QUATERMASS rank among one of the truly cult Rock bands of all time. Drummer Mick Underwood was previously a member of EPISODE SIX, the act that would give frontman IAN GILLAN and bassist ROGER GLOVER to DEEP PURPLE. QUATERMASS was originally conceived as a resumption of EPISODE SIX, but the trio of Underwood, ex-BIG THREE bassist / vocalist JOHN GUSTAFSON and former session keyboard player Peter Robinson realised they had something special on their hands and decided on a new band title QUATERMASS.

the album release QUATERMASS toured heavily across Europe and also in America, where the band opened for THE KINKS. The band then went back in the studio to lay down a projected second album, but QUATERMASS folded before completion of the tapes. Only two songs from these sessions were released as the 'One Blind Mice'/ 'Punting' single.

Underwood teamed up with former FREE vocalist PAUL RODGERS and bassist Stuart McDonald in an outfit titled PEACE. The band never recorded and as Rodgers set up BAD COMPANY Underwood created an act titled SAMMY who released one album for Phillips in 1972. After session work in America Underwood returned to Britain to join the GILLAN band.

Gustafson would create BULLET together with ex ATOMIC ROOSTER guitarist JOHN DU CANN then release a solo album, 'Goose Grease', in 1975 prior to joining the GILLAN reuniting him with Underwood.

During 1997 Underwood reconvened QUATERMASS pulling in former DEEP PURPLE, WARHORSE and FANDANGO bassist Nick Simper. The initial line-up of this fresh attempt also included erstwhile GILLAN, ATOMIC ROOSTER and OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist BERNIE TORMÉ and STONEBIRD vocalist Bart Foley but both were to opt out and in their stead came former RAW GLORY and NORTHSTAR guitarist Gary Davis and frontman Johnny Haywood.

Keyboards for the album sessions were handled by former RAINBOW man DON AIREY. For live work as the band went out on a spring '98 European tour the keyboard position was given over to former OZZY OSBOURNE man Lindsey Bridgewater.

Renowned Metal outfit JUDAS PRIEST would play the QUATERMASS track 'Black Sheep Of The Family' regularly in their formative years. The song would also form a pivotal part in the history of DEEP PURPLE when guitarist RITCHIE BLACKMORE's eagerness to record the song led to his breaking away to create his own act RAINBOW. 'Black Sheep Of The Family' featured on the debut RAINBOW album in 1975.

Former JUDAS PRIEST vocalist AL ATKINS would also cover the track on his 1998 album 'Victim Of Changes'. 2000 found notorious Swedish guitar God YNGWIE MALMSTEEN covering the track. In 2004 ex-QUIET RIOT singer KEVIN DUBROW also covered the track on his 'In For The Kill' album.