The Groundhogs
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The Groundhogs was a British blues band founded in Late 1963, which toured extensively in the 1960s, and continued in existence for a number of decades.
The line-up for their first album, Scratchin' the Surface, released in 1968, consisted of Tony McPhee as vocalist and guitarist, Peter Cruickshank on bass, Ken Pustelnik on drums, and Steve Rye on harmonica. Clive Brooks became the drummer in 1972.
They remain one of the lesser known, yet critically regarded bands of the late 1960s, and early 1970s blues rock groups. Particularly in their formative years, the Groundhogs toured extensively with John Lee Hooker and Champion Jack Dupree. Later album releases such as Thank Christ For The Bomb (May 1970); Split (March 1971); and Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs (March 1972); are powerful rock albums, with stunning lead guitar work from their long term frontman, Tony McPhee. Some further exposure came from serving as the supporting act for The Rolling Stones UK Tour 1971.
Originally broken up in 1976, they came back as a largely live act less than a decade later. After years of performing, and recording for a loyal cult audience, The Groundhogs were finally disbanded in October 2004. Now touring again in 2007 as Tony McPhee's Groundhogs with Dave Anderson (bass) and Marco Anderson (drums).
[edit] Discography
as The Groundhogs:
- Scratchin' the Surface (November 1968)
- The Groundhogs with John Lee Hooker and John Mayall (1968)
- Blues Obituary (July 1969)
- Thank Christ For The Bomb (May 1970) - UK Albums Chart high - Number 9
- Split (March 1971) - Number 5
- Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs (March 1972) - Number 8
- Hogwash (October 1972)
- Solid (June 1974) - Number 31
- Crosscut Saw (February 1976)
- Black Diamond (October 1976)
- Hoggin' The Stage (live) (April 1984)
- Razor's Edge (May 1985)
- Moving Fast, Standing Still (1986)
- Back Against the Wall (May 1987)
- Hogs On The Road (Live) (1988)
- No Surrender (live) (Dec 1990)
- Groundhog Night...Groundhog Live (Jun 1993)
- Who Said Cherry Red (Oct 1996)
- Live at Leeds 71 (Live) (Aug 1998)
- Hogs in Wolf's Clothing (Jan 1998)
- The Muddy Waters Song Book (Apr 1999)
- UK Tour '76 (1999)
- Live At The Astoria (Sep 2001)
DVDs And Video
- Live At The Astoria (1999) [Video]
- 60/40 Split (2005) [DVD]
as Tony McPhee and the Groundhogs:
- No Surrender (August 1989)
- Bleaching the Blues (April 1997) (Tony McPhee Solo)
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
- Hoggin' The Page: The Groundhogs' Classic Years - Northdown Publishing - ISBN 1-900711-16-8
