The Grease Band: Shelter Records’ Unsung Rock Heroes

Shelter Record Artists: The Grease Band

While the connection to Joe Cocker is nearly inseparable, The Grease Band was formed in the mid-1960s, with Chris Stainton on bass but who later switched to keyboards, Henry McCullough on lead guitar, Alan Spenner on bass, Bruce Rowland on drums, Neil Hubbard on rhythm and slide guitar, and all of the guys on vocals. 

Cocker had just achieved success with the tune “Marjorine,” which he co-wrote with Stainton. In 1967, when they began hitting regular club dates and crisscrossed England from Grimsby to Bristol and Manchester to London, the band was between the ages of 19 and 23. 

In November of 1968, ahead of their debut in the US, Ed Sullivan was quoted as saying “English performers tell me that Joe Cocker, who sings black blues with the emotion of Al Jolson, is the new London rage. Cocker’s record “With a Little Help from My Friends,” penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for Ringo Starr, is in the top 20.”     “Marjorine” and “With a Little Help” helped Joe Cocker and the Grease Band gain popularity and traction, allowing them to perform in much larger venues.

Joe Cocker and the Grease Band on the Ed Sullivan Show, April 27, 1969

By 1969, they had played huge festivals in England alongside Jethro Tull, Jerry Lee Lewis, Deep Purple, and Traffic. With the success of Joe’s April 1969 album “With a Little Help from My Friends,” the band embarked on a punishing tour schedule to promote it on television, festivals, and clubs across the United States and the United Kingdom, which led to an invitation to perform at Woodstock. The Grease Band kicked off the third day of music at Woodstock on August 17, 1969,  with “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring,” and “40,000 Headmen.” Joe Cocker arrived by helicopter on the third song and began his hour and a half set, performing an additional eleven songs and closing with “With A Little Help from My Friends,” an 8-minute rendition that ranged from crooning to screaming the Beatles classic. It was considered a standout performance and one of the weekend’s highlights. 

In October of 1969, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band headlined a four-night run at the Fillmore West that included Move and Little Richard as opening acts. They had been touring the US since spring of that year.

The second studio album “Joe Cocker!” with the Grease Band was recorded in the summer of 1969 in Hollywood and produced by Leon Russell & Denny Cordell. The album included covers written by Leon Russell, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, John Lennon & Paul McCartney and Joe Cocker & Chris Stainton. 

The band broke up after the release of “Joe Cocker!” in November 1969 due to exhaustion from constant traveling; and the remaining members returned to England without Chris Stainton.  In the spring of 1970, Joe and Chris Stainton continued their legendary, career-making, contractual tour “Mad Dogs and Englishman” with Leon Russell and approximately 40 other artists, film makers, photographers and friends. 

The last four Grease Band members, Hubbard, Spenner, Rowland and McCullough, were the core musicians recording Andrew Lloyd Webbers “Jesus Christ Superstar,” from March to July of 1970. The album, upon which the rock opera was based, became a major international musical and pop-culture phenomenon.  The strong rock credibility of Jesus Christ Superstar was attributed to the Grease Band’s presence. Released in October 1970, the album achieved #1 on the US Billboard 200 in 1971 and certified Gold.

Shelter Records:  The Grease Band signed with Shelter Records and began working on their self-titled album, which was released in 1971. The recording process saw the band experimenting with a variety of styles, from country-tinged rock to more traditional blues influences. Key tracks from the album, such as “My Baby Left Me” and “Let It Be Gone,” showcased the band’s versatility and tight musicianship.  On the cover among  the wallpaper-like flowers was Henry McCullough, Alan Spenner, Neil Hubbard and Bruce Rowland. On the back side a strip of grease ran through the center.  The album was produced by the Grease Band, Chris Stainton and Nigel Thomas.

Publicity photo London May 1971

Despite their efforts, the album received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the band’s musicianship and adventurous spirit, others felt that the album lacked the cohesiveness of their earlier work with Cocker. Nonetheless, the record found a modest audience and has since become a cult classic among fans of early 1970s rock.

The Grease Band and Freddie King joined Leon Russell and the Shelter People during his European Tour of Sweden, Amsterdam, Paris and London in November and December.

On December 2, 3, & 4, 1971 a beardless Leon and the Shelter People played at the newly reopened London Rainbow Theater for three nights with Freddie King and the Grease Band. Eric Clapton came down and joined Leon and the band onstage after the first song.  

The Rainbow Theater, originally a cinema, but known as a rock venue in the 50s-70s, reopened with 3040 seats with the Who performing the first concert in November 1971. Alice Cooper followed on November 7th. Frank Zappa was injured two weeks later. 

The group persevered, releasing a second album, Amazing Grease (1975), although they were also active in other endeavors near the end of their run. The Grease Band backed up Marianne Faithfull in her first new body of recordings in almost ten years, a country music album. By the end of 1975, they had moved on to other acts.

The Grease Band list of credits reads like a “Who’s Who” of musical legends. 

• Chris Stainton, multi-instrumentalist, went on to tour with Joe Cocker, and then extensively with Eric Clapton, and as a session musician
• Alan Spenner, bassist, joined the soul band Kokomo, Roxy Music, and later Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, and Kenny Loggins
• Bruce Rowland, drummer, joined Fairport Convention in 1972-1985
•  Henry McCullough played lead guitar for Paul McCartney’s Wings, the Animals and then as a solo artist
• Neil Hubbard, guitarist, played with BB King, Kokomo, Roxy Music

The Grease Band may not have achieved the widespread commercial success of some of their contemporaries, but their impact on rock music is undeniable. Their collaboration with Joe Cocker remains a highlight of the late 1960s music scene, and their transition to independent work with Shelter Records demonstrated their dedication to artistic growth. Their work with Cocker, McCartney, Clapton, and others showcased their exceptional talent and versatility.