BI-PLANE

 The album Pilot had as the principal player  Bruce Stephens, often confused with Leigh Stephens. Leigh Stephens did make a guest appearance on the album. Pilot was the name of the album, not a group as is often stated. Eric Albronda co-produced the Pilot album with Bruce Stephens at Trident Studios in London. The recordings were done in 1971 and released on RCA Records. The song "Fillmore Shuffle" was covered by Sammy Hagar. A song about the perils of substance abuse.

Bruce Stephens     keyboards, acoustic & electric guitar, vocals

Leigh Stephens     electric guitar
Martin Quittenton     acoustic guitar
Neville Whitehead     bass
Mick Waller     drums
&   
Ray Cooper     percussion
Gordon Huntley     dobro, pedal steel guitar
David Hentschel     synthesizer
Chris Hughes     sax
Karen Friedman     vocals
Jacki Hardin     vocals
Dari Lalou     vocals
Casey Synge     vocals


Stop And Think     3:24     (Bruce Stephens)
Miss Sandy     3:43     (Bruce Stephens)
Rendevous     3:49     (Bruce Stephens)
Fillmore Shuffle     7:50     (Bruce Stephens)
Love Is That Way     4:02     (Bruce Stephens)
Penny Alone     4:05     (Bruce Stephens)
With Me Tonight     4:02     (Bruce Stephens)
Rider                       4:55                       (Bruce Stephens)

Recorded At:
    - AIR Studios, London
    - Morgan Studios, London
    - Trident Studios, London
Produced By Eric Albronda & Bruce Stephens
Album Design: Wilson McLean
Photography: Roger Perry

SILVER METRE

Silver Metre was a short-lived, San Francisco-based outfit formed by Leigh Stevens, previously with Blue Cheer, and Mick Waller from the Jeff Beck Group. Together with Tom Cowan and Pete Sears, the band released one album in 1970. The album, recorded in England, is basic heavy rock with a spattering of psychedelia. A mix of originals and covers songs, it includes three Elton John/Bernie Taupin compositions: "Country Comforts," "Now They've Found Me," and "Sixty Years On." While the album did not make much impact upon its original release on the small National General label in the U.S., it is of interest to collectors because of the early Waller-Stephens connection. Stephens and Waller would later move on to the British-based band Pilot, a short-lived early-'70s outfit, while Pete Sears was later in Stoneground and Jefferson Starship.

Originally posted mid July 2009 Revamped the artwork

LEIGH'S 2ND......AND A CAST OF THOUSANDS

While Blue Cheer struggles to continue. Leigh Gives it a second try with this rare LP. The guitar work is pretty good on this one however after that it's your own opinion. Personally I do not know why this one has been searched out by collectors. To each his own but I will say this would be Leigh's last lp and he disappears from the music scene after this one. Maybe it was the goofy hat? Who knows!

LONDON CALLING

So Leigh decides to bolt from the Cheer and heads off to England to record the first of two solo albums. Nicky Hopkins joins him on this LP. Funny how these musicians cross paths. Hopkins would soon go to San Francisco to hook up with Quicksilver Messenger Service. Small World.
Stephens leaves BC to work with Eric Albronda on Red Weather and at the same time Eric is helping put together the next Blue Cheer LP. Ironically this Lp and the 4th Cheer LP are remarkably very similar in style.