Formed in the early 1970s, Consortium built up a vervant following amongst the UK hard rock community. Jason Barnard speaks to bassist Ken Brown about the release of cult track ‘Its Not Easy’ and a decade of renewed interest in the band.
Can you tell me about the forthcoming ‘It’s Not Easy’ single? I understand it’s had a whole new lease of life due to the skateboarding scene?
It has, a few years ago Angel Air picked up on the album Rebirth after all the years had gone by. As a result of that film director Chris Ray discovered the track and wanted to use it. It went on from there gaining thousands of views on YouTube to a whole new generation mainly in the US. It worked perfectly for the video of skateboarder David Gravette. It also then helped with the follow up ‘13th Hour’. It was never actually released as single before and always felt like it should be on vinyl so now it finally is which is another part of the journey of the song.
When was the track originally recorded and was it released as a single at the time?
It’s not easy was written by Consortium and recorded at KPM studio Denmark at London 1975. It was a track included as material for an album but always felt like it stood out even more than the rest.
Can you tell me how the band evolved from West Coast Consortium? What other groups were you in before Consortium?
The band was originally West Coast Consortium but the name was changed to just Consortium as a suggestion by Tony Macaulay who was involved with the band in the late sixties coinciding with Pye and Trend recordings including the hit record ‘All the Love in the World’.
I was in bands from the very early sixties, I recorded firstly at Merton park sound and film studios for Bobby Angelo and the Tuxedo’s Then a band called The Allstars , and various other bands, I became something of a journeyman player deputising if and when my services were required and also doing sessions at various London studio’s Including Joe Meeks studio.I worked with various musicians until I was recruited with Brian Parker to join Consortium in late 1971.
I understand that a track that Mick wrote before Consortium has been sampled by Tyler, The Creator becoming a massive US hit. Can you tell me more about the track and the story behind it behind it being sampled?
It’s another great story and proves great music can always find an audience however many years have passed. Mick wrote the track when he was a part of the band Czar in the early 70’s prior to joining Consortium. We’ll never really know exactly how Kanye West came across the track to sample it for Tyler, The Creator and Mick seriously thought it was a scam at first but its since had millions of plays and Mick was interviewed on the BBC, 6Music and many newspapers. Its incredible and proves anything is possible and the music never goes away.
Did Consortium play on the same bill as many bigger bands at the time? Do you have any memories of that period?
Touring constantly with Consortium from that period we were lucky enough to either headline or share the honours with other bands never having to do support work. We never were among the elite and highly paid super groups but we jogged along nicely and found our niche with the likes of UFO , Wishbone Ash and Judas Priest (who were a smaller name in the 70s). We were lucky enough to build a solid loyal following and noted our level of success.
Do you know why RCA didn’t release your debut LP? Where did you record it and who produced it?
We were seen by a recording executive whilst performing at the Marquee London and he was impressed enough to offer us a recording contract with RCA and or MAM he was Alan Sizer .
We recorded an album at various London studios paid for by the above and the album tracks were met with great enthusiasm by the record companies. At this time in the latter part of the 70s the UK was poorly governed and was in dire financial straits.
The American recording company stated that they were reluctant to invest in British releases. This resulted with Alan Sizer leaving those companies and he was replaced by Dave Dee who just was not interested in us or our music, so the album was shelved.
What kept you going through this set back? Was it the big live following you had at the time?
Undeterred we carried on until late 1979 when we were not keen on the music scene at that time (punk) so we decided to come off the road and not break up but just stay as a getting together band for writing and session work , also family ties meant for a slower way of life but we always stayed in constant contact being very firm friends.
Did the band’s sound evolve for the follow-up LP 13th Hour?
The sound became a lot more progressive and much more raucous when playing live. When we played ‘13th Hour’ we had an air raid siren that helped whip the crowd into a frenzy! Other songs like ‘Nightmare’ were also more progressive and heavier but always still retained a pop and vocal harmony side somewhere within our sound.
What are your favourite tracks from the band and why?
Well obviously ‘Its Not Easy’ but real favourites are ‘She Gave Life’, ‘Lady Doctor’, ‘Nightmare’ and ‘13th Hour’ which as I mentioned was such a crowd favourite I will never forget the strobe lighting and chaotic response from the crowd and Robbie Leggat’s presence as a frontman was something to behold.
How much non-album material was included in the Angel Air reissues? Is there anything more to come out?
During the 80s we recorded enough material for another album and eventually all the recorded tracks have been released on albums and on soundtracks for Skate boarding films (Trans World) and have seen successful in the US. There are a few more unreleased tracks but due to circumstances they may never be released.
Why and when did you split? What did you do afterwards?
As I said, we didn’t actually every officially split, we just walked away from it around 1980. We always remained firm and close friends and got to work together every now and then and again to rework and overdub some of the old tapes for the ‘13th Hour’ release. We also worked together again over the last couple of years record a one of song called ‘The Pals’. Working together is more difficult now due to members health, age and unfortunately death getting in the way,but…..
Stream and purchase the track here: consortium2.bandcamp.com
More information also available at consortium1971.co.uk
