The Man band first came together as the Bystanders in 1964. The band were one of many pop bands in the sixties that were trying to climb the ladder of success and managed to release many singles during the period between 1964 and 1968. The band became Man when Deke Leonard from another Welsh band The Dream joined and the band signed to Pye records. The music that the Man band performed however was very much removed from the pop sensibilities of The Bystanders and more in keeping with the West Coast sound of American bands such as The Quicksilver Messenger Service. The band would record two albums for Pye (Revelation and 2ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle) before leaving the label to sign with the more progressively minded Liberty records in 1970 and were to remain with the label until 1976 when they signed with MCA.
Following the deal with MCA the band released just one more studio album (The Welsh Connection) before announcing their decision to call it a day following one more tour that would be recorded and finally be released as All’s Well That Ends Well. Throughout the seventies the band had undergone a number of changes with members coming and going at an alarming rate with Deke Leonard leaving and joining and Martin Ace leaving and also returning briefly. During the years that followed the split the various members all concentrated on solo projects however in 1983 the band decided to re form and head out on the road and play gigs and record again.
The re formed band played many concerts and recorded several albums which consolidated the bands solid reputation. Despite the fact that both Deke Leonard and Mickey Jones have suffered health problems over the last few years the Man Band resolutely refuse to give in and continue to perform concerts and record albums for a loyal and devoted audience.
Live At The Rex is the bands debut DVD release and was filmed at The Rex in Lorsch Germany. The performance features material old and new including Daughter Of The Fireplace, Romain, Spunk Rock and C' Mon. Interestingly the line up here includes Deke Leonard in one of his final gigs for Man and the set includes two long time Deke Leonard favourites in The Ride And The View and 7171 551. Deke has subsequently departed the ranks of Man for a solo career making this DVD an important historical document.
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