Leigh Stephens

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}} {{short description|American guitarist and songwriter}} {{BLP sources|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist |image= |  | name = Leigh Stephens | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|8|2|mf=y}} | instrument = Guitar | occupation = Musician, songwriter, guitarist | genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]], [[acid rock]], [[garage rock]], [[hard rock]], [[blues rock]], [[psychedelic rock]] | years_active = 1967–present | associated_acts = [[Blue Cheer]]<br>[[Silver Metre]]<br>[[Pilot (American band)|Pilot]] | background=non_vocal_instrumentalist }}

'''Leigh Stephens''' is an American guitarist and songwriter best known for being former lead guitarist of the San Francisco [[psychedelic rock]] group [[Blue Cheer]].

==Blue Cheer== {{main|Blue Cheer}} Leigh Stephens recorded two albums with the band, ''[[Vincebus Eruptum]]'' and ''[[Outsideinside]]''. He has claimed to have been the only member of the band who did not use drugs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leigh-stephens-mn0000236593|title=Leigh Stephens | Biography & History|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}</ref> His replacement as Blue Cheer's lead guitarist was [[Randy Holden]].

==After Blue Cheer== ''Red Weather'', Stephens' debut solo album, was recorded in February 1969,<ref name="mw0000673735">{{cite web |last1=Pettipas |first1=Keith |title=Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-weather-mw0000673735 |website=Leigh Stephens (1969) Red Weather |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="mn0000236593">{{cite web |last1=Ruhlmann |first1=William |title=Artist Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leigh-stephens-mn0000236593 |website=Leigh Stephens |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en |quote=In late 1968, Stephens, who later described himself as the only member of Blue Cheer not to be "chemically challenged" (i.e., using drugs), was asked to leave the group after criticizing the behavior of his bandmates. He signed a solo deal with Philips and moved to Great Britain, where he recorded his debut solo album, Red Weather (February 1969).}}</ref><ref name="4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx"/> the artwork was based on a [[Sutro Baths]] photo.<ref name="2011-leigh-stephens-interview">{{cite web|last1=Breznikar|first1=Klemen|author-link=Klemen Breznikar |date=July 29, 2011|title=Blue Cheer interview with Leigh Stephens|url=https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/07/leigh-stephens-interview.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916130145/https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/07/leigh-stephens-interview.html|archive-date=September 16, 2016|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=[[It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine]]}}</ref>

===Silver Metre=== <blockquote>"''Silver Metre'' formed in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, California after my first trip to the United States at age 21...We recorded our first of a two-album deal with National General Records at Trident Studios, Wardour St, London. Our managers were Charlie Osborne, and later Tom Donahue who got us the deal...The money for our second album mysteriously disappeared...but I won’t go into that, other than to say it wasn’t the record companies fault."<br>—[[Pete Sears]]<ref name="petesears-1969-70-silver-metre-national-general-records-usa">{{cite web |last1=Sears |first1=Pete |author1-link=Pete Sears |title=1969–70 Silver Metre. National General Records. USA. |url=https://petesears.com/1969-70-silver-metre-national-general-records-usa/ |website=PETE SEARS |access-date=27 January 2021 |date=14 November 1969}}</ref></blockquote>

''Silver Metre'', named after [[Ben Dixon (musician)|Ben Dixon]]'s "The Silver Meter" from [[Along Came John]], formed in 1969,<ref name="band2band-silver-metre">{{cite web |title=Silver Metre |url=http://www.bandtoband.com/band/silver-metre |website=BandToBand |access-date=January 27, 2021 |quote=2 degrees of separation for Silver Metre comprise 138 bands:}}</ref> evolving out of the ''Red Weather'' recording sessions,<ref name="978-0-19-531373-4">{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-531373-4 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.001.0001/acref-9780195313734-e-63020 |language=en |chapter=Silver Metre |date=January 2009 |quote=Silver Metre evolved out of the recording sessions for Leigh Stephens ’ solo debut Red Weather. ex-Jeff Beck ...}}</ref> with [[Micky Waller]] (drummer), just fired from the Jeff Beck Group, Stephens, [[Pete Sears]], and Jack Reynolds (singer). They recorded one album at [[Trident Studios]] in London, England,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sears |first1=Pete |author1-link=Pete Sears |title=1999. "Silver Metre" re-released on CDS. |url=https://petesears.com/1999-silver-metre-re-released-on-cds/ |website=PETE SEARS |access-date=January 27, 2021 |date=May 13, 1999 |quote=CD release of the 1969–70 vinyl album release featuring the band that I formed with Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer), Micky Waller (Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart), and Harry Reynolds (Hair Band).}}</ref> released on [[National General Pictures|National General Records]],<ref name="audiophileusa115395">{{cite web |title=Silver Metre |url=https://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?record=115395 |website=Audiophile USA |language=en |quote=1970 Heavy Duty Gatefold Original. Small Cut Out Hole. Inner Gatefold Has A Small Tear In The Spine. Record Appears Glossy.}}</ref><ref>Eyries, Patrice, David Edwards and Mike Callahan. (October 21, 2005). [http://www.bsnpubs.com/buddah/nationalgeneral.html National General Album Discography]. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved May 1, 2014.</ref> produced by their manager, FM rock radio pioneer [[Tom Donahue (DJ)|Tom Donahue]].<ref name="facebook.com-pete-sears-musician" >{{cite web |last1=Sears |first1=Pete |title="Silver Metre" – Fillmore West, San Francisco, California, July 10th 1970 |website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/petesearsmusician/videos/1969-70-silver-metre-fillmore-west-san-francisco/10150717770504164/ |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en |date=April 18, 2012 |quote=“Silver Metre” was the third pro band I was a member of. In the summer of 1969 I showed up in Venice Beach, Los Angeles after flying from London to take Leigh (I had met him there) up on his offer to put me up if I ever made it to the USA. We then got a band together called “Silver Metre”. We were managed by Tom Donahue of KSAN FM radio fame, and released an album on National General Records. The record was recorded at Trident Studios in London.}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |author3=Silver Metre |title=Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun) |author1=[[Bernie Taupin]] |author2=[[Elton John]] |date=April 12, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5sDDzQUvxs |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Silver Metre |title=Lyrics: Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun) |url=https://genius.com/Silver-metre-now-theyve-found-me-ballad-of-a-well-known-gun-lyrics |website=genius.com |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Contributing music and lyrics included [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], [[Tim Rice]], [[Elton John]], [[Bernie Taupin]], Leigh Stephens, [[Pete Sears]], and [[Tom Coman]].<ref name="NG-2000">{{cite web |author1=Silver Metre |title=Silver Metre |url=https://www.discogs.com/Silver-Metre-Silver-Metre/release/2529598 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en |year=1969 |quote=NG-2000}}</ref><ref name="mn0000648664">{{cite web |last1=Pettipas |first1=Keith |title=Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/silver-metre-mn0000648664 |website=Silver Metre |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en |quote=While the album did not make much impact upon its original release on the small National General label in the U.S., it is of interest to collectors because of the early Waller-Stevens connection. Stephens and Waller would later move on to the British-based band Pilot, a short-lived early-'70s outfit, while [[Pete Sears]] was later in [[Stoneground]] and [[Jefferson Starship]].}}</ref><ref name="concertarchives-silver-metre">{{cite web |title=Silver Metre's Concert & Tour History |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/silver-metre |website=Concert Archives .org |access-date=January 27, 2021 |quote=17 July 1970 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL}}</ref><ref name="setlist-fm-silver-metre">{{cite web |author1=Silver Metre |title=Concert Setlists |url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/silver-metre-53de9fd1.html |website=SetList.fm |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Country Joe & the Fish, Blues Image, Silver Metre; Brotherhood of Light – Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco – Fillmore West – May 28–31, 1970 |url=https://www.gdao.org/items/show/388866 |website=Grateful Dead Archive Online |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Mike Bloomfield |author2=Blues Image |author3=Silver Metre |title=Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA |url=http://www.chickenonaunicycle.com/Fill%20West%20Shows.htm |website=CHICKEN ON A UNICYCLE |access-date=January 27, 2021 |date=May 28–31, 1970 |quote=Copyright © 2004–2010 Ross Hannan and Corry Arnold. All Rights Reserved. Thanks to: Jeff Goldstein for his comment.}}</ref><ref name="facebook.com-pete-sears-musician" /><ref name="petesears396">{{cite web |last1=Sears |first1=Pete |author1-link=Pete Sears |title=Pete Sears with "Silver Metre". Fillmore West. |url=https://petesears.com/396/ |website=PETE SEARS |access-date=January 27, 2021 |date=June 17, 1970 |quote=(Me playing a Gibson EBO bass at Fillmore West, San Francisco, with Silver Metre) I was introduced to Janice Joplin by a mutual friend Super Groupie Zany Dani while Silver Metre and Janices band were sitting in adjacent booths at the famous Trident restaurant in Sausalito, California. We hit it off and ended up spending the night together at her house in Larkspur after consuming a bottle of Mathews Southern Comfort. Earlier in the evening we jammed together in her studio...just the two of us. I was later sitting on her sofa when she pulled up a chair and an acoustic guitar and sang me a soulful rendition of Bobby McGhee. I sensed a vulnerability in her I hadn't expected. We had a great time that night. Poor Charlie...Silver Metres manager at the time, was the only other person in the house and had to crash somewhere and make himself invisible till morning listening to us going on. Actually, I think he may have spent the night in the bathtub with a girl…so he was just fine. We left her house for the road the next day...it was rock n roll.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mott the Hoople, Silver Metre – Lights by Brotherhood of Light – Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco – Fillmore West – July 9–12, 1970 |url=https://www.gdao.org/items/show/388450 |website=Grateful Dead Archive Online |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Quicksilver |author2=Mott The Hoople |author3=Silver Metre |title=Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA |url=http://www.chickenonaunicycle.com/Fill%20West%20Shows.htm |website=CHICKEN ON A UNICYCLE |access-date=January 27, 2021 |date=July 9–12, 1970 |quote=Copyright © 2004–2010 Ross Hannan and Corry Arnold. All Rights Reserved. Thanks to: Jeff Goldstein for his comment.}}</ref>

===Pilot=== ''Pilot'' was formed in 1971, with Mick Waller (drums), Leigh Stephens (electric guitar), Bruce Stephens (vocals, keyboards and guitar), Martin Quittenton (acoustic guitar), and Neville Whitehead (bass). Pilot only produced one, self-titled, album in 1972.<ref name="4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx"/>

Stephens' 1971 album, ''And a Cast of Thousands''<ref name="mw0000853362">{{cite web |last1=Pettipas |first1=Keith |title=Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cast-of-thousands-mw0000853362 |website=Leigh Stephens ( 1971) Cast of Thousands |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2021 |language=en |quote=Cast of Thousands is the second solo album release from Blue Cheer frontman Leigh Stephens. Originally recorded and released in the U.K. in 1971 on the Charisma label, this album is dramatically different from his debut, Red Weather. Cast of Thousands journeys into more of a jazz, AOR style on most of its tracks. The overabundance of horns and female backup vocals makes it rather annoying at times, but Stephens' superb guitar work does manage to shine through in places.}}</ref> featured his fellow band members from ''Pilot'', the power trio [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]], the two sax players from [[If (band)|If]], [[Dave Quincey]], [[Dick Morrissey]], and [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] bassist, [[Glenn Cornick]].<ref name="mw0000853362"/>

''Foxtrot'', Stephens' next band, in 1974, with George Michalski (keyboards), Gary Richwine (bass, vocals), and David Beebe (drummer), signed and recorded an album for Motown Records, but was never released.<ref name="4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx"/>

''Chronic with a "K"'', Stephens' next band, in 1998, with Melissa Olsen (keyboards, vocals), Ron Stone (bass), and Ryan Goodpastor (drummer), released ''Ride the Thunder'' on ''ChroniCorp Records''.<ref name="4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx"/>

In 2004, ''High Strung/Low Key'', Stephens' third solo album was self-released.<ref name="4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx">{{cite web |last1=William |first1=William Ruhlmann |title=Leigh Stephens |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx |website=Spotify |access-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101105647/https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pQ2xLdjNT07sJZ6wxbcnx |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |language=en |date=November 1, 2020 |quote=[[Rovi]]: His next band was called Foxtrot and featured keyboard player George Michalski, bassist/vocalist Gary Richwine, and drummer David Beebe. They signed to Motown Records and recorded an album in 1974, but it was never released.}}</ref>

===Graphic artist, 1990s=== While still involved in the music scene in the early 1990s, Stephens also worked as a graphic artist and studio photographer. He designed automotive illustrations for the advertising and production of a mail order catalog company, ASAP, in [[Carson City, Nevada]].

==Recognition== He was ranked number 98 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the Top 100 Guitarists.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-guitarists-david-frickes-picks-146383/|title=100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks|first1=David|last1=Fricke|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>

==Discography== ===With Blue Cheer=== Albums * ''[[Vincebus Eruptum]]'' (1968) * ''[[Outsideinside]]'' (1968) * ''The '67 Demos'' (Demo, 2018; BeatRocket) Live *''Live & Unreleased, Vol. 1: '68/'74'' (1996; [[Captain Trip Records]]) *''Live & Unreleased, Vol. 2: Live at San Jose Civic Centre, 1968 & More'' (1998; Captain Trip Records) Singles *"[[Summertime Blues]]" b/w "Out Of Focus" (From the album ''Vincebus Eruptum'') *"Just a Little Bit" b/w "Gypsy Ball" *"Feathers From Your Tree" b/w "Sun Cycle" (From the album ''Outsideinside'') *"[[The Hunter (Albert King song)|The Hunter]]" b/w "Come And Get It" (From the album ''Outsideinside'')

===With Silver Metre=== Albums * ''Silver Metre'' (1969)

Singles *"Superstar" b/w "Now They've Found Me"

===With Pilot=== Albums * ''Pilot'' (1972)

Singles *"Rider" (Promo, Stereo/Mono)

===Solo=== Albums * ''Red Weather'' (1969, Philips) * ''...and a Cast of Thousands'' (1971, Charisma) * ''Chronic With a K – Ride The Thunder'' (1999, Chronicorp) * ''High Strung Low Key'' (2004, Self-Released) * ''A Rocket Down Falcon Street'' (2013, Self-Released)

Singles *"Saki Zwadoo" b/w "Red Weather"

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Leigh}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American rock guitarists]] [[Category:American male guitarists]] [[Category:American lead guitarists]] [[Category:Blue Cheer members]]