Tony McPhee of the Groundhogs - Thank Christ For the Bomb & Soldier - Acoustic Live Circa. 1990
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Rare live acoustic video, recorded during the late 1980s or early 1990s. 'Thank Christ For the Bomb' and 'Soldier' first appeared on the Groundhogs' 1970 album of the former's name.
Formed in 1963, as a power trio, consisting of Tony 'T.S.' McPhee (b. 23 March 1944), bassist Peter Cruickshank (b. 2 July 1945), and drummer Ken Pustelnik (b. 13 March 1946), the Groundhogs reached their commercial/productive stride during the late 1960s/early 1970s. The group's albums "Thank Christ for the Bomb" (1970); "Split" (1971); and "Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs!" (1972), all reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart, with "Split" reaching #5, spending 27 weeks in the UK Albums Chart and achieving gold record status. They supported The Rolling Stones on their 1971 British tour at Mick Jagger's request, and released the live album "Live at Leeds", recorded at the U. of Leeds. 1972 also saw Tony voted amongst the top ten guitarist via Melody Maker, only behind the likes of Rory Gallagher, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page, and above others such as Pete Townsend, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jerry Garcia. Following "Hogwash" (their 2nd album of 1972), only 1974's "Solid" charted.
In 1975, after the departure of long serving Peter Cruickshank, and drummer Clive Brooks (ex-Egg, pre-Pink Floyd drum tech, who had replaced Ken Pustelnik following "Solid") Tony recruited bassist Martin Kent and drummer Mick Cook (the latter previously of country rock-turned-progressive rock band Home, who released a trio of successful albums on CBS Records between 1971 and 74). The band was also joined by second guitarist Dave Wellbelove. This line-up completed the Groundhogs' early 1976 album "Crosscut Saw", however, for "Black Diamond", released later that year, Rick Adams replaced Wellbelove. And this line-up would be the last of the Groundhogs' for approximately 3 years, as Tony would afterwards form Terraplane (1977-80), but by 1981, returning chiefly as a power trio, the Groundhogs were back in action.
Following a line-up with ex-Rory Gallagher Wilgar Campbell (1946-1989) on drums, Tony, and bassist Alan Fish (ex-bluesman Billy Boy Arnold's band, with whom, Tony also guested) were joined by Mick Kirton (later, briefly of blues rock/hard rock band Dumpy's Rusty Nuts), and this line-up would completed the Groundhogs' first full length studio album in 9 years, (the underappreciated) "Razor's Edge", before dissolving circa. 1986, with the band's 1987 album, (the also underappreciated) "Back Against the Wall", featuring recent additions, Dave Anderson (ex-Amon Duul II) on bass, and Mick Jones on drums. This same McPhee/Anderson/Jones line-up would also see the release the live albums "Hogs On the Road" and "Extremely Live (both 1988), and later perform at the 1989 Anti WAA Festival in Germany, from which, a live CD and DVD and would much later (2014) be released.
Tony McPhee's Groundhogs would remain active well into the 21st century, only ceasing in 2014, after a series of health setbacks, the least of which, a 2009 stroke, befell the frontman. His definitive biography was published in 2012. He lives in England.
This clip is one of many included on a circa 2010, 40 minute DVD bootleg I recently acquired simply titled "Groundhogs", with no additional information, though, additional research revealed it is from an extras disk included with the scarce Groundhogs DVD titled "60/40 Split." The remaining 1980s and 1990s clips will also be uploaded in the coming days or weeks.
Want more of Tony McPhee and the Groundhogs?:
- The Groundhogs - Live at the Anti WAA Festival (Full Concert, 1989): www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_cjs...
- The Groundhogs - Live 1992, 2 and-a-half-hour bootleg: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCrKr...
- Tony's Facebook page: facebook.com/tony.mcphee.58
- The Groundhogs' Facebook page/group: facebook.com/TheGroundhogs
- Tony McPhee & the Groundhogs' Official website: www.thegroundhogs.co.uk/
- OFFICIAL Groundhogs Reissue Albums: www.firerecords.com/?s=the+gr...
- The Groundhogs' Discogs page: www.discogs.com/artist/50079-...
- Stream the Groundhogs on Amazon Prime Music (comes with Prime): music.amazon.ca/search/the%20...
That 1992 boot is no longer around.
Does anyone have the April 1972 video of their appearance on Top of the Pops playing Cherry Red? It would be priceless.
@@clivejohnson1680 I think unfortunately that if that one has not surfaced by now, there may be no existing copies of the tape.
Tony McPhee…😢❤️👍.. thanks for everything!!
This man is a National Treasure.
R.I.P. Tony ..
RIP dear Tony McPhee
My heart's broken. Feel like I've lost a dear best friend, and I'm sure everyone feels the same. So much lovs and hugs to his dear family. I can't imagine your loss 😞
Yeh totally agree been playing the hogs since his passing I'm hoping for a new greatest hits to celebrate Tony's life
Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania, 1973. I was there with Stan Burkhardt. (Actually lived nearby) Groundhogs came on well after midnight. First time I smoked pot. Great memory.
I was 12 in 1970 my mate came round with a Groundhogs album borrowed from his older brother wow...still play the albums 1970 to Hogwash....have to say i prefer the original versions to the modded versions in later years... but so unique and a really great guitarist.
My 2nd favourite guitarist after Hendrix mcphee was unique and sounded like no1 else love the groundhogs he will be missed 😢
What a beautiful man
I so saddened by his death
Goodbye tony and thanks for all the music, 06-06-23
I bought this album when I was a kid - genius music
Magnificent. This demonstrates the brilliance of Tony's lyrics as well as guitar playing. One of, if not the best ever. Love all of his albums for the musicianship, vocals and lyrics. Everyone different too, which makes the Groundhogs so special.
Revelatory, no quotidian anti war platitudes, the Groundhogs rear their trench warfare heads as it were...
This is magnificent. Tony McPhee, one of the best songwriters and lyricists ever. Brilliant album after brilliant album. Thank you Tony, just love your music.
RIP genius.
Wonderful to see Tony.
RIP Tony
True genius that man... respect 🎸
On a solo tour, saw him at a venue in Greenwich, SE London. Deserved a far bigger crowd.
The most fantastic duo I have ever heard is between ts mcphee and rory gallagher
Superb guitar
Would love to see more Hogs from 70s and 80s if you have any! I hope so.
Unico!
Who’s playing rhythm guitar?
Perhaps an early form of looper, I don’t know. Mr McPhee was a user of available technology.
@@grahamtaylor3093 agreed , a bit like John Martyn’s echoplex?
@@alanthomson1227 That’s right Alan, John was a real pioneer of controlling a mass of effects to produce some of the most sensational sounds of his time. ‘One World’ is on the headphones right now.