Brand X

Brand X were a British jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974. They were active until 1980, followed by a reformation between 1992 and 1999, and were active following a 2016 reunion until 2021. Members have included John Goodsall (guitar), Percy Jones (bass), Robin Lumley (keyboards), and Phil Collins (drums). Jones was the sole constant member throughout the band's existence until October 2020 when he left the band. Founding member Goodsall died on 10 November 2021 and Lumley died on 9 March 2023.

1974–1980: Original run
In 1974, rehearsals began for developing a five-piece instrumental jazz fusion group at Island Studios in London, which was set to include Percy Jones on bass and Phil Collins of Genesis on drums. They had secured a recording deal with Island Records and prepared tracks for a studio album which originally included vocals. However, the vocals were negatively received from Island management, leaving the group to write new material, at the suggestion of Island A&R man Richard Williams. With Collins tied up with Genesis commitments, the band settled on a founding line-up of Jones, John Goodsall on guitar, Robin Lumley on keyboards and vocals, Pete Bonas on guitar, John Dillon on drums and percussion, and Phil Spinelli on percussion and lead vocals. Dillon had left by the end of 1974, and a newly available Collins took his place in 1975.

Jones, Goodsall, Lumley and Collins recorded Unorthodox Behaviour in September and October 1975 at Trident Studios with Jack Lancaster guesting on saxophone. They were named Brand X after Island Records staffer Danny Wilding wrote down "Brand X" to keep track of their activity on the studio calendar, and the name stuck. In preparation for their upcoming gigs, the four were joined by Geoff Seopardi on percussion by December 1975. Genesis manager Tony Smith became their manager.

Brand X played their first gigs with a series of low key warm-up shows in November and December 1975. These were followed by a full-scale tour across the UK from February 1976, mainly on the college circuit. They had little funds, resorting to renting a synthesiser and PA system, operated with a small road crew, and often played support for the headlining act.

Moroccan Roll was released in April 1977 and peaked at No. 37 in the UK and No. 125 in the US. With Collins leaving the group for Genesis commitments, Kenwood Dennard of Pat Martino's group was recruited in New York City in time for their 32-date US tour in May and June 1977. Collins briefly returned later in 1977 for a series of dates, including a spot at the tenth Crystal Palace Garden Party in London and the Fête de l'Humanité in Paris on the same day on a specially chartered plane, the latter attended by an estimated 200,000 people. Livestock, a live album culled from several shows (some with Collins and some with Dennard), was released in November 1977.

Following the 1977 tour, the band recruited keyboardist Peter Robinson and drummer Chuck Burgi to record the Masques album, which was released in 1978. It was the only Brand X album during the band's original run without Phil Collins. The band toured to promote with a couple of different drummers in place of Chuck Burgi.

The next year, 1979, saw Brand X undertaking their last recording sessions for over 10 years, with Collins returning and other musicians including drummer Mike Clark and bassist John Giblin. During these sessions they recorded Product (released that same year), Do They Hurt? (released 1980), and Is There Anything About? (released 1982). Following the completion of these sessions, the band - comprising Goodsall, Jones, Collins, Lumley, and Robinson - embarked on a world tour, after which Collins departed for the final time, continuing with Genesis and eventually launching a solo career. Clark returned to the drum stool, and the band toured the UK in April and May 1980 (co-headlining with Bruford).

By the time Is There Anything About? appeared in 1982, Brand X had officially ended. A compilation album The Plot Thins: A History of Brand X was released in 1992.

1992–2021: Reunions
Jones and Goodsall reformed Brand X in 1992 with new drummer Frank Katz for the album X-Communication, followed by Manifest Destiny in 1997.

After bassist Percy Jones refused to continue performing live with Brand X in 2020, Jeff Berlin was briefly announced as his replacement, but quickly backed out. Jones says that Berlin, and other bassists, refused offers to join Brand X because they were warned about unethical behavior of management.

After John Goodsall died, Percy Jones and Robin Lumley confirmed on Facebook, on 14 November 2021, that the Brand X name was now officially retired and no further activity would be done under that name. In a 2022 interview, Jones explained that he left the band due to tensions with management and percussionist Scott Weinberger. Jones alleges that the band's management has used the Brand X Facebook account to misrepresent the band's status following Goodsall's death and the official retirement of the name. The recent history of the band is explained on their official website which is endorsed by Jones.

Discography
Studio albums
 * Unorthodox Behaviour (1976)
 * Moroccan Roll (1977) - UK No. 37, US No. 125
 * Masques (1978)
 * Product (1979) - US No. 165
 * Do They Hurt? (1980) - US No. 204
 * Is There Anything About? (1982) - UK No. 93
 * X-Communication (1992)
 * Manifest Destiny (1997)
 * Missing Period (1997) - recorded circa 1975-76

Live albums
 * Livestock (1977) - largely recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club Aug/Sept 76 - US No. 204
 * Live at the Roxy L.A. (1997) - recorded 23 September 1979 (taken from a band members' cassette from the venue's PA mixing desk)
 * Timeline (2000) - live concerts 16 November 1977 Chicago & 21 June 1993 NYC
 * But Wait... There's More! - LIVE 2017 (2017) - recorded on 6 January 2017 at the Sellersville Theatre, PA
 * Locked & Loaded (2018) - recorded live June 2017, Longs Park Amphitheater, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
 * Live from the Rites of Spring Festival (2018) - recorded on May 6, 2018, at the Majestic Theatre, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Compilation albums
 * The Plot Thins: A History of Brand X (1992) - select tracks from Unorthodox Behaviour, Moroccan Roll, Livestock, Masques, Product and Do They Hurt?

Members
Last members
 * Percy Jones - bass guitar (1974–1980, 1992–1997, 2016–2021)
 * John Goodsall - guitars (1974–1978, 1979–1980, 1992–1999, 2016–2021; his death)
 * Chris Clark – keyboards, synthesisers (2016–2021) (guest member only)
 * Scott Weinberger – percussion (2016–2021) (guest member only)
 * Kenny Grohowski – drums (2017–2021) (guest member only)

John Goodsall died on 10 November 2021 at The Mayo Clinic Rochester in Minnesota from complications due to COVID-19. Robin Lumley died on 9 March 2023 from heart failure.

The official Brand X website has asserted that the only official legal members of Brand X since its reformation were original members Jones, Goodsall, and Lumley. All other musicians during this time period are described as legally being "employees" and "guests".