Henry McCullough

Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irishguitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Grease Band and Sweeney's Men. He also performed and recorded as a solo artist and session musician.

Early career

McCullough was born in Portstewart, and first came to prominence in the early 1960s as the teenage lead guitarist with The Skyrockets showband from Enniskillen. In 1964, with three other members of The Skyrockets, he left and formed a new showband fronted by South African born vocalist Gene Chetty, which they named Gene and The Gents.

In 1967 McCullough moved to Belfast where he joined Chris Stewart (bass), Ernie Graham (vocals) and Dave Lutton (drums) to form the psychedelic band The People. Later that year the band moved to London and were signed by Chas Chandler's management team, who changed the group’s name to Éire Apparent. Under Chandler's guidance after a single release they toured with groups such as Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, The Move and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, as well as Eric Burdon and the Animals. Things went well until in Vancouver, Canada in mid February 1968, while the band was touring with The Animals, McCullough returned to The United Kingdom, officially because of 'visa problems' and Mick Cox flew out to take his place in the band. Back in Ireland McCullough joined what was primarily a folk group called Sweeney's Men, by May 1968. Under his influence, they began to mix folk and rock, and are regarded as the innovators of Folk rock.

Joe Cocker and Grease Band

After a year in Ireland, McCullough returned to London to work with Joe Cocker as a member of his backing band, the Grease Band. With Cocker he toured the U.S. and performed at the Woodstock Festival. He played on The Grease Band's eponymous album after leaving Cocker and during his time with the band he also appeared as lead guitarist on Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and on the progressive Spooky Tooth album The Last Puff (1970).

Paul McCartney and Wings

In 1971 Paul McCartney asked McCullough to join his new band, Wings, alongside Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell. His guitar solo on "My Love" has been described as one of rock music’s greatest solos. Musical differences with McCartney, however, saw McCullough move on the eve of the Band on the Run sessions. He spent two years in the band, playing lead guitar on "Hi, Hi, Hi", "Live and Let Die" as well as "My Love".

1973–1975

McCullough's spoken words "I don't know; I was really drunk at the time" can be heard on the Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon(1973), at the end of the song "Money". He was recalling a fight he had the night before with his wife.

In 1975 McCullough joined The Frankie Miller Band with bassist Chris Stewart, keyboard player Mick Weaver and drummer Stu Perry. They recorded the album, The Rock with Miller. The song "Ain't Got No Money" taken from this album, inspired Bob Seger to write and record "The Fire Down Below". Later the same year McCullough released Mind Your Own Business on George Harrison's Dark Horse label.

McCullough played concerts as a session musician with Roy Harper, Frankie Miller, Eric Burdon, Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Lane andDonovan. In 1977 he temporarily joined Dr. Feelgood, following the departure of Wilko Johnson.

1980s

Recovering from an injury to his hand while visiting his family in 1980, McCullough decided to stay in Ireland. He began to sit in with old friends The Fleadh Cowboys, at their Sunday afternoon residency in The Lower Deck in Dublin. Following this he moved back to Portstewart and put a new band together. He was joined by Percy Robinson on pedal steel guitar, Roe Butcher on bass and Liam Bradley on drums.

1990s

In 1998 McCullough travelled to Poland, where he rehearsed with a band of Polish musicians for a tour. After the tour, they recorded a 'live' album which was released as Blue Sunset. This was followed by a further Polish tour. On returning home, McCullough recorded and released "Failed Christian", a song that has since been covered by Nick Lowe on his album Dig My Mood.

2000s

McCullough continued to record and perform and released solo material, including Belfast To Boston (2001) and Unfinished Business(2003). The latter contained his 1998 single, "Failed Christian". McCullough performed at concerts in Northern Ireland and Scotland, playing with a backing band (featuring Stephen Quinn on drums and Sean McCarron on saxophone).

McCullough contributed guitar on and organised the band for the Alaskan musician, The Rev Neil Down's, 2003 release, When A Wrong Turns Right.The Henry McCullough Band – FBI Live was released in 2007 on Mundell music, from a recording at The Famous Bein Inn in 2006.

In 2007, Over the Rhine covered "Failed Christian" on their album, Live from Nowhere, Vol. II. In the same year, McCullough started to work with Dave Sharp from the Alarm) and together they enlisted keyboard player Zoot Money, bassist Gary Fletcher and drummer Colin Allen, a line up which became known as The Hard Travelers. In January 2008 The Hard Travelers performed their debut gig at The Cellars in Portsmouth.

In 2008 McCullough recorded Poor Man's Moon at Amberville Studios, which was released in Ireland only on 5 September 2008. and featured new McCullough compositions. The album also included a number of songs co-written with poet Eamon Carr from Horslips and included the single "Too Late to Worry". Among the musicians featured on the album were keyboard player James Delaney, bassists Roe Butcher and Nicky Scott (also double bass), keyboard player Enda Walsh, drummer Adie McIlduff and Percy Robinson on dobro and pedal steel guitar. The album also included drum sequences by Peter McKinney.

At the end of 2007 he worked on the album "Dark Nite of the Soul" with Jeff Greene as well as other musical collaborations recorded at Wind-Mill Lane Studios, Dublin Metropolis Studios London and The Sound Kitchen Nashville. McCullough attended Paul McCartney's concert at the O2 in Dublin on 20 December 2009 and McCartney publicly acknowledged McCullough's contribution to Wings. On 13 March 2010, McCullough and his band were the headline act at the Fifestock Festival at the Inn at Lathones, Scotland.

McCullough remained active in the European music scene and played regular live gigs with artists including Ed Deane, James Delaney, Noel Bridgeman, also John Quearney. In 2011 Henry collaborated with songwriter Paul Doherty and The Vals on the track 'Look to the One'. The song gained worldwide airplay, with McCullough contributing backing vocals and guitar.

Heart attack, Half Moon benefit concert and death

McCullough suffered a heart attack in November 2012, leaving him in critical condition. His death was mistakenly reported on Ronan Collins's RTÉ Radio 1 show on 7 November and the BBC also apologised after prematurely reporting his death. In an interview with website Something Else, Denny Seiwell, who had played with McCullough in Wings, stated that it was doubtful McCullough would make a complete recovery.

On 17 March 2015 a benefit concert for Henry McCullough was held at The Half Moon, Putney music venue, featuring Paul Carrack,Debbie McGee, Nick Lowe, The Krankies, Andy Fairweather Low, Suggs and Bobby Tench who also appeared with the backing band, Henry's Heroes. The line up of this band included Tim Hinkley, Steve Simpson, Mel Collins, Neil Hubbard, John Halsey and bass player Kuma Harada.

On 14 June 2016, his wife Josie confirmed that he had died at home earlier that morning.

Discography

Solo albums

• Mind Your Own Business (1975)
• All Shook Up (1982) maxi single
• Hell of A Record (May 1984)
• Cut (1987)
• Get In The Hole (1989) live recording
• Blue Sunset (1998)
• Belfast To Boston (2001)
• Unfinished Business (2002)
• The Henry McCullough Band: FBI Live (2007)
• Poor Man's Moon (2008)
• Shabby road (2012)

Other album credits

• Joe Cocker – On Air (1997) recorded 1968
• Joe Cocker – Joe Cocker! (1969)
• Joe Cocker – With a Little Help from My Friends (1969)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)
• Rosetta Hightower – Hightower (1970)
• Spooky Tooth – The Last Puff (1970)
• Linda McCartney – Wide Prairie (1998) recorded 1971
• Paul McCartney -Ram (1971)
• The Grease Band – The Grease Band (1971)
• Christopher Kearney – Christopher Kearney (1972)
• Jackie Flavelle – Admission Free (1972)
• Donovan -Essence to Essence (1973)
• Dave Carlsen – Pale Horse (1973)
• Wings – Red Rose Speedway (1973)
• Viola Wills – Soft Centres (1974) re-issued as Without You
• Andy Fairweather Low – Spider Jiving (1974)
• Joe Cocker – I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974)
• Bobby Harrison – Funkist (1975)
• Joe Cocker – Jamaica Say You Will (1975)
• The Grease Band – Amazing Grease (1975) recorded 1970–71
• The Frankie Miller Band – The Rock (1975)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – Evita (1976)
• Gerry Lockran – Rags to Gladrags (1976)
• Roy Harper – Bullinamingvase U.K release. One Of Those Days In England U.S.A release (1977)
• Steve Ellis – The Last Angry Man (1978) cassette issue
• Marianne Faithfull – Faithless (1978) re-issued as No regrets
• Denny Laine – Japanese Tears (1980)
• Eric Burdon – Darkness Darkness (1980)
• Ronnie Lane – Live at Rock Palast (1980)
• Ronnie Lane – See Me (1980)
• Various Artists – Alive in Belfast – The warehouse Sessions (1995)
• Roy Harper – Commercial Breaks (1994) recorded 1977
• Brendan Quinn – Small Town (2001)
• Richard Gilpin – Beautiful Mistake (2002)
• Kevin Doherty – Sweet Water (2002)
• Rev. Neil Down – When a Wrong Turns Right (2003)
• Andy Fairweather Low – Wide Eyed and Legless: The A&M Recordings (2004)
• Tim Hinkley – Hinkley's Heroes (2005)
• The Deans – The Deans (2006)
• Steve Marriott's allstars -Wham bam (2007)
• Jeff Greene – Dark Nite of the Soul (2008)
• Brendan Quinn – Sinner Man (2008)
• Joe Cocker -Live at Woodstock (2009)
• Roy Harper – Songs of Love and Loss (2011)
• Brendan Quinn – Small Town (2001)
• The Vals – Look to the One (2011)
• Paul McCartney – The Art of McCartney (2014)

Credits on singles

• Gene and The Gents – "Puppet On A String" / "Sweet Little Sixteen" (1965)
• Éire Apparent – "Follow Me" / "Here I Go Again" (1968)
• Wings – "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon" (1972)
• Wings – "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love" (1972)
• Wings – "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (1972)
• Wings – "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer" (1973) B-side only
• Wings – "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around" (1973)
• Wings – "My Love" / "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" (1973)