Kevin Ayres is a very few degrees separation from anyone in 60s and 70s British rock music. From the fusion sounds of "Soft Machine" to the avant prog of early Brian Eno, as well as the British eccentrics and acid casualties embodied by Vivian Stanshall and Syd Barrett, all can be linked. Mellow songs with under-rated and entertaining lyrics, Ayres put out alot of albums as a solo artist; first on Harvest and later on Island.
One of the great cross-over points in his career was the "June 1, 1974" live album featuring co-billed Brian Eno, John Cale and Nico, and lovingly referred to as the ACNE album, which was a post-Roxy and post-Velvets coming out, to some degree, for the featured participants. Also tucked away on the live album recording are fellow Softy Robert Wyatt and a pre-"Tubular Bells" Mike Oldfield. Highlights on the recording are two Eno songs, "Driving Me Backwards" and "Baby's On Fire" and a really great take, by Nico, of The Doors' "The End."
Here's a video link to The Creepers performing "Baby's On Fire."
Bad Company became leader of the pack of the blues cock rock bands of the 70s with a blend of the defunct Free, who supplied a lead singer (Paul Rodgers) and a drummer (Simon Kirke); Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, who jumped the Ian Hunter ship to join Bad Company; and, Boz Burrell who radically changed musical directions having previously been the vocalist on the first King Crimson album.
Bad Company had a string of successful albums under the guidance of Zep-manager Peter Grant with Swansong management (and label in the US). They also had a rope of crap LPs with a range of personnel that should (and) have been forgotten. Paul Rodgers also worked with Jimmy Page in a band called "The Firm;" with ex-Faces and part-time Who drummer Kenny Jones as "The Law;" and, to some cash reward, but surely embarrassment toured as Queen + Paul Rodgers in the role of the straight (late) Freddie Mercury.
The first Bad Company albums, released by Island in much of the world, still stand up very well.
John Cale was a member of the Velvet Underground, and is Welsh. Apart of The Alarm, I can't think of many rock n' roll musicians from Wales. His Island albums were either produced, co-produced, or featured Brian Eno.
