FLASH was formed in 1971. It was Colin Carter (vocals) who contacted Peter Banks to form a new band together. Peter was going through his gray period and after his previous experiences with bands wasn't too keen on getting another one started. But after writing "Small Beginnings" together, Peter shopped the demo around and landed a deal. The next task was to find the right musicians, which proved to be more work than it seemed. It was Peter who thought up the band name, and once Ray Bennett (on bass) and Mike Hough (on drums) would combine forces - they would become FLASH. Deciding against using a keyboardist, Peter ultimately developed an exciting guitar style and created Flash's special sound. They released 3 albums in just 2 years before calling it a day in 1973.

CHRONOLOGY

 

1971

 

8-21 NOV — Recording debut album Flash at De Lane Lea Studios, Wembley, UK

 

1972

 

14 JAN — High Wycombe, UK, Town Hall

with Stray

 

15 JAN — Dudley, UK, Tech College

 

20 JAN — Dorchester, UK, Tavern Club

 

21 JAN — Bristol, UK, Polytechnic

 

22 JAN — St. Albans, UK, City Hall

with Stone The Crows

 

28 JAN — Porthcawl, UK, Manor Suite

 

29 JAN — Watford, UK, Tech College

with Mott The Hoople

 

31 JAN — Letchworth, UK, Youth Club

 

FEB LP RELEASE: Flash

 

18 FEB — Ipswich Civic, UK, College

 

19 FEB — Leicester, UK, University

with Roy Harper

 

22 FEB — London, UK, Marquee

 

25 FEB — York, UK, St Peter’s School

 

26 FEB — Epsom, UK, Baths

with Budgie

 

27 FEB — Bletchley, UK, Youth Centre

with Gnidrolog

 

1 MAR — Birmingham, UK, Bullring Mayfair Suite

 

1 MAR — Birmingham, UK, Aston University

with Tony Hazzard

 

2 MAR — Preston, UK, Amethyst Club

 

3 MAR — Aberdeen, UK, University

 

4 MAR — Whitley Bay, UK, Random Club

 

10 MAR — Exeter, UK, St George’s Hall

 

11 MAR — Narbeth, UK, unconfirmed venue

 

17 MAR — Luton, UK, Tech College

with Slade, Gothic Horizon

 

22 MAR — Bristol, UK, Boobs Club

 

23 MAR — North Devon, UK, Tech College

 

23 MAR — Penzance, UK, Winter Gardens

 

24 MAR — Guildford, UK, Tech College

 

25 MAR — Bracknell, UK, Sports Centre

with Steve Peregrine Took

 

29 MAR — Bristol, UK, Tiffany's

 

1 APR — Plymouth, UK, Van Dykes

 

30 APR — Southampton, UK, Palace

 

30 APR — London, UK, Chalk Farm Roundhouse

with Wishbone Ash, Hookfoot

 

MAY SINGLE RELEASE: "Small Beginnings / Morning Haze"

 

1 MAY — Birmingham, UK, Kinetic Circus

with Sandy Denny, Nazareth

 

5 MAY — Newcastle, UK, University

with Lindisfarne

 

6 MAY — Oswaldtwistle, UK, Town Hall

 

9 MAY — London, UK, Marquee

 

12 MAY — Northampton, UK, Guild Hall

 

13 MAY — London, UK, Imperial College

 

20 MAY — Bolton, UK, Institute of Technology

 

25 MAY — Lytham, UK, St Anne's Lowther Pavilion

 

26 MAY — Blackburn, UK, King George's Hall

 

27 MAY — Penarth, UK, Paget Rooms

 

31 MAY — Stockport, UK, Town Hall

 

2 JUN — Newcastle, UK, Mayfair

 

3 JUN — Hull, UK, Floral Hall

 

4 JUN — Kenilworth, UK, Kinetic Circus

 

6 JUN — London, UK, Marquee

 

8 JUN — Guildford, UK, Civic Hall

with Audience

 

9 JUN — Leytonstone, UK, Red Lion

 

10 JUN — Slough, UK, College

 

17 JUN — Oxford, UK, Jesus College

 

24 JUN — Leicester, UK, Polytechnic

 

28 JUN — Watford, UK, Town Hall

with Genesis

 

23 AUG — Davison, Michigan, Sherwood Forest "Wild Wednesday '72"

with Catfish, Counts, Detroit, Jo Jo Gunne, Mutzie, Plain Brown Wrapper, Salem Witchcraft

 

xx AUG — Roslyn, New York, My Father's Place

 

4 SEP — Chandler, Indiana, Bull Island

 

OCT LP RELEASE: In The Can

 

8 OCT — Upminster, UK, New Windmill Hall

 

12 OCT— London, UK, Hornsey Art College

 

13 OCT — London, UK, Thames Polytechnic

with The Pretty Things

 

20 OCT — London, UK, Goldsmiths College

with Colin Blunstone, Home

 

21 OCT — Cardiff, UK, University

with Glencoe

 

24 OCT— London, UK, Marquee

 

29 OCT — Gravesend, UK, Civic Hall

with Mick Abrahams Band

 

25 NOV — London, UK, Isleworth Polytechnic

with Sam Apple Pie

 

DEC SINGLE RELEASE: "Lifetime / Children Of The Universe"

 

16 DEC — Roslyn, New York, My Father's Place

 

Audience recording exists with Small Beginnings / Black And White / Children Of The Universe

 

22 DEC — Detroit, Michigan, Ford Auditorium

 

1973

 

14 JAN — New York City, NY, Philharmonic Hall

with Dr. Hook & Earth, Wind And Fire

 

21 JAN — Kansas City, MO, Cowtown Ballroom
with The Byrds

 

This set was recorded on 2 inch multi track tape by The Record Plant mobile studio. Released in 2013 as "Flash In Public."

Set: Small Beginnings / Black And White / Stop That Banging / There No More / Children Of The Universe/ Dreams Of Heaven

 

FEB SINGLE RELEASE: "Watch Your Step / Lifetime"

 

1 FEB — Dunstable, UK, Civic Hall

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

2 FEB — Reading, UK, University

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

3 FEB — London, UK, Imperial College

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

6 FEB — Hanley, UK, Heavy Steam Machine

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

7 FEB — Liverpool, UK, University

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

8 FEB — Loughborough, UK, University

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

9 FEB — Newcastle, UK, Polytechnic

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

11 FEB — Manchester, UK, Hard Rock

with Beck Bogart & Appice

 

27 APR — Ayr, UK, Caledonian

 

28 APR — Glasgow, UK, University

with Fruup, Spencer Davis Band

 

19 MAY — Luton, UK, College

with JSD Band

 

28 JUL — London, UK, Alexandra Palace

with Nazareth, Man, East Of Eden, Budgie

 

29 JUL — London, UK, Alexandra Palace

with Silverhead, Back Door, Beckett

 

14 AUG — Clarkston, Michigan, Pine Knob Musical Theater

with Wishbone Ash

 

16 SEP — Kansas City, Missouri, Fairyland Park "Carney Rock II"

with Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blue Oyster Cult, The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie, Brownsville Station

 

24 NOV — Detroit, Michigan, Masonic Temple

with Wishbone Ash

 

OCT LP RELEASE: Out Of Our Hands

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