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WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE POPE DIED?
Most people remember where they were when President Kennedy
was shot or when the dreadful events of 9/11 took place.
Strawbs will never forget where they were when
the Pope died.
Strawbs in their acoustic line-up were onstage
in a mediaeval library in Olgiate Comasco, near Lake Como
in Italy. They were just finishing 'The Antique Suite',
written by Dave Cousins about the death of an old doctor
friend, when the lights dimmed. The chair of the library
came onstage to announce the death of His Holiness and
asked Strawbs to take a five-minute break. In difficult
and moving circumstances they returned to sing 'A glimpse
of heaven' and 'Lay down'.
Strawbs are well known for the depth of emotion
and spirituality in their songs. The latest album 'DEJA
FOU' was released last summer and re-unites David Cousins,
Dave Lambert, and Chas Cronk, the front line of the classic
1970s line-up of Britain's most successful international
folk-rock band.
Strawbs first hit the charts in the UK and Europe
in the early 1970s with 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting
at the Seams', each selling 100,000 copies in the UK alone.
From the mid-1970s Strawbs concentrated their attention
on the United States and Canada where their albums, including
the classics 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts', spent over
fifty-two weeks on the Billboard charts. Strawbs
toured with the likes of Santana, Peter Frampton, The
Eagles, REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, King
Crimson, and Frank Zappa.
Rick Wakeman played with the Strawbs for two years
before moving on to achieve world-wide success with Yes,
and as a solo artist. The much-loved Sandy Denny made
an album with the Strawbs before she joined Fairport
Convention.
Strawbs appearances in the US and Canada have
received rave reviews:
"If you were at NEARfest [headline
appearance] this past year
you probably witnessed the outpouring of affection for
the Strawbs."
(Exposé - March 2005)
"Hearing the brilliant Strawbs
[at the Edmonton Folk Festival]
was like a tutorial in UK folk music from the past 40
years.
(Edmonton Sun - August 2004)
"Unlike many groups that are past
their commercial prime and churn out inferior,
dispirited versions of the hits from their glory days,
the acoustic Strawbs stand out
as a band that performs their old material with passion
and precision.
Furthermore, they have broken new ground by harnessing
the power
of their electric incarnation in an acoustic setting."
(Chicago Tribune - May 2003)
Check out Witchwood Records online at www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk
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