Brand X: Британдық джаз-фьюжн тобының тарихы

English jazz fusion band

Brand X were a British jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974. They were active until 1980, followed by a reformation between 1992 and 1999, and were active following a 2016 reunion until 2021. Members have included John Goodsall (guitar), Percy Jones (bass), Robin Lumley (keyboards), and Phil Collins (drums). Jones was the sole constant member throughout the band's existence until October 2020 when he left the band. Founding member Goodsall died on 10 November 2021 and Lumley died on 9 March 2023.

In 1974, rehearsals began for developing a five piece instrumental jazz fusion group at Island Studios in London, which was set to include Percy Jones on bass and Phil Collins of Genesis on drums. They had secured a recording deal with Island Records and prepared tracks for a studio album which originally included vocals. However, the vocals were negatively received from Island management, leaving the group to write new material, at the suggestion of Island A&R man Richard Williams. Jones, Goodsall, Lumley and Collins recorded Unorthodox Behaviour in September and October 1975 at Trident Studios with Jack Lancaster guesting on saxophone. They were named Brand X after Island Records staffer Danny Wilding wrote down "Brand X" to keep track of their activity on the studio calendar, and the name stuck. In preparation for their upcoming gigs, the four were joined by Geoff Seopardi on percussion by December 1975. Genesis manager Tony Smith became their manager. and No. 125 in the US. With Collins leaving the group for Genesis commitments, Kenwood Dennard of Pat Martino's group was recruited in New York City in time for their 32 date US tour in May and June 1977. Collins briefly returned later in 1977 for a series of dates, including a spot at the tenth Crystal Palace Garden Party in London and the Fête de l'Humanité in Paris on the same day on a specially chartered plane, the latter attended by an estimated 200,000 people. Livestock, a live album culled from several shows (some with Collins and some with Dennard), was released in November 1977. Following the 1977 tour, the band recruited keyboardist Peter Robinson and drummer Chuck Burgi to record the Masques album, which was released in 1978. It was the only Brand X album during the band's original run without Phil Collins. The band toured to promote with a couple of different drummers in place of Chuck Burgi. The next year, 1979, saw Brand X undertaking their last recording sessions for over 10 years, with Collins returning and other musicians including drummer Mike Clark and bassist John Giblin. During these sessions they recorded Product (released that same year), Do They Hurt? (released 1980), and Is There Anything About? (released 1982). Following the completion of these sessions, the band comprising Goodsall, Jones, Collins, Lumley, and Robinson embarked on a world tour, after which Collins departed for the final time, continuing with Genesis and eventually launching a solo career. Clark returned to the drum stool, and the band toured the UK in April and May 1980 (co headlining with Bruford). By the time Is There Anything About? appeared in 1982, Brand X had officially ended. A compilation album The Plot Thins: A History of Brand X was released in 1992.

Jones and Goodsall reformed Brand X in 1992 with new drummer Frank Katz for the album X Communication, followed by Manifest Destiny in 1997. After bassist Percy Jones refused to continue performing live with Brand X in 2020, Jeff Berlin was briefly announced as his replacement, but quickly backed out. Jones says that Berlin, and other bassists, refused offers to join Brand X because they were warned about unethical behavior of management. After John Goodsall died, Percy Jones and Robin Lumley confirmed on Facebook, on 14 November 2021, that the Brand X name was now officially retired and no further activity would be done under that name. In a 2022 interview, Jones explained that he left the band due to tensions with management and percussionist Scott Weinberger. Jones alleges that the band's management has used the Brand X Facebook account to misrepresent the band's status following Goodsall's death and the official retirement of the name. The recent history of the band is explained on their official website which is endorsed by Jones.