The Creation is considered by many to be one of the most underrated 60s bands to come out of the U.K., with their early flare for mod-freakbeat and British psychedelia being matched by very few other artists of the time. Unfortunately, for some weird reason, they never made it big in the U.K. or U.S., but did become extremely popular in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The group evolved out of the R&B outfit the Mark Four, which featured Eddie Phillips (lead guitar), Kenny Pickett (lead vocals), Jack Jones (drums) and John Dalton (bass). When Dalton left (he eventually became a member of the Kinks in 1969), Bob Garner (bass, vocals) replaced him and the Creation was born. Probably the best and most colorful quote to describe the Creation's sound was from Phillips himself who said that their music was "red with purple flashes".
The band's first single 'Making Time', which was released in June, 1966 on the obscure Planet label, is outstanding and ahead of its time, highlighted by the excellent psychedelic guitar work of Phillips who was the first rock musician to use a violin bow on the electric guitar (this pioneering practice would later be put to good use by Jimmy Page of Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin fame). Their high energy shows were matched only by the likes of the Who, taking pop art experimentation to the envelope when Pickett for example would spray paint a canvas during their live shows, before a member of the road crew would then set it ablaze.
Their second 45 ('Painter Man' b/w 'Biff Bag Pow') was released in October, 1966 and would become their best selling single in the U.K., peaking at #36 on the charts. At about this time, Phillips was asked by Pete Townshend of the Who to join their band as a second guitarist, but he gracefully declined. The band did however experience a crisis point at the end of 1966 when Pickett left over creative differences and the continuing need to tour the European continent where they were much more popular than in the U.K. Pickett was replaced by Kim Gardner (bass) of the Birds and it was also around this point that the group's record label Planet folded, but they slowly rebounded by signing to Polydor. In May, 1967, the group played at the 24-Hour Technicolor Dream at London's Alexander Palace, but this did little to boost their waning popularity in the U.K.
With their fan base still being by far the strongest over in Europe, an outstanding LP titled 'We Are Paintermen' was finally released in June, 1967, but only in Germany and Sweden. It wasn't until mid-summer of 1967 that the band released an overdue third U.K. single ('If I Stay To Long' b/w 'Nightmares'), which took a detour in musical direction from their hard-driving mod-psych sound to a more soulful, laid back approach. Both halves of this 45 are excellent, but the A-side, with vocals sung by new member Gardner, sounds very little like their earlier material and must have majorly confused fans at the time. A fourth single ('Life Is Just Beginning' b/w 'Through My Eyes'), released in the fall of 1967, saw the band delving further into psychedelia, with an increase in instrument and vocal phasing and good use of longer, more complex guitar solos. Both sides of this record are brain blowers, especially the flip, but unfortunately, although as good as it is, it didn't sell well at the time, which prompted anchor member Phillips to finally quit the band out of frustration. Shortly after, Gardner also decided to leave, spelling immanent doom for the ensemble.
In early 1968, the band was kept alive through the release of a fifth single ('How Does It Feel To Feel' b/w 'Tom Tom') with both sides featuring Phillips on lead guitar and Gardner on bass. This record didn't sell that well either and with the band headed for the "where are they now" file, original lead singer Kenny Pickett rose above the ashes, coming back to reform the band with Gardner, Jones, and new member Ronnie Wood (lead guitar) who had also previously played with Gardner in the Birds. This incarnation released a few 45s in the spring of 1968 ('Midway Down' b/w 'The Girls Are Naked' and 'For All That I Am' b/w 'Uncle Bert') which are great in their own right, but miss the biting, gnarling guitar work of Phillips.
By the summer of 1968, the Creation had finally called it quits for good, leaving a stockpile of excellent songs that weren't to be rediscovered until the advent of the CD in the 1980s. Most notably, Pickett went on to become a road manager for Led Zeppelin and Ron Wood hit it big as a member of Jeff Beck's group and later the Rolling Stones, which he is still a member of to this day.
Artist information sources include: The book, 'Tapestry of Delights Revisited' by Vernon Joynson and an article by Bruce Eder & Richie Unterberger at All Music Guide.
We Are Paintermen [German LP]
Original LP/EP Label: Hit-ton 340037
Released: June 1967
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
The Creation -
If I Stay Too Long
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56177, A - July 1967)
The Creation -
Like A Rolling Stone
The Creation -
Making Time
(Original 45 Label: Planet PLF 116, A - June 1966)
The Creation -
Nightmares
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56177, B - July 1967)
The Creation -
Through My Eyes
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56207, B - October 1967)
Our Music Is Red - With Purple Flashes
CD Label: Diablo Records 857
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
The Creation -
For All That I Am
(Original 45 Label: Hit-ton HT 300235, A [German Single] - May 1968)
The Creation -
How Does It Feel To Feel
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56230, A - January 1968)
The Creation -
I Am The Walker
(Originally Unreleased - 1967)
The Creation -
Life Is Just Beginning
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56207, A - October 1967)
The Creation -
Midway Down
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56246, A - April 1968)
The Creation -
The Girls Are Naked
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56246, B - April 1968)
The Creation -
Tom Tom
(Original 45 Label: Polydor 56230, B - January 1968)
The Creation -
Uncle Bert
(Original 45 Label: Hit-ton HT 300235, B [German Single] - May 1968)
Nuggets II: Original Artifacts From The British Empire And Beyond
CD Label: Rhino 76787
This compilation CD contains the following songs by this artist that are played on TWOS:
- How Does It Feel To Feel
- Making Time
The Creation is considered by many to be one of the most underrated 60s bands to come out of the U.K., with their early flare for mod-freakbeat and British psychedelia being matched by very few other artists of the time. Unfortunately, for some weird reason, they never made it big in the U.K. or U.S., but did become extremely popular in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The group evolved out of the R&B outfit the Mark Four, which featured Eddie Phillips (lead guitar), Kenny Pickett (lead vocals), Jack Jones (drums) and John Dalton (bass). When Dalton left (he eventually became a member of the 
