Warhorse

Warhorse is a British hard rock and progressive rock group active from 1970 to 1973. The band forms around former Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper, who leaves Deep Purple in 1969 and then leads soul singer Marsha Hunt’s backing band. That line-up, which includes Rick Wakeman on keyboards for a period, becomes the nucleus of Warhorse.

Style and recordings

The group’s sound combines keyboard-led progressive rock with early heavy metal and hard rock. It is often set alongside early Deep Purple and, for its heavier side, early Black Sabbath, while also showing echoes of Yes and Uriah Heep. Warhorse records two albums for Vertigo in the early 1970s: Warhorse and Red Sea.

Line-up and later activity

The band’s members include Barney James, Peter Parks, Ged Peck, Mac Poole, Nick Simper and Frank Wilson. In its final period, drummer Barney James briefly replaces Mac Poole, while Poole later joins Gong. Singer Ashley Holt and James both go on to Rick Wakeman’s band. Warhorse splits in 1973.