The Groundhogs (feat. the Classic Lineup) - Eccentric Man (40th Anniversary - Live 2003) Blues Rock

The opening number from the Groundhogs' classic line-up, 40th Anniversary reunion show, recorded at the Butter Market, Shrewsbury, 2003, and later released as '60/40 Split' (2008).
The Groundhogs were(*):
- Tony McPhee: vocals & guitar
- Pete Cruickshank - bass
- Ken Pustelnik - drums
(*) - This line-up was active, approximately, 1968-74 and 2003.
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 that year's "Hogwash", Clive Brooks (ex-Egg, pre-Pink Floyd drum tech) replaced Ken Pustelnik, and in 1974, the band was at least partially recorded live at the Marquee in London, from which, their performance of 'Light My Light' is available on KZbin. Their 1974 album 'Solid' marked a final return to the charts.
In 1975, after the departure of long serving Peter Cruickshank, and drummer Clive Brooks, 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.
After a couple of early 1980s line-ups, including the likes of ex-Rory Gallagher Wilgar Campbell (1946-1989) on drums, and bolstered by the release of their first album in 9 years (the highly underappreciated) "Razor's Edge" (1985), the late 1980s saw the band, then featuring Dave Anderson (b. 1949, ex-Amon Duul II), on bass - replacing Alan Fish, with Mick(y) Jones on drums, experience a revival of sorts, releasing their own highly underappreciated album, "Back Against the Wall" (1987), plus numerous live albums ("Hogs on the Road", and "Extremely Live" [both 1988] being standouts). The same McPhee/Anderson/Jones line-up would also perform live at the 1989 Anti WAA Festival in Germany, from which, a live CD and DVD and would much later (2014) be released.
The Groundhogs' final studio album to date, "Hogs In Wolf's Clothing", a collection of blues covers, was released in early 1998, with the line-up of Tony, bassist/guitarist Eric Chipulina, and drummer Pete Correa.
In 2003, a short-lived reunion tour featuring the classic McPhee/Cruickshank/Pustelnik line-up was put together to celebrate the Groundhogs' 40th anniversary, from which, '60/40 Split' a scarce DVD set including extras was later (2008) released. Afterwards, Tony returned to solo work, acoustic, and with his own Groundhogs, while Ken and Pete formed the Groundhogs Rhythm Section.
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.
Pete and Ken's Groundhogs remain popularly active as of 2020, frequently gigging to significant audiences.
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Want more of Tony McPhee and the Groundhogs?:
- The Groundhogs - Live at the Anti WAA Festival (Full Concert, 1989): www.youtube.co....
- The Groundhogs - Live 1992, 2 and-a-half-hour bootleg: www.youtube.co....
- Tony's Facebook page: / tony.mcphee.58
- The Groundhogs' Facebook page/group: / thegroundhogs
- Tony McPhee & the Groundhogs' Official website: www.thegroundh...
- OFFICIAL Groundhogs Reissue Albums: www.firerecord....
- Stream the Groundhogs on Amazon Prime Music (comes with Prime): music.amazon.c....