Henry McCullough - RIP

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 15 Jun 2016 5:59 am

Sad news - Henry passed away Tuesday after a long illness.

He was an interesting stylist, playing in Joe Cocker's Grease Band and later with Wings. His solo on 'My Love' is particularly memorable.

I was fortunate enough to play with Henry a few times; once, notably, with him and Joe Cocker. (Joe seemed to enjoy the steel guitar!)

I once asked Henry why he'd left McCartney's band - good money, high-profile gig, etc, etc - and he replied: "There was one band member I just couldn't get along with - I won't mention any names but it was a woman."

Rest in peace, Henry - you were an original.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 19 Jun 2016 1:45 am

I met Henry at a pedal steel convention in Ireland a few years ago.He was a very nice man indeed.R.I.P.Henry

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 7 Jul 2016 1:25 pm

A good one with Henry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBoF-urrYKY

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 17 Aug 2019 2:24 pm

A touching tribute to the late, great Henry McCullough has just been released by an All-Star line-up of Gary Brooker (vocals), Albert Lee (guitar), Don Mescall (acoustic guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul McCartney (bass), Nick Mason (drums) with Paul Carrack, Paul Brady & The London Community Gospel Choir (backing vocals):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIFMkHpE74o

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Aug 2019 7:36 pm

I remember him from my first exposure to Joe Cocker, a concert at Madison Square Garden, probably in the late '60s. Also had King Crimson on the bill. I was never quite the same after that.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 17 Aug 2019 9:48 pm

I'm with you, Jim. I saw JC with the Grease Band summer of 69, a week or so before Woodstock. Great band...I think with the exception of Chris Stainton, they're all gone now. I hope I'm wrong about that.
Seeing that band then was a major moment for me, as well.
Here's to Henry... a true rock n roll guy who lived it to the max.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 18 Aug 2019 12:12 am

Oh how sad,I wore out the "Grease band L.P. when I was a kid "Sandpaper Cadillac"

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 18 Aug 2019 12:14 am

I always loved his solo on My Love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmjN1O1ejS4

Thanks for the link John Norris!

Skip, besides Stainton Neil Hubbard is still alive and playing wiht the revived band Kokomo (on the red Gibson):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Srw3ibPTA
The guitarist on the right is Jim Mullen, he told me once that his former bandmate Allan Spenner, who was also in the Grease Band took his own life a few years ago.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 19 Aug 2019 10:35 am

In the summer of '68 I only caught the last minutes of their set:

The picture comes from here:
http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/sunburymenu.html

No monitors in front of them, so it must have been very loud for them.