SWEGAS

Swegas biography
Swegas was a short-lived British rock band from the London area which can be counted along with bands such as Colosseum, Chicago, Galliard and Blood, Sweat & Tears as being among the wave of brass-led rock bands from the late 1960s and early 1970s to develop a jazz-versed musical language. Formed by trombonist Nick Ronai and trumpeter Brian Joe Spibey, Swegas took its name from a plural form of the Anglo-Saxon word 'sweg', meaning 'sound', 'noise', or 'melody'. The band's earliest history after its foundation in 1969 was turbulent and marked by numerous personnel changes but by 1970 a firm octet was established consisting of Ronai, trumpeter Chris Dawe, saxophonists John Legg & Ron Shillingford, guitarist Stewart Wilkinson, keyboardist Keith Strachan, bassist Roy Truman and drummer Maurice McElroy. The group recorded three albums during its short lifespan (only two of which were released) before disbanding in late 1971.