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This UK band is not Lemmy's predecessor Motörhead, as one might initially assume, but a group founded in 1968 by Malaysian composer and tabla player Sam Gopal, who had arrived in London six years earlier. Nevertheless, Ian Willis, as Ian Fraser Kilmister called himself here, played a formative role. He wrote five of the eleven songs, was involved in a further four group compositions, played lead and rhythm guitar and sang almost all the songs. The other band members were Roger D'Elia (g) and Phil Duke (b). At the end of 1968, they recorded their first and only album Escalator, produced by Trevor Walters at De-Lane Lea and Morgan Studios in London. It was released in March 1969 on the small, short-lived British label Stable Records.
The sound, a mixture of hard psychedelic, classic rock and blues as well as Southeast Asian tablas as the only rhythm instrument, was original and unusual at the time. Moreover, the bass does not serve as background music or a beat, but is a completely equal melodic instrument. Acoustic pieces, including Southeast Asian raga, also create a unique atmosphere. Unfortunately, the group disbanded shortly after the release. This rare and only album by this unusual band is of interest to lovers of late 60s psychedelic rock as well as Lemmy fans, as it documents an important part of his early recording career.
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