Locomotive (band)

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Locomotive, originally called The Locomotive, were a Birmingham-based British band formed in 1965. They blended R&B, soul, ska and early progressive rock, and built a strong live reputation. The group started as the Kansas City Seven, led by Jim Simpson with Danny King, Chris Wood and other local players. By 1966 there were many lineup changes; Wood left to join Traffic, and Norman Haines joined as singer and keyboard player, bringing a ska influence to the sound.

In 1968 Simpson left to manage the band, and Mick Hincks and Bob Lamb joined, with Mick Taylor on trumpet. The group dropped the “The” from their name and signed to Parlophone. Their ska-tinged single “Rudi’s in Love,” written by Haines, reached No. 25 in the UK charts. They then recorded an album at Abbey Road with producer Gus Dudgeon and began moving toward a more progressive rock style driven by Haines’ keyboards, though the label delayed its release. A cover single, “I’m Never Gonna Let You Go,” failed to chart.

Haines left the band in 1969, and later formed the Norman Haines Band. In early 1970, Locomotive released the album We Are Everything You See to generally favorable reviews, but it didn’t reconnect with their earlier R&B audience. The record included “Mr. Armageddon” and two tracks based on Joseph Byrd’s songs for the United States of America.

Hincks and Lamb briefly carried on with new members as Steam Shovel, then as The Dog That Bit People before breaking up. The members went on to other projects, with Lamb later working with Tea and Symphony, the Steve Gibbons Band, and UB40 production.

We Are Everything You See was reissued on CD in 1995 and again in 2010. Bob Lamb died on 16 October 2025, aged 78.