1) Colosseum i… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Colosseum is a British progressive jazz-rock band formed in 1968.
2) Colosseum was a funeral doom metal band from Finland.
1. A British progressive jazz-rock band formed in 1968.
Colosseum is a British progressive rock / jazz-rock band formed in 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers on the Bare Wires album. Dave Greenslade, on organ, was immediately recruited, and the line-up was completed by Jim Roche on lead guitar and James Litherland on guitar and vocals. Roche only recorded one track before being dropped. British Colosseum made their live debut at the Scene Two club in Scarborough. They were later recorded by influential BBC Radio One DJ John Peel for his Top Gear Radio program. This appearance gained them valuable exposure and critical acclaim.
Colosseum’s first album, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You, was released by the Fontana label in 1969. Colosseum also played on the “Super Session” film with Jack Bruce, Roland Kirk Quartet, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills & Buddy Guy. Colosseum’s second album, also in 1969, was Valentyne Suite, notable as the first release on the Vertigo label, who also first signed heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. The Vertigo label was launched by Philips to sign and develop the more 'progressive' artists, such as Manfred Mann Chapter lll and Ian Carr's Nucleus, that did not fit the main Philips Records brand.
Dave "Clem" Clempson replaced James Litherland in 1970 for their first American released album, The Grass Is Greener, which combined tracks form the first UK album with some new material. Louis Cennamo briefly replaced Tony Reeves on bass, but within a month was himself replaced by Mark Clarke. Later the band recruited vocalist Chris Farlowe as lead singer, to enable Clempson to concentrate on guitar. This is considered to be the definitive Colosseum line-up, which partly already recorded the 1970 album Daughter of Time.
In March 1971, the band recorded a live album from concerts at the Big Apple in Brighton and at Manchester University (with the band returning to Manchester five days later for a free concert to complete the recording sessions). The live double Colosseum Live was released in June, but a few months later the band broke up when Clem Clempson left to join Humble Pie, though a lack of new material and fatigue also contributed to their demise.
Hiseman went on to form Tempest and later Colosseum II in 1975, with a stronger orientation towards jazz-fusion rock, featuring guitarist Gary Moore, and Don Airey on keyboards. Colosseum II released four albums before disbanding in 1978.
Colosseum reunited in 1993 for a festival in Freiburg Germany and a live TV show in Cologne (released on video and later a DVD) with such success that they are still touring today, as well as releasing several CDs, both in the studio and live.
Hiseman’s wife, Barbara Thompson, a talented saxophonist, composer and bandleader in her own right (Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia) guested with the band on various occasions before taking Dick Heckstall-Smith's place when he died in 2004. She became a permanent member of the band.
A biography of drummer/band-leader Jon Hiseman, called "Playing the Band...", was published in 2010, telling the story of his life in music and the many bands he played with like Graham Bond, John Mayall, Georgie Fame and the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble. Jon Hiseman died at age 73 on 12 June 2018.
Colosseum reunited again after the death of Jon Hiseman to play selected shows in 2020. The line-up is Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson and Mark Clarke, joined by Kim Nishikawara (sax), Adrian Askew (keys, organ) and Malcolm Mortimore (drums). In August 2021, it was reported that the keyboard position would be filled by Nick Steed. This line-up started touring on 29 August 2021 in Hamburg at Landhaus Walter. On April 15 2022, the band released the studio album "Restoration".
2. Colosseum was funeral doom metal band from Finland. They released three full-length albums before disbanding.
COLOSSEUM was a project with the aim to create the most bleak and funereal atmospheres through music. Darkest hymns for forlorn souls, diving into the deepest abyss of the mind. Drones of delirium and doom are taking their caustic form and the conjurations for the debut album are being prepared. Dark waters stir… The Gate of Adar has been opened and there’s no turning back…The idea of COLOSSEUM was born in 2006 when the mastermind of YEARNING started due to his frustration towards mostly everything to create extremely slow and heavy material. After composing five full-length cd’s under the name of YEARNING he wanted to do something extremely dark and powerful. Mixture of darkest kind of Funeral Doom Metal with the strong influences from both Dark Ambient and Orchestral Works melted together from the very first beginning. The idea was to mix together the rich and colorful chord progressions of classical music,the soundscapes of Ambient and total darkness and heaviness of extreme Doom Metal. Dauntless slowness and power of Funeral Doom genre mixed with influences from such acts as Dead Can Dance, Lustmord etc. New songs began to take their form quite easily and finally the compositions were finalized with the lyrics wandering in the realms of suicidal depression,delirium,Sumerian/Lovecraftian myths and ghastly depths evoked by the dismal atmosphere of the music.Some demo material was sent to a few labels and the interest was quite immediate from the underground labels around the world. At this point the band was completed with Olli Haaranen(guitars/production) and Janne Rämö(bass) both sharing a strong commitment towards the dark arts and also a long background in underground metal…After a while of search they got in touch with Sameli Köykkä(drums) to complete the line-up.Material was constantly evolving and after the few offers from the labels COLOSSEUM finally accepted the one offered by Firedoom Music in 2007. The debut album Chapter 1: Delirium was recorded at D-Studio, Klaukkala in May 2007 and released in November 2007. The album gained a positive response from the fans and the press and the first pressing was quite quickly sold out.COLOSSEUM also did live appearances in Riga, Liepaja and Finland. New material was born and in July 2008 the band headed to D-Studio again to record Chapter 2: Numquam.With subjects such as death,hatred,paranoia,depression,suicide,darkness and doom the album will offer musically wider spectrum and new angles to Funeral Doom. Symphonic and Ambient influences blended with heavier approach and also more variety between songs.Album features also session musicians on violin,cello,trumpet and flute.Chapter 2: Numquam wa released in January 2009 through Firedoom Music.
High Time
Colosseum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High expectations how it's gonna be
City to city, town to town
The dues that your paying when you're laying it down
High time
Out on the road again
Hit the highway, hit the road
That sensations such a buzz
Ain't nothing to compare with what it does
High tine
Now we're dancing on air
High time
Gettin' that feeling again
High pressure, head of steam
Been living too long inside a dram
baby's waiting for my return
Hey brother turn the whell and let it burn
High time
Bid you farewell my friend
High time
Heading back home again
The lyrics to Colosseum's song "High Time" speak of the experiences and emotions that come with life on the road as a musician. The opening lines express high hopes and expectations for the journey ahead, accompanied by a feeling of energy and excitement. The constant traveling from city to town and the hard work involved in paying one's dues are portrayed as part of the necessary price for pursuing one's passions. Despite these challenges, the chorus emphasizes the positive aspects of being a musician, with the phrase "high time" repeated several times in a joyful manner, hinting at the elation and thrill that comes with performing live.
The second verse speaks of the actual experience of performing, as guitarist and bandleader James Litherland's expressive guitar work provides a musical representation of the "thunder" and "sensations" accompanying the band's explosive live shows. The song highlights the rush of adrenaline and emotional reward that comes with a successful performance, reinforcing the idea of high time being something to cherish. The final verse brings the listeners back to reality, with the recognition that the high pressure and head of steam of the music world can lead to isolation and a feeling of being trapped in a "dram". Nevertheless, there is a sense of belonging to a community, with the mention of "brother" and bidding farewell to friends before heading back home.
Overall, "High Time" portrays the highs and lows of the world of music through poetic lyricism that captures not only the emotions involved but also the sensory experiences of a live performance. The song emphasizes the importance of passion, hard work, and camaraderie in pursuing a life in music.
Line by Line Meaning
High hopes, high energy
Feeling optimistic and full of vitality
High expectations how it's gonna be
Anticipating a positive outcome from this experience
City to city, town to town
Traveling across various places
The dues that your paying when you're laying it down
Sacrifices and effort are being put in to have a successful tour
High time
In a state of elation and excitement
Out on the road again
Going back on tour
Hit the highway, hit the road
Starting the journey towards the next destination
Hear the thunder when the band explodes
Feeling the energy of the music when it's played at full volume
That sensations such a buzz
The feeling of excitement and thrill that comes with performing live music
Ain't nothing to compare with what it does
Nothing can match the experience of playing live music
High time
In a state of elation and excitement
Now we're dancing on air
Feeling ecstatic and light-hearted
High pressure, head of steam
Feeling stressed and under pressure to perform well
Been living too long inside a dram
Feeling stuck and stagnant for too long
Baby's waiting for my return
Looking forward to reuniting with loved ones after the tour
Hey brother turn the whell and let it burn
Taking control and driving towards home at full speed
High time
In a state of elation and excitement
Bid you farewell my friend
Saying goodbye to fellow band members and crew
Heading back home again
Starting the journey back home
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Robinson
on Bring Out Your Dead
After some work, I believe I have the definitive lyrics for Jumping off the Sun by Colosseum.
This song goes up and up, down and down and up and down again
These notes like colour balls, leaving smoke trails like an aeroplane
Shooting up, falling down like a rocket and then
Jumping off the sun
Jumping off the sun
This song grows bunches of summer flowers at the smell of rain
Dogs barking, smoke rising, cigarettes in bed with you again
These notes make a necklace that sings like the moon
Jumping off the sun
Jumping off the sun
This song is dancing like sunlight on the River Thames at Kew
Times for the sound of it, time to Charing Cross and Waterloo
Well I know that sounds funny, one might as well go
Jumping off the sun
Jumping off the sun
This song goes up and up, down and down and up and down again
Lemonade kisses I string together like a daisy chain
But these words have no meaning unless they are sung
Jumping off the sun
Jumping off the sun
I have corrected some other web pages, some might still need a little tweak.
I have known this song a long time, but have not always been sure of the lyrics, until now!
DAVID.