Harsh Reality

Harsh Reality are a little-known, proto-prog band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1968 out of the remnants of the Freightliner Blues Band (formerly the Revolution). The band consisted of Mark Griffiths and Dave Jenkins on guitars, Alan Greed on lead vocals and organ, Roger Swallow on drums, and Steve Miller on bass and backing vocals. They released a single for Philips Records in 1968 ("Tobacco Ash Sunday" / "How Do You Feel") before releasing their only album, Heaven and Hell, also on Philips in 1969. A final single followed soon after, before the band split in 1969.

Their Heaven and Hell LP is now a highly-sought rarity, selling for hundreds of pounds between eager collectors. For this reason, Harsh Reality is somewhat famous/infamous in collecting circles.

Though seen as part of the proto-progressive rock era, their work represented a marriage between the sounds of Procol Harum, Traffic and early Deep Purple.

Following the band's demise, Roger Swallow played with Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Matthews Southern Comfort, Plainsong, Albion Country Band, and Al Stewart; before moving to California and establishing himself as an electronic musician, songwriter and entrepreneur. Alan Greed went on to work with Ray Russell on the Rock Workshop albums, and as a session singer. Greed later fronted the jazz/progressive outfit, The Running Man. A self-titled album was released in the UK on the Neon record label in 1972.

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Harsh Reality

by: Hellish War

Color distorts logic
Envolkes hatred
Dividing man
Religion a tool of war
Thou shall not kill
Except for me
Politicians
Behind their jovial faces
Making secret deals
In secret places
Money changes hands
Life is never spared
The weak are oppressed
The leader turn away
The kids are being sold
The game is called control
The homeless are a problem
Crime is the answer
Pretending its not there
Won't make it disappear
Injustice runs rampant
In the home of the free
If you don't believe what they do
Then you're wrong
Violence, so they can pray in silence
Murder to prove a point
We are not created equal
Hypocrisy
Indignation
Greed
Dominance
Power
Defiance
The struggle for space
Radiation
Exploitation
Military defense
Starvation
Life is dying
Because of ignorance
We live in a mass of decadence
Impoverished ruins
Caused by prejudice
Escape through drugs
Is inevitable
The scourge is ineffaceable
Extended hands
Only want to take
Naiveté
Has no place




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