DAVE LAMBERT and CHAS CRONK played with a variety of outfits and line-ups at STRAWBS' 40th Anniversary (yes really!) celebrations at Twickenham Rugby Ground over the weekend of 12/13 September 2009.
Dave and Chas both performed with Strawbs (in both acoustic and various electric line-ups); Dave also performed with
FIRE
and newly-formed outfit ZEUS
, while Chas also performed with CRY NO MORE and THE BLUE ANGEL ORCHESTRA.
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Strawbs' new CD "Dancing to the Devil's Beat" is available now from
Witchwood Records and all leading stockists.
Dancing to the Devil's Beat - out now
The new album was released to celebrate Strawbs' 40th anniversary, and features Oliver Wakeman on keyboards.
Other projects with which Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk have recently been involved include.
THE BROKEN HEARTED BRIDE by STRAWBS
DAVE LAMBERT and CHAS CRONKtoured the UK and USA with STRAWBS during May and June 2008 - the 40th Anniversary Year of the band's inception.
Directly prior to the tour, Lambert and Cronk got together with fellow Strawbs Dave Cousins, John Hawken and Rod Coombes (the original band line-up from late 1973 onwards no less!) and recorded a new album - "THE BROKEN HEARTED BRIDE" which is due for release on 8th September 2008 in the UK and 7th October 2008 in the USA.
Chris Tsangarides, whose studio is littered with gold discs for albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and many others, produced "The Broken Heart Bride".New songs include the title track and "The Call to Action", samples of which may be heard here on MySpace, while others (co-written by Chas Cronk and Dave Cousins) include "Through Aphrodite's Eyes", "Too Many Angels" and "Christmas Cheer". Dave Lambert has two solo compositions featured: "You Know As Well As I" and "Shadowland", while Chas Cronk has a solo composition entitled "Everybody Knows".Order now from
www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk
or major retailers.
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On 6th October, 2008, Dave Lambert's psychedelic band Fire, originally formed in the late 1960's and disbanded in 1971, release a brand new live album on Angel Air Records - "THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER LIVE!"
THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER LIVE! by FIRE
The album was recorded in front of highly appreciative audiences at The Windlesham Theatre, Surrey, UK, over two evenings late in 2007. Fire reformed for the concerts, with original band members Bob Voice (drums, backing vocals) and Dick Dufall (bass, backing vocals) joining Dave Lambert to play Fire's 1970 album "The Magic Shoemaker" in its entirety, together with Fire's best known songs including "Father's Name is Dad" and "Treacle Toffee World". Ray Hammond, Fire's earliest manager, joined in the fun by narrating the story of The Magic Shoemaker, written by Dave Lambert. The album was mixed by Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk, and Chas was also responsible for mastering.
Available now from Angel Air Records and major retailers worldwide.
More details at www.myspace.com/2007fire.
Dave recently discovered that a song he wrote for Fire entitled 'Father’s Name is Dad'(released in 1968) was sampled by The Pet Shop Boys for 'I Didn't Get Where I Am Today', released as the B-sideof their top ten CD entitled 'Flamboyant' in 2004. Dave is credited as co-writer on the song (a rare occurrence as The Pet Shop Boys normally write their own material), which prominently features his unmistakable guitar riffs. According to information given on the Pet Shop Boys' official website (www.petshopboys.co.uk) 'I Didn't Get Where I Am Today' features Johnny Marr (of The Smiths, among others) on guitar.
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In 2002, Chas recorded an album of instrumental music entitled "MYSTIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC" which has been described as "timeless, spaceless music to chill out to" by Witchwood Records, from whom the album may be purchased. As Dave Cousins is quoted as saying, "Open a bottle of well-chilled Chardonnay and put the record on. Forget life in the fast lane, relax and float down stream. I did and it's well worth it."
MYSTIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC" by CHAS CRONK
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In a recent TV documentary entitled "THUNDERFINGERS", Dave and various other musicians (including RICK WAKEMAN and GORDON GILTRAP) recounted numerous tales of their friendships with John, following his sad and untimely death. The documentary was subsequently made available in DVD format and may be purchased from many major retailers.
"THUNDERFINGERS - A TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY JOHN ENTWISTLE OF THE WHO"
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Pictured above: Dave Lambert, his sister Sue and Ian MacLagan (ex-Small Faces, Faces etc.) following Ian's Buckingham concert with The Bump Band in July 2008. Dave and Ian have kept in touch since their days as infant school classmates!
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Chas Cronk, meanwhile, occasionally plays both alongside Dave Cousins and Ian Cutler as part of a trio, and also as a member of Dave Cousins and THE BLUE ANGEL ORCHESTRA, which additionally boasts the talents of Miller Anderson (SPENCER DAVIS GROUP) on lead guitar and Chris Hunt (ex-LONNIE DONEGAN BAND) on drums. More details at www.myspace.com/theblueangelorchestra.
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Chas also occasionally performs as one half of CRY NO MORE, together with Roy Hill - musical delights interspersed with humour for the broadminded.
Chas Cronk and Roy HillCry No More - renowned for their annual postively final farewell Christmas concerts, often held at The Turk's Head, Winchester Road, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middx. TW1 1LF.
DAVE LAMBERT USES, AND IS A FEATURED ARTIST OF, ROTOSOUND
CHAS CRONK USES, AND IS A FEATURED ARTIST OF, DEAN GUITARS
