Back Door was a jazz-rock band that was formed in 1971. Band members: Colin Hodgkinson, born 14 October 1945 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire – Ron Aspery, bass player and frontman (born Ronald Aspery on 9 June 1946 in Middlesbrough (Yorkshire), died 10 December 2003 in Saltdean (East Sussex) – Tony Hicks, saxophonist, was born Anthony Hicks on 8 August 1948 in Middlesbrough (Yorkshire) — died 13 August 2006 in Sydney, New South Wales) -drummer Adrian Tilbrook, Hartlepool County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County, Hartlepool, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham, County Durham). Ron Aspery and Colin Hodgkinson met each other while they were both playing in Eric Delaney’s Showband. They began talking about starting their own band in 1969. In 1971, Back Door was formed with Tony Hicks as drummer. Hodgkinson was a pioneer in the use of electric bass. He made it a main instrument and not a part of a rhythm section. Their jazz-rock style and Hodgkinson’s original playing were a huge hit at their regular venue, the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge in Yorkshire. Record labels weren’t keen on the band and repeatedly said to them “No singer, not contract”. The band, ever the innovators, decided to record their first album. The album was recorded using a 4-track Ampex mixing system in eight hours and mixed the following day in four hours. RCA printed around 1,000 copies of the album’s first edition. The first RCA album was printed in around 1,000 copies. It was also sold at several local record shops. The record was somehow sent to London’s NME headquarters, where it received a wonderful review from Charles Shaar Murray. After some more reviews, the band was accepted for an interview and started playing at The Senate in Peterlee. Aspery had accidentally taken a key from his saxophone just moments before the audition. They gained popularity when they were invited to open for Chick Corea at Ronnie Scott’s London club for a two-week stint. This was extended to three weeks. After receiving numerous offers, the record companies changed their tune and the band signed with Warner Brothers. Richard Branson, who was just starting Virgin Records at that time, offered the band a contract, but they declined. Hodgkinson said that Richard Branson seemed very nice to them, but had no track record. Warner Brothers re-released the band’s debut album. The trio recorded their second album 8th Street Nites in New York in 1974. Felix Pappalardi, a former Cream producer, produced the album. Hodgkinson provided vocals for the album’s first release. “We needed a singer and I was the best of them all.” Papallardi also contributed to a few tracks. The record was released by Warner Brothers, with a tour in support of Emerson and Lake.
