Foghat

Foghat

Group members in 1973, as pictured on the back cover of their second album. Clockwise from top left: "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, Tony Stevens, Roger Earl, Rod Price.
Background information
Origin London, England
Genres Blues rock, boogie rock, hard rock
Years active 1971–84, 1986–present
Labels Bearsville, Atlantic, Rhino
Website www.foghat.com
www.foghat.net
Members Roger Earl
Craig MacGregor
Bryan Bassett
Charlie Huhn
Past members Dave Peverett
Rod Price
Tony Stevens
Nick Jameson
Erik Cartwright
Kenny Aaronson
Rob Alter
Eric Burgeson
Brett Cartwright
Jeff Howell
Phil Nudelman
Billy Davis
Dave Crigger
Riff West

Foghat are an English rock band formed in London in 1971. The band is known for its prominent use of electric slide guitar in its music.[1] The band has achieved 8 gold records, one platinum and one double platinum record, and despite several lineup changes, continues to record and perform to the present day.

History

1970s

The band initially featured Dave Peverett ("Lonesome Dave") on guitar and vocals, Tony Stevens on bass, and Roger Earl on drums when they left Savoy Brown in 1970. Rod Price on guitar/slide guitar joined after he left the Black Cat Bones in December 1970. The new line-up was named "Foghat" (a nonsense word from a childhood game played by Peverett and his brother[2]) in January 1971. Their 1972 album, Foghat was produced by Dave Edmunds and had a cover of Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You", which received much airplay, especially on FM stations. Additional tracks on this initial offering include a remake of the Savoy Brown bluesy ode to the road "Leavin' Again (Again!)" and "Sarah Lee", a classic blues burner featuring Rod Price's slide guitar solo. The band's second self-titled album was also known as Rock and Roll for its cover photo of a rock and a bread roll, and it went gold. Energized came out in 1974, followed by Rock and Roll Outlaws and Fool for the City in 1975, the year that Stevens left the band after objecting to their endless touring schedule. Stevens was replaced temporarily by producer Nick Jameson in 1975 when the band recorded Fool for the City. In the next year, Jameson was replaced by Craig MacGregor and the group produced Night Shift in 1976, a live album in 1977, and Stone Blue in 1978, each reaching "gold" record sales. Fool for the City spawned the hit single "Slow Ride" (which reached #20 in the US), but the greatest sales figures were for Live, which sold over 2,000,000 copies. More hits followed: "Drivin' Wheel"; "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (from the live album); "Stone Blue"; and "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)". Rod Price left the band in November 1980, unhappy with the group's still constant touring and the shift away from their hard boogie sound towards a more new-wave-influenced pop direction. After months of auditions he was replaced by Erik Cartwright by February 1981.

1980s

After 1978, Foghat record sales began to slip, and their last album for the Bearsville label, Zig-Zag Walk in 1983, only briefly touched the charts at No. 192. MacGregor quit in 1982 and Nick Jameson returned to play on In the Mood for Something Rude and Zig Zag Walk before turning things over to Kenny Aaronson (1983) and then Rob Alter (1983–1984). MacGregor returned in 1984.

The band briefly disbanded in 1984 after Dave Peverett left and returned to England. But Earl, along with MacGregor and Cartwright, reformed with a new singer/guitarist Eric (E. J.) Burgeson and continued touring as Foghat into the early 1990s. MacGregor (1986–1987, 1991), Eric's brother Brett Cartwright (1987, 1988–1989), and Jeff Howell (1987–1988, 1989–1991) alternated on bass during that time. In addition, Phil Nudelman (1989–1990) and then Billy Davis (1990–1993) took over from Burgeson. Dave Crigger joined on bass in 1991-1993.

1990s

Lonesome Dave had returned to the US by 1990 and formed his own Lonesome Dave's Foghat that featured Bryan Bassett (ex Wild Cherry), Stephen Dees (bass), and Eddie Zyne (drums). Dees and Zyne had played with Hall & Oates, among others. Former Molly Hatchet bassist Riff West succeeded Dees in 1991 and Rod Price even did the odd guest appearance.

In 1993, at the urging of producer Rick Rubin, the original line-up reunited. Although Rubin ultimately proved to be unavailable to produce their comeback project, the group went ahead anyway and released a studio album entitled Return of the Boogie Men in 1994 and a live album entitled Road Cases in 1998. The final album of the decade, King Biscuit Flower Hour from the syndicated radio show of the same name, was released in May 1999, and consisted of live recordings from 1974 and 1976.

After being back together six years, the original line-up once again ended after Price decided to retire from touring for good. Bryan Bassett (who had been playing with Molly Hatchet in the interim) was brought back on guitar.

2000s

The 2000s saw the deaths of founding members Dave Peverett and Rod Price. Peverett died on 7 February 2000 from complications from kidney cancer at the age of 56, and Rod Price died on 22 March 2005 at the age of 57 of a fall resulting from a heart attack.

The 2010 version of Foghat consisted of Roger Earl, Craig MacGregor, Charlie Huhn, and Bryan Bassett. At a concert during the Summer of 2010, former Rainbow and Black Sabbath drummer Bobby Rondinelli had temporarily replaced Roger Earl while Roger was recovering from surgery. At another Foghat concert during the Summer of 2010, after Roger Earl returned to the band, bassist Jeff Howell had temporarily replaced Craig MacGregor because of an illness. As of 2005, bassist Craig MacGregor had returned.[3] Foghat’s latest album Last Train Home (released 15 June 2010) was the culmination of a dream shared by Roger Earl and Lonesome Dave Peverett . It contained some of their favourite blues songs, three originals ("Born for the Road", "Last Train Home", and "495 Boogie"), and two songs by special guest performer and long time friend, Eddie 'Bluesman' Kirkland who was 86. He had played with Foghat as a special guest back in 1977 at Foghat’s Tribute to the Blues at the New York Palladium, and remained a good friend of the band until he was killed in a car accident on 27 February 2011.

Also performing on Last Train Home are Colin Earl / piano, Jeff Howell / bass, and Lefty Lefkowitz / harmonica. According to Earl, “This CD is a testimony to Lonesome Dave. We always planned to do this. I am so fortunate to have partners in band members Charlie Huhn and Bryan Bassett who share the same passion for the blues. It was not hard work putting this album together; playing this kind of music is joyous. We had a blast!”[3]

On 9 July 2013, the band released a single called "The Word of Rock n' Roll", a Christmas song (an instrumental version of "Winter Wonderland") on 5 November 2013, and released a new DVD (Live in St. Pete) in December 2013.

Personnel

Band members

Current members
  • Roger Earl - drums (1971-1984, 1986–present)
  • Craig MacGregor - bass (1976-1982, 1984, 1986-1987, 1991, 2005–present)
  • Bryan Bassett - lead guitar (1999–present)
  • Charlie Huhn - rhythm guitar, vocals (2005–present)

Former members
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals (1971-1984, 1993-2000; died 2000)
  • Rod Price - lead guitar, slide guitar (1971-1981, 1993-1999; died 2005)
  • Tony Stevens - bass (1971-1975, 1993-2005)
  • Nick Jameson - bass (1975-1976, 1982-1983)
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar (1981-1984, 1986-1993)
  • Kenny Aaronson - bass (1983)
  • Rob Alter - bass (1983-1984)
  • Eric Burgeson - rhythm guitar, vocals (1986-1989)
  • Brett Cartwright - bass (1987, 1988-1989)
  • Jeff Howell - bass (1987-1988, 1989-1991)
  • Phil Nudelman - rhythm guitar, vocals (1989-1990)
  • Billy Davis - rhythm guitar, vocals (1990-1993)
  • Dave Crigger - bass (1991-1993)

Lineups

1970–1975 1975–1976 1976–1981 1981–1982 1982–1983
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Rod Price - lead guitar, slide guitar
  • Nick Jameson - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Rod Price - lead guitar, slide guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Nick Jameson - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
1983 1983–1984 1984 1984–1986 1986–1987
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Kenny Aaronson - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Rob Alter - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums

Disbanded

  • Eric Burgeson - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
1987 1987–1988 1988–1989 1989–1990 1990–1991
  • Eric Burgeson - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Brett Cartwright - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Eric Burgeson - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Jeff Howell - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Eric Burgeson - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Brett Cartwright - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Phil Nudelman - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Jeff Howell - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Billy Davis - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Jeff Howell - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
1991 1991–1993 1993–1999 1999–2000 2000–2005
  • Billy Davis - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Billy Davis - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Erik Cartwright - lead guitar
  • Dave Crigger - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Rod Price - lead guitar
  • Tony Stevens - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Dave Peverett - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Bryan Bassett - lead guitar
  • Tony Stevens - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
  • Charlie Huhn - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Bryan Bassett - lead guitar
  • Tony Stevens - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums
2005–present
  • Charlie Huhn - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Bryan Bassett - lead guitar
  • Craig MacGregor - bass
  • Roger Earl - drums

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Album Chart
1972 Foghat 127
1973 Rock and Roll 67
1974 Energized 34
1974 Rock and Roll Outlaws 40
1975 Fool for the City 23
1976 Night Shift 36
1977 Live 11
1978 Stone Blue 25
1979 Boogie Motel 35
1980 Tight Shoes 106
1981 Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce 92
1982 In the Mood for Something Rude 162
1983 Zig-Zag Walk 192
1994 Return of the Boogie Men -
2003 Family Joules -
2003 Decade Live -
2007 Foghat Live II -
2010 Last Train Home -

[4]

Compilations

Singles

Year Single US Singles Chart
1972 "I Just Want to Make Love to You" 83
1973 "What a Shame" 82
1975 "Slow Ride" 20
1976 "Fool for the City" 45
1976 "Drivin' Wheel" 34
1977 "I'll Be Standing By" 67
1977 "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Live) 33
1978 "Stone Blue" 36
1979 "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)" 23
1980 "Stranger in My Home Town" 81
1981 "Wide Boy" -
1981 "Live Now - Pay Later" 102
1982 "Slipped, Tripped, Fell in Love" -

[5]

[6]

References

  1. See liner notes from The Best of Foghat on Rhino Records, and History page of Foghat's official website
  2. "The Official Foghat Website". Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 "The Official Website of Foghat!". Foghat.net. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  4. "Foghat > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  5. "Foghat > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  6. "Ultimate Music Database". Retrieved 10 July 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 20, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.