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The Pretty Things were a 1960s and 1970s rock and roll band from London. They pioneered a raw approach to rhythm and blues (and later, psychedelia) that influenced a number of key bands of the 1960s British invasion, particularly The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie whose first hero was Phil May.
Pretty Things was preceded by Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys which consisted of Dick Taylor, fellow Sidcup Art College student Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. When Brian Jones joined Little Boy Blue and the Blues Boys as guitarist, Taylor was pushed from playing guitar to bass and the Rolling Stones were formed.
Several months later Dick Taylor (born Richard Clifford Taylor, 28 January 1943, in Dartford, Kent) quit the newly formed Rolling Stones to pursue his schooling when he was accepted at London Central School of Art, where he met up with Phil May (born Phillip Arthur Dennis Kattner, on 9 November 1944, in Dartford, Kent) and they formed Pretty Things.
Taylor was once again playing his preferred guitar with May singing and playing harmonica. They recruited Brian Pendleton (born 13 April 1944 in Wolverhampton–died 16 May 2001 in Maidstone, Kent) on rhythm guitar; John Stax (born John Edward Lee Fullegar, 6 April 1944 in Crayford, Kent) on bass; and, after trying a couple of different drummers, including Pete Kitley and Viv Andrews, stuck with Viv Prince (born Vivian St John Prince, 9 August 1944, in Loughborough, Leices).
Early career
They caused a sensation in England, and their first three singles — “Rosalyn” #41, “Don’t Bring Me Down” #10, and the self-penned “Honey I Need” at #13 — appeared in the UK singles chart in 1964-1965.
Pretty Things was preceded by Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys which consisted of Dick Taylor, fellow Sidcup Art College student Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. When Brian Jones joined Little Boy Blue and the Blues Boys as guitarist, Taylor was pushed from playing guitar to bass and the Rolling Stones were formed.
Several months later Dick Taylor (born Richard Clifford Taylor, 28 January 1943, in Dartford, Kent) quit the newly formed Rolling Stones to pursue his schooling when he was accepted at London Central School of Art, where he met up with Phil May (born Phillip Arthur Dennis Kattner, on 9 November 1944, in Dartford, Kent) and they formed Pretty Things.
Taylor was once again playing his preferred guitar with May singing and playing harmonica. They recruited Brian Pendleton (born 13 April 1944 in Wolverhampton–died 16 May 2001 in Maidstone, Kent) on rhythm guitar; John Stax (born John Edward Lee Fullegar, 6 April 1944 in Crayford, Kent) on bass; and, after trying a couple of different drummers, including Pete Kitley and Viv Andrews, stuck with Viv Prince (born Vivian St John Prince, 9 August 1944, in Loughborough, Leices).
Early career
They caused a sensation in England, and their first three singles — “Rosalyn” #41, “Don’t Bring Me Down” #10, and the self-penned “Honey I Need” at #13 — appeared in the UK singles chart in 1964-1965.
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Top Albums
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S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
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The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things Buy- Download Album
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Parachute
The Pretty Things Buy- Download Album
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Unrepentant: The Anthology (disc 1)
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Shoutbox
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tomas_beatle wrote:
Defecting Grey is fantastic.
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JaredMackie wrote:
S.F Sorrow is a masterpiece. Also Defecting Grey!
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fxofxs wrote:
Friggin' great band !
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Eibel wrote:
Underrated as hell!!! [5]
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Nessyliz wrote:
I looove this band!
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rewixas wrote:
Underrated as hell!!! [4]
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futurolvidado wrote:
Cries From The Midnight Circus!!!
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mattmacneil wrote:
S.F. Sorrow in Stereo is one of the worst things I've ever heard. Fuck those late 60s stereo mixes.
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pedrofcorreia wrote:
S.F. Sorrow >>>>
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ionakari wrote:
Underrated as hell!!! [3]
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boscopud wrote:
EXCELLENT!!! And the radio on this page is awesome TOO!!! Some dang fine music from The Pretty Things and some dang fine similar artists on their radio!
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EvilMonkeyRec wrote:
The Pretty Thing - Hyde and Psych, very rare British psychedelia live! http://theevilmonkeysrecords.blogspot.com/2011/10/pretty-things-hyde-and-psych-1968-1969.html
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r_m wrote:
Man, that's all true. "Parachute" is so ahead of it's time, such a fantastic record. That's probably why they remain so underground - they were pioneers and never went mainstream.
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finslaw wrote:
These guys are the secret backbone of rock n roll. Since 1964 they've delivered by album in order the punkiest R & B, folk rock, earliest/most definitive psychedelia, the first linear concept album, indie rock (tell me Parachute isn't), southern rock, glam rock, and wonderful new wave/power pop. And since then 2009's Balboa Island massacred any album The Rolling Stones have released since the 70's.
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Watcher wrote:
If you haven't already, try balloon burning.
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mrgazbods wrote:
Underrated as hell!!! [2]
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Assembly-LSpa wrote:
Headlining this years Leamington Spa Blues festival, THE PRETTY THINGS top a bill of great rock and blues acts at the all day event in the award winning bespoke art deco venue The Assembly. http://www.last.fm/event/1964918+Leamigton+Blues+Festival
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r_m wrote:
That could very well be the best decision he's made.
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Druid66 wrote:
Dick Taylor did all right for himself after leaving the Rolling Stones, didn't he then?
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cookieboo wrote:
Hey guyss :) Please join my group :D http://www.last.fm/group/Song+Lyrics+%3A%29
Videos
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Cold Stone-single-The Pretty…
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Loneliest Person
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Pretty Things - London Town
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Play
Don't Bring Me Down - The…
Events
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Apr
6
The Pretty Things
229 Great Portland Street, London, United Kingdom
2 going
- May 4 The Pretty Things LCB, Wuppertal, Germany
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Recent Activity
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frankduke, MClosbienerich, od_catastrophe and 1 other person added The Pretty Things to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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btocher tagged The Pretty Things with ‘psychedelic’. Saturday evening
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claudioazuro, alice_crusser, DaveHorn69 and 4 other people added The Pretty Things to their libraries. Saturday evening
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supaseppo tagged The Pretty Things with psychedelic rock, 60s and psychedelic. Friday afternoon
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supaseppo, Jaqui794, Jigwally and 8 other people added The Pretty Things to their libraries. Friday afternoon
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musmortwin tagged The Pretty Things with 60s and psychedelic. Tuesday morning
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musmortwin, kittymeowkitty, ricknife and 11 other people added The Pretty Things to their libraries. Tuesday morning
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KOEEEEEE tagged The Pretty Things with 60s and british. 9 days ago
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Lachlan_M, paulehochPaul, Zmah and 7 other people added The Pretty Things to their libraries. 9 days ago
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Chromefox tagged The Pretty Things with pop rock and psychedelic pop. 11 days ago
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