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Latest News |
Live Dates |
| To Paul October 26 , 2008 | (Reply) |
Pete is not currently playing any live dates. |
| I first met Paul Hart through Dick Heckstall- Smith, of whom he was a great fan. Later, perhaps sensing my everpresent hunger to play, he invited me to join his fusion big band, 200 Fingers, which I was very pleased to do. Together we played a lot of little festivals around the southwest of England. At an early rehearsal I asked the rather grumpy drummer if what I was doing (on percussion) was okay for him. "It's all right", he replied grudgingly. " No one ever gets fired in this band". Later the ensemble mutated into the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra, doing more gigs and even a BBC Paul Jones radio show. At various times it featured a string section and a choir, and backed such as Andy Shepherd and Mick Taylor. Eventually I got to sing with the band, both backing vocals and lead, also joining the choir when it happened, which was very exciting.
Paul's sudden disappearance in the summer came as a big shock. He was a tireless worker for good music, and also a terrific graphic artist. Somehow he managed to hold down his art teaching job while doing masses of organization for the huge and sometimes temperamental band. One of the last things we were involved in together was his design for a "White Room" Gibson bass to be auctioned for charity, which Jack Bruce and I both signed. I believe it did very well. Paul will be remembered by myself and others including the full Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra (I unfortunately missed his official memorial gig due to illness) on Dec. 20th at the Exchange in Sturminster Newton, Paul's home town. |
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| A Small Update August 19, 2008 | (Reply) |
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| Pete Brown and Phil Ryan are now halfway through their first studio record in fourteen years, likely to be titled 'Road of Cobras', although another contender is 'Life in the Past Lane'. Guests include; Arthur Brown, Maggie Bell, Clem Clempson, Jim Mullen, and Richard Bailey; plus alumni David Hadley, Bob Jenkins, John McKenzie, Mo Nazam, and Taff Williams and a potential cameo appearance by Peter Green. It is hoped to be finished by the end of July.
Pete's autobiography, to be named 'White Rooms and Imaginary Westerns', is very close to completion and due for release in August. Likewise, the new book of poems: 'The Cats of War'. Pete has also been working on T Mandrake's recent album and it should be finished by the end of June. In reissues: Repertoire in Germany will be releasing all of the Harvest records, with Battered Ornaments bonus tracks. There is a definitive Piblokto compilation in the pipeline with much unreleased material, including a live concert in France. Esoteric, who havve been doing a lot of Jack Bruce material recently, including two box sets featuring many songs co-written by Pete, are releasing a double album of the previous (90s) Brown/Ryan records, 'Ardours of the Lost Rake' and 'Coals to Jerusalem', also due to feature unissued material. |
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© 2008 PETE BROWN |
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