Helter Skelter (5)

Drummer Gary Anderson met Jesse Hector (ex "The Rock 'N' Roll Trio", "The Cravats", "The Clique", "The Rock 'N' Roll Trio (Version II)", "The Way Of Life", "The Mod Section") circa 1970 when Jesse's new band at the time, "Crushed Butler" (formed 1969) played a gig with Gary's outfit, "Albert Monk". They spoke afterwards, and agreed to work together someday. After "Crushed Butler" (who in autumn 1970 changed band moniker to "Tiger") folded in spring 1971, Jesse contacted Gary and formed "Helter Skelter", with Vic Allen on bass. They recorded "I Need You" b/w "Goodbye Baby" in late 1971 in one take each at Regent Sound Studios, Denmark Street, London with David Kassner, son of President Records owner Eddie Kassner, producing. It was not released at the time, however the single was belatedly released six years later in 1977 (during the height of the British punk rock era) on President Records subsidiary label Sticky Records. "Crushed Butler" / "Tiger" first and last bassist, Alan Butler, replaced Vic Allen in "Helter Skelter" in 1972. A year later and with the now stable band lineup of Jesse Hector, Alan Butler, and Gary Anderson, "Helter Skelter" changed the band moniker to "The Hammersmith Gorillas" in 1973, later shortened to simply "The Gorillas" in 1976. Helter Skelter "I Need You" single was reissued on Just Add Water Records in 2018 with a recently uncovered additional unreleased studio outtake from the same Regent Sound Studios recording session in 1971 entitled "I Live In Style In Maida Vale" (later to be re-recorded by The Hammersmith Gorillas in 1974). "I Need You" was also re-recorded as "I Need Her" by The Gorillas on their only album, "Message To The World" in 1978.