The Graham Bond Organisation was a blues-rock quartet led by organist/singer Graham Bond during the mid-1960s British Invasion. Bond, a one-time jazz musician, wrote and produced the group's two studio albums, The Spirit of '65 and There's a Bond Between Us. The GBO is notable in popular music history for jump-starting the careers of two future Cream members, bassist/singer Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Because of this, the GBO is often viewed by rock historians as one of the first rock supergroups.
Although highly influential within UK music circles, the GBO never experienced the popular chart success of their peers. One factor for this could have been Bond's rough, growling singing voice, which was an acquired taste. Another was the decided lack of (visible) star appeal of the four members: Bond, Bruce, Baker, and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith. In addition, the group's studio albums were never released in the United States.
Amid internal band struggles and Bond's worsening substance abuse problems, the GBO disbanded in 1967. In the years following the breakup of his band, Bond's mental and physical health deteriorated. He exhibited symptoms of what today would be called bipolar disorder: erratic, manic episodes, wild mood swings, and periods of intense depression.
On May 8, 1974, Bond committed suicide by throwing himself under a subway train at the Finsbury Park station in London, England.
Further Reading
Richie Unterberger. Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll: Psychedelic Unknowns, Mad Geniuses, Punk Pioneers, Lo-fi Mavericks and More. Miller Freeman Press, 1998.
Harry Shapiro. Graham Bond: The Mighty Shadow. Square One (UK), 1992.
