| Atomic Rooster's |
| Pete French |
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| With many thanks to Jan Horjus, John, Dixie and Mike
Healy for additional information.
Early bands: Switch, Erotic Eel, Joe Poe, the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band (first recording as vocalist on "Bullenstreet"). Black Cat Bones which later evolved into Leafhound, <click here for sleeve notes, Leafhound "Growers of Mushroom"> 69:In October of this year, Pete French was the singer in Big Bertha band, fronted by Cozy Powell (with Denny Ball and Dave Ball). 71:Featured in a Status Quo tribute single, "Status Rock" credited to the Headbangers. Pete was recruited into Atomic Rooster during the second quarter of '71 as vocalist to record Rooster's 3rd LP, "In Hearing Of" which was released July '71. Alongside Vincent, John and Paul, Pete sang on this record and undertook the ensueing tours. 72: Joins Cactus with the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice.Appears on their 4th album album 'Ot 'N' Sweaty.
76/77 recruited into German band Randy Pie.Appears on '77 album Fast Forward. By end of '77 Randy Pie has disbanded. 78 Pete has a solo album released "Ducks in Flight"! <click here for the enlargements>
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| From John, August 23rd 2000.... I bought an
anthology cd by Cactus and he sings on one of the songs. The song is
called "Bad Stuff".
From "Dixie" Howard, August 24th 2000....I'd like to add from The Cactus anthology CD. Carmine Appice states "the Faces thing was really starting to explode and we wanted to go a bit more in that direction". Filling the "English singer" role, Bogert and Appice enlisted former Atomic Rooster frontman Peter French. The Cactus "'ot 'N' Sweaty" LP (CD) 1972 is one of the hardest rockin' boogie albums ever recorded. I still listen to it once weekly and still wish I'd been at the concert that side one was recorded at. I bought one of the Randy Pie LPs in 1976 (only because of French). Shortly after lost it to a friend. Really can't remember what it sounded like, but I distinctly remember Peter on the back of the cover. Thin as a rail, dark tanned and with a shag haircut (in other words: definitive COOL- in an early Keith Richards kind of way). I'm still trying to re acquire that album. |
| Feb. 6th
2002, the very latest news in from Pete himself:
"Thought I'd send you an update to let your site know that I have been asked to do a performance gig at the Eel Pie Club -at the Cabbage Patch, 67 London Rd, Twickenham, on 6th March 2002. I will be guesting with John Iden of the Yardbirds on Guitar,Gary Moberly on Keyboards,Sam Kelly on Drums, Ted Collen on Bass, and Andy Thompson on Saxaphone, should be a fun night, tell the fans. Previous info- have recently done two guest appearances at York House Twickenham (Richmond Rythm & Blues 2001)they were both sellout shows, for the Mayor of Richmond's charity bash. Well, I'm gonna close now, hope it's of use to you, bye , - Pete French." |
If you have any further information on Pete, please make contact so that we are able to make an update. |
| Related Sites: | ||||
For review of Leafhound, Grower of Mushrooms. http://www.marksound.com/reviews/leafhound.html |
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Pete French did the vocals for the Denny Ball Band in a one off concert on May 1st 1999.One of the other acts mentioned in the line up was Chris Farlowe. Scroll all the way down to Denny Ball Band (for the Cozy Powell tribute concert http://geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/2214/dball_b.htm Mentions that after Rooster was part of the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of Bogert & Appice before going on to front Randy Pie.He also apparently tried for,and failed,Manfred Mann's Earthband,Uriah Heep and Deep Purple(Coverdale got the Purple job).He also sang a song in a controversial German rock opera but can't say whether it was before or after Randy Pie,believe it was after but need confirming.1978 records solo album Ducks In Flight. http://www.xs4all.nl/~roadburn/pgdinosaur/leafhound.html
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| *Whatever Happened
to the Band?
*Vincent Crane *Carl Palmer *Nick Graham *John DuCann *Paul Hammond *Pete French *Chris Farlowe *Steve Bolton *Ric Parnell *John Goodsall *Preston Heyman *Bernie Torme |
