Artist:
Ace
Formed:
1972 12 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Disbanded:
1977 07
1972 12 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Disbanded:
1977 07
Representative Songs:
"How Long," "You're All That I Need," "I'm a Man"
Representative Albums:
The Best of Ace, Best of Ace, Five-A-Side
Similar Artists:
The Winkies,
Kilburn & the High Roads,
Hudson-Ford,
Help Yourself,
Everyone,
Ducks Deluxe,
Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers,
Charlie & The Wide Boys,
Brinsley Schwarz,
Bees Make Honey,
Mike + the Mechanics,
Eggs over Easy,
Squeeze,
Graham Parker,
The Amazing Rhythm Aces
Performed Songs By:
David "Ace" Suggs,
Alan King,
Terry "Tex" Comer
- Genre: Rock
- Active: '70s
- Major Members: Alan "Bam" King, Phil Harris, Terry "Tex" Comer, Paul Carrack, Fran Byrne
Biography
Ace were one of the few pub rock groups to enjoy success on the pop charts, largely due to the warm, soulful vocals of Paul Carrack. While Carrack's voice certainly had crossover appeal -- as he would later prove with his own records, as well as his work with Squeeze and Roxy Music -- the band was also less devoted to the three-chord boogie and country-rock that marked most pub rock bands, favoring soulful R&B. And while they did have hits, their time in the spotlight was brief, and they fell apart shortly after Carrack left for a solo career.Phil Harris (guitar) and Alan "Bam" King (guitar, vocal) formed Ace in 1972, recruiting Paul Carrack (keyboards, vocals), Terry "Tex" Comer (bass), and Steve Witherington (drums) over the course of the next year. Before the group began recording, they went through several drummers -- Witherington was replaced by Chico Greenwood, who was later replaced by Fran Byrne in 1974. After developing a small but dedicated following on the pub rock circuit, Ace signed with Anchor Records and recorded Five-a-Side. "How Long" -- a song about Comer leaving the band briefly to play with the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, and his subsequent return -- was released as the first single. Most listeners interpreted the song as an ode to a crumbling love affair, and it became a fluke hit in both the U.K. and the U.S. Ace released Time for Another in 1975, but it was generally ignored, especially since the popularity of pub rock was declining rapidly.
Harris left the band in early 1976 and was replaced by John Woodhead. Later that year, Ace opened unsuccessfully for Yes, and then moved to Los Angeles, hoping that the U.S. would prove more receptive to their music. It wasn't. Ace released a final album, No Strings, in 1977 and then disbanded. Comer, Carrack, and Byrne all joined Frankie Miller, but by 1979, Carrack had left to sing with Roxy Music. Following his time with Roxy, he launched a solo career, which he balanced with playing with artists like Squeeze, Nick Lowe, and Mike + the Mechanics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
