The Average White Band, one of the best soul and funk bands of all-time, have announced their farewell tour for April and May 2024.
The group will perform their biggest hits and fan favourites, such as ‘Let’s Go Round Again’, ‘Cut The Cake’, ‘Atlantic Avenue’ and US Number 1 ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ across the 17-date tour.
Starting in Manchester on 26th April 2024, the tour will crisscross the UK before ending in Holmfirth on 18th May, including prestigious dates at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 2nd May and the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 7th May.
Formed in London in 1972, the six-piece band somewhat incongruously, given their Scottish roots, took the influences of their R&B heroes such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown and Stevie Wonder, and developed their own authentic sound which was eagerly adopted by black audiences in the US and elsewhere.
The group’s consistently accomplished song-writing helped them to achieve several gold and platinum-selling albums and multiple Grammy nominations with the legendary Atlantic Records.
In addition to the band’s hit singles, many of their album tracks such as ‘Schoolboy Crush’ and ‘Person to Person’, amongst others, have been heavily sampled by the likes of the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, A Tribe Called Quest and Arrested Development – so much so that the AWB are one of the top 15 sampled acts of all all-time.
Having remained a perennial fixture at top music venues across the world for over 50 years, the Average White Band’s farewell tour is the not-to-be-missed last chance for multiple generations of fans to experience the musical energy and trademark sound of one of the truly great soul bands.
Alan Gorrie is a bassist, guitarist, keyboardist and singer and remains one of two original members in the group’s current line-up – with guitarist Onnie McIntyre. Having previously played in Forever More, Alan Gorrie and Owen “Onnie” McIntyre formed the Average White Band in London in 1972.
Speaking about the farewell tour, Alan Gorrie said, “AWB has been our life for the last 50-plus years and has brought unbelievable highs – and some lows – to us throughout that tumultuous half-century, touring the globe and seeing the millions of happy and friendly faces that have greeted us wherever we have performed.
“That it’s finally coming to an end is going to mean a highly emotional tour, but one which will mean we bow out at the top level, thanks in great part to the wonderful five American ‘soul brothers’ who have been our band members for the last many years, and who are some of the best soloists and singers you could find on the planet”.
Onnie McIntyre says “Our guys never phone it in, they bring it all every night. The tour will be our way of saying goodbye and thank you to all the people who have supported us over the years. It’ll be wild – bring your dancing shoes.
“No doubt the unbelievable success of Pick Up The Pieces and other Grammy-nominated classics helped get us there. We bucked our Scottish roots, took our cues from Marvin Gaye, Al Green and James Brown, and took ‘coals to Newcastle’ when we broke into the US and a huge multi-racial following there, to add to our loyal UK fans.
“We hope to see you all at next Spring’s concerts, and to help us see out our final fling on the British Highway, including Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and any other ‘Royals’ you can think of. Please don’t miss it!!
“As a final tour of the United Kingdom, this will be a joyous (but bittersweet) trip through our roots, our history and our love affair with all of the UK since 1972, when we first stuck our toes in the waters of home-spun soul and r&b, taking it to the rest of the world and to success we could hardly have imagined back then. Please join us in a final celebration of that journey, and to a last hurrah of epic proportions with your presence and your ever-ready appreciation!”
The current line-up is:
- Alan Gorrie – bass, guitars, lead vocals, keyboards (1972–1983, 1989–present)
- Owen “Onnie” McIntyre – guitars, backing vocals (1972–1983, 1989–present)
- Fred Vigdor – tenor saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals (1996–present)
- Rocky Bryant – drums (2006–present)
- Brent Carter – lead vocals (2011–present) Brent is the former lead singer of Tower of Power
- Rob Aries – keyboards, bass (2013–present)
- Cliff Lyons – alto saxophone, keys, vocals (2015–present)
Alan’s “Track Record”
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
‘The Bumpy Road To Love’ by Fats Waller. I was about three and wondered where ‘love’ was. There was a bumpy road near us, so I thought it’d be along there! Maybe it was.
2. First single you owned?
78 RPM: ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ – Elvis; 45RPM: ‘Can I Get A Witness’ – Marvin Gaye.
3. First LP/album you owned?
The Spencer Davis Group, with Steve Winwood.
4. First CD you owned?
‘The Poet’ – Bobby Womack.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
‘Curtis Live’ – Curtis Mayfield. A CD to replace my worn out double vinyl LP.
From Alan’s 2021 EP, “The Blue Workshop”
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
The next collaboration between George Harrison, Prince and Bobby Womack, backed by The ‘Nightshift’ All Stars and produced by Arif Mardin and George Martin. RIP, all.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
‘Posted Sober’ – Michael Marra; ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
‘What’s Goin’ On’ – Marvin Gaye (single and album); ‘God Only Knows’ – Brian Wilson & Beach Boys (single); ‘A Day In The Life’ – The Beatles (album track).
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection?
‘Best Of The White Heather Club’ – a Scottish ‘Hoedown’ LP for New Year’s drinking, dancing and general revelry on Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve).
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
It’s been my entire life: it inspires, soothes, energises, confounds – and it pays me.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
‘Brother, Brother, Brother’ – The Isleys; it takes me back to our first trip to LA in 1972, and one of the absolute happiest times of my life, with my brother musicians in AWB.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
If there’s a song called ‘Keep It Short, Make It Simple’, that’d do. Maybe I have to write it?
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
I like silence while driving. That’s my thinking time without outside distraction. I assiduously avoid any exercising that’s generally pounded by music.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
‘Piano In The Dark’ – Brenda Russell; ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ – Bonnie Raitt.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
Didn’t have a conventional wedding – Marylebone Register Office in London (like Messrs McCartney, Jagger & others), followed by a ‘knees-up’ with pals at lunchtime in our favourite Notting Hill restaurant.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
I wouldn’t sing at a Karaoke session…not my cup of tea.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
‘Tutti Frutti’ – Little Richard. My first ‘public’ performance, aged 10, in front of semi-stunned end-of-year classmates, and a terrified schoolmistress; pure magic!
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
The Beatles, The Hollies (in ‘60s UK); The JBs, The Crusaders, The Brecker Brothers, The Band, Prince & NPG, King Curtis’ Kingpins, Mint Condition. Am I allowed original AWB with Robbie McIntosh? [Editor says: Yes, yes, yes, indeed you are, Alan!]
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
(In no particular order) Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Otis Redding, Steve Winwood, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Ray Charles, Bobby Womack.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
Bobby Womack’s ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ – the eternal question, and a killer vocal….Then, ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ by McFadden & Whitehead – for the journey!
