While not a ‘Cornish’ band, along with Easy Moses they spent enough time immersed in the music scene in Cornwall during the 60s to warrant inclusion here on Kernow Beat.
The band started life as a six piece based in Cambridge known as Freak Down Lucifer, a name somewhat inspired by the Mothers of Inventions ‘Freak Out’ LP.
Around 1967 two founding members of the band left and they became a four piece, also shortening their name to Mr Lucifer. While dropping the freak from their name the continued to ‘freak out’ their audiences with smoke machines and light shows.
The band turned pro in 1967 and visited Cornwall to play the summer season. It was here that they met Pete Brown of BCD Entertainment. After the summer season was over they stayed in touch and came back again for the summer season of 1968, this time for a longer period.
They relocated to Cornwall in 1968 and offered BCD sole agency. The band moved into a cottage in Lemorrick, Nr Lanivet. Through BCD they secured many gigs through Cornwall, including a double header with a pre-Queen Smile.
By this stage Dave had left the band and they chose not to replace the organ in the line-up. The Motown covers were now being dropped from the set and they took on a much heavier sound, playing covers of Hendrix, Steppenwolf, etc.
Will Wright remembers an occasion where the band were playing in PJ’s with Smile and 40 or 50 bikers turned up. The audience seemed to part as the menacing leather clad gang walked through the venue to the front of the stage. After a short stand off the band launched into some good old rock & roll covers and the group turned and walked back out again without any incident!
Towards the end of the 60s they would rename themselves Duffy and relocate to Switzerland.
With thanks to QueeninCornwall |
