Really Free Band

Really Free Band (RFB) were a British Christian Rock band from 1973–1990. The band originally played under the name Really Free and later Really Free Band, then abbreviated to RFB. The name is a reference to the New Testament bible verse John 8:36.^[1]

Really Free Band toured in the UK, Europe and the USA, and performed at the inaugural Greenbelt Festival in 1974.

Musical Styles

The overall continuity in musical direction was provided by Cliff Bergdahl, who has a university degree in music. Given the changes in musician members over the years, the band's style tended to reflect a blend of his evolving personal preferences, the aspirations/abilities of the extant musicians (who were encouraged to contribute their own material), and a contemporary selection of material intended to appeal musically to the intended audience - while containing some explicitly Christian content.

Inspired initially by the bright, jangly guitar-based sound of mid-1960's British beat, Really Free looked to incorporate elements of musical grit as well as a light-touch of prog rock - all of this with a background influence of 1970s Americana that manifested more in the use of strong melody and harmony vocals than in the repertoire. There was some influence from reggae. In some ways the style was defined by what it was not: Cliff wanted to create an authentically British sound that could incorporate the excitement of rock music without the decadence of glam rock, the drug associations of psychedelia, the hedonism of disco, the oblivion of heavy metal or the nihilism of punk.

In a typical live concert setting, Really Free would deliver a mixed programme of mostly original high energy, guitar-based melodic rock songs, some current pop charts hits or rock 'n' roll standards, interspersed with a solo acoustic song and a more progressive, reflective instrumental work. There would sometimes be a drum solo included in the set. They aimed to play at least one song in three that the audience would know and like. Some songs had specifically religious gospel content, others were providing social commentary and others were included simply for fun.

In the full-time period (1973-80), Really Free would compare themselves to Wishbone Ash or Thin Lizzy, both bands having a distinctive twin lead guitar sound.

Theology

Cliff Bergdahl is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Cliff attained theological qualifications at London Bible College which was an extra-mural college of the University of London.particularly among young people and using music. For many years he was a member of British Youth for Christ which provided a level of local oversight and authentication to enable working in cooperation with churches.

Cliff’s personal theology set the tone for the group which was broadly in the Low Church Protestant Reformed tradition. The group members were variously enthusiastic or struggling believers, but generally without the benefit of formal theological education. They would often pray or read the Bible before concerts or in band meetings.

Really Free operated on two levels as a band:

• It was a collaborative working environment in which young men could grow musically and spiritually, bonding by participating in the excitement and practical difficulties of outreach work.
• It presented a direct Christian voice into the audiences, mostly outside of a church context. “Who are the prophets of today?” was a question that Cliff challenged members with on more than one occasion, the implicit answer being - “musicians”.

The band did not play worship songs for congregational participation because the typical performances were in schools and university concerts, prisons and recordings. Nevertheless, some of the material (eg “Thankyou Jesus”, “Reverence for the Lord”) was intentionally worshipful, providing opportunity for spiritual reflection.

Cliff understood that “you have to earn the right to be heard” and at some point in a full-evening concert, there would usually be a few minute’s personal Christian testimony from band members. Audience members were encouraged to meet the band after the show and discuss spiritual matters. There was also opportunity for people to follow-up via a postcard contact scheme that could direct them towards a local Christian church. In this scenario, the practical theology was operating in the expectation of inform-challenge-commit type of evangelical conversion, which had been the personal experience elsewhere for at least some of the band members.

Cliff introduced the band (c.1973) to the concepts of gradual growth towards Christian commitment, with necessary preliminary steps of a generalised awakening of spiritual dimension to life and a basic knowledge of Christ.  The band was to focus on these ‘pre-evangelism’ stages with the intent that churches would undertake to encourage people on a long-term basis  with the embrace of a Christian community that an itinerant rock band could not provide.

MUSICIANS

1973 - 1990.

• Mick Almond (Bass) 1977-1978.
• Steve Ayre (Drums)1979-80.
• Cliff Bergdahl (Guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals) 1973-1990.
• Denis Blackham (Drums, vocals) 1975.
• Jon Blake (Bass, guitar, vocals) 1976.
• Tim Bliss (Bass, guitar, vocals) 1976.
• Matt Brown (Bass, guitar, vocals) 1984-88.
• Steve Cockburn (Guitar, vocals) 1973.
• Gary Cunningham (Guitar, bass, vocals) 1973- 1974, 1977-1980.
• Nigel Gibbons (Bass, vocals)1975.
• Valerio de Laurenzi (Guitar, vocals) 1984-1990
• Pete 'Bill' Downs (Drums) 1977-78.
• Gary Hitchens (Drums) 1976
• Simon Law (Guitar, bass, vocals) 1975.
• Mark Millin (Drums, percussion, vocals) 1973-1974.
• Andy Meek (Bass, guitar, vocals) 1979 - 1981.
• Duncan Paulsen (Bass, vocals)1988.
• Dave Rix (Guitar, vocals) 1973-1974.
• Bern Stiver (Bass, guitar) 1973.
• Alan White (drums, vocals) 1984-1990

SUPPORTING CAST

• Simon Dennis (Guitar, bass, vocals) -1990
• Paul Simpson (Bass) 1973

CREW

• Martin Brooks (Sound engineer) 1977-80.
• Roger Hazelgrove (Sound engineer) 1986-1990.
• Rob Hibbert (Lighting engineer) 1977-80.
• Bob Morris (Manager) 1979-80.
• Bob Smith (Sound Engineer, driver) 1975-1977.
• Geoff Stone (Sound engineer) 1984-1986.
• Peter Swartz (Road-crew and sound) 1978.
• Neil Watkins (Sound engineer) 1973-74.

TIMELINE

Discography

Equipment

• Andy - Hiwatt 100W bass valve head with 4x12 cabinet; Burns bass guitar, Guild B301 bass guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar.
• Cliff - Hiwatt 50W 2x12 valve combo amplifier and Selmer Twin amplifier; Yamaha B10AR organ, Yamaha EP30 electric keyboard, Hohner Pianette, Gem Instapiano; Davoli (rotating) speaker; Gibson ES-330 guitar, Gibson Silverburst Les Paul guitar, Burns Tri-Sonic guitar, over-sprayed silver, Ned Callan electric guitar, Fender Stratocaster guitar, Fender Telecaster guitar, Grimshaw electric guitar, Harmony Sovereign acoustic guitar; WEM (Watkins) Copycat echo, Schaller Roto-Sound,Coloursound Overdrive and Chorus pedals.
• Garry Cunningham - Hiwatt 50W 2x12 valve combo; Gibson SG guitar with Bigsby tailpiece, EKO acoustic guitar; WEM copycat echo, Coloursound Overdrive and Chorus pedals.

External links

Discography www.discogs.com

References