Chicken Shack are a British blues and rock band, founded in the mid-1960s by Stan Webb (guitar and vocals), Andy Silvester (bass guitar), and Alan Morley (drums), who were later joined by Christine Perfect (later McVie) (vocals and keyboards) in 1967. Chicken Shack has performed with various line-ups, Stan Webb being the only constant member.
Career David "Rowdy" Yeats and Andy Silvester had formed Sounds of Blue in March 1964 as a Stourbridge-based rhythm and blues band. They invited Stan Webb, who was leaving local band The Shades 5, to join them in August 1964. The band also included Christine Perfect and Chris Wood (later to join Traffic) amongst others in their line up.Larkin C., Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music, (Muze UK Ltd, 1997), , p. 110 With a new line-up Chicken Shack was formed as a trio in April 1965, naming themselves after Jimmy Smith's Back at the Chicken Shack album.
Chicken shacks (open-air roadside chicken stands) had also been frequently mentioned in blues and R&B songs, as in Amos Milburn's hit, "Chicken Shack Boogie"
Jimmy Smith's classic 12-bar blues instrumental was frequently performed live by Muddy Waters's touring band during the 1960s when they would launch into the instrumental groove to warm up the crowd and set the mood before Muddy Waters was officially introduced and walked out to take center stage. The track was also covered by Charlie Musselwhite on his 1967 debut Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band.
Over the next few years Chicken Shack had a residency at the Star-Club, Hamburg with Morley, then Al Sykes, Hughie Flint (who was John Mayall's drummer when Eric Clapton was in the band) and later Dave Bidwell on drums.
40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready to Serve Chicken Shack made their first UK appearance at the 1967 National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor and signed to Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon record label in the same year. Their first single “It's Okay With Me Baby / When My Left Eye Jumps” (BH 57-3135), was released in 1968, shortly before their first LP release 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready to Serve was released later that year. Christine Perfect composed and sang on side A of the first single and Stan Webb composed and sang the flip side. Both sides of the first single were not included in the first LP release.Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions, p. 6 The first single and the debut LP attracted a lot of attention and 40 Blue Fingers… ended up having considerable chart success (No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart).Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions, p. 9 While waiting to finish their second LP, the band released a second single, "Worried About My Woman" / "Six Nights In Seven" (BH 57-3143) in late 1968 with little fanfare. Both songs were composed and sung by Stan Webb.
O.K. Ken? Their second LP, O.K. Ken? was released in February 1969 and also garnered chart success.Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions. p. 10 While it did surpass the first album by reaching No. 9, unlike the initial LP, it quickly dropped out of the chart due to the lack of an album single to support it.Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions, p. 10 The band then decided to release a song from the first album (40 Blue Fingers...), "When The Train Comes Back” (BH 57-3146) after overdubbing a horn section to the original track. The flipside “Hey Baby” was an outtake of the O.K. Ken? album. Christine Perfect composed and provided piano and lead vocals on both tracks, but the single was only mildly successful.
"I'd Rather Go Blind" single Chicken Shack had become a mainstay of the white blues boom in the late 1960s, and they enjoyed some commercial success with their two first albums reaching the Top 20 in UK Albums Chart. Chicken Shack, AllMusic, Retrieved 15 November 2022 Worried that the band's popularity would fade without a successful radio single, they decided to record a song that had been successful for Etta James in the US. The single "I'd Rather Go Blind" (c/w "Night Life") ended up becoming successful with Perfect singing lead vocals.Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions, pp. 10-11 The single was successful enough that it garnered Perfect the 'Top Female Singer' on the Melody Maker'''s Reader's Poll in 1969.Mike Vernon (2007) Chicken Shack - The Blue Horizon Sessions, p. 11
Christine Perfect's departure
The single "I'd Rather Go Blind" had been recorded after the release of the first two LPs and Perfect had already decided to leave the band and retire from the music business before the single had become successful. By this time, she had already quietly married bass player John McVie from the blues band Fleetwood Mac and did not wish to be touring in a separate band. Because of the success of the single, the band's record label, Blue Horizon, convinced her to release a solo album before considering retirement. The exact single recording by Chicken Shack of "I'd Rather Go Blind" was included on Perfect’s eponymous album, Christine Perfect, released on Blue Horizon.Mike Vernon (2008) Christine Perfect - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions, p. 10 After Perfect’s departure from the band in 1969, she was quickly replaced by Paul Raymond from Plastic Penny. Chicken Shack continued recording and performing live, releasing a few more albums and having some success with the single "Tears in the Wind" (c/w "The Things You Put Me Through").
After being dropped by Blue Horizon, pianist Paul Raymond, bassist Andy Silvester, and drummer Dave Bidwell all left in 1971 to join Savoy Brown. At this point Webb reformed the band as a trio with John Glascock on bass and Paul Hancox on drums, and they recorded Imagination Lady. The line-up did not last; Glascock left to join Carmen, while Webb was recruited for Savoy Brown in 1974 and recorded the album Boogie Brothers with them.
Since 1977, Webb has revived the Chicken Shack name on a number of occasions, with a rotating membership of British blues musicians including, at various times, Paul Butler (ex-Jellybread, Keef Hartley Band) (guitar), Keef Hartley, ex-Ten Years After drummer Ric Lee and Miller Anderson, some of whom came and went several times. The band has remained popular as a live attraction in Europe throughout.
Webb remains as their only constant band member.
Personnel
Members Current Stan Webb – guitar, vocals (1965–1974, 1976–present) Gary Davies – guitar (1988–present) Jim Rudge – bass (1998–present)
Former
Andy Silvester – bass (1965–1971) Alan Morley – drums (1965–1968) Christine Perfect – keyboards, vocals (1968–1969; died 2022) Chris Wood – saxophone, flute Al Sykes – drums (1968) Hughie Flint – drums (1968) Dave Bidwell – drums, percussion (1968–1971; died 1977) Paul Raymond – keyboards, vocals (1969–1971; died 2019) John Glascock – bass (1971–1972; died 1979) Pip Pyle – drums (1971; died 2006) Paul Hancox – drums, percussion (1971–1972) Bob Daisley – bass (1972,1975,1979–1980) David Wilkinson – keyboards (1972–1974, 1986–1993; died 2005) Rob Hull – bass (1972–1974) Alan Powell – drums (1972–1974) Bob Clouter - drums (1975) Dave Winthrop – saxophone (1976–1979, 1986–1987, 2008–2012) Robbie Blunt – guitar (1975, 1976–1979) Ed Spivock – drums (1976–1979) Paul Martinez – bass (1976–1978) Steve York – bass (1978–1979) Paul Butler – guitar (1979–1981) Keef Hartley – drums (1979–1980; died 2011) Ric Lee – drums (1980–1981) Alan Scott – bass (1980) Andy Pyle – bass (1980–1986) Tony Ashton – keyboards (1981; died 2001) Miller Anderson – guitar (1981–1986) Russ Alder – drums (1981–1983) John Gunsell – drums (1983–1987) Roger Saunders – guitar (1983–1986) Andy Scott – bass (1983–1986) Jan Connolly – bass (1986–1987) Bev Smith – drums (1987–2002; died 2007 ) Wayne Terry – bass (1987) David Wintour – bass (1987–1991; died 2022) James Morgan – bass (1991–1998) Mick Jones – drums (2002–2010) Chris Williams – drums (2010–2012) Romek Parol – drums (2012–2013)
Line-ups 1965–1968 1968 1968 1968 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Alan Morley – drums Andy Silvester – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Alan Morley – drums Andy Silvester – bass Christine Perfect – keyboards, vocals Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Silvester – bass Christine Perfect – keyboards, vocals Al Sykes – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Silvester – bass Christine Perfect – keyboards, vocals Hughie Flint – drums 1968–1969 1969–1971 1971 1971–1972 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Silvester – bass Christine Perfect – keyboards, vocals Dave Bidwell – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Silvester – bass Dave Bidwell – drums Paul Raymond – keyboards Stan Webb – guitar, vocals John Glascock – bass Pip Pyle – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals John Glascock – bass Paul Hancox – drums 1972 1972–1974 1975-1976 1976–1978 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Paul Hancox – drums Bob Daisley – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Rob Hull – bass Alan Powell – drums David Wilkinson – keyboardsDisbanded Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Robbie Blunt – guitar Paul Martinez – bass Ed Spivock – drums Dave Winthrop – saxophone 1978–1979 1979–1980 1980 1980–1981 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Robbie Blunt – guitar Ed Spivock – drums Dave Winthrop – saxophone Steve York – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Paul Butler – guitar Bob Daisley – bass Keef Hartley – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Paul Butler – guitar Ric Lee – drums Alan Scott – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Paul Butler – guitar Ric Lee – drums Andy Pyle – bass 1981 1981–1983 1983–1986 1986–1987 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Paul Butler – guitars Ric Lee – drums Andy Pyle – bass Tony Ashton – keyboards Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Pyle – bass Russ Alder – drums Miller Anderson – guitar Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Andy Pyle – bass Miller Anderson – guitar John Gunsell – drums Roger Saunders – guitar Andy Scott – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals John Gunsell – drums Jan Connolly – bass David Wilkinson – keyboards Dave Winthrop – saxophone 1987 1987–1988 1988–1991 1991–1993 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals David Wilkinson – keyboards Bev Smith – drums Wayne Terry – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals David Wilkinson – keyboards Bev Smith – drums David Wintour – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals David Wilkinson – keyboards Bev Smith – drums David Wintour – bass Gary Davies – guitar Stan Webb – guitar, vocals David Wilkinson – keyboards Bev Smith – drums Gary Davies – guitar James Morgan – bass 1993–1998 1998–2002 2002–2008 2008–2010 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Bev Smith – drums Gary Davies – guitar James Morgan – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Bev Smith – drums Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Mick Jones – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Mick Jones – drums Dave Winthrop – saxophone 2010–2012 2012–2013 2013–present1975 Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Dave Winthrop – saxophone Chris Williams – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Romek Parol – drums Stan Webb – guitar, vocals Gary Davies – guitar Jim Rudge – bass Stan Webb - guitar, vocals Robbie Blunt - slide guitar Bob Daisley - bass Bob Clouter - drums
Timeline
Discography Albums 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready to Serve (1968), Blue Horizon – UK Albums Chart No. 12 O.K. Ken? (1969), Blue Horizon – UK Albums Chart No. 9 100 Ton Chicken (1969), Blue Horizon Accept (1970), Blue Horizon Imagination Lady (1972), Deram Unlucky Boy (1973), Deram Goodbye Chicken Shack (Live) (1974), Nova; London That's the Way We Are (1978), Shark [as Stan Webb's Chicken Shack] The Creeper (1978), WEA [as Stan Webb's Chicken Shack] Chicken Shack (1979), Gull Roadies Concerto (Live) (1981), RCA Records [as Stan Webb's Chicken Shack]