After 55 years of performing, The Pretty Things – the iconic, 1st wave, R&B cult heroes, formed by Ex Rolling Stone Dick Taylor, and singer, Phil May, will retire from electric performances at the end of this year.
Serial under-achievers, and the greatest band you have never heard of, The Pretty Things have been a massive success and a huge influence on artists as diverse as David Bowie, Aerosmith, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, The Sex Pistols, The White Stripes, Kasabian and many, many more. All who site the band’s outrageous behaviour, incandescent stage performances and astonishing catalogue of remarkable recordings as fundamental in the creation of their own work.
With a huge catalogue of musical and cultural “firsts” at their core – longest hair in the world, first ever rock and roll drugs bust, most arrests of any band, first ever “garage” single, first ever rock opera, first U.K. band to win Rolling Stone record of the year, arrested for discharging a sawn off shotgun, first band to regain control of its entire recorded catalogue and on and on… they are an indelible part of the fabric of popular music and the social influence that it has created.
Still making significant front-line records and with such influential work including their ground-breaking masterpiece and world’s first rock opera – “S. F. Sorrow” – which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, The Pretty Things remain a hugely significant artistic and creative force. With no artist from the 1st wave but The Stones outselling their frontline recordings and probably no artist at all out-performing them.
It should be compulsory for anyone with the slightest interest in popular music and the social revolution of the 1960’s to see The Pretty Things before they hang up their guns at the end of this year. They will be back in the groove until that point, hitting every working room on the circuit and finishing up with a huge farewell show in London at the end of the year, with guest appearances from some significant old friends and old school gunslingers to make sure they go out like they came in – with all guns blazing and taking no prisoners.
The Pretty Things are waving goodbye. Be there to wave back…
Thank you for all the fantastic music.
I (and many others) owe you such a lot,
and you don’t owe anything to anyone else.
Be happy.
Nov 5 1964 I enjoyed PRETTY THINGS-ITIS. Remarkable outstanding music. A unique joy in my life. Thank you gratefully. Established Fan Retta.❤️✅?
Followed The Pretty Things from day one and still do today! The greatest and most underratest band of all time!!
Very sad to hear they are retiring.I have followed them from 1964 until now to the exclusion of all other groups/music.Saw and spoke to them as recent as 10th March in Morecambe Lancs;hope it won’t be the last time.