View source for Merryweather (band)

{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2017}}
{{More footnotes|date=July 2017}}}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Merryweather
| image           =
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| image_upright   =
| landscape       = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt             =
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| background      = group_or_band
| alias           =
| origin          =
| genre           = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| years_active    = {{start date|1968}}–1970s<!-- {{end date|YYYY}} (or –present) -->
| label           = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| associated_acts =
| website         = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}}  -->
| current_members =
| past_members    = *[[Neil Merryweather]]
}}
'''Merryweather''' was a late 1960s Canadian rock band that relocated to California in the autumn of 1968 and recorded for Capitol Records. The band was led by singer/bass player [[Neil Merryweather]] and most of the band subsequently formed [[Salt 'N' Pepper (band)|Salt 'N' Pepper]] with [[Rick James]] (Not to be confused with the later [[Salt-N-Pepa|80's/90's band of the same name]]).
==Early years==
After leaving [[Bruce Cockburn]]’s group, [[The Flying Circus]] in March 1968, Neil Lillie (born in Winnipeg on December 27, 1945) reunited with keyboard player Ed Roth (born in Toronto on February 16, 1947) and singer Jimmy Livingstone (born in Toronto on February 28, 1938) to form a new band.  They had worked together previously in [[The Just Us]], [[The Tripp]] and Livingstone’s Tripp (which Roth and Livingston had renamed Livingstone’s Journey following Lillie's departure to join Rick James briefly in the final version of The Mynah Byrds in May 1967).
Adding guitarist David Kindred and drummer Gary Hall, the new group, initially called New King Boiler, began rehearsing in Lillie’s grandmother’s basement in May 1968.  Kindred was quickly replaced by ex-Fraser Loveman Group guitarist Dave Burt (born in Hamilton, Ontario on September 19, 1948). (Apparently, Gary Hall drank so much coffee that Lillie's grandmother called him ‘Coffee’, and the band started to call him ‘Coffi’.)
==Signs to Capitol Records==
Renamed Heather Merryweather after a song the band performed whose lyrics were written by a band friend, June Nelson, the group soon shortened it to simply 'Merryweather'. After recording a lone unreleased track "Heather Merryweather" in the autumn, the band drove down to Los Angeles but Livingstone dropped out before the band signed to Capitol Records in the spring of 1968.
Shortly before the release of the band’s eponymous debut, produced by John Gross, Lillie changed his surname and became Neil Merryweather. The band’s second (double album) was recorded in Los Angeles with the same line-up (Merryweather, Roth, Hall and Burt) but also featured help from [[Steve Miller (musician)|Steve Miller]], [[Barry Goldberg]] and [[Charlie Musselwhite]], ex-[[Traffic (band)|Traffic]] guitarist [[Dave Mason]], guitarist [[Howard Roberts]] and violinist [[Bobby Notkoff]]. The group was advertised as playing at the [[Whisky a Go Go]] in West Hollywood with [[Mountain (band)|Mountain]] on July 29, 1969.
==Rick James==
Merryweather performed at Thee Experience in Los Angeles on September 21–23, 1969 and appeared at Balboa Stadium, San Diego with [[Country Joe & The Fish]], [[Poco (band)|Poco]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] and Framework on October 12, 1969, after which Burt, followed by Hall and Roth, left to join forces with Rick James in a group called Salt 'N' Pepper.
==Aftermath==
Neil Merryweather reacted by flying to Toronto to recruit replacements (ex-Ugly Ducklings drummer Robin Boers and guitarist John Richardson from Nucleus - and before that Lords of London), returning to Los Angeles to record an album for the Kent blues label in early 1970. The album was credited to Neil Merryweather, John Richardson and Boers - for some reason neglecting the presence of ex-49th Parallel member J.J. Velker on organ. It attracted only limited interest, but the group, with the addition of Goldberg, Musselwhite and Merryweather's girlfriend, ex-C.K. Strong singer [[Lynn Carey]], recorded ''Ivar Avenue Reunion'', then (minus Goldberg and Musselwhite) half of ''Vacuum Cleaner'' for RCA. The latter was completed with a new lineup featuring guitarist [[Kal David]] and a returning Roth and Hall and released as by Merryweather & Carey. The group evolved and recorded four more albums as Mama Lion (with Carey) and as Heavy Cruiser (without her) before falling apart. Neil Merryweather went on to record with a new band called The Space Rangers.
In 1978, after visiting London, Neil Merryweather recorded the album ''Differences'' with British musicians including drummer [[Clive Edwards]] of [[Pat Travers]] and UFO fame.
Gary "Coffi" Hall died suddenly in his home on December 4, 2010.<ref>{{Citation | last =Lee | first =Steve | title =Midway music teacher had rock 'n' roll history | newspaper =Grand Forks Herald | date =December 7, 2010 | url =https://www.grandforksherald.com/entertainment/2142933-midway-music-teacher-had-rock-n-roll-history | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190126235750/https://www.grandforksherald.com/entertainment/2142933-midway-music-teacher-had-rock-n-roll-history | archive-date = January 26, 2019 | access-date =January 26, 2019}}</ref> He had been directing Midway Public School's band and choir in Lakota, ND at the time of his passing. His son, Colin, is now an independent artist who goes by his late father's moniker "Coffi".
==Trivia==
Merryweather and Roth very nearly became the rhythm section in [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]] but turned down the offer because ''Word of Mouth'' had just been released and they wanted to commit to their band.
==Discography==
* ''Merryweather'' (Capitol SKAO-220) 1969
* ''Word of Mouth'' [2LP] (Capitol STBB-278) 1969
* ''Space Rangers'' (Mercury SRM-1-1007) 1974
* ''Kryptonite'' (Mercury SRM-1-1024) 1975
* ''Differences'' (1978)
==References==
<references />
* ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' review, October 18, 1969
* Bill Munson, interview with Ed Roth, 1976
* Bill Munson, interview with Jimmy Livingston, 1978
* Nick Warburton, interview with Neil Merryweather 2005
* Nick Warburton, interview with Dave Burt, 2006
==External links==
* [http://www.canadianbands.com/Merryweather.html Canadianbands.com]
[[Category:Canadian rock music groups]]