Arthur Lee’s longest serving band is coming back to the UK to perform classic songs from Love’s first three albums Love, Da Capo, Four Sail and Forever Changes - and Love with Johnny Echols will be calling in at Bedford Esquires.
Following their farewell tour in 2019 the band hadn’t anticipated a return, but thankfully that has been put to rights.
“The unprecedented times in which we currently find ourselves has made us realise more than ever that what the world needs now is Love," said founding member and guitarist Johnny, "We have missed playing for our fans in the UK whom we dearly love. How could we turn down the opportunity to come back and do it again?”
Joining Johnny on stage will be Baby Lemonade who, from 1993 until Arthur’s death in 2006, performed as his band and became an essential part of the renaissance of Love’s music. This iteration of Love saw many sold-out tours, as well as back to back Glastonbury performances and an appearance on Later with Jools Holland.
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Johnny and Arthur Lee were childhood friends whose families both moved from Memphis to Los Angeles. As teenagers, they teamed up to form the groups Arthur Lee & The LAG’s and the American Four before forming Love in 1965.
The classic Love line up featuring Johnny disbanded in 1968. Johnny reunited with Arthur Lee in 2005 to perform with Love once more.
Baby Lemonade formed in 1992 by Rusty Squeezebox, Mike Randle, David “Daddy-O” Green, later adding Dave Chapple to the mix. In 1993 the band landed the gig of a lifetime opening up for Love. That show was the last for that incarnation of Love as Arthur replaced them with the four Baby Lemonade members. Baby Lemonade released records on Sympathy for the Record Industry, Munster and Big Deal between 1993 and 2001.
Upon their return from a tour of Europe in 1996, Baby Lemonade was shocked to find that Arthur had been sentenced to 12 years in prison on a weapons charge.
After nearly six years in prison, Arthur’s case was overturned and shortly after, at his request, Baby Lemonade began rehearsing for what would be non-stop Love touring throughout North America, UK, Europe and Australia between 2002 and 2005 where they enjoyed unprecedented success with sold out tours, back to back Glastonbury performances, Roskilde and Benicassim festival and two sold out shows at the Royal Festival Hall that spawned a live album.
In 2005 the line up once again featured Arthur’s childhood friend and founding member Johnny on lead guitar who returned after a 37-year absence.
In July of 2005, Arthur was diagnosed with Leukaemia and after a brave battle he passed away one year later. Arthur’s last show was with Baby Lemonade and Johnny Echols on June 23rd at San Francisco’s Cafe Du Nord. The world had lost a true music legend.
In 2022, Love returned to the UK to celebrate the 55th anniversary release of Forever Changes. Back again in 2023 the band once again to celebrate the music of Arthur Lee & Love in a specially constructed greatest hits show. Esquires is set for a special night.
Unsurprisingly, tickets are being snapped up - don't wait. Get yours here
