Rare Bird

Hits: 3

Line-up included

  • Stephen Burt 'Steve' Gould - lead vocals, bass (Gibson), rhythm, electric & guitar (Oct 1969 - 1975) 
  • David Kaffinetti (David Franklyn Ewer) - electric piano, Farfisa organ (Oct 1969 - 1971 ), Hammond B3 organ (1971 - 1975) 
  • Graham Field (Graham Frederick Stansfield) - Hammond organ (Oct 1969 - Jan 1971) 
  • Mark Ashton (Mark Ian McVey) - drums, timpani, backing vocals (Oct 1969 - Jan 1971) 
  • Frederick 'Fred' Kelly - drums, percussion, congas (Jan 1971 - 1975) 
  • Paul Karas - bass, lead & backing vocals (Jan 1971 - Dec 1972) 
  • Andy 'Ced' Curtis - lead electric & acoustic guitar, lead vocals (Jan 1971 - 1975) 
  • Nicholas 'Nic' Potter - bass (Dec 1972 - 1975)

Rare Bird was formed in October 1969 in London with a line-up of:
19-year-old Steve Gould on lead vocals, bass (Gibson), rhythm, electric & acoustic guitar (b. Stephen Burt Gould, Saturday, March 25, 1950, Battersea, South West London, England),
24-year-old David Kaffinetti on electric piano, Farfisa organ (b. David Franklyn Ewer, Wednesday, April 17, 1946, Folkestone, Kent, England),
29-year-old Graham Field on Hammond organ (b. Graham Frederick Stansfield, Friday, May 3, 1940, Beaminster, west Dorset, England d. Friday, April 13, 2018 of cancer)
20-year-old Mark Ashton on drums, backing vocals (b. Mark Ian McVey, Thursday, June 23, 1949, Herne Bay, East Kent, England).

Ashton had been in a number of bands with his older brother Mack Ashton on lead guitar (Sunburst Jazzmaster) (b. Martin John McVey, April 1946, Bridge, East Kent, England).

They had played in Herne Bay formed bands The Vikings (from Early 1961) and Steve and the Corvettes (from Early 1962). In early 1965 the Ashton brothers formed Turnstyle and recorded and released one single 'Riding A Wave' (Mark Ashton) and 'Trot' (Mark Ashton) in November 1968. It was produced by John Edwards (b. John Edward Flux, Wednesday, October 31, 1945, Gillingham, Kent, England d. Saturday, October 23, 2021 at his flat in London, England).

In August 1969 Mark Ashton moved to London and joined Rare Bird.

Kaffinetti (Ewer) began practicing piano at age 5 and at 10 discovered Rock 'n' Roll in the form of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley. Gould had been in London group The Fruit Machine (formed in Late Autumn 1967 in Fulham, South West London) with Gould on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, 20-year-old Andy 'Ced' Curtis on lead & acoustic guitar, vocals (b. Andrew Curtis, January-March 1947, Fulham, South West London, England), Chris Randall on bass (b. Christopher Randall, c. 1946) and Andy Deacon on drums (b. Andrew Deacon, c. 1946). They released a single in 1968 and two in 1969. Both produced by Barry Kingston.

Stansfield (Field) had been in David Moses and Group and The New World.

Rare Bird began when Graham Field placed an advertisement for a pianist in a musical periodical. He got thirty replies and formed a group called Lunch. He met Dave Kaffinetti in August 1968, and together they formulated the basic ideas for Rare Bird. By November 1968 Lurch was over. In August 1969, they finally found the ideal rhythm section in Steve Gould, Chris Randall and Mark Ashton.

Field and Kaffinetti had originally envisaged that the band would be a four-piece and were looking for a singer/bass player. Gould and Randall, who had both previously been members of the Pop-Psych band Fruit Machine, applied to the advert as vocals/guitar and bass respectively and were taken on.

Lunch played a few gigs; one notable one was at The Tilbury Working Men's Club, Tilbury, Kent for the princely sum of five pounds. The band had no van and they managed to get amps, drums, guitars and Hammond organ into their cars. The gig was marred by Randall receiving a bad electric shock whilst on stage.

It later turned out that the founders of the band were more interested in Steve Gould and convinced him to play bass. Randall was now high and dry and was kicked out of the band.

In October 1969 Rare Bird recorded their first album 'Rare Bird' at Trident Studios, 17 St. Anne's Court, Soho, West London. It was produced by 24-year-old John Anthony (b. Sunday, December 3, 1944, North Shields, Northumbria, England) and engineered by 21-year-old Malcolm Toft (b. Saturday, May 15, 1948, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, England).

On Friday, February 6, 1970 Rare Bird released their first single 'Sympathy' (Rare Bird) and 'Devil's High Concern' (Rare Bird) on Charisma CB 120. The A-side was produced by John Anthony and the B-side by Rare Bird.

In January 1971 Field left and formed a short-lived solo project called Fields. He was replaced by bassist, lead and backing vocalist Paul Karas (b. c. 1947, Cardiff, Glamorgan, South Wales). Karas attended Whitchurch Grammar School in Cardiff. He became baritone sax player in a Cardiff group, Koo Koo Byrd Bicycle Band, that played jazz and Stax-inspired music. He was also in Some People.

Karas was instrumental in getting Blue Weaver's career started and taking him to London, where they both auditioned for a backing band which turned out to be singer Tawny Reed (b. Gillian Reed, 1948, Diamond Street, Adamsdown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, South Wales d. 1987). Karas in 1969 joined The Seychelles as bassist, playing on their second single. The Seychelles had originally been Brian Poole's backing band - Brian Poole (b. 1941) had previously sung with The Tremeloes - but then they became recording artists in their own right, releasing two singles. Alan Dickinson was the organist in The Seychelles, and he became Karas' writing partner until at least 1980.

In January 1971 Ashton left Rare Bird and was replaced by Fred Kelly on drums, percussion, congas (b. Fredrick Kelly, Late 1945/Early 1946, Preston, Lancashire, England d. Tuesday, May 7, 2024) and they added lead & acoustic guitarist Andy 'Ced' Curtis. Kelly had seen Rare Bird play a gig on Thursday, January 28, 1971 at The Amethyst Club, Avenham Street, Preston, Lancashire. He was so impressed that he wanted to be their drummer. Kelly had been in Thundermother (Jan - Feb 1970). As for Ashton he formed Headstone in Late 1972 with Steve Bolton on lead guitar (b. Stephen Bolton, Tuesday, November 8, 1949, Manchester, Lancashire, England) (ex-The Dominators, 1963?, The Phantom 4, 1963?, Modrox from 1963, Puzzle, Jan 1965 - Jan 1966, Jan 1967 - 1969, Atomic Rooster, 1971 - Late 1972).

Curtis had been in London band The Fruit Machine with Gould. In 1971 Kaffinetti moved from electric piano, Farfisa organ to a Hammond B3 organ.

In June and July 1972 Rare Bird recorded their third album 'Epic Forest' at Polydor Studios, 17 Stratford Place, Marylebone, West London and Lansdowne Studios, Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Holland Park, West London. It was produced by Paul Holland (b. Paul Richard Holland d. 2007, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Holland) and Rare Bird. Tape operator was Ashley Howe. Holland and Howe also played percussion on the album.

In December 1972 Karas left and was replaced by 21-year-old bassist Nic Potter (b. Nicholas Potter, Thursday, October 18, 1951, Army Hut, Beltane School, Melksham, Wiltshire, England d. Wednesday, January 16, 2013, University College London Hospital, Gower Street, Bloomsbury, West Central London, England of pneumonia). Potter had been in The Misunderstood (from 1967) and Van der Graaf Generator (1969 - Aug 1970).

In December 1973 and January 1974 Rare Bird recorded their fourth album 'Born Again' at Polydor Studios, Marylebone, West London. It was produced by Peter Rice, Andrew Curtis, Steve Gould and engineered by Carlos Olms (b. 1930, Zurich, Switzerland). Rare Bird split in 1975.

Discography

UK 45

Friday, February 6, 1970 Sympathy (Rare Bird) / Devil's High Concern (Rare Bird) Charisma CB 120

UK albums

November 1969 Rare Bird Chrisma CAS 1005
September 1970 As Your Mind Flys By Chrisma CAS 1011
October 1972 Epic Forest Polydor 2442 101
September 1973 Somebody's Watching Polydor 2383-211
July 1974 Born Again Polydor 2383 274 

Known gigs

  • Friday, October 18, 1969: The Mothers, 185 High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, Staffordshire, England Supported The Pretty Things. Rare Bird's début gig.
  • Thursday, October 23, 1969: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England 
  • Sunday, October 26, 1969: The Lyceum, 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, West Central London, England Supported Procol Harum. 
  • Sunday, November 9, 1969: The Lyceum, 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, West Central London, England Also on the bill: The Nice, City of London Ensemble with John Mayer, Vivian Stanshall. 
  • Sunday, November 23, 1969: The Lyceum, 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, West Central London, England Also on the bill: Sprit of John Morgan, Griffin, Egg, Galliard. 
  • Monday, December 15, 1969: The Locarno Ballroom, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, County Durham, England 
  • Tuesday, December 23, 1969: Christmas Moonrock, St. Pancras Town Hall, London, England Also on the bill: Caravan, Hawkwind, Man, Flaming Youth. 
  • Sunday, December 28, 1969: The Bletchley Youth Centre, Derwent Drive, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England Also on the bill: Caravan, Steamhammer, Man.
  • Thursday, January 8, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England 
  • Friday, January 9, 1970: The Eel Pie Hotel, Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex, England 
  • Monday, January 19, 1970: The New Friar Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England 
  • Thursday, January 22, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England 
  • Thursday, January 29, 1970: Top of The Pops Also on the bill: Blodwyn Pig, Arrival, Mary Hopkin, Shocking Blue, The Ivys, Jonathan King, Brotherhood of Man, Canned Heat. Rare Bird came on third and performed 'Sympathy.' 
  • Saturday, January 31, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England 
  • Wednesday, Feb 4th (7.30 11.00) * Rare Bird Toast Marquee Studios . Eight Track Recordings 10 Richmond Mews, W.1 01 -437 6731. 
  • Thursday, February 5, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England, 7.30pm - 11pm Supported by Toast. Advertised as Marquee Club 90 Wardour St., W.1 01 - 437 2375 
  • Thursday, February 19, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England, 7.30pm - 11pm Supported by Genesis.
    Advertised as Marquee 90 Wardour St., W.1 01 -437 2375 - Thursday, February 19th (7.30- 11.0) * Rare Bird * Genesis Marquee Studios . Eight Track Recordings 10 Richmond Mews, W.1 01 -437 6731. 
  • Thursday, March 19, 1970: The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England, 7.30pm - 11pm Supported by Patto.
    Advertised as Marquee 90 Wardour St., W.1 01 -437 2375  - Thursday, March 19th (7.30- 11.0) * Rare Bird * Patto (formerly Timebox) Marquee Studios . Eight Track Recordings 10 Richmond Mews, W.1 01 -437 6731. 
  • Friday, March 27, 1970: The Temple Club, 33-37 Wardour Street, Soho, West London, England Sunday, March 29, 1970: The Nottingham Union Rowing Club, Trentside North, West Bridgford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England 
  • Monday, April 6, 1970: The Electric Garden, 49 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland 
  • Monday, May 18, 1970: Joint Meeting, Eisstadion, Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Also on the bill: Colosseum, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Chicken Shack, Free, Heavy Jelly, Love Sculpture, Steamhammer, Octopus, Wallace, Cuby + Blizzards, Ekseption, Abacus, The Taste. 
  • Saturday, June 8, 1970: The Pop Blues Festival, Yeovil Town Football Club, Huish, Yeovil, Somerset, England, 2pm - 10pm Also on the bill: Flying Machine, Savoy Brown, Killing Floor, Black Widow supported by The Ledgens, Crymson, Mantiss.
    Advertised as Saturday, June 6th Pop - Blues Festival Yeovil Town Football Club, Huish, Yeovil Music from 2 p.m. - 10 p.m. With Rare Bird Flying Machine - Savoy Brown - Killing Floor - And The Controversial Black Widow Supported by: The Ledgens - Crymson - Mantiss Compere : Mike Raven Tickets: Stand 30/- Ground 20/- Admission to Ground on the day 26/- Tickets limited, post this form now.
  • Sunday, June 21, 1970: The Big Gig Open Air Festival 1970, Derbyplatz Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, West Germany Also on the bill: Family, Colosseum, Black Sabbath, Mungo Jerry, Urah Heep, Gentle Giant, Kool and the Gang. 
  • Friday, June 26, 1970: The Mayfair Ballroom, Newgate Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, England Also on the bill: Hard Meat (Birmingham). 
  • Friday, July 3, 1970: The Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue, Uptown, Chicago City, Cook County, Illinois, USA Also on the bill: The Grateful Dead, It's A Beautiful Day, AUM. 
  • October 1970: The Palasport, Turin, Italy 
  • Thursday, January 28, 1971: The Amethyst Club, Avenham Street, Preston, Lancashire, England, 7.30pm - 11pm Fred Kelly saw Rare Bird play here, and was so impressed that he wanted to be their drummer. He joined them later in 1972.
    Advertised as Amethyst Avenham St. Preston Presents Thurs Jan. 28th Members Only Rare Bird Lights - Sounds - Bar Food - Free LP's - Odds And Sods. 7 30 - 11 
  • Saturday, February 3, 1973: Stoneground, 1-3 Birch Street, Hyde Road, West Gorton, Manchester 12, Lancashire, England Supported by Michael Chapman (Leeds).

Info courtesy John H. Warburg - September 2026