← FLASH home | 1971–72 | 1973–74
A date-by-date chronology of Flash for September 1971 to December 1972. Entries marked “(canceled)” were booked dates that did not take place. For the band’s history and discography, see the main FLASH page.
September ’71
- Early Peter Banks and Colin Carter, with a demo of “Small Beginnings” and drummer Andrew Steele (formerly of the Herd), present themselves to agents and managers and sign with the new Sovereign Records. Ray Bennett joins the rehearsals to help audition drummers; Mike Hough, then with the Jeff Rowena Band, answers an advertisement and joins after the audition (Derby Evening Telegraph, 11 December 1971; Colin Carter, 2019; Flash In The USA liner notes)
- Mid-to-late 1971 A first keyboard player (a Hammond organist named Dave) rehearses with the band but drops out less than two weeks before the De Lane Lea sessions; Tony Kaye is asked in and plays on the album
November ’71
- 8–21 London, UK, DeLane Lea Studios; Recording debut album, “Flash”
December ’71
- 11 The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that Flash (Banks, Carter, Bennett, Hough, with Tony Kaye on keyboards for the recording) have an LP ready for release in February and a nationwide tour lined up for the New Year
January ’72
- 14 High Wycombe, UK – Town Hall (with Stray)
- 15 Dudley, UK – Technical College
- 20 Dorchester, UK – Tavern Club
- 21 Bristol, UK – Polytechnic
- 22 St. Albans, UK – City Hall (with Stone The Crows)
- 28 Porthcawl, UK – Manor Suite
- 29 Watford, UK – Tech College (with Mott The Hoople)
- 31 Letchworth, UK – Youth Club
February ’72
- Album Release [UK] “Flash”
‘As Flash in its recording form was two fifths of the original Yes, it’s not surprising that the music comes out sounding a little the same.. The music’s very structured and there’s lots of excitement. Lead vocalist Colin Carter comes over well, and Peter Banks’s guitar work is always of a high standard’ – Beat Instrumental, March 1972
‘The first release from EMI’s new label [Sovereign]. Flash – featuring former Yes members Peter Banks and Tony Kaye – is a fairly heavy group getting some attention on the college circuit’ – Record Collector, March 1972 - 14 Ellesmere Port, UK – Cheshire College (Unconfirmed date)
- 18 Ipswich, UK – Civic College
- 19 Leicester, UK – “’72 Rag Dance”, University (with Roy Harper, Roxy Music)
- 22 London, UK – Marquee Club
- 25 York, UK – St. Peter’s School
- 26 Epsom, UK – Baths (with Budgie)
- 27 Bletchley, UK – Esmeralda’s, Youth Centre (with Gnidrolog, Vinegar Joe)
March ’72
- 1 Birmingham, UK – “Students’ Carnival” Mayfair Suite, Bull Ring (with Van Der Graaf Generator, Medicine Head)
- 1 Birmingham, UK – Aston University (with Tony Hazzard)
- 2 Preston, UK – Amethyst Club
- 3 Aberdeen, UK – University
- 4 Whitley Bay, UK – Random Club
- 9 BBC Radio Broadcast: ‘Sound Of The Seventies’ (with Gnidrolog, Strawbs, Mick Greenwood)
- 10 Exeter, UK – St George’s Hall
- 11 Narberth, UK – Queen’s Hall (with the Flying Hat Band)
- 17 Luton, UK – Tech College (with Slade, Gothic Horizon)
- 22 Bristol, UK – Boobs Club
- 23 North Devon, UK – Tech College
- 23 Penzance, UK – Winter Gardens
- 24 Guildford, UK – Tech College
- 25 Bracknell, UK – Bracknell Sports Centre (with Barclay James Harvest, Steve Peregrine Took)
- 29 Bristol, UK – Tiffany’s
- Press note In Beat Instrumental (March 1972), producer Derek Lawrence says he is a director of Two World Artistes, which is part-owned by Pytheon, ‘the management firm for Stackridge, Renaissance, Glencoe, Gordon Giltrap and Flash’.
April ’72
- 1 Plymouth, UK – Van Dike
- 3 Barnstable, UK – Queens Hall
- 7 Schiedam, The Netherlands – Sociëteit Arcade/Martin Green Society (with Focus)
- 8 Dortrecht, The Netherlands – Sprankja Club
- 9 Assen, The Netherlands – Theater De Nieuwe Kolk (A Dutch newspaper of 7 April 1972 announced the concert for ‘this Sunday’, a first for the Netherlands.)
- 10 Album Release [US]: “Flash”
- 13 Tournai, Belgium – Halle aux Draps (with John Martyn)
- 14 Brussels, Belgium – Théâtre 140 (with John Martyn)
- 15 Antwerp, Belgium – Handelsbeurs (with Irish Coffee)
- 16 Hasselt, Belgium – Germinal Hall
- 20 Langen, Germany – Unknown venue
- 21 Hamburg, Germany – Concert Hall
- 22 Utrecht, The Netherlands – Glarbuurs Hall/Jaarbeurscongrescentrum
- 23 Munster, Germany – Buurgstein Furte
- 24–25 Brussels, Belgium – TV Studio
- 30 Southampton, UK – Palace
- 30 London, UK – Chalk Farm Roundhouse (with Wishbone Ash, Hookfoot, Cheech ‘N’ Chong, Linda Lewis)
- Press note Record World (29 April 1972) names Flash an album pick on its front page: ‘Listen carefully. Flash will be one of the most important new groups of the year.’
May ’72
- Single Release Small Beginnings / Morning Haze
- 1 Birmingham, UK – Kinetic Circus (with Sandy Denny, Nazareth)
- 4 BBC Radio Broadcast: Sound Of The Seventies (with Bronx Cheer, Gnidrolog, Paul Jones)
- 5 Newcastle, UK – University (with Lindisfarne)
- 6 Sheffield, UK – University
- 6 Oswaldtwistle, UK – Town Hall
- 9 London, UK – Marquee Club
- 10 Nottingham, UK – Polytechnic
- 12 Northampton, UK – Guild Hall
- 13 London, UK – Imperial College (with Roy Young Band)
- 20 Bolton, UK – Institute of Technology
- 21 Croydon, UK – Greyhound
- 25 St. Annes, UK – Lowther Pavilion
- 26 Blackburn, UK – King George’s Hall
- 27 Penarth, UK – Paget Rooms
- 31 Stockport, UK – Town Hall
- Press note Beat Instrumental (May 1972) runs a two-page interview, ‘Being Flash With Pete Banks’ (pp. 68-69). Banks: ‘I made four attempts at forming a band before I found a financial backer.’ The piece also covers daily rehearsals at the Lyceum and some 100 drummer auditions, and says Tony Kaye could not play live with the band because of previous Yes contractual agreements.
- Press note Cash Box (20 May 1972) reviews the single ‘Small Beginnings’ (3:10 edit, Capitol 3345, flip ‘Morning Haze’ 4:32): ‘Coming on like a number from The Who’s “Tommy,” Flash lets loose lightning bolts aimed at Top 40 and FM targets on their first time out.’
- Press note Record World (27 May 1972), Single Picks: ‘This should be the first hit from the best new group of the year.’ That week Capitol advertised the single in both Record World and Cash Box: ‘First came the success of the import on East Coast radio…’ (advertising copy).
June ’72
- 2 Newcastle upon Tyne, UK – Mayfair Ballroom
- 3 Hornsea, UK – Floral Hall (with Mike Cooper, Wharfrat Music)
- 4 Kenilworth, UK – Kinetic Circus
- 6 London, UK – Marquee Club (with Cat Iron)
- 8 Guildford, UK – Civic Hall (with Audience)
- 9 London, UK – Marquee Club
Note: the Marquee’s own listings have Lightnin’ Slim on 9 June, not Flash, and Disc (10 June 1972) places Flash at the Red Lion, Leytonstone that night. - 9 Leytonstone, UK – Red Lion; 8 PM (Disc, 10 June 1972)
- 10 Slough, UK – Slough College (with Stackridge)
- 11–16 London, UK – Recording session
- 17 Oxford, UK – Jesus College
- 20–21 London, UK – Rehearsals
- 22 Staffs, UK – Keele University
- 23 Workington, UK – West Cumberland College of Science and Technology (with Glencoe)
- 24 Leicester, UK – Polytechnic
- 25 Swansea, UK – Pandora’s Club
- 28 Watford, UK – Town Hall (with Genesis)
July ’72
- Early London, UK – In The Can LP recorded
- Early Dorset, UK – Weymouth Pier Pavilion
- Early A San Francisco group also named Flash files a $6 million suit against Capitol Records over the British band’s album, claiming name infringement. Ray Bennett later recalled: ‘Somewhere in the midst of our first or second tour, we ran into a lawsuit with the name, so we were temporarily not playing in California.’ (Perfect Sound Forever, December 2005)
- 14 Band departs to JFK Airport, NYC
- 15 New York City, NY – Radio press conference
- 17 Brooklyn, NY – Prospect Park bandshell, WNEW-FM concert (with David Bromberg, Dust); on stage 4:30 PM; audience recording exists
- 18 Hempstead, NY – Ultrasonic Recording Studio, WLIR-FM,
- 18 Band filmed for WCBS TV news broadcast
- 19 Cherry Hill, NJ – Cherry Hill Arena (with Chambers Brothers, Surprize); 8 PM
- 20 Washington, D.C. – My Mother’s Place (Georgetown)
- 21 Washington D.C. – WDCA-TV studios presumably taping for the Barry Richards Show; further details unknown
- 21 Bowie, MD – Bowie Ice Rink
- 22 Fairfax, VA – Robinson High School
- 23 Fort Wayne, IN – Fort Wayne Coliseum (with James Gang)
- 24 Cleveland, OH – Agora (with Raspberries)
- 25 Toledo, OH – Agora
- 26 Cincinnati, OH – Reflections (with Freeport)
- 27 Columbus, OH – Agora
- 28–30 East Quogue, NY – The Barge (advertised in Newsday, c. 23 July 1972; probably not played, as the band were in Charlotte, Providence and Salisbury Beach on 29–31 July)
- 29 Charlotte, NC – Fairgrounds (with Poco, Uriah Heep, Long John Baldry, Wishbone Ash)
- 30 Providence, RI – Rhode Island Auditorium (with Black Sabbath, Black Oak Arkansas)
- 31 Boston, MA – Sheraton Hotel (Press and radio interviews)
- 31 Salisbury Beach, MA – Frolics Ballroom (with Cricket Hill); billed as Flash’s “only Boston area appearance” (poster, Colin Carter archive)
- Press note Record World (8 July 1972), Kal Rudman’s column on the single: ‘It broke to #21 at WRKO and 19 at WMEX. It went on KHJ at #28 and WCFL at #39.’ (Boston, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago stations.)
August ’72
- 1 Roslyn, NY – My Father’s Place (with James Cotton Blues Band); audience recording exists and released in edited form on “In The USA” (2022).
Note: the booking agency’s typed itinerary shows 1 August as a travel day and has “My Fathers Place” written against 3 August, so the date of this recording needs checking (Colin Carter archive). - 2 Bronx, NY – Gaelic Park (with Blue Öyster Cult, Beck Bogart and Appice [billed as Jeff Beck Group], Argent)
- 3 Roslyn, NY – My Father’s Place (with Glass Harp)
- 5 Commack, NY – Long Island Arena (with Savoy Brown, Rory Gallagher, Tower of Power); 7 PM (Newsday advertisement)
- 5 Asbury Park, NJ – Sunshine In (with Brownsville Station)
- 6 Pittsburgh, PA – Pitt Stadium (Afternoon show)
- 6 Commack, NY – Long Island Arena (with Wishbone Ash, Savoy Brown, Rory Gallagher)
Note: no advertisement has been found for a Commack show on 6 August. The arena’s Newsday advertisement lists Flash on 5 August only, so this line may duplicate the 5th. - 7 Chicago, IL – unknown venue
Note: the booking agency’s itinerary marks 7–9 August “off for press interviews” (Colin Carter archive). - 10 Jersey City, NJ Roosevelt Stadium (with Alice Cooper, The J. Geils Band, Ursa Major)
- 11 St. Petersburg, FL – Bayfront Center
- 12 Charleston, SC – County Hall
- 13 Jacksonville, FL – Memorial Coliseum
- 15 San Diego, CA – Balboa Park Bowl (with Foghat, Mike Bloomfield, Horsefeathers)
- 16–19 Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go (with Elijah); Los Angeles Free Press review of the run
- 20 (canceled) Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Fog Hat (Foghat) replaced Flash on the Sunday)
- 21 Detroit, MI – Roostertail Upper-Deck (with Air Speed)
- 22 Wichita, KS – Cessna Stadium (with Rod Stewart & The Faces, John Kay)
Note: the booking agency’s itinerary has the band remaining in Detroit on 22 August (Colin Carter archive), and Andy Neill’s Faces gigography (Had Me A Real Good Time) lists John Kay as the only support at Cessna Stadium. - 23 Davison, MI – Sherwood Forest “Wild Wednesday 72” (with Jo Jo Gunne, Catfish, The Counts, Detroit and many others)
- 25 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom (with The Kinks, Dr. Hook & His Medicine Show, Foghat)
- 26 New Orleans, LA – The Warehouse (with Foghat, Captain Beyond)
- 28 Madison, WI – Mother’s
- 29 Charlotte, NC – Park Center (with Argent, Foghat, Phlorescent Leech & Eddie)
- 31 Wingate, NC – Wingate Junior College
- Chart note A Boston radio DJ’s edit of “Small Beginnings” gets heavy airplay, and Sovereign/Capitol release it as a single; it reaches No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album Flash peaks at No. 33 on the Billboard 200
September ’72
- 1 Travel to Terre Haute, IN
- 2 Bull Island, IN – Erie Canal Soda Pop Festival (with Birtha, Foghat, Rory Gallagher, Ravi Shankar, Black Sabbath, Joe Cocker, Allman Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Gentle Giant, Amboy Dukes, Canned Heat, Black Oak Arkansas, Eagles, Nazareth, McKendree Spring and many others); exact performance date unknown. Flash’s appearance is confirmed by Colin Carter’s “ARTIST” badge and photographs taken from the band’s helicopter (Colin Carter archive)
- 4 Oshkosh, WI – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (with Brian Lee Blues Band, Blue Tale Fly, REO Speedwagon); Oshkosh Northwestern review
- 5 Long Island, NY, Nassau College
- 8 Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre (with Foghat, Bang)
- 9 Clermont, IN – Indianapolis Raceway Park, WNAP Indianapolis Raceway Festival (with Chuck Berry, Fleetwood Mac, It’s A Beautiful Day, Argent, Foghat, McKendree Spring and others); Audience recording exists
- 10 Madison, NJ – Fairleigh Dickinson University (Florham-Madison campus); Colin Carter was interviewed during the band’s stay by Rick Atkinson for the Drew Acorn (20 October 1972)
- 11 Kutztown, PA – Keystone Hall (with REO Speedwagon, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks); two readers’ letters in The Morning Call
- 12 Travel to Erie, PA
- 13 Erie, PA – Unknown venue
- 14 Radford, VA – Radford College Preston Hall Auditorium (with The Divots, Blue Oyster Cult)
- 15 Travel to New York City
- 16 York, PA – Unknown venue
- 17 Snippensberg, PA – Unknown venue
- 18 Travel back to the UK
- 29 Portsmouth, UK – South Parade Pier (with Caravan, Eclection)
- 30 Bromsgrove, UK – Shenstone New College
October ’72
- Album Release “In The Can”
‘Flash stick to their guns in embarking on adventurous, complicated arrangements, with shifts in tempo and key that grip without losing sight of strong, impressive melody lines, which Banks lays down with dexterity and imagination… A standout album of which they can be proud’ – Melody Maker, 10/3/73
‘Virtually every band that has been formed as a result of someone leaving Yes ends up sounding like them. This is Flash’s second album, after 12 months together, and they still seem to be looking for that elusive ingredient – originality. The vocals are overloaded, and instrumentally everybody seems to suffer from trying just that bit too much’ – Record Mirror, 3/3/73 (more newspaper reviews) - 5 London, UK – University College
- 6 London, UK – Queen Mary College
- 7 Uxbridge, UK – Technical College
- 8 Upminster, UK – New Windmill Hall
- 9–10 London, UK – DeLane Lea Studios Recording sessions
- 11 London, UK – Maximum Sound Studios Recording session
- 12 Hornsey, UK – Hornsey College Of Art
- 13 London, UK – Thames Polytechnic (with The Pretty Things)
- 14 Canterbury, UK – Elliot College University of Kent
- 15 Lancing, UK – Lancing College
- 19 Hull, UK – Malcolm’s
- 20 London, UK – Goldsmiths College (with Colin Blunstone)
- 21 Cardiff, UK – University (with Glencoe)
- 23 London, UK – Recording of “Watch Your Step” and/or “Never Stand”
- 24 London, UK – Marquee Club
- 27 Egham, UK – Royal Holloway College
- 28 Nottingham, UK – Nottingham University
- 29 Gravesend, UK – Civic Hall (with Mick Abrahams’ Band)
Of interest: US newspapers reported in September 1970 that Peter Banks, then recently out of Yes, had joined Blodwyn Pig after Mick Abrahams left the group.
November ’72
- 12 London, UK – Recording sessions commenced
- 13 London, UK – Banks collaborated with Jan Akkerman to record the track “Stop That.”
- 15 London, UK – Finished recording tracks
- 16 London, UK – A notable session at Advision Studios took place, featuring an ensemble of Peter Banks, Phil Collins, Ray Bennett, and Jan Akkerman.
- 17 London, UK – Kings Cross Cinema
- 18 Manchester, UK – Manchester University
- 18 (canceled) Rutherford, NJ – Fairleigh Dickenson College Advertised but presumably their US tour was postponed.
- 25 London, UK – Isleworth Polytechnic Unconfirmed date (with Sam Apple Pie)
- 26 Cleveland, OH – Unknown venue Misreported as Philadelphia in Creem magazine; another gig postponed
December ’72
- Single Release [US] “Lifetime / Children Of The Universe” (Sovereign/Capitol 3496); an edited “Children Of The Universe” was promoted as the A-side from February 1973
- 2 Teaneck, NJ – Fairleigh Dickinson University Two headlining shows (with Blue Oyster Cult)
- 5–7 Roslyn, NY – My Father’s Place
- 8 Milton, MA – Curry College, South Campus Auditorium Headlining show (with The World of Lenny Bruce)
- 9 Chattanooga, TN – Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium (with Humble Pie, Roxy Music)
- 10 Charleston, WV – Charleston Civic Center (with Humble Pie, Roxy Music)
- 11 Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre (with Mott The Hoople, Bull Angus); 7 PM (ticket, Colin Carter archive)
- 12 Warren, OH – Packard Music Hall
- 13 Lexington, KY – The Warehouse (with Ethos)
- 15 Newark, NJ – Newark State College; two shows
- 16 Passaic, NJ – Capitol Theatre; two shows (with Chuck Berry, Phlorescent Leech & Eddie); Audience recording exists and excerpts released on 2022’s “In The USA” set Rolling Stone (20 January 1973) said of Flash: “The guitar of Peter Banks, core of the English foursome, provided finesse, but the Jaggerish posturing of lead vocalist Colin Carter appeared a trifle dated although his vocals were adroit.” – Phil Gelormine
- 17 Ramapo, NJ – Ramapo High School Auditorium; two shows
- 22 Detroit, MI – Ford Auditorium Headlining show (with Mom’s Apple Pie, Blue Öyster Cult)
- 27 Indianapolis, IN – Indianapolis Convention Center (with Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, McKendree Spring [George and Sue Mizer got married at the concert]); audience recording excerpts available on “In The USA” (2022).
- 28 Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota National Guard Armory (with Raspberries, Bang)
- 29 St Louis, MO – Keil Auditorium (with Steve Miller Band)
- 30 Rockford, IL – National Guard Armory
- 31 Providence, RI Palace Theatre (with Al Kooper)
From the Colin Carter Archives
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