Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Kahvas Jute were an Australian psychedelic rock band formed in June 1970 which became Chariot in May 1974, the latter group disbanded in December 1977. Mainstay of both line-ups was Dennis Wilson on guitar and vocals. Other founder members include Bob Daisley on bass guitar and Tim Gaze on lead guitar and vocals. Their debut album, Wide Open was released in January 1971. The group supported Bo Didley on his second tour of Australia in October 1973. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their style, "expansive and free flowing, strong on rhythm and melody and bristling with exceptional guitar work". Kahvas Jute have reformed in 1993 and again in 2005, with the latter version providing a DVD album, Then Again: Live at the Basement issued in 2006.
History
Formation
Kahvas Jute was formed in Sydney in June 1970 as a progressive rock band with Bob Daisley on bass guitar (ex-Dennis Williams and the Delawares, Gino Affair, Throb, Barrington Davis and the Power Pact, Mecca), Dannie Davidson on drums (ex-Strangers, Sunsets, Tamam Shud), Tim Gaze on lead guitar and vocals (ex-Stonehenge, Tamam Shud) and Dennis Wilson on lead guitar and vocals (ex-Riddles, Kevin Bible and the Book, Barrington Davis and the Power Pact, Mecca). Wilson was the guitarist on Kevin Bible and the Book's single, "Rockin' Pneumonia", which was released in August 1966. Wilson played with Daisley in Barrington Davis and the Power Pact. When Davis left in 1968, the group was renamed as Mecca. Davidson's earlier band, Strangers (aka Four Strangers) had formed in Newcastle in 1964. By 1965, after releasing two singles, they became The Sunsets, a surf rock group and issued five further singles. They relocated to Sydney and were renamed as Tamam Shud in 1968, Gaze joined in 1969. Mecca disbanded in mid-1970 and Daisley and Wilson approached Davidson and Gaze to form a new band, Kahvas Jute.
Wide Open
Kahvas Jute developed a reputation for their live performances and signed with Festival Records' subsidiary label, Infinity Records. They issued their debut album, Wide Open in January 1971. It was recorded at Festival Studios in Sydney and produced by Pat Aulton. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their style, "expansive and free flowing, strong on rhythm and melody and bristling with exceptional guitar work". By the time the album appeared Gaze had already returned to Tamam Shud and Kahvas Jute continued as a trio. In June, Davidson and Wilson travelled to the United Kingdom and temporarily used Scott Maxey on bass guitar. Daisley arrived in London in July and Kahvas Jute played a few club gigs before disbanding. Daisley remained in the UK and became a member of several bands including: Chicken Shack, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne Band and Gary Moore Band.
Chariot
Kahvas Jute were reformed by Davidson, Maxey and Wilson in May 1973, after Wilson returned from UK. The group supported Bo Didley on his second tour of Australia in October. In March 1974, Peter Roberts (ex-Band of Light) replaced Maxey on bass guitar but the group was renamed as Chariot in May. Davidson left to join Band of Light and was replaced by Steve Webb on drums. Meanwhile Roberts switched to guitar and John Strangio joined on bass guitar. The group performed about 300 gigs a year but extensive line-up changes reduced their recording output to two singles, "I'll Keep on Loving You" (January 1976) and "Set Me Free" (December). With Wilson as the only mainstay, Chariot continued until December 1977. In December 1980, Wilson issued his debut solo album, Walking on Thin Ice.
Later reformations
In 1993, Kahvas Jute were reformed by Wilson and an expanded CD version of Wide Open was issued in 1994. A second reunion occurred in 2005, with Daisley, Gaze and Wilson joined by Mark Marriott on drums, which resulted in a live DVD of a performance at Sydney's The Basement. On 4 September 2006, it was released as Then Again: Live at the Basement.