About
Out of Stafford, England in 1968, the Climax Blues Band emerged from the British blues boom that was sweeping the country, initially calling themselves the Climax Chicago Blues Band before trimming the name. Colin Cooper was the driving force as vocalist and saxophonist, joined over the years by guitarist Peter Haycock, whose soulful playing became one of the band's most recognizable signatures. They were never quite blues purists though, blending in rock, jazz, and even pop sensibilities in a way that kept their sound fresh and hard to pin down.
Their early albums like 'Plays On' and 'The Climax Chicago Blues Band' showed real grit, but it was the mid-to-late seventies where they really hit their stride. 'Gold Plated' in 1976 remains their commercial and artistic peak, and the track 'Couldn't Get It Right' became a genuine international hit, cracking the US Top 10 and introducing them to a much wider audience. Haycock's guitar work on that record is understated but absolutely masterful.
Though they never quite achieved household name status, the Climax Blues Band earned deep respect among musicians and serious rock fans. They kept recording and touring with remarkable persistence, and their blend of blues craft with accessible rock hooks influenced plenty of acts who followed. Cooper led versions of the band right up until his death in 2008, a testament to how much the music meant to him.
