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Categories: Melodic Rock

Biography

A highly rated, London based melodic Hard Rock act. WILDLIFE's inaugural line-up comprised of brothers Chris and Steve Overland, bassist Nigel Widowson, keyboard player Mark Booty and drummer Richard Plumb. Widowson was supplanted by Bob Skeat whilst Plumb lost his spot to former HOTLINE drummer Pete Jupp, his previous act having also included 720 and BAD COMPANY guitarist Dave Colwell among their ranks.

Ex-BAD COMPANY drummer Simon Kirke replaced Jupp, who joined SAMSON for the 1983 album. By early 1984 Kirke was out and replaced by Jeff Rich, formerly with JUDIE TZUKE. The last incarnation of WILDLIFE also saw the inclusion of former CUDDLY TOYS and REFLEX bassist PHIL SOUSSAN.

The Overland brothers and Jupp re-emerged with ILLEGAL TENDER, a short lived outfit that included Soussan and Rich. ILLEGAL TENDER broke apart as Soussan joined the ROBIN GEORGE band, featuring on 1984's 'Dangerous Music', then OZZY OSBOURNE. Here Soussan notably wrote Ozzy's biggest solo single success to date, 'Shot In The Dark'. The four-stringer would also go on to work with BILLY IDOL on 'Charmed Life', VINCE NEIL on 1992's 'Exposed', his own band BEGGARS AND THIEVES and French star JOHNNY HALLIDAY. Rich found a more prominent haven in STATUS QUO.

Undeterred the Overlands together with Jupp formed the popular AOR act FM, Booty surfaced with ex STATUS QUO drummer John Coghlan's band PARTNERS IN CRIME. Skeat joined 3RD STONE, the TINA EGAN BAND and WISHBONE ASH. Kirke would of course rejoin BAD COMPANY.

PHIL SOUSSAN issued a solo album in December 2005 entitled 'Vibrate'.

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