Ace Kefford

Ace Kefford
Kefford in 1967
Kefford in 1967
Background information
Birth nameChristopher John Kefford
Born (1946-12-10) 10 December 1946 (age 78)
Moseley, Birmingham, England
OriginBirmingham, England
GenresRock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBass guitar

Christopher John "Ace" Kefford (born 10 December 1946) is an English bassist.

The Move

Main article: The Move

He was the co-founder of The Move in October 1965 with Trevor Burton, after meeting David Bowie at Birmingham's Cedar Club, following a performance by Bowie's band Davy Jones and the Lower Third. The duo invited Roy Wood, then Carl Wayne and Bev Bevan to join and complete the classic Move line-up.[1]

Kefford's mid-1968 departure from The Move came after a period of heavy gigging and experimentation with LSD, and a nervous breakdown following a package tour with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Pink Floyd,[1][2] which took the form of a panic attack.[3][4]

Wayne believed that the start of The Move's downfall was Kefford's departure, because it placed guitarist Trevor Burton into the vulnerable position of having to play more instruments, and the band could well have survived if they had recruited a keyboardist to replace Kefford.[5] Wood recalled of Kefford, "Ever since the day we formed none of us really got on very well with him. He was a very strange person. He was very aggressive and Ace and Trevor [Burton] used to have a lot of fights all the time."[6]

Later works

After leaving The Move, Kefford embarked on a solo album with record producer, Tony Visconti, at the Olympic and Trident Studios in London. Eight songs were recorded, including a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Save the Life of My Child", featuring Jimmy Page on guitar. However, Kefford suffered a breakdown during the project and walked out, with the album remaining unreleased until 2003 (as Ace The Face, Sanctuary Records).

Kefford formed The Ace Kefford Stand in 1968, which included guitarist Dave Ball, bassist Denny Ball, and drummer Cozy Powell.[1][2]

Personal life

Kefford's later life has been plagued by alcohol, drugs, suicide attempts, and time spent in psychiatric facilities.[1][3][2]

Discography

The Move

The Ace Kefford Stand

Solo

  • "This World's An Apple" / "Gravy Booby Jam", Atlantic (1969, along with Big Bertha)
  • Ace The Face, Castle Music Records (2003)

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Lost Ace Kefford recordings found!". Brumbeat.net. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Caiger, Rob (2003). Ace the Face (booklet). Ace Kefford. London: Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
  3. ^ a b "Interview with Chris "Ace" Kefford". Carlwayne.co.uk. 4 July 2002. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 183. CN 5585.
  5. ^ "History". Carlwayne.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. ^ Sharp, Ken (30 September 1994). "Roy Wood: The Wizzard of Rock". The Move Online. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008.