I was lucky enough to have been taught to play bass by Steve and it's sad to hear of his demise. I am related to the band's management and spent a lot of time at Underhill Studios in Blackheath where they rehearsed and where I also played a lot with my "school" bands,mingling as a teenager with the likes of Beck,Lou Reed and even Bowie ... great times. And they were even better live ...
I am so sad to read that Amazing Steve Amazing is no longer with us. I had the pleasure of playing with him in his first bands from1968. Even at school, he could attract girls like a magnet! They loved him. And he loved them! When he was in the Skatalites 1971 he once wore see-though cream lace trousers on stage and only his guitar covered. He started at a very young age gigging with his father who played piano, using a Hofner Violin bass.
Frikken heck! Youtube has just about everything. I saw this band twice at the Marquee Club in Wardour St London back in the 70s. I bought both their albums ( vynil ) Upp. And This Way Upp. Great stuff!
steve was my hero,my all time fav bass player.my whole style of bass playing i credit to him.i had the priviledge to play with andy clark in the seventies and he was an amazing keyboard player and singer songwriter.rip steve you truly are amazing....steve fennimore
So sad to hear about the loss of your (should have become famous) uncle, Steven Amazing, skyboy. Your name as well I notice ;-). It's certainly an easy thing to celebrate his life by listening to such funky stuff like this. I also have had the Upp album since it's release. Great music never fades. RIP Steven Amazing.
Damn.I didn't realise Steve had died until Andy told me recently.Big shock.He'd had a nervous breakdown and stayed in his room for about 15 years.I was roadie to Upp and Clark Hutchinson and liked Steve a lot - we did a lot of stuff together.Those sessions down at Egerton(Escape)hooked up to the desk and playing in the summer sun were truly memorable.Sadly the drugs got me as well and we lost contact although only five miles apart.
I've been pleasantly surprised at the number of genuinely warm comments and memories for this band, rightly so in my view, so perhaps another upload is overdue.
I have the album here somewhere, but currently no facility to transfer from vinyl to computer. And what's the deal with copyright on this. Need to ask Mr CLARKHUTCHINSON about that I guess. ;-)
I first heard UPP when I was a boy of 10, and was delighted to be given a free album by my cousin Jimmy Copley along with the second album and a pair of signed drum sticks, all of which I still have today, I also had a demo tape of the never released 3rd album, which was totally different to the re-dubbed tracks heard on the CD, they were more in the original UPP style which I prefer, sadly this tape has been lost, but their music lives on ;-)
Woo hoo! Found some Upp on Youtube!!! Thanks for sharing. B-) I have the UPP album on vinyl, thought it's up in the loft in a box at the moment ;-). Bought it when it was released. Not sure if I wore it out or not. Have to go and check now.
I kept looking for Stephen to see if he had changed his name, but to no avail. Such a great loss to the 'industry'. As for 'bigger and better' things, like yourself, I'm not so sure. :)
I knew Stephen about 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to get some lessons with him. He was not in a good state of mind even back then. I lost touch with him not long after meeting him. It is a shame he never became a big name player.
Last time I saw him was in 77. He was going out with my then girlfriends sister. Nice guy - I did not realise his talent as I was only a naive teenager. I remember him going through a period of not speaking to anyone. Good memories though of a Greek restaurant in Camberwell which we frequented.
Yes, absolutely. I Saw them support Wishbone Ash, around 1975, in Brighton. Their tight set outshone the headliners who were ridiculously loud and overblown. We all thought the sound engineer must have been deaf, many of them were apparently.
The liner notes with the CD mention how the band members all went on to bigger & better(?) things, except Stephen Amazing, the hugely talented bass player, who never got over the bands demise, sadly.
Trying to get their albums on CD - very expensive, but will be worth every penny. UPP were a real gem of a band, superb bass player and drummer with an inventive synth player. Very sad that they were stifled by punk before they could fully develop - many bands of quality suffered the same fate.
this fucking basswork is incredible, and to hear that he's gone is sad to hear. thank you for sharing this, great stuff here.
shawnphase 7 months ago
I was lucky enough to have been taught to play bass by Steve and it's sad to hear of his demise. I am related to the band's management and spent a lot of time at Underhill Studios in Blackheath where they rehearsed and where I also played a lot with my "school" bands,mingling as a teenager with the likes of Beck,Lou Reed and even Bowie ... great times. And they were even better live ...
PhillyFo1 8 months ago
How do i transfer these songs from Youtube to itunes
btk6678 11 months ago
I am so sad to read that Amazing Steve Amazing is no longer with us. I had the pleasure of playing with him in his first bands from1968. Even at school, he could attract girls like a magnet! They loved him. And he loved them! When he was in the Skatalites 1971 he once wore see-though cream lace trousers on stage and only his guitar covered. He started at a very young age gigging with his father who played piano, using a Hofner Violin bass.
lerpack455 11 months ago
Frikken heck! Youtube has just about everything. I saw this band twice at the Marquee Club in Wardour St London back in the 70s. I bought both their albums ( vynil ) Upp. And This Way Upp. Great stuff!
wanderer1955 1 year ago
Nice one Andy
mickhutchinson 1 year ago
steve was my hero,my all time fav bass player.my whole style of bass playing i credit to him.i had the priviledge to play with andy clark in the seventies and he was an amazing keyboard player and singer songwriter.rip steve you truly are amazing....steve fennimore
stevefendermore 1 year ago
Does anyone know of any other UPP or Stephen Amazing footage besides the Jeff Beck 1974 stuff?
FyodorMDostoyevsky 1 year ago
Until I saw this band on BBC4 last night I didn't know they existed ... absolutely brilliant!
BassistPaul 1 year ago
Stephen Amazing was indeed that! I've just come across UPP thanks to the Talkbass forum - he was freakin' incredible!!
People like that make me fall in love with music all over again ...
roysloco 2 years ago
So sad to hear about the loss of your (should have become famous) uncle, Steven Amazing, skyboy. Your name as well I notice ;-). It's certainly an easy thing to celebrate his life by listening to such funky stuff like this. I also have had the Upp album since it's release. Great music never fades. RIP Steven Amazing.
wordreet 2 years ago
Many Thanks. Yes we did share the name too. :-) very confusing sometimes!
skyboy900 2 years ago 2
@skyboy900 Thumbs up anyhow man. ;-)
wordreet 2 years ago
I am very proud to say that Stephen Amazing was my Uncle and I am learning that he was not just any bass guitar player!
I did get to sample some solo's when growing up and he taut me some great things on the piano too!
Very pleased to hear such good comments on hear about him!
skyboy900 2 years ago
yes, one of the best funkiest bassriff. And it was just 1975. The seventies and eighties have true pearls ..
bassmanbolo 2 years ago
Damn.I didn't realise Steve had died until Andy told me recently.Big shock.He'd had a nervous breakdown and stayed in his room for about 15 years.I was roadie to Upp and Clark Hutchinson and liked Steve a lot - we did a lot of stuff together.Those sessions down at Egerton(Escape)hooked up to the desk and playing in the summer sun were truly memorable.Sadly the drugs got me as well and we lost contact although only five miles apart.
Miss the guy tremendously.
RIP Steve.
Ki.
Ki279 2 years ago
Totally agree with the innovative bass playing.
joeheadblues 2 years ago
How about uploading "It's A Mystery"?
potaluca 2 years ago 7
I've been pleasantly surprised at the number of genuinely warm comments and memories for this band, rightly so in my view, so perhaps another upload is overdue.
simonj50 2 years ago
@simonj50 Long overdue lol!
plungerdrum 2 years ago
@simonj50 I've been looking for this album for ages ,I used to have it on vinyl.
the song i would love to hear again is It's a Mystery.Any chance?
12lex3er 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@potaluca Remember Upp;booked them twice at Madeley,once with Sutherlands&Quiver, then at aXmas Gig...any contacts?mickjones47@gmail.com
groundadmission 2 months ago
someone tell me who the bass player was/is, please?
Gerrie
gerrie53 2 years ago
Read all the comments Gerrie, as well as my original notes and you'll learn a bit about the rather tragic Steven Amazing.
simonj50 2 years ago
One of the best funk bass riff evers.
Apathesis0 2 years ago 3
I have the album here somewhere, but currently no facility to transfer from vinyl to computer. And what's the deal with copyright on this. Need to ask Mr CLARKHUTCHINSON about that I guess. ;-)
sikorski 2 years ago
dunno really !
simonj50 2 years ago
do you have this whole album?
if so could you please upload it!
clashboy1977 2 years ago
Damn that is a good bassline.
Apathesis0 2 years ago 5
Damn but this is so damn funky and laid back, damn! B-) Damn!
My turntable is FUBARED!! :-(
Need another one.
Damn!
sikorski 2 years ago
Hiya simonj50
Andy Clark is alive and well on the Clark Hutchinson youtube here
CLARKHUTCHINSON 2 years ago
Great to hear !
simonj50 2 years ago
Whatever happened to Steve?Fell out with him over 20 years ago,would like to get back in touch.
Ki,ex-UPP roadie)
Ki279 3 years ago
Judging by richardjft comment below, he wasn't a well man, so who knows.
simonj50 3 years ago
fantastic!!
gorrionero 3 years ago
Jeff Beck Is God!
clashboy1977 3 years ago
I first heard UPP when I was a boy of 10, and was delighted to be given a free album by my cousin Jimmy Copley along with the second album and a pair of signed drum sticks, all of which I still have today, I also had a demo tape of the never released 3rd album, which was totally different to the re-dubbed tracks heard on the CD, they were more in the original UPP style which I prefer, sadly this tape has been lost, but their music lives on ;-)
1965JT 3 years ago 3
I got a single by them: 'Nervous' b/w 'Thursday' which was pretty decent (if a bit commercial). I awaited a 3rd album which never came...
crimsonrush 3 years ago
Jim Copley is you cousin?!?! He's hands down one of my favorite drummers!!
plungerdrum 2 years ago
Woo hoo! Found some Upp on Youtube!!! Thanks for sharing. B-) I have the UPP album on vinyl, thought it's up in the loft in a box at the moment ;-). Bought it when it was released. Not sure if I wore it out or not. Have to go and check now.
sikorski 3 years ago 2
I kept looking for Stephen to see if he had changed his name, but to no avail. Such a great loss to the 'industry'. As for 'bigger and better' things, like yourself, I'm not so sure. :)
crimsonrush 3 years ago
I knew Stephen about 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to get some lessons with him. He was not in a good state of mind even back then. I lost touch with him not long after meeting him. It is a shame he never became a big name player.
richardjft 3 years ago
Last time I saw him was in 77. He was going out with my then girlfriends sister. Nice guy - I did not realise his talent as I was only a naive teenager. I remember him going through a period of not speaking to anyone. Good memories though of a Greek restaurant in Camberwell which we frequented.
gregbumhat 2 years ago
Great band - I have both their albums on vinyl. It would be great to see their OGWT performance wouldn't it. :)
crimsonrush 3 years ago 2
Yes, absolutely. I Saw them support Wishbone Ash, around 1975, in Brighton. Their tight set outshone the headliners who were ridiculously loud and overblown. We all thought the sound engineer must have been deaf, many of them were apparently.
The liner notes with the CD mention how the band members all went on to bigger & better(?) things, except Stephen Amazing, the hugely talented bass player, who never got over the bands demise, sadly.
simonj50 3 years ago
Trying to get their albums on CD - very expensive, but will be worth every penny. UPP were a real gem of a band, superb bass player and drummer with an inventive synth player. Very sad that they were stifled by punk before they could fully develop - many bands of quality suffered the same fate.
1bassace 2 years ago 5