Steamhammer are an English rock band from Worthing, that were formed in 1968 by vocalist Kieran White, guitarists Martin Quittenton and Martin Pugh, bassist Steve Davy, and drummer Michael Rushton.
Steamhammer’s first line-up acted as backing band for Freddie King on two of his tours of England in 1968–1969. Like many of their peers, the band experimented with instrumental passages, introspective lyrics, and ultrasonic guitar effects, along with folk, jazz and classical influences. After playing in English pubs in the late 1960s, Steamhammer’s self-titled album Steamhammer debuted on Columbia Records in 1968, featuring their single, “Junior’s Wailing”, and including covers of “You’ll Never Know” by B.B.King and “Twenty Four Hours” by Eddie Boyd as well as original songs by White, Quittenton, and Pugh. Guest session musicians Harold McNair (flute) and Pete Sears (piano) also played on the album. While the album was not commercially successful, the band’s sound became popular live, especially in West Germany.
In the summer of 1969, Quittenton and Rushton left the band, and Steve Jolliffe (saxophone, flute) and Mick Bradley (drums) joined. This line-up recorded the album Mk II, released in 1969. It consisted entirely of original songs, and the musical style had more jazz and progressive rock influences. Jolliffe left the band in 1970. The remaining band members recorded the album Mountains, which was released in 1970. This album included a cover of “Riding on the L & N” by Lionel Hampton and seven original songs.
In 1971, Davy left the band, and Louis Cennamo (formerly of Renaissance) was recruited as his replacement. After a European tour in the summer of 1971, White left the band, and the remaining trio of Pugh, Bradley and Cennamo began recording a new album. This line-up, along with guest vocalist Garth Watt-Roy, recorded the album Speech, which was released in 1972. It consisted of three long, mostly instrumental songs, in a heavier progressive-rock vein than the basic blues and jazz/folk influences of their previous albums.
Bradley died of undiagnosed leukemia in February 1972, aged 25. A memorial concert took place at London’s Marquee Club in March that year, with appearances by fellow bands Atomic Rooster, Beggars Opera, If, and Gringo. Steamhammer carried on for a while with a new drummer, John Lingwood, and lead singer, Ian Ellis. The new line-up debuted at London’s Imperial College in May, followed by a European tour in May and UK tour in June with American vocalist/guitarist Bruce Michael Paine replacing Ellis. In June 1973, Paine left and Martin Quittenton rejoined. This new line-up changed their name to Axis, playing their first gig under that name at the Marquee in June, but the band split towards the end of 1973.
