A legendary Scottish act fronted by the irrepressible Alex Harvey. The SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND's first official album was 1972's 'Framed', although the group had been together previously under the title of TEAR GAS. Under the TEAR GAS moniker the outfit had issued two albums; 1970's 'Piggy Go Better' on Famous Records and 1971's 'Tear Gas' on Regal Zonophone. The latter of these albums featured the exact same line up as SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND.

Previous to TEAR GAS Harvey had paid his dues throughout many acts, starting out as early as 1959 when his debut band BIG SOUL BAND actually opened for Rock n' Roll stars EDDIE COCHRAN and GENE VINCENT on a British tour. The BIG SOUL BAND signed to the German arm of Polydor Records, releasing a string of albums and singles.

Following the dissolution of this act Harvey released four solo singles on the Fontana label, before forming ROCK WORKSHOP and releasing the 1969 album 'Roman Wall Blues'. Harvey would then join the cast of the London musical 'Hair' prior to forming a trio, which included ex CLOUDS bassist Ian Ellis and former THE VOICE and THE SCENERY drummer Dave Dufort. The latter was to re-surface as a member of 80's Metal bands ANGELWITCH, E.F. BAND, TYTAN and PHANTASM.

As the SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND the group scored heavily with a 1974 single 'The Faith Healer'. Although this song did not chart it established the band and was later to be covered by many acts, including THE CULT, NIGHTWING and German Metallers HELLOWEEN.

Later in 1974 'The Impossible Dream' became the band's first chart album, attaining the no. 16 position in the British album charts. The follow up was a live album, which even dented the American charts and spawned a huge hit in a bizarre cover version of the TOM JONES hit 'Delilah'.

The 1976 hit album 'The Penthouse Tapes' included cover versions of THE OSMONDS''Crazy Horses', ALICE COOPER's 'School's Out' and even JETHRO TULL's 'Love Story'. By now the band was renowned for its increasingly strange stage costumes and unpredictable live shows.

In early 1976 Harvey stood down from the lead vocal role following the death of his manager and keyboard player Hugh McKenna took over for the 'Fourplay' album. Whilst his erstwhile band members soldiered on without him Harvey recorded a non-conformist solo album on K-Tel Records, titled 'Alex Harvey Presents The Loch Ness Monster', consisting entirely of interviews of sightings of the mythical Scottish beast. The album was withdrawn almost as soon as it was released and is now an extremely rare item and the following year Harvey was back in the mothership to record 'Rock Drill'.

However, the group ultimatelyfolded as 1977 drew to a close. Guitarist Zal Cleminson, bassist Chris Glen and drummer Ted McKenna formed ZAL, before Cleminson quit to join NAZARETH.

Harvey struggled on as the ALEX HARVEY BAND, releasing a 1979 album 'The Mafia Stole My Guitar' on RCA Records. The record is noteable for including the tracks 'Just A Gigolo' and 'I Ain't Got Nobody', later made more famous by then VAN HALEN vocalist DAVID LEE ROTH's hit solo renditions.

The ALEX HARVEY BAND's line up included guitarist Matthew Cang, bassist Gordon Sellar, keyboard player Tommy Eyre and drummer Simon Chatterton, but the group would split after Harvey's excessive lifestyle finally caught up with him. Alex died of a heart attack during February 1982.

Whilst former drummer Ted McKenna was later to turn up playing for RORY GALLAGHER, GREG LAKE BAND and MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (where he was found alongside Chris Glen once more) he would be instrumental in resurrecting the band name in the early 90s.

A new version of the SAHB trod the boards for club shows that also featured Chris Glen in the reformation, although the whole thing was rather odd given the sad absence of the band's original instigator. On 21st November 2004 DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott made a surprise appearance with THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND at the Boardwalk venue in Sheffield. During the encore, the band and Joe performed 'Boston Tea Party', this being taped and filmed for future release.