Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

GROUNDHOGS, The

UK blues band formed c'63 by guitarist Tony 'T. S.' McPhee (b 22 March '44, Lincolnshire), with Pete Cruikshank (b 2 July '45), bass; John Cruikshank, vocals, harmonica; Bob Hall, piano; David Boorman, drums. Backed visiting US bluesmen, made LP with John Lee Hooker for Xtra label (their name from a Hooker song), disbanded. McPhee, J. Cruikshank made two singles as Herbal Mixture with Mick Meekham, drums; McPhee played briefly with John Dummer Blues Band, then legendary Hapsash and the Coloured Coat (with Mike Batt); re-formed Groundhogs '68 with P. Cruikshank, Steve Rye, harmonica; Ken Pustelnik, drums. Blues LPs for Liberty Scratching The Surface '68 (prod. by Batt), Blues Obituary '69 (without Rye) preceded entry into progressive arena with socio- political lyrics: balding McPhee was an unlikely guitar hero, but Thank Christ For The Bomb '70 was pushed to top ten UK by their appearance at that year's Isle of Wight festival; Split '71 made no. 5, Who Will Save The World '72 no. 8. Clive Brooks (ex-Egg) replaced Pustelnik for Hogwash '72 and Solid '74; Hogging The Stage was a live album incl. tracks from Live At Leeds '71, one of those LPs which may or may not have existed: in fact it was a promo for radio stations. McPhee had also collaborated with acoustic blues singer Jo-Ann Kelly late '60s, made less aggressive, more electronic album The Two Sides of Tony (T. S.) McPhee '73; now he tired of Hogs' format, disbanded again to work from his own studio at home; surprised everyone by re-forming '76, with Dave Wellbeloved and Rick Adams, guitars, Martin Kent, bass; Mick Cook on drums for Crosscut Saw and Black Diamond (without Adams) '76; but the rise of punk put paid to hopes. McPhee formed unsuccessful Terraplane, retired; re-formed yet again for Razor's Edge '84, with Alan Fish on bass, Mick Kirton on drums; incarnations threaten to make it the longest-running band since Chicken Shack. The sound of the Hogs was not unlike Black Sabbath with a bluesier musical base, McPhee an excellent technician. Compilation of non-vintage stuff was Running Fast -- Standing Still '86.