Indian Summer
The first rays of Indian Summer broke through Coventry campus in 1969. Bob Jackson and Paul Hooper’s first gathering was called Just Us, a beat group that would later evolve into The Rochester Beaks and later Monster Magnet. The dazzle of psyche had already embellished the gifted Bob who defected to The Acme Patent Electric Band, an Arthur Brown styled combo where Antelope’s heads exploded while they performed live. Future Indian Summer bassist Malc Harker also joined from the Perfumed Garden. This bizarre outing gave him the pound and pertinence to purchase a Hammond organ. At this stage Paul and Bob were already writing material for Indian Summer which had Al Hatton on bass and guitarist Roy Butterfield.
As Indian Summer grew in notoriety Roy struggled with this new found fame so blues guitarist Steve Cotteral stepped in, later replaced by the jazzy ex From The Sun Colin Williams. Colin was fast, perhaps too fast relishing in an overlay of notes per bar, but Indian Summer centered their force around him. Colin Williams is one of those guitarists who knew how to play the gaps and man did he stab and writhe like a coiling cobra. Colin’s guitar trade – offs that run in unison with Bob’s hammond on “From The Film Of The Same Name” are spectacular as they dissect so like Dennis Elliott of If. Acme bassist Malcolm Harker who started out with Imagination and Uncle Sam would enforce Indian Summer’s gruelling live performances with staggered improvisation at ‘Henry’s Blues House’.
The keyboard solos and axe overdrive were so impressive that Sabbath manager Jim Simpson signed them up. The group started out filling in for Sabbath until the release of their 1971 self titled debut. It was during this time that Indian Summer joined Untrasound and Perfumed Garden for a conceptual Rock n’ Roll venture called Danny And The Heart -Throbs (spliff from Zappa’s Reuben & The Jets) and cleaned up at the ‘Lancaster Arts Festival’. Another notable strength is the authoritive vox that Bob holds through the hallowed “God Is The Dog”. Hooper’s heavy loaded Ginger Baker rolls are best heard on the turbulent “Emotions Of Men”, a mammoth display with Colin going hell for leather. Colin exalted the same lightning on the lyrically rich “Another Tree Will Grow” with Hooper in full African assault, in the same mould as Jade Warrior. Colin’s speedy chiming riffs had a flighty jazz tone revved in tracer speed on “Another Tree Will Grow” and the shimmering “Secrets Reflected”. Another tour de force is Bob’s overdrive Hammond / synth on “Half Changed Again”.
After the debut bassist Colin Harker left for a career in engineering to be replaced by ex Sorrows Wez Price but days were depleted. Bob’s future legacy traveled through Entwistle’s Rigor Mortis, Byron Band and finally the sensational Badfinger. Hooper then joined Hobo supporting Humble Pie on their mad Marriott EC tour until their 1978 Dodgers reunion. Further excursions with The Motors, Searchers, and Jack Bruce illuminated. A moment of unison almost materialised when they recorded the aborted “Walking On Water”, but the The Fortunes called.