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The age of consent was 21 then, and we were too young to sign a contract, let alone understand it, we were just lowly kids from Acton in west London, enjoying ourselves and knew nothing about business. We remain Vertigo label’s youngest signing. John Simms: Yes, when I look back and realise how young we were (I was the youngest in the band), it seems incredible, especially as the music was entirely original, but it is what it is, it just came naturally and spontaneously. It’s not often that all members from the band have such pure talent. One of the most amazing things about Clear Blue Sky is that you were only around 18 when you recorded a highly consistent LP. It was released on vinyl in January 1971. John Simms was not yet eighteen, and that summer they went into the studios to make their first album, which was (eventually) self titled (some early press releases give the title as ‘Play it Loud’ which was subsequently dropped), and featured one of the very first cover designs by artist Roger Dean. Within the spring of 1970, Patrick Campbell-Lyons signed the band to the celebrated Vertigo record label. The band thereafter took the name ‘Clear Blue Sky’. One of the foremost producers of that era, namely Patrick Campbell-Lyons, formerly of the 60’s chart success band Nirvana, came to see who was creating the buzz, and instantly decided the band had enormous potential. The vitality and originality of the music together with their musical ability soon attracted the attention of the record companies. The music was highly experimental and heavy, and belied their youth.
![song on a clear day song on a clear day](https://s3.amazonaws.com/halleonard-pagepreviews/HL_DDS_1238441GRh44xpkJE.png)
Their unique style had now fully emerged and new songs were constantly being created. The band played on the same bill as Big Brother & the Holding Company, Taste, Country Joe and the Fish, Free, Gentle Giant and so on. As they came offstage, they were approached by Donavan’s manager, Ashley Kozak, and the band worked with him for some time. They entered the famous Marquee club talent contest in London and won outright. They took it to the listening ears everywhere performing under various band names such as ‘X’ and ‘Matuse’, Covering the entire UK circuit and Europe. It was “raw, fresh, with a brutal edge” said one journalist, and certainly original. It was at this point that they decided to write their own material. They swiftly boarded the club circuit, performing a set of cover songs to all and sundry.Īn extensive tour of Germany resulted and this was a success. They formed their first band whilst still attending school which was a rhythm and blues outfit they called Jug Blues. John Simms, Ken White and Mark Sheather all originated from Acton, West London and began playing music at a very early age. Clear Blue Sky | Interview | John Simms Clear Blue Sky was a heavy rock band from the UK that released an album for Vertigo in 1971.