Dick Taylor
Dick Taylor | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Richard Clifford Taylor |
Born |
Dartford, Kent, England | 28 January 1943
Genres | Rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar, piano, banjo |
Years active | 1962–present |
Labels | St. George Records |
Associated acts | The Rolling Stones, the Pretty Things, Mekons |
Notable instruments | |
Gibson Les Paul |
Richard Clifford "Dick" Taylor (born 28 January 1943) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist and founding member of The Pretty Things.
Taylor was an early bassist for the Rolling Stones,[1] but left the band to become an art student at Sidcup Art College. Whilst there he formed The Pretty Things in September 1963. He now lives on the Isle of Wight, England.[2]
Career
Taylor was born in Livingstone Hospital, Dartford, Kent, England and he attended Dartford Grammar School.[3] In July 1962, while he was at Sidcup Art College, the Rolling Stones was formed when Taylor, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' three piece, Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys joined Brian Jones and Ian Stewart's Rollin' Stones.[1] Initially, Taylor played lead guitar in the band, but switched to bass to accommodate Jones, who quickly went on to become an accomplished slide guitarist. In November 1962, Taylor left to return to art college, and the band-mates posted an advertisement seeking another bassist. Bill Wyman responded, and succeeded him as The Rolling Stones' bassist in December 1962.
Later in 1963, Taylor formed The Pretty Things[1] with vocalist Phil May and once again played his preferred guitar position. During a break from The Pretty Things after the release of their album, S.F. Sorrow (1968), Taylor produced Hawkwind's debut album, on which he also played guitar. His contribution to punk rock was a recording by Auntie Pus, and during the second half of the 1980s Taylor played guitar with the English post-punk band the Mekons. He recorded with Andre Williams in Chicago, Illinois for George Paulus' St. George Records. The core members of The Pretty Things remain in the band to this day, and released the Balboa Island album in 2007 on the Cote Basque record label.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "The Rolling Stones Biography". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ↑ http://www.richieunterberger.com/taylor.html
- ↑ Guardian Obituary Brian Pendleton. Retrieved 28 January 2015
- ↑ http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/balboa-island