Stephen Amazing

[The Funk]

I remember seeing some footage of him on Youtube in the band Upp backing Jeff Beck on some Scottish TV programme from the mid-70s and really enjoying his playing. Does anyone on here know a bit more about who this guy was and what else he did? Check out the nice bass solo in the middle of the jam below.

[TheGreek]

Quite a modest guy by all accounts ..unfortunately "Amazing" by name "ordinary" by nature...

[Stingray5]

Great stuff! I remembered previously posting some UPP vids in the Funk and Groove thread here:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=70165&view=findpost&p=912803"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=912803[/url]

[JTUK]

yes..heard the name but can't recall much about him ... I need to have a look through my record collection...
Maybe it was indeed a Jeff Beck album I am thinking about

[SteveK]

The drummer looks familiar...


...oh yeah! that'll be Jimmy Copley who just happens to be our drummer [url="http://www.manfredmann.co.uk/"]link[/url].
He's the guy on the right (colour photo) in the black t-shirt.

Jimmy often talks about his days with Upp, and in particular, Stephen Amazing. I think he said that Stephen passed away some years ago.

I saw Upp once, about 1974/75 at the Marquee in London, in fact my band were support. I remember at the time being hugely impressed with the band. I think SA was the first bass player that I'd seen playing serious slap. They were a great 3 piece. Jeff Beck gave them a lot of support at the time and would sometimes get on stage with them.
Apparently Upp were quite an influence on Jeff Beck, certainly in the Jazz/Funk department. In fact, Jimmy said that they demo'd a few tracks for Blow by Blow.

Little did I know then that Jimmy would become a good mate and colleague.

Incidentally, Jimmy recorded a solo album a couple of years ago, [url="http://jimmycopley.com/"]'Slap my Hand'[/url] on which Mr Beck (with many others) guested.

[el borracho]

One of my early influences after I bought an UPP album in the late 70's for 50p!! It was a bit different from most of the rock music I listened to at the time and the bass really stood out.
There are posts online somewhere (Youtube comments maybe) that say that Stephen had a nervous breakdown then became a bit of a recluse for 15 years before he died. Very sad - he should have been much better known.

[grayn]

I remember seeing Upp, supporting Wishbone Ash, at the Fairfield halls, Croydon. 1974, I think.

Very much a musos band, rather than entertainers. Great bassist, was Mr Amazing.

[PhillyFo]

Steve taught me to play bass, I was around the band a lot in the mid-70's. He was a lovely guy & a great bass player way ahead of his time over here in the UK.

 

 

[choob.squeemer]

Hmmm  - check out the Clarke Hutchinson Band - crazy songs - great playing - pretty sure it was Stephen Amazing on bass - 

 

memory fails a bit , would it be Andy Clarke on keys , same as Upp  - I saw Upp supporting Beck Bogart and Appeche in Top Rank Cardiff 

 

god knows what year - that was when I realised these guys were part or wholly the Clarke Hutchinson Band of the LP I had - amazing

[Steve Browning]

One of my favourite bassists of all time. My ringtone is Nitto, from This Way Up 

 

Saw them at a college gig around 1976. Probably more for the musos, as said, but absolutely awesome player. 

 

Very sad that he felt he had to leave by his own hand.