String Driven Thing

String Driven Thing were a 1970s folk-rock band from Scotland

History

Formation

String Driven Thing formed in Glasgow in 1967 as a three part harmony folk band with the Adamses and guitarist John Mannion and after paying their dues on the Scottish folk circuit, they put out a self-titled album on the independent Concord label (copies of which are collectable and difficult to find) although a long way from their later Charisma label output. The group moved to London in 1970, and Chris Adams began to steer the band towards the electric folk-rock genre where his song writing abilities, which often feature hard-bitten, bitter observations capturing the harsher side of life, would be seen to better effect. By 1972 he had recruited classically-trained violinist Graham Smith and guitarist Colin Wilson on bass, but soon afterwards Mannion left, citing musical differences.

Record deal and tour

Adams then secured a deal with Tony Stratton-Smith's Charisma label and another eponymous album came out, produced by Shel Talmy at London's IBC Studios, with the songs "Circus", "Jack Diamond" and...
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