John Lee Hooker's favourite UK blues rock band, they…
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John Lee Hooker's favourite UK blues rock band, they toured with him in 1964.
The Groundhogs, were an influential British blues-rock band formed in 1963. Fronted by guitarist Tony McPhee.
Evolving from a blues foundation, they transitioned into progressive-oriented hard rock in the early 1970s. Known for a heavy, distorted guitar sound, and a power trio format that produced 1970s hits. Like split and Who Will Save the World?,
The Groundhogs sold a lot of records in the early 70s: after supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1971 UK tour, they found themselves subsequently filling the same venues as headliners.
But to the end of his life, McPhee maintained that the highlight of his career wasn’t their run of Top 10 albums but the time he had spent in the 60s as a sideman with John Lee Hooker.
He downplayed his shift from playing straight blues to something more experimental as merely a matter of pragmatism – “to keep the Groundhogs working and recording” when the late 60s blues boom began to wane – which didn’t really account for how far out he was prepared to take his music.
He was also stubborn, (clearly he hadn’t been nicknamed Tough Shit for nothing). Happy to follow his muse into waters, that alienated the Groundhogs’ growing following. Fans enticed by the furious power, of Split’s most famous track "cherry red".
"I basicly took the classic blues, and added hard rock. It wasn't my intention, i just wanted to blow everybodys mind. And in the 70s teenagers expected more than in the 60s."
#rock #music
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The Groundhogs, were an influential British blues-rock band formed in 1963. Fronted by guitarist Tony McPhee.
Evolving from a blues foundation, they transitioned into progressive-oriented hard rock in the early 1970s. Known for a heavy, distorted guitar sound, and a power trio format that produced 1970s hits. Like split and Who Will Save the World?,
The Groundhogs sold a lot of records in the early 70s: after supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1971 UK tour, they found themselves subsequently filling the same venues as headliners.
But to the end of his life, McPhee maintained that the highlight of his career wasn’t their run of Top 10 albums but the time he had spent in the 60s as a sideman with John Lee Hooker.
He downplayed his shift from playing straight blues to something more experimental as merely a matter of pragmatism – “to keep the Groundhogs working and recording” when the late 60s blues boom began to wane – which didn’t really account for how far out he was prepared to take his music.
He was also stubborn, (clearly he hadn’t been nicknamed Tough Shit for nothing). Happy to follow his muse into waters, that alienated the Groundhogs’ growing following. Fans enticed by the furious power, of Split’s most famous track "cherry red".
"I basicly took the classic blues, and added hard rock. It wasn't my intention, i just wanted to blow everybodys mind. And in the 70s teenagers expected more than in the 60s."
#rock #music
source
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