The trio consisted of
bass player and
vocalist John Gustafson,
keyboardist J. Peter Robinson and
Mick Underwood on
drums. Underwood had previously played with
Ritchie Blackmore in
the Outlaws, while Gustafson had been a member of Cass and the Casanovas,
the Big Three, the Seniors, and
the Merseybeats. Underwood later became drummer with
Episode Six, and was joined by Gustafson after
Roger Glover and
Ian Gillan left to join
Deep Purple. The band took its name from
Professor Bernard Quatermass, a fictional scientist who had been the hero of three
science fiction serials produced by
BBC Television in the 1950s, and were signed to
Harvest Records. The group formed as a
power trio, with the
Hammond organ as the main instrument. Their first and only album sold itself through "...compactness, wealth of ideas, forceful lead vocals and complicated arrangements, enriched by pianist Robinson's tasteful use of classical strings, which are on display along with spacious keyboard passages at their height in the mold of
the Nice." One track, "Laughin' Tackle", includes 16 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos, and 3 double basses, arranged by Robinson, and a drum solo by Underwood. Underwood remained in close contact with Blackmore, and visited Deep Purple in the studio while they were recording
In Rock. The group split in early 1971. Gustafson formed a new band,
Hard Stuff (Bullet) with ex-members of
Atomic Rooster. The band's song "Black Sheep of the Family", a cover of
Fat Mattress, was the first track to be recorded by
Rainbow, having been rejected for the
Deep Purple album
Stormbringer. ;Quatermass II In 1994, Underwood, and founding Deep Purple member
Nick Simper joined in a project titled Quatermass II. Gustafson contributed two songs on their album,
Long Road (1997), which also involved Gary Davis and Bart Foley on guitars, with
Don Airey on keyboards. ==Band members==