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Home , Episode Six, Eric Bell, Gary Holton, Gary Moore, Heavy Metal Kids, Mick Underwood

"Created by two of rock's great stalwarts with a pedigree longer than a politician's expenses sheet."

* Former guitarist Cosmo, and Gillan drumming powerhouse have worked with some of the biggest names in rock.

* They have toured the world to huge crowds from 's Arena to New York's Madison Square Gardens.

* Scored numerous Top 20 and singles in Britain, Europe, America and .

* Now they have pooled their collective talents with Raw Glory. ______

Mick Underwood's career kicked off with The Outlaws, resident house band for legendary independent producer . In those days musicians were expected to work a full 'apprenticeship', and during his formative years Underwood drummed for rock 'n' roll icons such as . His career continued on an upward curve playing alongside Pete Frampton in The Herd. Underwood soon built a reputation that saw Peter Grant invite him to join 's new band following the Yardbirds disbandment. Ironically given that is one of Underwood's favourites, he declined as his career was developing with that featured amongst its ranks, and . After Gillan and Glover quit Episode Six to join , Underwood created the iconic progressive leanings of Quatermass whose one and only self-titled has become one of the most collectible records of its genre. When legendary British band Free split, vocalist called on Underwood for his new creation Peace. Sadly Rodgers soon re-formed Free, leaving the Peace recordings in the can, although one track appeared on the compilation 'The Free Story'. As the seventies rolled on several albums with finally gave way to a hugely successful four-year period in the early eighties with his former Episode Six colleague Ian Gillan. Having quit Deep Purple a few years earlier Gillan brought Underwood into his band to kick-start a renaissance. Gillan achieved four UK Top 20 albums, (two of which made the Top 3), countless hit singles and TV appearances, plus sold out tours throughout Europe and beyond, including headlining performances at the prestigious Reading Festival as well as selling out Wembley Arena. In more recent years Underwood's career has included Quatermass II producing the highly acclaimed 'Long Road' album that included original Deep Purple Nick Simper and guest keyboard player of Rainbow and Deep Purple fame. Underwood kept his hand in with numerous recording sessions and now, with Raw Glory, he's back where he belongs; assaulting his drum kit in ways that have made him so admired by fellow musicians and rock fans alike. ______

Cosmo's early career mirrored Underwood's. He played in all the legendary clubs- London's The Flamingo, The Speakeasy and The Marquee plus The Top Ten and Star Club in Hamburg's infamous seedy red-light district. These venues were the hotbed for any aspiring musician worth his salt and wanting to learn his craft. Cosmo established a formidable reputation during the early seventies, touring extensively in the UK and US with The Heavy Metal Kids. Joining the band was in itself a memorable situation as Cosmo recalls, "I met in the Marquee. The next night while playing at the Speakeasy he approached me and in front of my band mates he said, "you're the guitarist I want so just leave them!" The next day I spent three hours rehearsing with The Heavy Metal Kids at Chalk Farm. That night we had a gig in Paris!" "My first departure from The Kids came about at a gig on Christmas Eve 1973 we were on with Nils Lofgren at The Rainbow," recalls Cosmo. During fellow guitarist Mickey Waller's out of tune solo he lent against a pillar on stage looking at his watch. Unfortunately one of the band's managers Laurie O'Leary took umbrage and fired him. Cosmo then spent several months with 's pre-Experience band member Curtis Knight. Ironically they wound up at the supporting The Heavy Metal Kids. Cosmo recalls how he soon found himself in demand again: "At the bar after the gig Phil Carson, (Head of Atlantic UK) was there with Ricki Farr and Laurie O' Leary. Phil Carson said to Holton "I had to be back on stage with The Kids for the next gig or else! "Holton replied, "I could never understand why he was fired in the first place". "At the same time was listening to all this and said "but he's joining ." I had already been rehearsing with Thin Lizzy for the last few days, as was about to leave so Phil Lynott and I had a chat. I convinced Phil to give Brian Robertson the job, partly on account that he looked like original guitarist ." Back with The Heavy Metal Kids, and with their charismatic frontman Gary Holton, the band had great success both sides of the Atlantic. In the States they toured extensively, supporting the likes of ZZ Top and Kiss. They also toured with Alice Cooper sandwiched on a three-band bill ahead of Rush playing to huge crowds at venues like Madison Square Gardens. At their peak, in the UK The Heavy Metal Kids headlined sold out gigs at the Hammersmith Odeon and similar sized venues. On two further occasions Phil Lynott tried to get Cosmo to join Thin Lizzy. In '76 Lizzy was riding high following the hit single 'The Boys Are Back In Town'. Following Brian Robertson departure due to injury Cosmo was asked to help out, but was unable to team up with his old mate due to other commitments. This second time was a strange set of circumstances as Phil Lynott kept Cosmo on a retainer in case Gary Moore let them down while Thin Lizzy toured the States, supporting Queen. In fact, Moore did let them down on a later US Tour when Phil asked Cosmo for the third time but again he was already touring in Europe and couldn't take the gig so stepped in. Cosmo's career has also seen him work with , (Free), Lionel Morton (The Four Pennies), David Jack (East Of Eden), Brian Connolly (Sweet) and Elvis's legendary backing group The Jordanaires. Then, for no particular reason, Cosmo left the music business. Thanks to a phone call from the larger than life Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, Cosmo was convinced to dust off his old Les Paul and get back to what he does best. Grant had been listening to 'White Lies', a previously recorded track by Cosmo. A new version appears on the Raw Glory CD. ______

Now Underwood and Cosmo are rejuvenated, revved up and ready to go! For Raw Glory they have teamed up with bassist Ronnie Garrity and vocalist Paul Manzi. Garrity completes the full circle of Thin Lizzy connections, having recently worked with Eric Bell. Strangely, he has also played bass for Robin Trower's former bassist Jimmy Dewer, who switched to six strings for his own outfit. Lead vocalist Paul Manzi enters the fray on the back of work with the Oliver Wakeman Band but rather like with Led Zeppelin he has really been plucked from out of the blue. Hardly surprising as Cosmo describes the young vocalist as "a mixture of Plant, Ian Gillan and Paul Rodgers all rolled in to one." With a combination of maturity, youth, energy and commitment Raw Glory is perfectly poised to take it's brand of classic rock to the top! A new recording is in the making and gigs are lined up.

Jerry Bloom, Wymer UK. [email protected] For further information call Wymer UK on 01234 326691. To keep up to date with Raw Glory's activities check the website www.rawglory.co.uk