Grand Prix (band)

Grand Prix were an English hard rock and pop rock band, active between 1978 and 1984 and notable for featuring two future members of Uriah Heep.[1]

Grand Prix
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, pop rock
Years active1978–1984
LabelsRCA, Chrysalis
Associated actsUriah Heep
Past membersRobin McAuley
Michael O'Donoghue
Ralph Hood
Andy Beirne
Phil Lanzon
Bernie Shaw

History

Grand Prix were founded in 1978 under the name Paris. They changed their name to Grand Prix in 1980 with the lineup of Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Michael O'Donoghue on guitar, Ralph Hood on bass, Andy Beirne on drums and Phil Lanzon on keyboards.[2] All five members performed harmony vocals, while Lanzon would contribute the occasional lead vocal, as illustrated on such songs as "Which Way Did the Wind Blow?".[3]

In 1980, the band released their debut self-titled album on RCA Records. "Which Way Did the Wind Blow?" was released as a single, with music videos being filmed for it and two other songs from the album, "Feel Like I Do" and "Westwind". These videos showed the band playing on a stage with no audience.[4]

In 1981, Shaw left the band and was replaced by Robin McAuley, who would record two more albums with the group, There for None to See (1982) and Samurai (1983), before they disbanded in 1984.[5]

Shaw and Lanzon would end up joining Uriah Heep as that band's vocalist and keyboardist, respectively, in 1986, and to this day they remain the band's longest-serving keyboardist and vocalist.[6] O'Donoghue went on to join Bronz[7] and in the early nineties spent a year in the Ian Gillan band. McAuley ended up joining with guitar virtuoso Michael Schenker to form the McAuley Schenker Group and would go on to briefly front the band Survivor during the latter half of the 2000s.[8]

Discography
  • Grand Prix (1980)
  • There for None to See (1982)
  • Samurai (1983)

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Lincoln, Abe-Primettes. Guinness Pub. p. 3310. ISBN 9781561591763. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. Macmillan, Malc (2005). The N.W.O.B.H.M. encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Berlin: I.P. Verlag Jeske/Mader GbR. p. 258. ISBN 3931624161.
  3. "Which Way Did the Wind Blow - Grand Prix Song Info AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  4. "Grand Prix - Which way did the wind blow. VIDEO". 12 August 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  5. Macmillan, Malc (2005). The N.W.O.B.H.M. encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Berlin: I.P. Verlag Jeske/Mader GbR. p. 259. ISBN 3931624161.
  6. "Uriah Heep". www.uriah-heep.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. "Bronz •". NWOBHM Encyclopedia - New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  8. "Former MSG Singer ROBIN MCAULEY Joins SURVIVOR". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 13 July 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2018.


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