Gary Thain

Biography

Thain was born in Christchurch. He had two older brothers, Conrad and Arthur and one younger brother Brian.At a young age of about 16 Gary was in a Christchurch band called THE STRANGERS along with his older brother Arthur on lead Graeme Ching Rhythm guitar and Dave Beatty on drums. later Peter Dawkins replaced Dave Beatty. Gary later joined "The Secrets", Derek Wright lead, Paul Muggleston rhythm guitar , Wayne Allen drums. which eventually dissolved in 1966. Later, Thain was part of the rock group ME and THE OTHERS " drummer Peter Dawkins,Dave Chapman lead guitar and Paul Muggleston guitar and keyboard they traveled from New Zealand to London,the band played all over the UK , doing gigs along side groups Graeme Bond organization with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, one week in Cornwall with Reaction ,with drummer Roger Taylor later with Queen and one month at Pretty Things ex drummer Viv Prince's London night club" Knuckles" who many patrons were musicians , Pete Townsend, Mick Jagger, Johny Banks ex Merseybeats ,Mick Wiltshire,(New Vaudeville band, Tony Meehan. ex The Shadows, Jet Harris ex The Shadows ."Me and The Others" played extensively all over the UK from Cornwall to Scotland .the group was managed by Jack Fallon of Cana variety agency. Jack played strings on some early Beatles recordings.The band played one Month and Germany's top nightspot THE PN HIT HOUSE in Munich, followed by one month at two USA military night clubs in Stuttgart. It was there late feb 1967 the band split. Dave Chapman returned to New Zealand and joined a local group "FUNNY FEELING" ,Paul Muggleston returned to the UK and joined the Manchester UK group ART Nouveau. Gary and Peter returned to Munich and teamed up with guitarist Ed Carter ,they were "NEW NADIR" they toured Germany France and Switzerland .then disbanded. Ed Carter later became a session guitarist for the Beach Boys.Peter Dawkins returned to the UK and gigged with Hendricks and later became a UK record producer later returning to NZ as a producer for EMI in Wellington and winning the golden disc producer awards two consecutive years then later becoming a top producer and CEO of Sony recordings Australia. Thain joined the Keef Hartley Band and, in 1971, they toured with Uriah Heep. Subsequently, Uriah Heep asked Thain to join them (replacing Mark Clarke) in February 1972, and he stayed in the band until February 1975. He played on four studio albums: Demons & Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld as well as their live album, titled Uriah Heep Live.

During his last tour in the United States with Uriah Heep, Thain suffered an electric shock at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas on 15 September 1974, and was seriously injured. Due to his drug addiction he was not able to perform properly, and was fired by the band in early 1975 and replaced by former King Crimson bassist/vocalist, John Wetton. Thain died of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose, on 8 December 1975, aged 27, at his flat in Norwood Green in London.

Champion Jack Dupree

Martha Velez

Keef Hartley Band

Miller Anderson

Pete York Percussion Band

Uriah Heep

Ken Hensley

Me And The Others / The New Nadir

The Strangers

- A Side: "My Blue Heaven" - B Side: "The Dark at the Top of The Stairs"

- A Side: "Pretend" - B Side: "Alright"

- A Side: "Can't Help Forgiving You" - B Side: "I'll Never Be Blue"

The Secrets

- A Side: "It's You" - B Side: "You're Wrong"

- A Side: "Me and the Others" - B Side: "Love Is Not a Game"

Champion Jack Dupree

- A Side: "Ba La Fouche" (MT/Jack Dupree) - B Side: "Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)

Martha Velez

- A Side: "Tell Mama" - B Side: "Swamp Man"

Keef Hartley Band

- A Side: "Don't Be Afraid" - B Side: "Hickory"

- A Side: "Halfbread" - B Side: "Waiting Around"

- A Side: "Just to Cry" - B Side: "Leave It 'Til The Morning"

- A Side: "Plain Talkin'" - B Side: "We Are All the Same"

- A Side: "Roundabout" - B Side: "Roundabout pt 2"

- A Side: "Dance to the Music" - B Side: "You and Me"