Mirkwood – The Leech (1973) Hard Prog Psych Music.

Mirkwood – The Leech (1973)

Mirkwood (Tolkien reference all you Tolkien acolytes). That’s the name of this self titled Lp from 1973. That was a private Pressing limitation of 99 copies. 99 and you didn’t pay purchace tax. This is a re-issue and it’s a corker. Dueling guitars and wall slamming. I wasn’t familiar with the personnel so I hiked a synopsis from a terrific blog. This is now a legendary highlight of the Prog, heavy genre.
With dual guitar battles and stoned vox,this record is a highlight hard-progessive rock with psychedelic influences.Seven lengthy tracks with incredible perfect rhythm changes,incredible fuzz leads with never ending harsh solos and also silent and epic tracks.If you like Andromeda or the typical heavy prog of some Vertigo lps like May Blitz or Clear Blue Sky or the megarare Dark you’ll love this.

The band was formed in Dover,Kent in early 1971 by Jack Castle and Mick Morris.By 1971 heavy rock had become the predominant musical force:Jack and Mick resolved to form a new band that would play entirely original material and feature dual lead guitars three-part harmony vocals and a tight rhythm section.The outcome of their endeavours was named Mirkwood,with an initial line-up of Derek Bowley (lead vocals),Jack Castle and Mick Morris (both guitar and vocals),Steve Smith (drums) and Andy Broadbent (bass).In early 1972 Dave Evans was brought in to replace Andy Broadbent.Until their last gig in June 1975 the band played throughout the South East of England including support work to some well-known bands including,Supertramp.Mirkwood got together just once more,in 1978 for a reunion performance at the Marlowe Theatre,Canterbury.The only ‘proper’ recording that Mirkwood made was for an album on the Flams Ltd Label (catalogue No PR1067) a local record label.Recording commenced on 17 January 1973 at Jack’s house in Whitfield,Dover on a Revox reel-to-reel tape recorder!The machine was operated by Ron Nunn (hence the initials ‘REN’ on the back sleeve),he also designed the album’s cover.A mere 99 copies of the album were pressed,the majority ending up with family,friends and local supporters. Originals now change hands for over 1000USD

The equipment used in recording the Mirkwood album consisted of:
Burns Short-scale Jazz guitar (with various John Birch mods.) /Sound City Amp (Jack)
Gibson SG Deluxe/Fender Stratocaster guitars/ Carlsbro Amp (Mick)
Fender precision Bass (with John Birch mods)/ HiWatt Amp (D.)
Premier Drums with Paiste & Zildjian cymbals (Steve)

‘Mirkwood’ the band was formed in early 1971 by Jack Castle and Mick Morris. They had known each other since attending the local Grammar school in Dover, Kent where both had led their own bands, playing together for the first time when Jack stood-in with Mick’s band. That particular outfit had started as far back as 1957 (Mick joined in 1961) and was called the ‘Rolling Stones’ until 1962, when a certain Mick Jagger and friends made the name famous with a different group!

A swift change of name resulted, and under their new title of the Playboys they were employed as the house band at a club in Folkestone. During this period they shared the bill (and the dressing room!) with many legendary bands including Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and the Jimi Hendrix Experience (Noel Redding was a friend of Mick’s who had played guitar in a local band before seeking fame and fortune in London).

The Playboys folded in 1967, whereupon Jack joined forces with Mick in ‘Take Five’, which continued until the end of 1970. A single was recorded but didn’t progress further than acetate stage: ‘In the Meantime’ (an original Castle/Morris composition) was backed by a cover version of the Moody Blues song ‘Ride My Seesaw’.

By 1971 heavy rock had become the predominant musical force: Jack and Mick resolved to form a new band that would play entirely original material and feature dual lead guitars, three-part harmony vocals and a tight rhythm section. The outcome of their endeavours was named Mirkwood, with an initial line-up of Derek Bowley (lead vocals), Jack Castle and Mick Morris (both guitar and vocals), Steve Smith (drums) and Andy Broadbent (bass). In early 1972 D.Evans was brought in to replace Andy Broadbent, who had moved away from the Dover area.

Although there were no other changes in personnel, Mirkwood went through almost as many drummers as Spinal Tap. After Steve Smith came Nick ‘Topper’ Headon (who subsequently joined the Clash), Terry Prior and finally Dave Blakey.

Until their last gig in June 1975 the band played throughout the South East of England including support work to some well-known bands including, Supertramp. Mirkwood got together just once more, in 1978 for a reunion performance at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.

From the ashes of Mirkwood came a band called Sprinter (April 1976 to December 1978) featuring Derek, Mick, D. Evans and Dave Blakey)