A History of Violins (1973-1979)

Recent listening to British  proto-punk bands spurred an interest in British rock violinists of that era.

Jean-Paul Crocker was an original member of Cockney Rebel, and played on the first two albums (1973’s Human Menagerie and 1974’s Psychomodo).  Crocker and the rest of the band quit after a dispute over songwriting, and Steve Harley formed a new group to back him.  (Harley died in March of this year.)

After Eno left Roxy Music, Eddie Jobson joined on keyboards and violin, appearing on Stranded (1973) through Viva! (1976).  Jobson then helped form UK, launched a solo career, played with Zappa and more.

Billy Currie played violin and keyboards in Ultravox, beginning with the three 77-78 albums of the John Foxx era.  Currie also worked with Visage and Gary Numan.

Simon House played keyboards and violin with Hawkwind from 1974 (Hall Of The Mountain Grill) through 1979 (PXR5).  You can hear him on "She Blinded Me With Science", Tin Drum, Bowie's Stage and Lodger.  The Quietus points out that Simon plays a "snaking Arabic melody" on Lodger's "Yassassin" that is similar to his performance on Hawkwind's "Hassan-i Sabbah".

Urban Blitz (aka Geoff Hickman) was a member of Doctors of Madness (an undersung but influential British pre-punk band).  They made their three studio albums (1976-1978).  Urban Blitz played lead guitar and violin, and he treated his violin with effects including distortion, wah-wah, phaser, and reverb. He later became a designer of violins. (Urban Blitz and Doctors Of Madness vocalist Richard Strange are pictured above.) 

Bobby Valentino played violin and mandolin with the Fabulous Poodles (who were new wave via pub rock). Bobby was known to play violin with a talk box as well as other effects.  He has enjoyed a prolific career as a solo artist and in the band Los Pistoleros (with Martin Belmont and BJ Cole). He's done studio and live work with artists ranging from Mad Professor to Mark Knopfler. You can hear Bobby on the one hit wonder "Shiny Shiny"!

I didn't find any decent American rock bands with a violinist in the 70's -- it was an instrument consigned to hippies, jazzbos and rednecks. Beginning in the 80's, the violin was reclaimed by Tuxedomoon, Tupelo Chain Sex, Gogol Bordello, the Geraldine Fibbers, Lisa Germano and today's young sensations the Callous Daoboys.

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