What's In A Name? – a complex tale of talented siblings and evolving supergroups
(Notes by Alan Field and Mary Payne)

The Birds' line-up comprised: Ali McKenzie (vocals), Tony Munroe (guitar), Ron Wood (guitar), Kim Gardner (bass guitar) and Pete McDaniels (drums). They formed the band while studying at art college in west London in 1964, and became a popular live attraction in the local pubs and clubs under their original name, the Thunderbirds. Unfortunately that was also the name of Chris Farlowe's backing group, so on signing to Decca later that year they shortened their name to the Birds. Their early style was R 'n' B and Motown-influenced music, and No Good Without You Baby – written by Marvin Gaye – was their third release, coming out in October 1965.

As the Birds, they also performed musically in a 1966 British Horror Film called The Deadly Bees, but all this time they were involved in a legal battle with the American group the Byrds over the rights to the name. By the summer of '66 they had signed to Reaction records under the name Birds Birds, reaching #38 in the Fab 40 on 11th September 1966 with Say Those Magic Words. All the band's 45's have become rare and highly collectable, with a mint copy of No Good Without You Baby now fetching up to £65.

Ron Wood's brother Art, was also in the Fab 40 in 1966, with his band the Artwoods (see notes for Fab 40, 8th May 1966). In late '66, the brothers briefly combined the names of their respective groups for what appears to have been a one-off performance as the Artbirds, with Gardner, Jon Lord and future Pretty Thing drummer John 'Twink' Adler.

When Birds Birds split at the end of 1966, Gardner and Ron Wood went on to join the band Creation (more about them are in the notes to the Fab 40 for 15th August 1965). In '69, Ron and Art Wood and Kim Gardner played in Quiet Melon, with Rod Stewart, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane and Kenny Jones. A Sixties supergroup, no less!

Ron achieved fame with the Jeff Beck Group, the Faces and the Rolling Stones. He is also an accomplished artist and sells his work, much of which is inspired by the Stones and their music, via his website. There's a local newspaper photo of Ron with artwork that caught the judges' eye when he was aged only 13. As he points out, most people would not realise that he has been painting as long as he has been playing music.

Kim Gardner co-founded Ashton Gardner and Dyke and reached #3 in 1971 with Resurrection Shuffle. After the trio disbanded, he spent the rest of the 70s as a journeyman musician, moving to Los Angeles in 1973 where he did session work and some touring. Kim became a successful restaurateur in the 1980's and 90's and sadly died from cancer on 24th October 2001 at the age of 53.

The Woods' older brother Vic, sometime vocalist with the Temperance Seven, died in October 2003. Art died in November 2006.

In Australia a group known as the Birds recorded versions of No Good Without You Baby and Say Those Magic Words, but were otherwise unconnected with the British band.

The Collector's Guide to Rare British Birds is available here.