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Kings of Oblivion

KINGS OF OBLIVION

 
Kings Of Oblivion  is a 1973 album by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.  Paul Rudolph had quit the group on the release of What a Bunch of Sweeties, his replacement being Mick Wayne.  This new three piece recorded one single, “Well, Well, Well”/“Hold On”, but Sanderson and Hunter were unhappy with the musical direction Wayne was taking the band.  Convincing Larry Wallis to join the group as a second guitarist, they then sacked Wayne, passing songwriting and singing duties onto the inexperienced Wallis.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
In 1987, the long-awaited reunion of the Pink Fairies materialized with Kill ’Em and Eat ’Em; Mick Farren provided only the liner notes (and likely some inspiration).  Musicians on the album included Andy Colquhoun, plus original member Twink as the drummer and vocalist, Duncan (Sandy) Sanderson (bass), Russell Hunter (drums), and Larry Wallis (guitar), who joined the band for their third album, Kings of Oblivion (where the musician credits list him as playing “big guitar”).  Two years later, Andy, Sandy and Russell began performing and recording as Flying Colours – essentially the Pink Fairies but without the name.
 
(August 2011)
 
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Mick Wayne replaced Paul Rudolph on guitar in the Pink Fairies, and this line-up recorded a single, “Well, Well, Well” b/w “Hold On”.  For the band’s next album Kings of Oblivion (1973) – by far the easiest Pink Fairies album to find, at least in this country – Larry Wallis was brought in as the guitarist, and they also pressed him into songwriting duties; the credits list Wallis as playing Big Guitar.  The album is mostly a sonic assault that also includes the playful song “Pigs of Uranus” – but even that song ends with a fabulous electric guitar solo.

 

Mick Farren stayed around just long enough to help found this amazing band; one Allmusic review that I can’t find now included a passing reference to the Pink Fairies as being the perfect 1970’s British rock band.  However, Farren was still closely associated with the band; he co-wrote one of the best songs on Kings of Oblivion with Larry Wallis, “When’s the Fun Begin”.  Mick Farren also wrote the liner notes for the Pink Fairies’ comeback album, Kill ’Em and Eat ’Em (1987).    

 
(March 2014/1)