Formed in London, England, in 1972, Hard Stuff comprised John Cann (guitar/vocals), Paul Hammond (drums) - both formerly of Atomic Rooster - and John Gustafson (bass; ex-Quatermass). They secured a recording contract with Purple Records, a label owned by Deep Purple, for which they completed two heavy, power trio styled, selections. Hard Stuff supported Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band on a 1973 UK tour, a musical mismatch which did much to undermine the British band’s emergent reputation. They split up in 1973, after which Gustafson became an in-demand session musician. Cann later enjoyed a novelty hit, ‘Don’t Be A Dummy’ (1979), under the name John Du Cann.