Alex Harvey

On This Day 27/04/1973 Alex Harvey

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On this day, 27 April 1973, iconic Scottish rocker Alex Harvey and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band played Cardiff University.

Although his career spanned almost three decades, he is best remembered as the frontman of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, with whom he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the era of glam rock in the 1970s.

SAHB produced a succession of highly regarded albums and tours throughout the 1970s. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band had top 40 hits in Britain with the single "Delilah", a cover version of the Tom Jones hit, which reached number seven in 1975, and also with "The Boston Tea Party" in June 1976.

The band never achieved acclaim in the United States the way it did in Great Britain, but it had a cult following in certain US cities, especially Cleveland, where the group first played at the Agora Ballroom in December 1974. Thanks to airplay from WMMS, songs like "Next" and "The Faith Healer" became very popular. Cleveland remained a city where the Sensational Alex Harvey Band had a devoted following. However, they were unable to replicate that popularity in most other US cities.

After Harvey left the group in 1976, the other members continued as SAHB (Without Alex) producing the album Fourplay. Harvey re-joined the group for 1978's Rock Drill. SAHB with Alex toured the UK in Autumn 1981 with the last gig at Workington's Carnegie Theatre on 1 November.

On This Day 22/5/1975 Alex Harvey

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On this day, 22 May 1975, Scottish rocker Alex Harvey played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.


Although his career spanned almost three decades, he is best remembered as the frontman of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, with whom he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the era of glam rock in the 1970s.


The singer/band had just released their fourth album Tomorrow Belongs To Me, whilst their soon to be released cover of the Tom Jones classic Delilah peaked at no7 in the UK singles chart.
Harvey finally left the band in 1981 and he released two more solo albums.


On 4 February 1982, returning from performances in Belgium, Harvey died from heart failure, a day before his 47th birthday.


Harvey’s brother Les, who was guitarist with Stone The Crows also died tragically young when he was electrocuted during the band’s performance at Swansea Top Rank in 1972.