The Gods were formed in Hatfield, England in 1965. Strangely, they were a ‘supergroup’ of the future … they just didn’t know that at the time.

I’ll explain.

Founding members were Mick Taylor (who would of course later join John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones) together with brothers Brian & John Glascock, the latter of whom would go on to play bass play with Jethro Tull. These three were pals at school and had already played together in a band called The Juniors.

The initial line-up was completed with the addition of keyboard player Ken Hensley (later of Uriah Heep) and guitarist Joe Konas. There would be more of the ‘future superstar’ connection as the years progressed … we’ll get to that.

With this first incarnation, the band made a name for themselves, opening for Cream and recording their first single, ‘Come On Down To My Boat, Baby.‘

However, in May ’67, John Mayall fan, Mick Taylor was asked to join his hero’s band as replacement for Peter Green. It was an offer he couldn’t, and didn’t refuse, leaving behind a band that was by then struggling to maintain momentum.

John Glascock then left the band, leaving room for Paul Newton to take over on bass, albeit on a short-term basis, as he was in turn replaced by Greg Lake. Yes, that Greg Lake. The band had by then moved to London and secured a residency at The Marquee, but it wasn’t long before Greg Lake (acknowledged by Ken Hensley as being too talented to kept in the background) moved on to King Crimson … the most famously on to Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

By this time, drummer Brian Glascock had been replaced by Lee Kerslake, who would later make his name as drummer in Uriah Heep’s best line-up, in my opinion.

For a band of The Gods standing, I find it quite incredible they spawned the careers of so many who would go on to make big names for themselves with other bands.

1968 saw the band record the first of two albums with this finally settled line-up of Ken Hensley, Lee Kerslake, John Glascock and Joe Konas. ‘Genesis‘ was an album which as you’d expect having knowledge of Hensley’s subsequent career, mixed bits of psychedelia with heavily laced Hammond organ, progressive rock licks and soaring vocals.

The follow-up album, ‘To Samuel A Son,‘ leaned more to a psychedelic sound as illustrated in the album opener:

Following these two albums, later in 1970, The Gods 1970 produced an album, ‘Orgasm,‘ under the pseudonym of Head Machine, before Hensley, Kerslake and Glascock joined forces with ex Rebel Rouser, Cliff Bennett to form Toe Fat. A deal was signed with EMI / Parlaphone and two albums were released before the members all moved on to the next stage of their careers.

The rest, as they say, is history!

THE GODS

(Ultimate & album-recording line-up.)

Ken Hensley – Keyboards / Guitar / Percussion / Vocals
Joe Konas – Guitar
John Glascock – Bass
Lee Kerslake – Drums

TITLE	FORMAT	YEAR	LABEL	NOTES
Genesis	LP	1968	Columbia	Original pressings have sold for in excess of £500
To Samuel A Son	LP	1970	Columbia
Come On Down To My Boat Baby	7″ Single	1967	Polydor	An original pressing sold on Discogs for £688
Baby’s Rich	7″ Single	1968	Columbia
Hey! Bulldog	7″ Single	1969	Columbia
Maria	7″ Single	1969	Columbia