Biography

CCS - Collective Consciousness Society - was an unlikely collaboration between blues traditionalist Alexis Korner (b. 19 April 1928, Paris, France, d. 1 January 1984, London, England; vocals/guitar), producer Mickie Most (b. Michael Peter Hayes, 20 June 1938, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, d. 30 May 2003, London, England), and arranger John Cameron (b. 1944, England). Formed in 1970, the unit revolved around Korner and long-time associate Peter Thorup (b. 14 December 1948, d. 3 August 2007; vocals), plus several of Britain’s leading jazz musicians, including Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Kenny Wheeler, Les Condon (trumpets), Johnnie Watson, Don Lusher (trombones), Ronnie Ross, Danny Moss (saxophones), Ray Warleigh (flute), Herbie Flowers, Spike Heatley (basses), Barry Morgan and Tony Carr (drums) and Bill Le Sage (tuned percussion). Although the exact line-up was determined by availability, the unit’s commercial, brass-laden sound remained intact over three albums. CCS enjoyed several hit singles, each of which was marked by Korner’s distinctive growl. Their version of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’, which served as the theme to BBC television’s Top Of The Pops, reached number 13 in 1970, and the following year they enjoyed two UK Top 10 entries with ‘Walkin’’ and ‘Tap Turns On The Water’. CCS was dissolved in 1973 when Korner and Thorup formed Snape with Boz Burrell (bass) and Ian Wallace (drums), two former members of King Crimson.