Welsh Boogie Rockers, named after a medicinal bark, that worked the British club scene extensively throughout the seventies. SASSAFRAS was founded in 1970 as a trio of vocalist / guitarist Ralph Evans, guitarist Dai Shell and bassist Ricky John Holt. The band broke up the same year but reformed with former Cabaret singer Terry 'Beefy' Bennett and erstwhile LOVE SCULPTURE drummer Robert 'Congo' Jones. SASSAFRAS toured hard and put in numerous live radio broadcasts. Their graft paid off with a major deal landed with Polydor Records.

SASSAFRAS were never able to keep a permanent drummer and for a time former UNIVERSE and DRAGONFLY man Rob Reynolds occupied the drumstool. Following the debut 1973 album Holt was superseded by ex-UNIVERSE man Steve Finn although Holt returned shortly after. UNIVERSE had recorded an unreleased album and featured guitarist PAUL CHAPMAN who left the band to join SKID ROW before a worthy career in LONE STAR then UFO.

1974 found SASSAFRAS back on the road touring with STACKRIDGE and American's BLACK OAK ARKANSAS in Britain and a European touring schedule alongside ACE and AMERICAN GYPSY. The band also gained a valuable TV spot on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test'. Jones left before SASSAFRAS switched to Chrysalis Records for their 1975 'Wheelin' n' Dealin' album. The record saw Chris Shirley on drums.

Shirley opted out to join HOBO and in came Dick Owen on drums for a short spell. Jones returned for 1976's 'Riding High'. SASSAFRAS got in some American dates as openers to TEN YEARS AFTER.

Later line-ups of SASSAFRAS were minus vocalist Terry Bennett and Jones. Bennett left to form KRACOTOA, which later featured BUDGIE's Ray Phillips. By this juncture SASSAFRAS was being fronted by by guitarist Ralph Evans with Eddie Williams on second guitar and Jeff Jones on drums, the latter with credits including MAN and WILD TURKEY to his credit.

SASSAFRAS live tracks appeared on the Chrysalis compilation 'Over The Rainbow- The Last Concert Live'. SASSAFRAS included 'Wheelin' n' Dealin' and a version of THE BEATLES 'I Am The Walrus'.

SASSAFRAS folded but reformed in 1984 with Bennett, Shell, Williams, Jones and former QUEST and LONE STAR bassist Ray Jones. More recently SASSAFRAS were trading the boards in 2000. The millennium version of the band comprises of Bennett, Shell, Evans, Ray Jones, Marco James on keyboards and drummer Gary Davies. The band would subsequently enrol another QUEST veteran - guitarist Richie Galloni.

Please note the 1978 eponymous SASSAFRAS album on H&L Records is by an American Disco band and is not related.