S C R A P B O O K
The Gryphon File

Evolution: Richard Harvey and Brian Gulland met at the Royal College of Music in 1971 and discovered a mutual taste in medieval and rock music. They formed a trio with Graeme Taylor, an old school friend of Richard, and later in the year were joined by David Oberlé, who came direct from a hard rock band.
Origin of Name: A medieval name would have implied one musical influence, whereas the gryphon is a hybrid creature, which they feel is characteristic of their music.
First Public Appearance: upstairs Coal Hole, Wimbledon, Jan 1972.
First Broadcast: Sounds of the 70's, Sep 1972.
First Television: Magpie (Thames TV), Sep 1973.
Manager: J.S.N. Wright, B.A. (Hons).
Agent: Paul Conroy, Charisma Artists, 70 Old Compton Street, London W1 (01-4391741)
Recording Company: Transatlantic Records, 86 Marylebone High Street, London W1 (01-4864353).
Recording Producers: Laurence Aston, Adam Skeating and Gryphon.
Publicist: Martin Lewis, Transatlantic Records.
Music Publishers: Heathside Music, 86 Marylebone High Street, London W1 (01-4864353).
Fan Club: c/o Dolores at Transatlantic Records.
British Tours: Various solo concert and college dates are arranged for Autumn 1973, plus a month in Belgium and Holland during October, with a countrywide tour scheduled for Spring 1974.
American Tours: None.
Transport: Band and Equipment travel in a green Ford long wheel base transit truck called Nigel. Road Manager and Sound Engineer: Nicholas Glennie-Smith.
P.A. System: Hi-Watt custom 400-catt stack with 14 Eagle condenser, and two mixers. Lighting by candle-power.
Singles: None.
Album: "Gryphon" (Transatlantic, Sep 1973).

 

RICHARD HARVEY: Woodwinds, keyboards, mandolin.
Born: Enfield, Middlesex, 25/Sep/1953.
Educated: Marborough Primary School, Isleworth St. Lukes Primary School, Kew King Athelstan Junior School and Tiffins Grammar School, Kingston.
Musical Training: Studied clarinet, theory, harmony and choral singing at Tiffins and clarinet for two years at the Royal College of Music, wher his other instruments were piano and viol.
Musical Career: Semi-pro orchestra work from the age of 14 to 16 and various classical early music groups until he formed Gryphon with Brian and Graeme in 1971.
Other Occupation: None
Musical Influences: Yes, Beatles, Ravel, Bach.
Compositions: Co-wrote "Touch and Go" and part of the "Juniper Suite" on the band's first LP, "Gryphon".
Songwriting and Inspiration: General classical background.
Favourite Single: "Maggie May", Rod Stewart.
Favourite Album: The "Yes Album"
Favourite Songwriters: Lenon and McCartney and folk club artist Roger Curtis.
Favourite Musician: Rick Wakeman (Yes).
Favourite Singer: Jon Anderson (Yes).
Residence: Is single and shares a house with Brian and David at Raynes Park, Surrey.
Instruments: Various German-made woodwinds, Yamaha reed organ, Jenco keyboard glockenspiel, Crumar electric piano, mandolin hand-made by C. A. Thorose.

 

BRIAN GULLAND: Basson, lower Rennaissance instruments, keyboards and vocals..
Born: Maidstone, Kent, 30/April/1951.
Educated: Canterbury Cathedral Choir, Cranleigh School, Surrey.
Musical Training: Studied piano, bassoon and singing at school, then with private teachers an finally at the Royal School of Music.
Musical Career: Played with semi-pro orchestra and chamber groups untl the formation of Gryphon.
Other Occupation: None, except recatologuing legal deeds and documents for his solicitor 'father'.
Musical Influences: Church music, the romantic era, Bartok, Delius and the contemporary scene.
Compositions: "Sir Gavin Grimbold", "The Devil and the Farmers Wife" and part of the "Juniper Suite" on "Gryphon".
Songwriting and Inspiration: The countryside.
Favourite Single: "Strawberry Fields Forever", The Beatles.
Favourite Album: "Mozart Horn Concerts", Drew Brain.
Favourite Songwriters: Incredible String Band.
Favourite Musician: Jon Anderson (Yes).
Favourite Singer: Robin Williams (Incredible String Band).
Residence: Is single and shares a house with Richard and David at Raynes Park, Surrey.
Instruments: Kohlert bassoon, Korber chrumhorn, Moeck recorders. Also plays the keyboards listed for Richard.

 

GRAEME TAYLOR: guitar, keyboards, recorder.
Born: Stockwell, South London, 2/Feb/1954.
Educated: St Jude's School, Herne Hill Cottenham Park; Junior School, Raynes Park; Hatfiled Junior Scool, Morden; Tiffins Grammar School, Kingston.
Musical Training: Up to O level in music at Tiffins, where he had piano lessons for two years. Learnt guitar by books and by listening to others.
Musical Career: Only other band has been a contemporary folk group called Cherry Wood, who wrote their own songs. Joined Gryphon in November 1971.
Other Occupation: Fork-lift truck driver, plastic moulder, transport office and costing clerk.
Musical Influences: Beatles, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Benjamin Britten, Eric Clapton.
Compositions: Several for Gryphon including "Three Jolly Butchers", "Crossing the Stiles", part of the "Juniper Suite" and co-written with Richard "Touch and Go", all featured on the band's first LP, plus guitar solo "Caterpillar".
Songwriting and Inspiration:
Favourite Single: "Heroes and Villains", the Beach Boys.
Favourite Album: "Sgt. Pepper", The Beatles.
Favourite Songwriters: Dave Evans (Canton Trio) and folk club artist Roger Curtis.
Favourite Musician: Andrés Segovia.
Favourite Singer: Robin Williamson and Paul McCartney
Residence:Is single and lives in a bed-sit at Winbledon.
Instruments: Guitar hand-made by Peter Redding, of Ewell, with Red Dragon Bronze strings; harmonium and Crumar electric piano also used by other members of the group; Descant recorder.

 

DAVID OBERLÉ: percussion, flageolet, vocals.
Born: Farnborough, Kent, 9/Jan/1953.
Educated: Noork Park School; Banstead Ewell Technical College.
Musical Training: Self-taught
Musical Career: Began aged 11 with a year in a heavy rock group called Powerloom which after 18 months became Juggernaut, with a more progressive policy, and after two years became Barbarian. joined a commercial group Erstch securing a recording contract but breaking after five months. Joined Gryphon at Christmas 1971.
Other Occupation: None
Musical Influences: Yes, Vaughan Williams, Caravan.
Compositions: A song so far without a title which will probably on the second LP.
Favourite Single: "Itchycoo Park", Small Faces.
Favourite Album: "Close to the Edge" (Yes), "Waterloo Lily" (Caravan).
Favourite Songwriter: Elton John.
Favourite Musicians: Bill Brudford, Rick Wakeman, Jimi Hendrix.
Favourite Singers: Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey.
Residence: Lives with his wife, Jennie, and their eight-month son Joleigh, in a house they share with Brian and Richard at Raynes Park.
Instruments: Uses an Edgware 18 inch tenor tom tom instead of a bass drum; a small banjo made by spastic children, a pair of Edmundo Ros bongoes and an African talking drum picked up for £1; a pair of American Roto-Toms, one six and the other 12 inches; Zyn 18 inch crash cymbal, genuine Chinese cymbal, two cymbals size 3 and 4 inches; triangle, tambourine, assorted beaters, spoons and a flageolet.

(Melody Maker, October, 1973)

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