Climax Blues Band

English band founded in the 1960's by Colin Cooper. Originally known as The Climax Chicago Blues Band, the Climax Blues Band has always focused on its roots, a unique combination of jazz and blues. The band has released 21 albums and had a Top 10 hit in the UK with Couldn't Get It Right. That song and I Love You were also hits in the United States; Couldn't Get It Right reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, and "I Love You" peaked at No. 12 in 1981
In 1985, Cooper and Glover recruited guitarist Lester Hunt, drummer Roy Adams, and original member Derek Holt to record the Climax Blues Band album Drastic Steps, and this line-up toured in support of the album in the UK, Europe and America. The new line-up soon became established with Cooper, Glover, Hunt, Adams and Neil Simpson in the early 1990s, releasing the live album Blues From The Attic in 1993 and Big Blues in 2004.
Cooper died of cancer, aged 69, in July 2008. He is survived by his wife and two children. He wanted the band to continue, as the other musicians had all been long serving (Glover since 1980, Adams and Hunt since 1985, and Simpson since 1991). Cooper was replaced by singer and saxophone and harmonica player Johnny Pugh, who retired in 2012, and was replaced in turn by vocalist Graham Dee and saxophone player Chris Aldridge.
In 2019, Climax Blues Band released Hands Of Time, a new album of original bluesy funk, soul and jazz rock material that has received rave reviews.
In 2022 guitarist Lester Hunt sadly announced his retirement from the band due to health reasons and Climax had no hesitation in recruiting Dan Machin on guitars. Dan had worked with Lester from the age of 16, had followed Climax as a fan and played in various other bands with Roy and Neil along the way. He had already covered for Les at gigs where Les was unable to play and it was apparent he was able to smoothly step into the band as an accomplished and supremely talented guitarist.
Scott Ralph joined the band as lead singer in 2023 and also has an extraordinary musical pedigree as a multi-instrumentalist, and has worked a vast range of artistes from Robbie Williams and Engelbert Humperdinck to Nile Rodgers and Michael Bublé as a session man and on tour. He brings all his skill sets to Climax and is already integral to the songwriting. An old friend of Climax he has comfortably slotted into their world.
The current line-up (2026) includes: George Glover, Chris Aldridge, Neil Simpson, Roy Adams, Dan Machin and Scott Ralph.