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Brand X — Theory of Nothing
(Moonjune MJR150, 1977/2026, 2CD)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-10-19

Theory of Nothing Cover art

Brand X is a band with a somewhat confusing history, but recently there’s been a real effort by Percy Jones to set the record straight. To summarize, various quirks of fate led to the legal, contractually defined entity Brand X consisting of Jones (bass), John Goodsall (guitar), and Robin Lumley (keyboards). All of the other musicians who have participated in recording and live performances have been hired guests, even when they appeared as “replacements” for one of the original three. When Unorthodox Behaviour came out, it seemed to many of us that it was in essence a Phil Collins side project — and to be honest, the record labels, with an eye to marketing and publicity, were guilty of spreading that impression. And even the albums themselves were not quite obvious about the status of the players in the credits. Be that as it may, here we have Theory of Nothing, a set of live recordings from the group’s North American tour of 1977. This was not long after the shows used for Livestock, which you might remember featured Collins drumming on three tracks, while Kenwood Dennard handled two. Collins was busy with Genesis at the time, so the drum chair in the band has always been rotating. This set features Dennard exclusively, with Goodsall, Jones, Lumley, and percussionist Morris Pert. The material is drawn equally from the first three studio albums (though Masques hadn’t been released yet), and also includes a take on “Nightmare Patrol,” which otherwise only appears on Livestock — it’s one of only three tracks duplicated between the two live albums, leaving seven pieces appearing in their first fully-sanctioned live recordings here. While this is described as a “complete concert experience,” as far as I can tell, the recordings are sourced from various stops on the tour, and no details are given. The tapes were found in Robin Lumley’s attic after his passing, and are presented with the full support of Jones and the estates of Goodsall and Lumley. As for the performances, it’s safe to say these guys were no slouches, and if they ever had an off night, there’s no evidence of it here. Classics like “Nuclear Burn,” “Malaga Virgen,” “Disco Suicide,” “Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria,” and “Deadly Nightshade” are given spirited readings, and “Why Should I Lend You Mine When You’ve Broken Yours Off Already?” has the kind of loose interplay that it should. Dennard’s playing is amazing, showing he’s worthy of being mentioned alongside Billy Cobham in any coversation about the greatest fusion drummers. For any fan of the band, this release is a welcome addition to the legacy, and a chance to directly support the musicians and their heirs. More releases are planned in the future from Lumley’s archives, and I for one am looking forward to hearing more.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases, 1977 recordings

Related artist(s): Brand X, Percy Jones, Robin Lumley, Morris Pert, John Goodsall

More info
http://officialbrandx.bandcamp.com/merch/brand-x-theory-of-nothing-2cd-limited-edition-3

 

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