Years active 1964–1967 Associated acts The Creation | Labels Decca, Reaction Active until 1967 | |
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Past members Ali McKenzie
Tony Munroe
Ronnie Wood
Kim Gardner
Bob Langham
Pete McDaniels Richard Burkwood Origin London, United Kingdom (1964) Members Ronnie Wood, Kim Gardner, Tony Munroe, Pete McDaniels, Ali McKenzie, Bob Langham Albums The Collectors' Guide to Rare British Birds, The Birds Genres Rhythm and blues, Blues rock, Freakbeat Similar The Creation, The Jeff Beck Group, Art Wood, The Byrds, Santa Barbara Machine | ||
The Birds were a popular rhythm and blues band in the United Kingdom during the mid-1960s, although they recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles. Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies. The best known former member of The Birds is Ronnie Wood, who went on to join the Jeff Beck Group, The Creation, Faces and later The Rolling Stones.
Contents
Career
Several members of The Birds grew up in the same neighbourhood in Yiewsley, west London, and began playing together in 1964, while still in their teens. At first calling themselves The Thunderbirds, they started out playing local clubs and a neighbourhood community centre, but they soon expanded to a larger club circuit. When they were hired to play on the same bill as Chris Farlowe, whose back-up band was also called The Thunderbirds, they shortened their name to The Birds – a decision which would have significant ramifications later.
Their hard R&B sound was good enough to get them into a battle-of-the-bands contest held under the show Ready Steady Go!. When the band made their first television appearance, they caught the eye of Decca record company executives. The ensuing recording contract resulted in their first two singles, "You Don't Love Me" and "Leaving Here". The Birds seemed destined for stardom with their loud rhythm-and-blues based music, receiving equal billing with The Who at some concerts.
However, in the spring of 1965, the Los Angeles-based band, The Byrds, was dominating the UK Singles Chart with their folk-rock version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", released by the newly formed British CBS Records. When The Byrds arrived in England for their first British tour that summer, The Birds' manager, Leo de Clerck, took legal action to prevent them from using the name; the action failed, amid a flurry of national press and television coverage. The group parted ways with de Clerck soon afterwards.
After releasing the third Decca single in late 1965, the band moved to Reaction Records, whose director, Robert Stigwood, suggested they change their name to "The Birds Birds", to distinguish themselves from the American band. In 1966, the band did a cameo appearance in the horror film The Deadly Bees, performing their song "That's All I Need you For",. By 1967 the group had disbanded. Both Gardner and Wood went on to join The Creation, with Gardner then joining Ashton, Gardner and Dyke.
In 2010, Ali McKenzie started to play in gigs as The Birds with the members of Small Faces tribute band, Small Fakers.
Band members
Session musician:
Singles
Other recorded songs
Compilations
Songs
No Good Without You Baby1998
Hotel California2006
Granny Rides Again1999