TWO SIDES OF PETER BANKS

Peter Banks was born in 1947, as Peter William Brockbanks, in north London. In his teens he took lessons on the banjo and later the guitar. Then Peter met Chris Squire with whom he build up a strong personal and musical friendship, resulting in playing together between 1967 and 1971 in the bands The Syn, Mabel Greer's Toy Shop, and of course Yes. He was fired due to musical disputes, like his unwillingness to experiment with synthesizers, his successor Rick Wakeman loved to do that, hail to the Minimoog! Soon after Peter joined Blodwyn Pig for a short time, but then singer Colin Carter asked Peter to play together in his new formation Flash. Peter agreed and met Tony Kaye, his former Yes collague but officially they never became members in Flash, because Tony had obligations with David Bowie on tour and he also had his own band Badger. In 1971 Flash went into the studio for their first album, released in 1972, later Flash released two more album, then they called it a day, after musical disputes during a tour in Mexico. In 1972 Peter also developped a friendship with Dutch guitar hero Jan Akkerman, they had met each other during a serie of concerts in the legendary London Rainbow. Peter was very impressed by Jan Akkerman and his awesome guitar work in Focus, who wasn't in those days?!

Well, when Peter wanted to make a solo album he invited his friend Jan Akkerman to deliver contributions. He agreed, and in the same year that Jan Akkerman was voted the #1 guitarist in the world in the famous music magazine Melody Maker, Peter released his first solo album entitled Two Sides Of Peter Banks, with Jan Akkerman (on five tracks), in 1973, incredible! And, last but not least, more famous progrock musicians joined Peter Banks on his first solo effort: Steve Hackett and John Wetton, in the track Knights (reprise), and Phil Collins. But the focus (sic) is on Peter Banks and Jan Akkerman, listening to this music I notice that there are strong similarities in their guitar style, like the use of the volum pedal, and easily switching from rock to jazz. A nice recording idea is that you can hear Jan Akkerman in the left channel and Peter Banks in the right channel, very interesting to follow. Especially in the opener Visons Of The King, Battles (with Phil Collins, sounding like pre-Brand X) and Beyond The Loneliest Sea (virtuosic acoustic guitar duet, between jazz and Spanish, with subtle use of the volume pedal). But also in the socalled 'spontanious jams' Stop That! (fantastistic, very speedy jazzy runs by Jan Akkerman) and especially Get Out Of My Fridge (propulsive blend of rock, country and blues with fiery guitar play). There is plenty of room to enjoy Peter Banks his guitar work in in the alternating Knights, including a strongly build up, very compelling guitar solo with venomous leads.

A very intersting Peter Banks solo album album for the guitar oriented progheads, with Dutch guitar hero Jan Akkerman, what a thrill!