Steampacket

THE STEAMPACKET. British blues band of the 1960s, notable mainly for the fact that so many of its members already were, or subsequently became, famous as individual musicians. Arguably the UK's first "supergroup". The group was formed by Long John Baldry after the break-up of his previous group the Hoochie Coochie Men. It included Hoochie Coochie Men vocalist Rod Stewart , female vocalist Julie Driscoll and organist Brian Auger. They were managed by Giorgio Komelsky who had previously been involved with The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds. Steampacket played at various clubs, theatres and student unions around the country, including supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1965 British tour. Because of contractual difficulties, however, they never formally recorded a studio or live album. Tracks from tapes made at a rehearsal in the Marquee Club in London were released after the band split as an album, The First Supergroup, and some were later released by Charley Records as The Steampacket - Featuring Rod Stewart . Stewart left in 1966 and the group disbanded soon after. Long John Baldry pursued a solo career and had a Number 1 hit in the UK in 1967 with Let the Heartaches Begin. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and Vic Briggs formed Trinity, and had a UK hit in 1968 with This Wheels On Fire. Rod Stewart later sang with the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces before enjoying huge success as a solo artist to the current day ...........