In 1965 guitarist Harold Kelling was playing high school dances in Atlanta, Georgia with his group, The IV of IX. They hauled band equipment around in a used funeral hearse. Their music was the instrumental songs of The Ventures. The high school band era ended and Harold went to NY and met Frank Zappa. Then he started another band using amateur musicians. Without any formal music training but a good technical ability with the instruments they conjured up an album's worth of original songs.

An often misunderstood group of musicians they used a variety of gimmicks in their stage performances. Spontaneity, comedy and long jazzy guitar breaks were trademarks of their style. Hampton's "wigged out" stage presence and Harold Kelling's wild and elegant guitar styles were the glue of the band's performance.

The band had a stormy career since the music is not mainstream music. The esoteric rhythms are unique but are not easily played on the radio since they have no commercial appeal. Columbia initially bought into the band and produced an album but their plan behind it was unclear. The production of the album was marked with controversy between the record company and the band with the addition of internal disagreements between some of the band members. The album turned out to be a marketing mistake for the record company. This resulted in their album being shuffled to low priority in marketing. It was often found the the "Comedy" section at record stores. It has been released a second time in the 90's and is now available through Amazon.

Regardless of the problems the music is very unique and a serious musical journey into a realm that is truly "Hampton Grease Band". The album makes a good listen for folks that like this sort of stuff. It has become a collector's item in some circles.

Harold Kelling's guitar work teamed up with Glenn Phillip's guitar and the other band members is a work of musical ecstasy. His guitar work is technically excellent and his free flowing rifts lead you on a musical journey. The words to some songs are a little wacky but not too far out that they don't feel right for the songs. They are just part of the Grease Band style. You should at least listen to the album so you will experience music from the Grease Band point of view. Read reviews and listen to tracks at Amazon.

The Hampton Grease Band broke up shortly after the album was released in 1971. Kelling left the Grease Band, citing musical differences between himself and Phillips. All the members went on to other musical careers but none as flamboyant as the "Grease Band" style.
Harold Kelling died in 2005.

The Hampton Grease Band is also featured in the book, "Unknown Legends of Rock n' Roll" by Richie Unterberger.

Read reviews and listen to tracks at Amazon

Harold Kelling
Bruce Hampton
Jerry Fields
Grease Band Photos

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