Attended JV's gig at The Backstage Kinross (Perthshire) - Sat 18th Feb.
One word covers it - BRILLIANT (superb vocals & guitar work!!!!).
For those in the UK, I'd advise you to go onto his website (www.johnverity.com) and if he is playing somewhere close, it's a fantastic evenings entertainment.
Spent a good 40 minutes or so, talking to him (and his wife Carole) before the gig.
Although he wasn't part of 'Charlie' for a long period of time, he was more than happy to talk about his time in the band and the creation of Good Morning America etc.
John was originally brought in to produce Good Morning America, but early conversations with Terry, it was felt that John V was better placed (vocally) to be lead vocal on a couple of the tracks.
John was asked to join the band.
Similarly, Bob Henrit joined the band to support Gadsy (as John called him throughout our conversation) on the drumming side of things. Shep Lonsdale had already left, as had Julian & Eugene.
John kept calling Terry a perfectionist (nothing wrong with that), always wanting to tweak things here and there - but all this led to lots of extra time spent in the studio (additional costs involved here I guess).
I'm guessing was the start of things to come, as John kept saying he was more a 'wing it' type person (GMA just took way too long to get out to the masses).
It sounded to me that disagreements/words of sarcasm/fallouts set in.
GMA was finally released.
All the while, John had plans that he felt didn't suit 'Charlie' (he didn't go into the details), so he decided to leave - but once again I'm guessing 'things weren't all that well in the nest'.
During our conversation, John never said a bad word about Terry, Steve & John A - but another assumption on my part, is that Terry & John haven't spoken since (so make of that, as you wish).
When I asked if he had any photos (during his time in Charlie) that he was prepared to share, he kept talking about a real nice one that he has hanging on the wall.
It was one of the band, that he'd hoped would have actually been on the sleeve (didn't go into why that didn't happen)
thanks for clearing this up for me peter...thanks for staying in touch that was very well said...he would have made a huge impact with charlie but any how great lp from the boy's
hi peter...for got to ask you? do you know of any live charlie shows....i see that the boy's have 2..one at the sundown 1973...the other at hara arena in dayton ohio 7/1977 are they out somewhere on dics..
peter did we get a chance to read my last e-mail i sent under the john verity interview....about the 2 live charlie concerts they did...see what you can come up with...thank you much...paulie b..
HI PETER....PAULIE B. FROM BUFFALO NY. U.S.A. A HUGE FAN OF CHARLIE.. DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ MY LAST E-MAIL I SENT YOU ON THE LIVE CONCERTS CHARLIE HAD IN 1973 @ THE SUNDOWN.....THE OTHER ON 7/77 @HARA ARENA IN DAYTON OHIO. DID YOU KNOW IF THEY WHERE EVER RECORDED IF SO ARE THEY OUT ON DISC ANYWHERE? THANKS MUCH
I've been meaning to respond, but 'kept forgetting' - so here goes.
The two live concerts were originally on the Charlie site (when Julian Colbeck originally set it up)
Unfortunately, these recordings and most of the rest of the site has encountered 'techincal' problems.
Julian's not been able to correct these a) due to ill health, b) other work commitments & c) I'm guessing due to falling interest in CHARLIE.
I have a disc of the Dayton OH 1977 gig (that I'd received from another fan) which also includes a number of It's Inevitable versions (Euro 12" mix, US 12" & Instrumental)
This disc was misplaced during my last home move, but finally came across it in the bottom of a box in the loft)
The last time I was down in London seeing Terry and The Fab Lampshades, Terry autographed this and other 'stuff' I'd taken with me
I'll touch base with Julian (he's the custodian of the site - but not this forum page) to see if he'll consider bring the site back to life
I'm going to blow my own trumpet here, but after lots of pestering back and forth emails - Terry, John (Verity), John (Anderson) and partners met up in London (for the first time since Good Morning America).
One can only hope, this 'might' lead onto some 'musical get together' in the future (wishful thinking) !!
John V also sent me some unseen snaps taken during their GMA days, including a photo (of a photo) of an 'Abandoned Album Cover of GMA) that John V's got on his studio wall.
I remember the music press mentioned "A Little Immodest" was to be the new Charlie album at the time. I always wondered why this name was not used, i prefer the album title and the cover, shame they changed it to GMA.
THANK YOU MUCH PETER FOR GETTING BACK TO ME I ALWAYS WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU.. VERY WELL SAID ...IS JULIAN OK (HEALTH) HE DID DO SOME WORK WITH TERRY ON CHARLIE'S NEW LP. IF YOU DO FIND OUT ANYTHING ...PLEASE WRITE ME I LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THAT SHOW WITH MY COLLECTION WEATHER YOU CAN MAKE/SEND ME A DISC LET ME KNOW I WILL PROVIDE MY ADDRESS....YOUR A FINE HUMAN BEING WITH ALL THIS INFO. YOU HAVE ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS...WOULD YOU KNOW IF THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE DOING OK....
OUTSTANDING PHOTO'S .....WHAT A BAND.. STILL TODAY I LISTEN TO THEM OFTEN I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT BAND EVER DID ALL ON ORIGINAL VINYL/LP COVERS/INSIDE ART WORK AND ON CD... LOVE THOSE GUY'S...THANK PETER.
thanks peter.your wonderful again if you can get a copy for me the ohio show i'l provide what you need to send if you yourself need a copy of anything they did i will ship it to ya.....charlie what a band...thought this might be a bit interesting i have 2 lp cover of fantasy girls both different..with one that has terry's picture/name under john's name and vis-versa john's picture/name under terry's it's a demonstration(not for sale)1976 under columbia.