Introduction
Terry Slesser (also known as Terry Wilson-Slesser) is a blues rock singer and comedian from Newcastle, England. He is chiefly known for his role as vocalist in ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff's band Back Street Crawler, renamed Crawler after Kossoff's death in 1976.
History
In the early 1970s, Slesser joined Beckett, replacing original singer Rob Turner, who had been killed in a car accident. Beckett released one self-titled album in 1974, produced by Roger Chapman of Family, featuring vocals from both Turner and Slesser.
Slesser then joined Back Street Crawler and its successor band, Crawler, for the balance of the 1970s. Following the demise of Crawler, Slesser joined the band Geordie in 1980, after its lead singer, Brian Johnson, joined AC/DC, subsequent to the death of Bon Scott.
In 1983, Slesser joined the band Charlie as lead vocalist. Slesser was featured on the band's US hit single "It's Inevitable", and the related album. Notwithstanding the popularity of the single, the album was not successful and the band broke up soon thereafter. In 1984, Slesser toured Europe, Japan and the USA as an offstage backing vocalist with the Michael Schenker Group.
Slesser continues to tour as a solo act and in various band formations. For two years, he was the lead singer of Freeway, a British Free tribute band. With Freeway guitarist John Buckton, Slesser also formed Kossoff...The Band Plays On, a Paul Kossoff tribute band.