Over 50 years of British rock. Still loud. Still Stray.
STRAY
The Story of Stray
Formed in West London in the late 1960s, STRAY made their mark early, not just for their music, but for their ambition. While most teenage bands were happy to just plug in and play, STRAY owned their own lighting rigs, pyrotechnics, and transport. They built not just a sound, but a show, a live experience that would define them for decades to come. STRAY began life at Christopher Wren School, where vocalist Steve Gadd, guitarist Del Bromham, bassist Gary Giles, and drummer Steve Crutchley came together, all around 14 years old at the time. Crutchley later left to pursue jazz and was replaced by Richie Cole, solidifying the lineup that would conquer the London club circuit, lighting up stages at Shepherd’s Bush Goldhawk Club, Covent Garden’s Middle Earth, and beyond. Their momentum caught fire. In 1969 they supported The Groundhogs at the Fickle Pickle Club, leading to a record deal with Transatlantic Records in January 1970. By 1971, STRAY were playing The Reading Festival, sharing the bill with legends like Rory Gallagher, Medicine Head, and Van der Graaf Generator, and making their TV debut on the BBC’s Disco 2. True to form, even their gigs came with drama, a fiery show at the Weeley Festival saw their stage flares mistaken for distress signals by the coastguard.
That same year, STRAY set out on their first UK headline tour, supported by Red Dirt and Steve Tilston, before touring Europe with Ten Years After, and later joining Status Quo and The Groundhogs on the road. By 1972, STRAY had returned to the Reading stage once more, this time alongside Wizzard, Ten Years After, and Status Quo, cementing their reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting live acts. In 1973 they shared the stage with Black Sabbath at Alexandra Palace, expanding their sound with extra musicians, backing singers, and even brass. The lineup remained solid until 1974, when guitarist Pete Dyer joined. During the recording of Stand Up and Be Counted, Steve Gadd departed, leaving Bromham and Dyer to take on lead vocals. STRAY crossed the Atlantic in 1975, performing with Spirit and Canned Heat, and in 1976 supported KISS on their debut UK tour. They went on to open for Rush on their first British run, and even found themselves briefly managed by Charlie Kray, brother of the infamous Kray twins. Despite success on stage and in the studio, financial and managerial struggles led to the band’s breakup in December 1977.
But STRAY’s story was far from over. Guitarist Del Bromham continued to tour under his own name, releasing Who Do You Love in 1978, and by the early ’80s, various lineups of STRAY re-emerged, touring with Saga, Barón Rojo, and more. Through the decades, members came and went, but the spirit and sound of STRAY never faded. In the years that followed, Bromham and the band continued to record, perform, and inspire a new generation of musicians. In 1993, the classic lineup of Bromham, Gadd, Giles, and Cole reunited for a series of shows, reigniting that original spark. A live album followed in 1996, and New Dawn in 1997 reminded fans that STRAY’s fire was still burning strong. By the early 2000s, STRAY were celebrating 35 years as a recording band with Dangerous Games, a mix of studio and live recordings that earned glowing reviews. Even Iron Maiden paid tribute, covering STRAY’s All in Your Mind as the B-side to their single Holy Smoke. Today, STRAY remains a band born of energy, grit, and heart, the kind that turns stories into songs and stages into memories. From smoky London clubs to festival fields, from teenage dreams to rock legend status, STRAY are still living loud, still telling their story, one gig at a time.
