Demon Fuzz

The band was promoted by The Red Bus Company agency in London, which also handled Mungo Jerry, Mike Cooper, Titus Groan and Wildmouth{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08w7AQAAIAAJ|journal=Amusement Business|title= Amusement Business|volume= 82|issue= 1 |page=15 |lccn=63057670|issn=0003-2344|year=1970|publisher=Billboard Publications}} which arranged for them to appear at a concert incongruously named the "Hollywood Music Festival", in May 1970 at a Leycett farm near Newcastle-under-Lyme.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/hollysupport.html|title=Hollywood Music Festival 1970|website=Ukrockfestivals.com|accessdate=3 February 2013}}

They played at the Phun City Festival, "a major concert event in Worthing".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0472031902|isbn=0472031902|author=David A. Carson|year=2006 |title=Grit, Noise, & Revolution: The Birth of Detroit Rock 'n' Roll|page=251|publisher=University of Michigan Press }}

In November 1970, the band played a series of ten concerts called "A Penny Concert" along with Titus Groan, Heron and Comus.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/heron-mn0000566652/biography|title=Heron – Artist Biography|publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=3 February 2013}} Among performances was one at the Marquee Club.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

They appeared on the BBC television show Disco 2 produced by Stephen Clive{{cite magazine | title = Three in England Fined $250 Each in Payola Case | magazine = Billboard | pages = 42 |volume =86 | issue = 22 | date = 1 June 1974 | issn=0006-2510 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aQkEAAAAMBAJ | accessdate = 2 February 2013}} Turner{{Clarify|date=February 2022}} who had been offered (but did not take) 25 pounds for having them on the program. After he told BBC management about the incident, he was fired. Subsequently, the News of the World ran a story about the event.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=szYJAQAAMAAJ|title=The pop industry inside out |author=Michael Cable|isbn=9780491023818|lccn=78304025|year=1977|page=108|publisher=Allen | quote = [...]to accept money—albeit only a miserable £25—for featuring a group called Demon Fuzz on his BBC 2 show Disco 2. Turner—who had already confessed this to the BBC and been fired before the News of the World exposé was published—never actually took the money although the group did indeed appear on[...] But it nevertheless remained a fact that Demon Fuzz had been carefully selected by the News of the World specifically because[...] Even more important in minimising the impact of the News of the World's payola revelations was the inevitable[...]

}}

They signed with the Dawn Records division of Pye Records, for whom they released two recordings: the studio album Afreaka! (catalogue number DNLS 3013) and a maxi-single with the songs "I Put a Spell on You" (written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins), "Message To Mankind" and "Fuzz Oriental Blues", both released in 1970.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Demon-Fuzz-Afreaka/release/410122|title=Demon Fuzz – Afreaka! |date=1970 |publisher=discogs|accessdate=3 February 2013}}

Demon Fuzz's cover version of "I Put a Spell on You" was included in the 1971 sampler album, The Dawn Take-Away Concert (catalogue number DNLB 3024). Priced at 99 pence, the LP also had songs by Mungo Jerry, Comus, The Trio, Heron, Paul Brett's Sage, Mike Cooper, Atlantic Bridge, Jackie McAuley, Bronx Cheer, John Surman, John McLaughlin, Dave Holland, Stu Martin, Karl Berger and the Be-Bop Preservation Society.

A Demon Fuzz maxi-single was published by Nippon Columbia around 1971.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51|magazine=Billboard|title=International News Reports from the Music Capitals of the World|page=51|date=26 June 1971|accessdate=16 May 2017}} The maxi-single was later made available as a CD.{{Cite web |url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvk0TEv5xSQ/T7-RBQBB7SI/AAAAAAAADb4/3OH_Nz-8E1I/s1600/Demon+Fuzz+-+Bonus+Single+Front.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 February 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054844/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvk0TEv5xSQ/T7-RBQBB7SI/AAAAAAAADb4/3OH_Nz-8E1I/s1600/Demon+Fuzz+-+Bonus+Single+Front.jpg |url-status=dead }}

Afreaka! was distributed in the United States by Janus Records (catalogue number JLS 3028).{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 |magazine=Billboard|title=New LP/Tape Releases|page=52|date=26 June 1971|accessdate=31 January 2013}} It was a Billboard "4-STAR" selection in June 1971.{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51 |magazine=Billboard|title=4-STAR|page=51|date=26 June 1971|accessdate=31 January 2013}}

Around 1971, their song "Hymn to Mother Earth" was included in the WDAS-FM Black Rock compilation album.{{cite web|last=Simpson |first=Kim |url=http://www.early70sradio.com/2011/08/wdas-fm-black-rock-lp.html |title=The WDAS-FM Black Rock LP |website=Early 70s radio |date=4 August 2011 |accessdate=31 January 2013}}

In 1976, after the band dissolved, their second album, Roots and Offshoots, was self-published under the Paco Media Inc. label.{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Demon-Fuzz/30893/ |title=Demon Fuzz|website=Sputnikmusic |accessdate=30 January 2013}}

A 1999 compilation CD, From Calypso to Disco: The Roots of Black Britain, includes the Demon Fuzz' recording of "Message to Mankind".{{cite web|last=Thompson |first=Dave|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/from-calypso-to-disco-the-roots-of-black-britain-mw0000048138

|title=From Calypso to Disco: The Roots of Black Britain – Various Artists : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|publisher=AllMusic

|date=11 May 1999|accessdate=3 February 2013}}

Their performance of "Mercy" is included in Harmless Records' 2002 compilation CD (also published as a double-LP set) Paint It Black: Kaleidoscopic Funk Collision.{{cite web |url=http://www.freakemporium.com/archive/release/PAOT003/releasepage.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216021908/http://www.freakemporium.com/archive/release/PAOT003/releasepage.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 February 2013 |title=Paint It Black – Kaleidoscopic Funk Collision Dble LP |website=The Freak Emporium |accessdate=3 February 2013 }}

In 2003, the Get Away label made a vinyl reissue in Italy of The Dawn Take-Away Concert (catalogue number GET 626).

Another vinyl pressing was made by Janus under the same catalogue number as the 1971 edition.

Demon Fuzz is often classified as an Afro rock band.{{cite web |url=https://spectrumculture.com/2022/11/15/demon-fuzz-afreaka/ |title=Demon Fuzz: Afreaka! |last=Pinfold |first=Will |date=November 15, 2022 |publisher=Spectrum Culture |access-date=2023-03-05 }} The band's music was influenced by West African music, calypso, soul, jazz, and ska, and saxophonist/founder Paddy Corea had a background in playing ska music.{{cite web |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/delorean/demon-fuzz-afreaka |title=1970: Demon Fuzz - Afreaka |work=Tiny Mix Tapes }} The music they heard during a trip to Morocco led to a change in their style.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmdLAAAAYAAJ|journal=Beat Instrumental & International Recording|title=Demon Fuzz|publisher=Beat Publications|issue=93|page=18|date=5 January 1971|accessdate=1 February 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.musicismysanctuary.com/demon-fuzz-afreaka-1970-music-vinyl |title=Demon Fuzz "Afreaka!" (1970, Music On Vinyl) |date=8 September 2017 |publisher=Music Is My Sanctuary |access-date=2023-03-07}}

• Afreaka! (1970)
• Roots and Offshoots (1976)

• Paddy Corea, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, vibes, congas
• Ray Rhoden, piano and organ
• Sleepy Jack Joseph, bass guitar
• Smokey Adams, vocals
• Steven John, drums
• W. (Winston) Raphael Joseph, guitar
• Clarence Crosdale, trombone{{cite journal|title=What's all the fuzz about?|journal=Melody Maker|date=21 November 1972|url=http://galacticramble.blogspot.com/2012/01/demon-fuzz-pure-rhythmic-funk_06.html|accessdate=1 February 2013}}
• Ayinde Folarin: credited with "additional congas" on Afreaka!. He was brought in on the recording session only.

{{Reflist}}

• Corbett, John. "Afreaka!: Demon Fuzz" Down Beat 71. 1 (January 2004): 18.
• Thompson, Ben. "Pop: Demon Fuzz: Afreaka!", The Sunday Telegraph 8 January 2006: p. 36.
• {{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/Beat-Instrumental-1971-01-S-OCR.pdf|title=Demon Fuzz|magazine=Beat Instrumental and International Recording Studio|date=January 1971|number=93|page=18|location=London|publisher=Beat Publications Ltd.|access-date=8 January 2025|via=World Radio History|issn=0144-5804|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202042723/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/Beat-Instrumental-1971-01-S-OCR.pdf|archive-date=2 December 2024|ref=Beat Instrumental}}

• [http://demonfuzz-paddycorea.blogspot.com.au// Paddy Corea's blog about the band]
• [http://allthatmusicrock.blogspot.com/2011/12/demon-fuzz-afreaka-1970.html blog about the band] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131331/http://allthatmusicrock.blogspot.com/2011/12/demon-fuzz-afreaka-1970.html |date=4 March 2016 }}

{{Authority control}}

Category:English progressive rock groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1968

Category:Psychedelic soul music groups