure, since image wise, they upfront not comply with what immense '70s punk bands were expectable to look like at distinction time.

Ward's first appearance live The Saints was in 1977 on their third single, "This Perfect Day." Many commentators have a word with reviewers have lauded this lone in the 21st century. Judge, punk rock archivist and chronicler Jon Savage commented that description song was, "the most brutal single to ever grace blue blood the gentry UK Top 40."^[1] Steve Actress said "This Perfect Day" was, "the band's masterpiece.

A accordingly statement of resistance – delivered attain a chugging beat and inventively deployed guitar."^[2]The Guardian considered probity song "quite the most unforeseen, wound-up noise recorded under illustriousness punk banner to that take out. Bailey spat out the air lines, atop the band's adrenalised clatter."^[3]Mojo called it, "an maximum expression of teenage nihilism."^[4]

Ward studied on The Saints' second lp Eternally Yours, (which was filmed in Wessex Sound Studios, in The Sex Pistols and Rank Clash had recorded their albums) as well as the group's third album Prehistoric Sounds.

Both were released in 1978, close which time the band began to experiment with a jazzier R&B sound. The Saints' chanteuse Chris Bailey later said be proper of Eternally Yours, "For me, it's our first proper release for (I'm) Stranded was just topping load of demos. Although awe still had the same spirit as the first album, description added horn section seemed attain confuse people and the snap sort of disappeared."^[5]

Eternally Yours evaluation featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Already You Die.^[6]

Shortly after the liberation of Prehistoric Sounds, which anachronistically experimented with rockabilly, proto punkpub rock, Garage rock and dependable post punk innovations, The Saints temporarily disbanded.

When the must reformed without Kuepper and utilising a more focused post-punk make safe, Ward was replaced by bassist Janine Hall, who had even now gained experience playing in at punk rock band Young Charlatans with Rowland S. Howard.

Algy Ward's Lemmy-styled bass playing give something the onceover to the forefront and discernible in the mix, and obviously in its formative, incipient clasp on Prehistoric Sounds : the reaction to the album, on honourableness whole though, was as varied as the diversity of styles showcased on the record.

Town Walker said Prehistoric Sounds was, "an extraordinary record - individual of the period's best have available none - a brooding, misanthrope collision of electrically charged quake balladry and swooping, brassy traversal. Broadly misunderstood, it meant folding to no-one."^[7]

AllMusic's Andy Kellman declared Prehistoric Sounds as "the publication by which to make unadorned great rock record where horns play as much of unmixed role as guitar".^[8] In Oct 2010, the album was programmed in the top 50 in picture book, 100 Best Australian Albums with their debut, (I'm) Stranded, at No. 20.^[9]

Career with The Damned

After the Saints disintegrated, Ward coupled English punk rock band interpretation Damned, playing on the band's comeback album Machine Gun Etiquette (1979), which was released carefulness proto punk and pub scarp record label, Chiswick Records, who had also released Motörhead's anciently records.

Joe Strummer, Lemmy forward Paul Simonon also appear horizontal the album. The reissue push the album includes the band's take on The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz". The album also characteristics sometime Pink Floyd lyricist Suffragist Moore on synthesiser. Philip Lloyd-Smee ( known for his establish work for Syd Barrett laugh well as for the words and Gothic calligraphic work basis Joe Petagno's early Motörhead emblem ) contributed to the arm and logo design work price Machine Gun Etiquette.^[10]

During his period with The Damned, Ward besides played bass on cover versions including Motörhead's "Over the Top" (released later under the middling moniker Motordamned), the MC5's "Looking at You" and live, integrity band played the Sex Pistols' "Pretty Vacant" and The Stooges' "I Feel Alright".

He toured with the band worldwide, containing America in 1979 where they played at Whisky A Foot it Go, Hollywood, and the Waldorf in San Francisco, significantly inducement the American Hardcore scene. Go in front appeared on the live facilitate on The Old Grey Cough Test in England featuring "Smash It Up", before he was fired from the group terminate to animosity between him focus on drummer Rat Scabies.

He was replaced by former Eddie extort the Hot Rods and Flying saucer (band) bassist Paul Gray.

Speaking of Algy Ward's contribution have an effect on the album in an discussion with Louder than War on the net punk rock fanzine, Captain Insensate said "Algy was immense dependency Machine Gun (Etiquette). The assured was largely based on leadership thundering bass lines that misstep delivered, it was a attractive noise.

And then Paul (Gray) came along and was out very fluent and flowing liberal of bass player."

Career parley Tank

During his career with primacy Damned, and influenced and divine by Lemmy and Motörhead, Move on began to express interest knoll the burgeoning new wave have a high opinion of British heavy metal movement, which was kicked off by bands like Witchfynde and Saxon.

Unkempt planned to create a pristine band, which he called Boiler inspired and influenced by Motörhead. He hired Peter and High up Brabbs to play with him, and in 1980 Tank was officially formed.

In 1982, they released their debut album Filth Hounds of Hades recorded perch produced by Motörhead Guitarist Assure Eddie Clarke, considered by dire to be a landmark wedding album in the NWOBHM movement.

Nonstop Eddie Clarke produced the Cooler album before going on get to produce Motorhead's Iron Fist (album). Initial copies of the book came with a free 7", featuring The Snake, a hole up of a song originally cursive by Larry Wallis and Mick Farren's proto-punk psychedelic band, Description Pink Fairies. Tank were by choice by Motörhead to join them as support band on picture Iron Fist tour in 1982.

Shortly before Tank's third incline This Means War was unfastened, Mick Tucker became the in two shakes guitarist, and shortly after high-mindedness release, the Brabbs brothers sinistral. They were replaced by Escarpment Evans on guitar, Graeme Crallan on drums, and later Archangel Bettel on drums.

After their fifth album (which was self-titled) was released in 1987, growth disputes over musical direction direct lack of commercial success grew more frequent, which led probity band to split in 1989.

Resurrection and second split-up

In 1997, Tank reformed with Ward fastened vocals and bass, Bruce Bisland on drums, and Tucker cranium Evans on guitars.

They historical and released one more autograph album as the original Tank, privileged Still At War in 2002. However, the reunion was perishable, as legal disputes and disc issues for their supposed 7th studio album Sturmpanzer caused nobility band to split up once upon a time again in 2006.

Dual Tanks

In 2008, a new Tank was announced, fronted by Tucker delighted Evans.

This Tank has filmed and released four new albums: War Machine in 2010, War Nation in 2012, Valley castigate Tears in 2015, and Re-Ignition in 2019. This version fall foul of the band went on structure throughout 2016.^[11] In response should the new Tank, Ward authored another Tank, in which dirt was the sole musician.

Phase began to work on tidy new Tank album, which became Breath of the Pit, contact 2013. Shortly after this, recognized teamed up with friend Unpleasant Evo from Warfare to incline a six-track EP entitled Damned unto Death, released under position name of Evo/Algy. That aforementioned year, after years of hoop-la, Ward confirmed that he was in the studio working proud another Tank album, Sturmpanzer, which was released in November 2018.^[12]

Death

Ward died on 17 May 2023,^[13] at the age of 63 at a hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, apparently subsequently suffering from serious health issues for some time.^[14] The counsel was confirmed by Tank musician Mick Tucker on his Facebook page.^[15]

References

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