Professor
Wurzel’s Wurzeling Timeline |
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Professor
Wurzel says….over the years many Wurzels have come
and gone since Adge Cutler first formed a group to accompany
him in singing his scrumpy laden ditties. Here are some group
shots of the main incarnations of these Legends of the West
Country
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The
original Wurzels line-up to accompany Adge Cutler recorded
their first album (“Adge Cutler and the Wurzels”)
in 1966 and consisted of Brian
Walker, Reg Quantrill, John Macey and Reg Chant.
Brian
Walker left in 1967, soon after
the band’s first album was released. Their next offering
“Adge Cutler and the Wurzels’ Family Album”,
was recorded with the remaining members – Reg
Quantrill, John Macey and Reg Chant.
1967
saw a year of several changes – Reg Chant
left the group, soon followed by John Macey.
But their places were quickly filled by Henry Davies
and Tommy Banner.
The
group’s third album “Cutler of the West’ was
released in 1968 featuring Adge
Cutler, Henry Davies, Tommy Banner and Reg
Quantrill. Shortly afterwards they were joined by Melt
Kingston for a short period whilst Henry Davies
went to work on other projects. Melt left when
Henry returned at the end of the year.
Early
in 1969 Henry Davies
left the group permanently and was replaced by Tony
Baylis, just in time for the band’s fourth album
release “Carry On Cutler”, the line-up now being
Adge Cutler, Tommy Banner, Tony Baylis and
Reg Quantrill
By
1974 Reg Quantrill had
been replaced by Pete Budd, but following the
tragic death of Adge Cutler the Wurzels were
left to continue on their own – the future chart topping
trio consisting of Tommy Banner, Pete Budd
and Tony Baylis.
The
Wurzels obtained their first permanent drummer, John
Morgan, in 1981 and the line-up
then remained unchanged until Tony Baylis left
in 1983. Just before he left Jai
Howe played with the group for a short period, with
Terry Pascoe also augmenting the line-up.
Early
in 1984 Jai Howe and Terry Pascoe
left the band and were replaced by Mike Gwilliam.
For the next nine years ‘The Wurzels’ consisted
of Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, John Morgan and
Mike Gwilliam.
In
1995 Mike Gwilliam left
and was replaced by Dave Wintour. This remained
the shape of the band until 2002 when
Dave was replaced by Jai Howe
(who had played with the band in the early 1980s).
A
temporary change in line-up occurred in November 2005
when long-term Wurzel Tommy Banner had to step
away from performing whilst undergoing treatment for prostrate
cancer. His place was bravely and ably taken on taken by the
band’s production and sound engineer Louie Nicastro
until Tommy’s health was restored and
he was able to return to the fold in the spring of 2006
The
sad death of Jai Howe in 2007
left the band one man down - this led to Sedge Moore
being recruited to give us the current ‘farmyard four’
line-up of Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, John Morgan
and Sedge Moore.