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On this day, 5 February 1972, prog/folk rock group Stackridge played Llandaff Technical College in Cardiff.
Stackridge Lemon were formed from the remains of a previous band, Grytpype Thynne, by Andy Davis and James "Crun" Walter during 1969 in the Bristol/Bath area of South West England. After initial experimentation, the word Lemon was dropped from the band's name.
The band played their first London gig at The Temple in Wardour Street on 6 February 1970. They were the opening and closing act at the first Glastonbury Festival between 19 September and 20 September 1970.
During 1970, the members of the band shared a communal flat as their headquarters at 32, West Mall in Clifton, Bristol, the address of which Davis and Warren later used as the title of a song, which appeared on the debut album, Stackridge.
During 1971, Stackridge began serious gigging, although Crun left to take up bricklaying. Davis, Warren, Bent, Evans, and Slater embarked on a UK tour supporting Wishbone Ash. Later in the year they signed to MCA Records and recorded their first album Stackridge, at De Lane Lea Studios, London. They toured the UK as headliners with Renaissance supporting and played their first John Peel session for the BBC, which included a version of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)".
The group continued on a year of touring, again with Wishbone Ash and also Forever More. On 30 September they supported Lindisfarne at Newcastle City Hall. The second album Friendliness was quickly recorded in August 1972, and released in November with some songs that had started life in pre-Stackridge days. By this time Crun had rejoined the band which consisted of Davis, Warren, Slater, Evans, Walter and Billy Sparkle.
