Beggars Opera (band)

Beggars Opera was a Scottish progressive rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner (born 31 August 1948, Edinburgh, Scotland), vocalist Martin Griffiths (born 8 October 1949, Newcastle upon Tyne), and bassist Marshall Erskine (bass/flute). After working together building parts of the M40 Motorway near Beaconsfield, the three lads moved back to Glasgow to look for an organist and drummer and recruited Alan Park (keyboards) (born 10 May 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) and Raymond Wilson (drums). After an intensive time in rehearsal, they took up residency at Burns Howff club/pub in West Regent Street in the centre of Glasgow. Tours of Europe followed and the band found success in Germany, appearing on German TV's legendary Beat-Club, then at the first British Rock Meeting in Speyer in September 1971.