[1][2] When keyboardist Jon Lord and guitarist Derek Griffiths from Red Bludd's Bluesicians joined the Art Wood Combo, the Artwoods were formed.
The intended debut single, a cover of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man", was shelved in favour of a rendition of an old Lead Belly song, "Sweet Mary".
The Artwoods were one of the few British bands of the era to play behind the Iron Curtain as they toured Poland in 1966[4] with Lord's then-girlfriend Elkie Brooks as opener.
[1][3] Later in 1967, a final "one-off" single appeared on the Fontana label, with the band billing itself as St. Valentine's Day Massacre;[6] but by the time of its release the Artwoods had effectively ceased to exist.
[1] Bruce Eder of Allmusic notes that the Artwoods' early records today stand up well against the work of more successful groups such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds or the Birds (who included Art's younger brother Ronnie).