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List of Samson band members

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Samson were an English heavy metal band from London. Formed in summer 1977, the group originally featured vocalist and guitarist Paul Samson, bassist Chris Aylmer and drummer Clive Burr. The group were active until the eponymous frontman's death in 2002, at which point their lineup included lead vocalist Nicky Moore, bassist Ian Ellis and drummer Billy Fleming.

History

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1977–1985

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Samson were formed by Paul Samson, Chris Aylmer and Clive Burr in the summer of 1977.[1] In March 1978, the group briefly experimented with a four-piece lineup featuring Stewart Cochrane on bass and Aylmer on rhythm guitar, however this was abandoned after one performance.[2] The band released their first single "Telephone" in September,[1] before Mark Newman briefly took over on lead vocals for a run of shows.[3] Burr was replaced by Barry "Thunderstick" Purkis in early 1979,[4] after which the group recorded their first album Survivors with Samson's former bandmate John McCoy producing.[5]

Shortly after the release of Survivors, Samson brought in Bruce Dickinson as their new frontman, who took on the stage name "Bruce Bruce".[6] Head On and Shock Tactics followed over the next two years, before Purkis left to form his own band Thunderstick in July 1981.[7] He was replaced by Mel Gaynor in time for Reading Festival the following month, which proved to be Dickinson's final show with Samson when he accepted an offer to join Iron Maiden in September.[8][9] He was soon replaced by Nicky Moore.[5] Gaynor stepped back from the band in January 1982 and Pete Jupp took his place.[10]

The lineup of Moore, Samson, Aylmer and Jupp released Before the Storm and Don't Get Mad, Get Even, before Aylmer was replaced by Merv Goldsworthy and Dave "Bucket" Colwell joined on rhythm guitar in 1984.[11] In 1985, the group disbanded and released a final live album called Thank You and Goodnight..., with Samson and Colwell later forming Paul Sampson's Empire.[11]

1987–2002

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In 1987, Samson reformed his eponymous band with Empire vocalist Mick White, adding bassist Dave Boyce, drummer Charlie Mack and keyboardist Toby Sadler.[11] The group released the EP And There It Is... the following year, before White was replaced by Peter Scallan in February 1989.[11] A new album called Look to the Future was recorded later in the year, but after being rejected by a number of record labels was remixed with new bass and extra guitar parts from Samson; the result, Refugee, was released the following year, before Samson was injured and the group became inactive.[12]

After two years performing under the moniker Paul Samson's Rogues, the eponymous frontman formed a new lineup of Samson in 1992, with drummer Tony Tuohy and returning bassist Chris Aylmer.[13] The group continued to tour and released Samson in 1993.[14] Tuohy left in early 1994 and the band broke up again.[13]

In the summer of 1999, Samson reunited with Aylmer and Thunderstick for a series of anniversary shows; the reunion was originally slated to include vocalist Bruce Dickinson, however he ultimately rejoined Iron Maiden and Samson remained a trio.[13] In 2000, Nicky Moore returned as the band's frontman for a series of shows.[15] The following year, Samson and Moore began work on a new studio album tentatively titled Brand New Day, adding new members Ian Ellis on bass and Billy Fleming on drums.[16] However, before the album could be finished, Paul Samson died of cancer on 9 August 2002.[17]

Producer John McCoy continued to work on the recordings after Samson's death, releasing them as P.S. in 2006.[18]

Members

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Paul Samson
  • 1977–1986
  • 1987–1990
  • 1992–1994
  • 1999–2002 (until his death)
[1][11][12][13][16][17]
  • lead and rhythm guitars
  • vocals (lead 1977–79, 1986–87 and 1993–2002)
all Samson releases
Chris Aylmer.png
Chris Aylmer
  • 1977–1984
  • 1992–1994
  • 1999–2001 (died 2007)
[1][2][11][13]
  • bass
  • acoustic guitar
  • backing vocals
all Samson releases from Head On (1980) to Don't Get Mad, Get Even (1984), and from Live at Reading '81 (1990) onwards
Clive Burr 1977–1978 (died 2013)[1][4] drums
  • "Telephone" (1978)
  • "Mr Rock & Roll" (1978)
Stewart Cochrane[2] 1978 bass none – one live performance only
Mark Newman[3] lead vocals none – live performances only
Thunderstick.png
Thunderstick
(Barry Purkis)
  • 1979–1981
  • 1999–2001
[4][7][13]
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • all Samson releases from Survivors (1979) to Shock Tactics (1981)
  • Metal Crusade '99 (1999)
  • Live in London 2000 (2000)
John McCoy
  • 1979
  • 1985–1986
  • bass
  • Suvivors (1979)
  • Joint Forces (1986)
Iron Maiden en Costa Rica Bruce.jpg
Bruce Bruce
(Bruce Dickinson)
1979–1981[6][8][9] lead vocals
Mel Gaynor Simple Minds.jpg
Mel Gaynor 1981–1982[8][9][10] drums Live at Reading '81 (1990)
Nicky Moore
  • 1981–1986
  • 2000–2002 (died 2022)
[5][11][15]
lead vocals
  • Before the Storm (1982)
  • Don't Get Mad, Get Even (1984)
  • Thank You and Goodnight... (1985)
  • Joint Forces (1986)
  • Live in London 2000 (2000)
  • P.S.... (2006)
Pete Jupp 1982–1984[10][11] drums
  • Before the Storm (1982)
  • Don't Get Mad, Get Even (1984)
  • Thank You and Goodnight... (1985)
Dave "Bucket" Colwell 1984[11]
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
Thank You and Goodnight (1985)
Merv Goldsworthy bass
Edgar Patrik
  • 1985–1986
  • drums
  • Joint Forces (1986)
Charlie Mack 1987–1989[11][12] drums
  • And There It Is... (1988)
  • Refugee (1990)
Toby Sadler
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Dave Boyce bass And There It Is... (1988)
Mick White 1987–1989[11][12] lead vocals
Peter Scallan 1989–1990[11][12] Refugee (1990)
Tony Tuohy 1992–1994[13] drums Samson (1993)
Rik Anthony 1990[13][14] lead vocals none – live performances only
Ian Ellis 2001–2002[16][17]
  • bass
  • backing vocals
P.S.... (2006)
Billy Fleming
  • drums
  • percussion

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
Summer 1977 – March 1978
  • Telephone (1978)
  • Mr Rock & Roll (1978)
March 1978
  • Paul Samson – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Stewart Cochrane – bass
  • Clive Burr – drums
none
March – October 1978
  • Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Clive Burr – drums
  • Telephone (1978)
October 1978
  • Mark Newman – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Clive Burr – drums
none
October – December 1978
  • Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Clive Burr – drums
  • Mr Rock & Roll (1978)
January – July 1979
  • Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals
  • John McCoy – bass, backing vocals
  • Thunderstick – drums, backing vocals
June 1979 – July 1981
  • Bruce Bruce – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Thunderstick – drums, backing vocals
August – September 1981
  • Bruce Bruce – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Mel Gaynor – drums
September 1981 – January 1982
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Mel Gaynor – drums
none
January 1982 – early 1984
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Pete Jupp – drums
February 1984 – May 1984
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Colwell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Merv Goldsworthy – bass
  • Pete Jupp – drums
  • Thank You and Goodnight (1985)
1985–1986
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • John McCoy – bass
  • Edgar Patrik – drums
  • Joint Forces (1986)
Band inactive 1986–1987
March 1987 – February 1989
  • Mick White – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Boyce – bass
  • Charlie Mack – drums
  • Toby Sadler – keyboards, backing vocals
  • And There It Is... (EP, 1988)
  • 1988 (1993)
February 1989 – August 1989
  • Peter Scallan – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Boyce – bass
  • Charlie Mack – drums
  • Toby Sadler – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Look to the Future (2018)
  • Refugee (1990) (without Boyce)
Band inactive 1990–1992
1990
  • Rik Anthony – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Thunderstick – drums, backing vocals
  • Past Present & Future (1999)
Spring 1992 – early 1994
  • Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Tony Tuohy – drums, backing vocals
  • Samson (1993)
Band inactive 1994–1999
Summer 1999 – early 2000
  • Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Thunderstick – drums, backing vocals
  • Metal Crusade '99 (1999)
2000–2001
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals
  • Thunderstick – drums, backing vocals
  • Live in London 2000 (2000)
2001–2002
  • Nicky Moore – lead vocals
  • Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian Ellis – bass, backing vocals
  • Billy Fleming – drums, percussion
  • P.S.... (2006)

References

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  • Daniels, Neil (April 2014), Killers: The Origins of Iron Maiden 1975–1983, London, England: Soundcheck Books (published 1 April 2014), ISBN 978-0957570023
  • Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011), The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, London, England: Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-0857125958
  • Shooman, Joe (4 August 2016), Bruce Dickinson: Maiden Voyage – The Biography, London, England: Bonnier Zaffre, ISBN 978-1786063038

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Larkin 2011, p. 1984
  2. ^ a b c "Mel Gaynor (Samson, Simple minds)". rich1698.wordpress.com. May 29, 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Shooman 2016, p. 35
  4. ^ a b c "NWOBHM". Record Collector. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Ling, Dave (9 August 2018). "Paul Samson: NWOBHM's lost star". Classic Rock. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b Daniels 2014, p. 98
  7. ^ a b Shooman 2016, p. 101
  8. ^ a b c Dickinson, Bruce (26 September 2018). "Bruce Dickinson: The day I joined Iron Maiden". Classic Rock. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Dome, Malcolm (26 September 2014). "Scream For Me: How Bruce Dickinson Helped Take Iron Maiden To The Top". Classic Rock. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Samson Biography". Book of Hours. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Larkin 2011, p. 1985
  12. ^ a b c d e "Samson: Look To The Future / Refugee / P.S…. (3CD Box Set)". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Samson - the Band". h2g2. 1 August 2000. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Founding Samson Bassist Chris Aylmer Passes". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 13 January 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Nicky Moore (Samson 1981-1986; 2000-2002)". Samsonworld. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "Samson Guitarist suffering From Cancer, Has Weeks To Live". Blabbermouth.net. 7 August 2002. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "Paul Samson: 1953-2002". Blabbermouth.net. 11 August 2002. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Paul Samson: Final Recordings To Be Released In September". Blabbermouth.net. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
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