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On this dayArgent, 27 October 1975, rock band Argent played Cardiff University.
The band had just released Counterpoints, their seventh and final album on RCA Victor (United Artists Records in U.S. in 10 April 1976).
This was the second studio album recorded without founding member Russ Ballard. John Verity stepped in to fill Ballard's shoes with the previous album Circus (at the recommendation of Ballard) after Verity's band supported Argent on tour 1974 tour.
Phil Collins played drums and percussion on Counterpoints while Bob Henrit was ill.
Founded in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent, formerly of the Zombies. They had three UK top 40 singles: "Hold Your Head Up", which reached number five and spent 12 weeks on the chart, "Tragedy" (number 34) and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (number 18).
Two of their albums charted in the UK; All Together Now, which peaked at number 13 in 1972, and In Deep, which spent one week at number 49 in 1973.
Original members of the band were Rod Argent on keyboards, bassist Jim Rodford (Argent's cousin and formerly with the Mike Cotton Sound), drummer Bob Henrit and guitarist Russ Ballard (both formerly with the Roulettes and Unit 4 + 2).
Lead vocal duties were shared between Ballard, Rodford and Argent.
When Ballard left in 1974, he was replaced by guitarist/vocalist John Verity and guitarist John Grimaldi.
This lineup produced two albums and a film that was never released (though a clip is available to view on John Verity's website).
The band's decision to stop touring late in 1976 has never been fully explained, though the decision might have been influenced by the declining health of one of its members.
Rodford, Henrit and Verity briefly continued together under the name Phoenix before going their separate ways, with first Rodford and then Henrit becoming members of the Kinks.
Meanwhile, Rod Argent performed some work with Andrew Lloyd Webber and produced a couple of solo albums. He also opened a keyboard shop in the West End of London.
