in brief…
PORTSMOUTH UK.
Colin Carter began his musical journey in Portsmouth, performing with various local bands and eventually touring extensively across the UK. Playing venues both large and small, Colin gained experience and honed his craft. His career then expanded to mainland Europe, where he performed numerous shows in Germany and Switzerland.
During his time with the band Mushroom, Colin attracted attention from Apple Records, the Beatles’ label, and its producer, Mike Berry. Although a record deal with Apple did not materialize, the connection led to regular recording session work with Berry. As the house band, Mushroom frequently traveled from Portsmouth to London studios, gaining invaluable experience that would prove crucial in Colin’s later musical pursuits.
Mushroom shared stages with many renowned acts of the era, including David Bowie, Deep Purple, The Move, Fairport Convention, and T. Rex. The band also featured notable members such as lead guitarist Barry Paul, who later joined Savoy Brown, and bassist Mick Feat, who went on to record and perform with major artists like David Gilmour and Tina Turner.
LONDON UK.
Around 1970, Colin was recruited by keyboardist Peter Bardens to become the lead singer and frontman of the Peter Bardens Band, promoting Bardens’ album The Answer. This opportunity prompted Colin to relocate from Portsmouth to London, where he became immersed in the heart of the vibrant music scene.
Peter Bardens was celebrated for his dynamic, blues-driven Hammond organ sound. Having played with Van Morrison and Them, led bands with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green, and been part of Shotgun Express with Rod Stewart, Bardens sought a powerful vocalist to complement his music on stage. Colin rose to the occasion, delivering commanding performances that brought Bardens’ songs to life.
Joining Colin in the lineup was drummer Reg Isidore, who later gained acclaim playing on Robin Trower’s classic Bridge of Sighs album and recording Truce with Trower and Jack Bruce. Colin fronted the Bardens Band for numerous gigs, including memorable performances at Soho’s legendary Marquee Club, before the two eventually parted ways. Bardens would later form the iconic progressive rock band Camel.
FLASH
Adrift in London but driven by a clear purpose, Colin sought out guitarist Peter Banks, who had recently departed from the band Yes. By a twist of fate, both were born within hours of each other in the same year. Their shared connection quickly blossomed into friendship, and they began writing songs together while searching for additional band members and business backing. Luck was on their side, as the missing pieces soon fell into place. Mike Hough joined on drums, and Ray Bennett took up bass guitar, completing the lineup. The newly formed band, now called Flash, started work on their self-titled debut album.
After intense rehearsals of their intricate material, Flash made their live debut in the UK on January 14, 1972. They embarked on a nearly non-stop gigging schedule to promote their first record. Their efforts extended beyond the UK, with multiple trips across The Channel to mainland Europe, where they played live shows and recorded TV appearances in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
FLASH IN THE USA
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Flash’s American journey began in an unexpected way. A US East Coast radio station, without informing the band or Capitol Records (their American label), edited the album’s opening nine-minute epic into a three-minute single. The shortened version became a sensation, with listeners flooding the station with requests and inquiries about where to purchase it. This prompted Capitol Records to release an official single of the song, titled “Small Beginnings.”
Written by Colin—complete with chords, lyrics, and melody—and enhanced by Peter Banks’ intricate solos and instrumental interludes, “Small Beginnings” became Flash’s breakthrough in the USA. It spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 chart, peaking in the mid-20s.
On July 14, 1972, Colin’s birthday, exactly six months after Flash’s first gig, the band flew to New York. They arrived just after midnight on July 15, Peter’s birthday, ready to kick off their inaugural US tour. The stars had truly aligned!
Flash embarked on four extended coast-to-coast US tours, performing in packed clubs, theaters of all sizes, outdoor festivals, and massive stadiums. Their largest audience was at the three-day Bull Island Soda Pop Festival in Indiana, where they played to an estimated crowd of 300,000.
THE EARLY 70s was a high point in music history for touring rock bands.
The early 1970s marked a golden era for touring rock bands, and Flash was right in the thick of it. Whether sharing the stage with or headlining alongside legendary acts, Flash carved out their place in music history with extensive tours across the UK and the US.
The roster of bands they performed with reads like a “Who’s Who” of classic rock and beyond. Here are just some of the renowned acts that shared the bill with Flash:
Genesis, Stone the Crows, Nazareth, Badfinger, The Chambers Brothers, The James Gang, The Raspberries, Uriah Heep, Long John Baldry, Wishbone Ash, Santana, Black Sabbath, The James Cotton Blues Band, The Jeff Beck Group, Argent, Savoy Brown, Rory Gallagher, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, J. Geils Band, Flo and Eddie with Aynsley Dunbar, Jo Jo Gunne, The Kinks, Dr. Hook, Captain Beyond, Foghat, Focus, Humble Pie, Roxy Music, Mott the Hoople, Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Byrds, Beck, Bogert & Appice, Lou Reed, Joe Walsh, Black Oak Arkansas, Blue Öyster Cult, The Pretty Things, and many more.
COLIN CARTER- AFTER FLASH.
After the Flash era concluded and following some initial false starts in the UK, Colin Carter relocated to New York. There, he formed a new band called Storm, which leaned toward a more mainstream rock style, diverging from Flash’s progressive roots. The lineup of Storm was impressive: Colin took the helm as lead vocalist, joined by Flash’s Mike Hough on drums. On keyboards was Al Greenwood, who later gained fame with Foreigner and their hit single “Feels Like the First Time.” Kenny Aaronson, bassist for the New York band Stories (famous for their U.S. number one hit “Brother Louie”), handled bass duties. Aaronson’s illustrious career later included collaborations with Lou Reed, Rick Derringer, Bob Dylan, and Billy Idol. He currently plays with The New Yardbirds. Rounding out the lineup was NY-based lead guitarist Tony Guarino.
Managed by renowned New York concert promoter Jimmy Koplic of Live Nation, Storm gained exposure through performances at venues under Koplic’s purview. While the band recorded some studio material, these tracks remain unreleased but might eventually surface.
NEXT STOP – LOS ANGELES.
Colin’s journey westward continued, bringing him to Los Angeles in the late 1970s. There, he teamed up with British guitarist Martin Pugh, renowned for his work with the blues-rock band Steamhammer, which recently reformed. Pugh was also the lead guitarist for the band Armageddon, a group that featured Yardbirds’ former frontman Keith Relf, bassist Louie Cennamo, and drummer Bobby Caldwell. Tragically, Armageddon disbanded following Relf’s untimely accidental death.
In LA, Colin and Martin co-led a new band, with UK bassist Graham Keighley and LA-based drummer Mike Messer completing the lineup. They performed extensively on the Los Angeles club circuit and also recorded music during their tenure.
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
After spending years in the bustling cities of London, New York, and Los Angeles, Colin shifted his focus northward to rural Oregon in the Pacific Northwest. While in Oregon, he reunited with Ray Bennett, former Flash bassist turned guitarist, to record a reformed Flash album for Cleopatra Records. The duo performed as Flash at the Mexicali Prog Festival in Mexico in 2005 and again at the Progday Annual Festival in North Carolina in 2010..
COLIN CARTER-ONE
Now residing near the Oregon Coast, Colin continues to write and record music. In 2018, he released his solo debut, Colin Carter-One. Taking on the roles of songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Colin produced an eclectic collection of songs that explored a wide range of styles. The album served as an experiment to push the boundaries of his musical, songwriting, and production abilities—a true learning experience.
TRACKS IN SPACE
Colin’s second solo album, Tracks in Space, marks a step forward from his debut. More polished and cohesive, this new record carries a consistent pulse throughout—a danceable beat that promises to get listeners on their feet and moving.
Completed in 2023, Tracks in Space was created in collaboration with Los Angeles guitarist and session player George Keller. Born out of the limitations of the lockdown era, the two worked extensively online, finding a seamless musical connection. The result is a dynamic and impressive collection of tracks, ready to make its mar
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Solo Discography
Colin Carter – “Tracks In Space” – Melodic Revolution Records – USA – 2023
Colin Carter – “One” – Colin Carter Music USA – 2018
Flash Discography
Flash – Capitol Records – USA / EMI UK – 1972
In The Can – Capitol Records – USA / EMI UK – 1972
Out Of Our Hands – Capitol Records – USA / EMI UK – 1973
Flash Re-Issues
Flash – (First Album) One Way Records – USA – 1994
In The Can One Way Records – USA – 1993
Out Of Our Hands – One Way Records – USA – 1993
Psychosync- (Live Radio & TV Recordings) – Blueprint Records UK And Resurgence Records NY – USA – 1997
Flash (First Album) Plus “Flash Out Of Our Hands (Third Album) 2 CD, or 2 LP Package – Friday Music – USA – 2003
Flash (First Album) – Esoteric Recordings – 2010
Flash In The Can – Esoteric Recordings – 2010
Flash – Featuring Colin Carter and Ray Bennett – Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra Records USA – 2013
Flash In Public – Live Concert (From 1-21-73) Adequate Sounds USA – 2013
Flash In The USA – 3 CD Boxed Set – Live Recordings 1972-73 Tlik – Music- EU/ USA – 2022