Debbi Smith Meets Dantalian’s Chariot

Isn’t that the madman running through the fields | published in Go magazine, 24th November 1967

Debbi Smith Meets Dantalian’s Chariot | Funny about audiences. Hendrix fans emerge amid cries of “Too Much”. Simpering chicky-babies can be seen wiping away the tears after “beautiful” Donovan concerts.

But if you happen to be passing a theatre at emptying time, and the people leaving it are doing so slowly, look closer. Note squinting eyes, waving hands trying to find their way out? Relax. Blind eyes and blown minds are merely side-effects. One learns to expect that sort of thing when Zoot’s band are around.

Zoot’s band is so dubbed out of respect for Britain’s Number One looner, Zoot Money, who broke up his Big Roll Band Several months ago.

Any references to “Zoot’s band” are made at the risk of the speaker; the formal name is Dantalian’s Chariot, and Zoot would love to sink quietly back into the rest of his new band.

But it’s not easy to sink back anywhere if you happen to be Zoot Money. And as long as Zoot stays in the music business, anything he joins will be referred to as Zoot’s. He is loved, and nobody in Britain is going to let him rest in peace.

While many club-goers in England are still not aware of the change (as it once was with the New Animals in the States), the ones who have seen Dantalian’s Chariot were, understandably, baffled. Because the new group are completely different in concept, in philosophy, and execution.

The rip-it-up soul-type music of the old band has been kicked out. In its place is the real soul of the band intricate, West Coast type sounds that appeal to the mind instead of the feet.

Debbi Smith Meets Dantalian’s Chariot

“It’s real soul ours, now”, says Andy, guitarist for Dantalian’s Chariot. The Big Roll Band was going stagnant, and its members were frustrated playing happy sounds all night. Worse still, was that the band had been splitting —only Colin Allen, the drummer and Andy Somers were thinking along Zoot’s lines

Excess baggage dumped, Pat Donaldson, a bass player, “appeared”. This time, Zoot stopped at four. The music, too, had to express the changes. What has emerged is exciting, often beautiful. and definitely blinding. Literally.

Lights are so important to the make-up of the Chariot that the light men, Phil Rose and Mike Lowe travel with the band. And the lights flow over and around the band, who appear completely in white.

Phil Rose, angrily waiting before a show, growled across the table. Phil is the only human light man known to bite instead of shaking hands. “I can’t really control it,” he mumbled.

“Like, I’m the most bent guy in the group and Colin is the straightest, so I get insecure. Any combination of two in the band get on fine, but any more than that and we’re at each other.”

Colin maintained a well-spoken silence. Everyone else seemed to be having a go at each other. Seconds later, Phil was writhing around on the floor, growling madly. With so many strong-willed, violently emotional players, there is never trouble. Explosions occur all the time.

Dantalian’s first record, “Isn’t That the Madman Running Through the Fields” was a spectacular failure. Which was not what it deserved.

“It just didn’t go,” said Zoot. “But it probably meant a lot more to the band than it did to the public. It was about the new hand, and the changes.”

“Madman” had the public latched onto it, would have solved the hit problem for the new band. And the song can be interpreted in a number of ways other than the band’s private changes.

Debbi Smith Meets Dantalian’s Chariot

Often Zoot has had to face people who have found his behaviour hard to understand. The loaning, yelling, joking, screaming man is regarded as somewhat of a madman by those who cannot break down the barriers and comprehend.

With completely different music, Zoot is on another scene which some people have already refused to accept. Still there are those who wonder.

Clad in striped trousers, flowered vest and rainbow shirt (not forgetting the green furry boots), Zoot quietly sat down in the booth of a restaurant and ordered an omelette.

Within thirty seconds the waitress had informed him A) he was an individualist, B) he was a perceptive man, and C) there were no chicken omelettes. “What are you trying to get at?” came the demand. Zoot looked pretty used to the ritual by now.

“I’m not trying to get at anything,” came the reply. A waitress wants to know “where it’s at” — Zoot is supposed to tell her.

“I just thought it would be nice if somebody got something out of what I wear.”

Back to the ballroom in Illford where Dantalian’s were appearing. “Knock on Wood” blaring from the loudspeakers. Short-haired moddy-mod types are shuffling to the dronings.

Flash, snap, crackle —Dantalian’s Chariot with strobes and bubbles and blobs. You cannot say you’ve never seen anything like it, but it is close to the best light show you have ever seen.

Debbi Smith Meets Dantalian’s Chariot

Pop – show’s over. Moddy-mods are back out there shuffling; some of them have understood about Zoot. Many have not. But there will be other times. Maybe someday they will stop shuffling.

“We’re reforming next week,” cracks Money. He leaps upon Phil with a guitar. Phil begins growling and biting. Dantalian’s are a happy band.

“Isn’t that the madman running through the fields; Isn’t that the madman, wonder how he feels . . . “