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Serious
Non-Egotistical Nonsense, but true! But we just had to tell you
coz the 'Fruuppies' need to know!
Did you know that Fruupp's biggest gigue was at the Empire Pool
Wembley, London with Hawkwind! Did you know that Queen played
support to Fruupp! Yes 1974 at the Corn Exchange in Aylesbury,
England., and it was no wee gigue either. Did you know that
Genesis, with Phil Collins now the singer, ended their concert
in Columbia Md., 1977 with a version of 'The Irish Washerwoman'
and a unified shout of 'Hi Steve', when they heard that Houston
was in the audience! Did you know the Seymour Stein (Sire
Records & Madonna's Manager), contacted Houston after he'd left
Fruupp, wanting Houston to move to NY., and Stein would manage
the new Houston band! Stein was still talking to Houston about
it as late as 1984. Too Late, he'd been to Seminary and was
pastor of a growing church!
You really are illuminated now by knowing this stuff, aren't
you?
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Stephen Houston never intended do what he is
doing today. Classically trained in three instruments; Piano, Church
Organ and Oboe his entire focus as a teenager became a career in
music.
At sixteen he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster of a major
denominational church in Belfast, N. Ireland., and playing for city
civic functions. The same year, he joined the BBC and the Studio Symphony
Orchestra as second oboist. With the orchestra he toured with them
to many different cities.
He joined the Irish progressive rock band 'Fruupp' in 1970,
recording three LP record albums with them and touring all over
Europe. After leaving Fruupp in January 1975, he played with Texan
progressive gospel rock group 'Liberation Suite'.
He has continued playing, arranging and producing all styles of
music ever since and in 1984 release a contemporary gospel LP
recording.
Not stuck in just 'Christian Music' circles only, during 1999 he
wrote, played and produced an 'club dance' album with his youngest
daughter Gabrielle doing the singing. In 2001 he fulfilled a life
long desire to play electric guitar and has produced two secular
progressive rock CD's, harking back to the early 70's
Stephen Houston's Musical Trivia:
In 1966 I personally visited Flor Peteers in
Malines, Belgium. He was the organist at the Cathedral and the
composer of many organ works. Peteers had also studied under the
great Cesar' Franck, organist at Notre Dame Cathedral Paris. When
Flor Peteers came to the door of his house and saw this wee organ
student standing on his doorstep, both he and his wife promptly
brought me into his house. What an experience, as Peteers had half
the pre-refurbished Notre Dame organ together with the console
played by Cesar Franck built into his house. In fact, it looked like
the house had been built to contain the organ. Flor Peteers then
proceeded to jump onto the organ stool and opened up the monster,
playing some of his current composition. I ended up having a private
concert by one of the greatest classical pipe organist of the
twentieth century.
In 1975 I fulfilled another dream by playing the pipe organ in
concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
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'FRUUPPIES', WELCOME BACK
Y'ALL!
Will Fruupp get back together for a
geriatric tribute reunion tour? Doubtful, but worthy of
consideration! My problem is time and finding time. I met up
with Martin Foye in 1984, telephoned Vincent McCusker at the
millenium, to tell him 'that he still is the greatest guitarist
on the earth' and took Paul Charles to lunch at the Dorchester
in London in 1999. No talk of a reunion!
'LIBERATION SUITE'. Haven't heard from any of the band since
Terry Clarke in 1977 and Randy Hill in 2002.
GUITAR FANS The best guitarist that I have ever heard is a
friend of mine Jamie Thyer of 'The Worried Men'. Better than
Gary Moore in early 'Skid Row'.
FINAL THOUGHT FROM THE QUEST TO FIND MUD FLANAGAN:
'BE A FUTURE LEGEND AND NOT JUST A LEGEND IN YOUR OWN MIND!'
Stephen Houston's musical comment: If
you're going to write epics, then make them melodic, symphonic,
so exiting that they change the atmosphere tangibly and every
hearer gets infected with your intention.
Putting the records straight for the 'Fruuppies'!
Fruupp's third LP 'Prince of Heaven's
Eyes', song 'It's all up now', lyric 'and Killarey's still the
same, as the warm west winds blow over'. The printers got it
wrong. It should have 'Killarey', as in Killarey harbor
Connemara in the west of Ireland. The song title 'It's all up
now' refers to a picture which can be seen in Faith File,
hanging behind the Doc in the segment; 'Forum for your
reaction.'
Real Important, Right? but this has been a trivial raging
argument on Fruupp's tribute website.
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