Pilot Biography
'70s soft-rockers Pilot originally formed in 1973 with its bandmembers (David Paton on bass and vocals; Billy Lyall on synthesizer, flute, and vocals; and Stuart Tosh on drums) all hailing from Scotland. The group added a few additional members along the way (including two chaps who were former members of teeny boppers the Bay City Rollers, plus session guitarist Ian Bairnson), before issuing their self-titled debut in 1974. The album spawned a Top 20 hit with "Magic," but it was their 1975 single "January" (off their sophomore effort Second Flight) that proved to be the biggest success of the group's entire career, rocketing to the number one spot. Further albums followed (1976's Morin Heights and 1977's Two's a Crowd) as well as a few more moderate-sized hit singles ("Call Me Round," "Just a Smile") before Pilot folded. Tosh soon resurfaced as part of 10cc, as both Paton and Bairnson concentrated on studio work, playing on Kate Bush's 1978 debut, The Kick Inside, as well as recordings for Alan Parsons and Chris de Burgh. Lyall issued a solo album in 1976, Solo Casting (which featured his fellow Pilot bandmates), and later joined the group Dollar, before passing away in December of 1989 from an AIDS-related illness. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Tribal tech Biography: The virtuoso jazz fusion unit Tribal Tech was formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis, debuting a year later with Spears. Over the course of subsequent efforts including...
Hate eternal Biography: Founded in the late 1990s, Hate Eternal is an amelodic, ultra-fast death metal/grindcore band that is led by former Morbid Angel and Ripping Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan. While those bands employed...
Anvil Biography: In the early '80s, the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil made an impact on the developing speed metal scene. Their first three albums featured some mind-boggling technically advanced metal at a...
Phats and small Biography: The production team of Phats and Small found much of their success in lending a hand to the European rebirth of disco and progressive house. Brighton, U.K., natives Russell Small and Jason Phats...
Echo and the bunnymen Biography: Echo & the Bunnymen's dark, swirling fusion of gloomy post-punk and Doors-inspired psychedelia brought the group a handful of British hits in the early '80s, while attracting a cult following in the...
Serial joe Biography: At an age when most boys' lives are consumed by the likes of puberty and G.I. Joe, the members of Serial Joe were busy building their music careers. Ever since the rock band won the 1998 Much Music...
Eternal tears of sorrow Biography: Eternal Tears of Sorrow originated in the northern Finnish town of Pudasjärvi, where musicians Altti Veteläinen (vocals, bass), Jarmo Puolakanaho (guitar, keyboards), and Olli-Pekka...
Tyler read Biography: Metal-edged indie rock quintet Tyler Read formed in Shreveport, LA, in 2003, out of the merging of two defunct local bands. Singer Josh Johnson and his brother, drummer Jordan Johnson, formed the...