RIP Tony McPhee

[Minnesota Flats]

Passed June 6. The Groundhogs were a standout band of the late 60s/ early 70s, IMHO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_McPhee


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1xIiPF5ekY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p-2g1srC7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14yKg5JhklA

 

[Rocky]

TS was a great player, and had an interesting compositional style. Split and Who Will Save the World still get a spin from time to time here.

Side note - I met Neal Adams at a fantasy art show several years back, and the first thing out of my mouth was about the Who Will Save the World cover.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

I saw Tony McPhee in Aberdeen back in 2004. He was the opening act, being followed by Edgar Winter and then Alvin Lee. All were great! Sadly only Edgar is still with us
I remember reading about where the "TS" name came from. It was producer Mike Vernon who suggested it. When Tony asked what TS stood for, Mike told him "Tough Shit"!

 

[wileypickett]

The record the Groundhogs made backing John Lee Hooker is one of the better "John Lee Hooker + band" records he made IMO. Hooker was notorious for varying bar lengths, adding and dropping beats, whch made following him very challenging. The Groundhogs made it sound easy as falling off a log, with no grandstanding, no stepping on the star of the show's toes, no nonsense. Tasteful.

And they had an edgy sound that really complemented Hooker's.

 

[Rocky]

I saw Tony McPhee in Aberdeen back in 2004.

I don't think Tony/Groundhogs ever toured the US, which probably accounts for their relative obscurity here.