Welsh Acid Rockers MAN were created from Merthyr Tydfil act THE BYSTANDERS in late 1968. THE BYSTANDERS comprised of Vic Oakley on vocals, Micky Jones on guitar, former MUSTANGS and EYES OF BLUE bassist Ray 'Taff' Williams, Clive John on keyboards and drummer Jeffrey Jones. Under this name the group released seven singles from 1965 to 1968.

MAN formed when Micky Jones, John, Williams and Jeffrey Jones added vocalist / guitarist Deke Leonard from THE DREAM securing a deal with the Pye label. The band's debut album, titled 'Revelation' in Europe and 'Manpower' in America, was issued the following year. The track 'Erotica' gained MAN a cult following in mainland Europe but was banned in Britain due to it's use of "orgasmic" sound effects.

Following MAN's second set of 1969 '2Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle' Williams and Jeffrey Jones decamped and two more erstwhile THE DREAM and PLUM CRAZY members guitarist Martin Ace and drummer Terry Williams were enrolled as the group jumped labels to United Artists. Jeffrey Jones became a member of WILD TURKEY.

Ace's pre MAN history had weaved it's way through the Welsh Rock scene of such artists as THE JETS, THE VIKINGS and BROTHERS GRIMM. A second version of THE JETS included Deke Leonard and this act evolved into SMOKELESS ZONE with drummer Terry Williams. Both Ace and Williams then became part of THE BOBCATS in 1967 and then reunited with Leonard in THE DREAM. This band folded when Leonard teamed up with MAN resulting in Ace and Williams unifying with PLUM CRAZY.

Clive John opted out of MAN in 1972 to join PORWITH, PRITCHARD & THE NEUTRONS and the band remained a quartet for their live album 'Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth'. MAN also gained valuable exposure with thei inclusion on the now renowned compilation album 'Greasy Truckers Party'. However John would return before the end of the year for the studio set 'Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day.

MAN's unity was suffering though as Leonard had bailed out to create ICEBERG taking Ace with him. MAN's roll call now featured Micky Jones, Terry Williams, Clive John with fresh faces keyboard player Phil Ryan of EYES OF BLUE and ex ANCIENT GREASE bassist Michael 'Will' Youatt.

1973 found MAN in the British charts for the first time as 'Back To The Future' a semi live / studio outing reached number 23. Ryan was no longer in the band and numbers had been made up with the addition of WILD TURKEY guitarist / keyboard player Alan 'Tweke' Lewis.

In spite of their now obvious progress MAN's status remained fluid. Leonard made a welcome return but Youatt joined PORWITH, PRITCHARD & THE NEUTRONS and later ALKATRAZ and both John and Lewis departed. For 1974's 'Rhinos, Winos And Lunatic' former HELP YOURSELF keyboard player Malcolm Morley and bassist Ken Whaley of HELP YOURSELF and BEES MAKE HONEY were added. The same year MAN conducted an American tour, dubbed the '1999 Party', in alliance with HAWKWIND. Morley's stay was brief though and MAN were back down to a quartet their the 'Slow Motion' opus.

Meantime Ace, Lewis and John had created the 1974 band SPLENDID HUMANS before CLIVE JOHN cut a solo record featuring Ace titled 'You Always Know Where You Stand With A Buzzard'.

In 1975 MAN achieved the coup of drafting guitarist John Cippolina of QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE for shows in North America, including supports to BLUE OYSTER CULT in March. Whaley landed the band in the lurch by quitting in the middle of the tour and was to join the TYLA GANG. Ace was quickly redrafted to see out the US shows and tour Europe as support to HAWKWIND. Unfortunately the only record to feature Cippolina was to be another live album 'Maximum Darkness' which included a version of QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE's 'Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You'.

Ace was to leave the fold again, this time to form a band with his wife, Phil Ryan and ex BADFINGER drummer Mike Gibbons titled FLYING ACES. He would later join THE MOTORS.

John McKenzie of GLOBAL VILLAGE TRUCKING CO. filled the gap in MAN. Ryan plugged the hole left by Cippolina. In this incarnation MAN signed to major label MCA Records for 'The Welsh Connection' album.

A farewell gig was recorded as MAN announced their retirement in mid 1976. Terry Williams allied himself with DAVE EDMUND'S ROCKPILE prior to joining Ace in THE MOTORS. Williams would later join DIRE STRAITS. Ryan joined THE PETE BROWN BAND.

Jones founded his MICKY JONES BAND in 1978 with Tweke Lewis and his erstwhile WILD TURKEY keyboard player Steve Gurl. DEKE LEONARD issued a further solo album in 1981 'Before Your Very Eyes' which saw the inclusion of Ace.

Jones, Leonard and Ace reformed MAN in 1983 with WILD TURKEY, GENTLE GIANT and EYES OF BLUE drummer John Weathers. This line up recorded a gig at the London Marquee club for issue as a live album.

MAN were still gigging in 1987 although with a returned Williams on drums. Ray 'Taff' Williams was to join MAN on stage for the 1992 Welsh Convention, Sadly Williams passed away in December 1993.

Lewis formed part of the WILD TURKEY reformation in 1996 appearing on the resulting 'Stealer Of Years' album.

MAN's 1997 line up saw former SHOGUN and WILD FAMILY drummer Bob Richards as new recruit. Richards would join ASIA as percussionist for the summer of that year but then returned to MAN. MAN toured Europe with ERIC BURDON with a line up of Micky Jones. Deke Leonard, Martin Ace, Phil Ryan and Bob Richards.

The 2003 live album 'Man Alive' compiled recordings from the London Roundhouse in 1972, the London Marquee in 1975 and 1983 alongside material from the band's 1994 Glastonbury performance.

MAN returned to action with the 2009 album 'Kingdom Of Noise' issued through Voiceprint Records. Typically the band remained fluid and during recording both George Jones and Bob Richards took their leave. New recruits would be guitarist James Beck, from OMIGOSH, and drummer Rene Robrahn. Dates in Germany followed.