The Battered Ornaments

Battered Ornaments were an ambitious rock band put together by lyricist Pete Brown, known for writing many of Cream's songs with Jack Bruce, after that group broke up. Organized in 1969, Battered Ornaments featured Brown on vocals and trumpet, Graham Layden (vocals), Chris Spedding (guitar), Charlie Hart (organ, violin), George Khan (sax), Butch Potter (bass), Rob Tait (drums), and Pete Bailey (percussion).

Layden was an early casualty. The group released an initial LP, A Meal You Can Shake Hands With in the Dark, credited to Pete Brown And His Battered Ornaments and completed a second, Mantelpiece, before Brown left in a dispute with Spedding. Brown's vocals were then wiped off Mantelpiece and replaced. The group continued until Spedding's departure for a solo career.