History</> </head> <body background="../Buttons/BackgroundPlectrum.JPG"> <p align="center"><a href="../Index.HTML"><IMG height=31 alt=Home src="../Buttons/ButtonHome.JPG" width=220 border=0></a><a href="../Discography/Discography.html"><img border="0" src="../Buttons/ButtonDiscography.JPG" width="220" height="31"></a><a href="Museum.htm"><img border="0" src="../Buttons/ButtonMuseum.JPG" width="220" height="31"></a></p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="800" id="AutoNumber1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="133"> <tr> <td width="100%" height="133"> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="../Buttons/ButtonAHistory.JPG" width="600" height="153"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" height="133"> <img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs01.JPG" align="left" width="157" height="186">Tony McPhee was born 23<sup>rd</sup> March 1944 in Humberston, Lincolnshire, England. A small town on the North East Coast near Cleethorpes and Grimsby. At the age of 15 after pestering his mother Tony got his first guitar. After a number of guitar lessons on his new acoustic guitar Tony found it too difficult to learn to read music so carried on trying to learn by ear, as he listed to his favourite sounds.<p> While still at school Tony was in his first band the Senechells. After leaving school Tony joined the <b><span style="color:green">Dollarbills</span></b> playing the then popular rhythm and blues but in the British style of 'pop' music. The band consisted of <b><span style="color:blue">John Cruickshank</span></b> (Vocals/Harmonica), <b><span style="color:blue"> Pete Cruickshank</span></b> (Bass), <b><span style="color:blue">David Boorman</span></b> (Drums) and <b><span style="color:blue">Tom Parker</span></b> (Piano),<b><span style="color:blue"> ? </span></b>(Saxophone) and<b><span style="color:blue"> Tony McPhee</span></b> (Guitar). At the end of the Second World War and into the early sixties American service men brought to England many new musical sounds from their native cities in America. As with many of the budding musicians at the end of the fifties, Tony was enjoying the emerging blues style. Not getting much success with the Dollarbills' pop sound the band changed tack in 1963, throwing out the saxophone player and changing names to <b><span style="color:olive">John Lee's Groundhogs</span></b> the band took on a 'purer' Blues sound.<br> John Cruickshank wanting some of the action, had by now taken the name 'John Lee' after John Lee Hooker, and was added to the 'Groundhogs', which was taken from one of Tony's favourite tracks 'Ground Hog Blues', on the 1960 John Lee Hooker album 'House Of The Blues'. By now the new line up was <b><span style="color:blue">John Lee </span></b>(Cruickshank) (Vocals/Harmonica), <b><span style="color:blue">Pete Cruickshank</span></b> (Bass), <b><span style="color:blue">David Boorman</span></b> (Drums),<b><span style="color:blue"> Tom Parker</span></b> (Piano), and <b><span style="color:blue">Tony McPhee</span></b> (Guitar). The bands first single, <span style="color:red">Rock Me/ Shake it</span> was released in America in 1964. </p> <p>Tony was by now a noted guitarist on the London Blues circuit. And offers came to join such noted Blues groups as Alexis<img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs03.jpg" align="right" width="148" height="200"> Korner and Chris Barber. Later in 1965 after Eric Clapton had left John Mayall on the first of two occasions, Tony was also invited to fill the gap. These where all turned down, including an invitation from Peter Green to join Fleetwood Mac. Tony Turned all the offers down in favour of pursuing his own sound and career. During 1964 John Lee Hooker visited England as part of a tour, but to Tony's disappointment John Mayall was booked to back him. Fortunately for Tony, John was unable to fill the last week of the tour due to previous engagements so it fell to the Groundhogs to fill the final week. So pleased was John Le Hooker with the Groundhogs performance, He booked the Groundhogs to back him on subsequent tours. At the end of the 1965 tour, John invited the Groundhogs to Back him on an album that was subsequently released in 1966 (and re-issued many times) with varying titles, including <span style="color:red">Hooker and the Hogs</span> and John Lee Hooker and Seven Nights.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tony went back into the studios in 1965, this time with the impresario Mike Vernon and recorded three demo tracks <span style="color:red">Big Train Blues, Can't Sit Down and Blue Guitar</span>. Soon after Mike invited Tony back again to record four more demos for the Immediate label. <span style="color:red">You Don't Love Me, Ain't Gonna Cry Any More, Someone to Love Me and When You Gotta Good Friend</span>. These last four demo tracks where later released on the Blues anytime compilation. It has been rumoured that some of the Immediate stars playing alongside Tony, on these sessions included Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.</p> <p><b><span style="color:olive">John Lee's Groundhogs </span></b>succeeded in securing a recording deal for one single on the Planet label and in 1966 <span style="color:red">'I'll Never Fall In Love Again'/ Over You</span> was released in Britain. A very Soul/Pop mix, moving well away from the Rhythm and Blues style that they had perfected. Disenchanted with the musical direction he was moving into, Tony Disbanded the Groundhogs in March 1966 and joined a Pop duo called <b><span style="color:olive">Truth </span></b>for six months. Another dead end, by August Tony had Joined the group<span style="color:olive"> <b>Herbal Mixture</b></span> with <span style="color:blue">Pete Cruickshank</span> on bass and <span style="color:blue">Mike Meekham</span> on Drums. Two singles where released by the band in 1966, <span style="color:red">A Love that's Died</span> and <span style="color:red">Machines</span>. Neither releases charting. A compilation of Herbal mixture recordings Please leave my Mind was released in America during 1993. </p> <p>Straight after his brief sojourn in the Herbal Mixture. Tony left in late 1967 to join the <b><span style="color:olive">John Dummer blues Band </span></b>as guitarist and vocalist. Playing alongside <span style="color:blue">Dave Kelly</span> (Guitar) <span style="color:blue">Jo-Ann Kelly</span> (Some vocals) and <span style="color:blue">Iain "Thumper Thompson"</span> (bass) <span style="color:blue">John O'Leary</span> (harmonica) and <span style="color:blue">John Dummer</span> (Drums). The only album with Tony McPhee <span style="color:red">Cabal,</span> was recorded. But before it's release, Tony had left to reform the Groundhogs again. The resulting cover photo showed the group without Tony.</p> <p>From 1968 to 1969 Tony again backed visiting American Blues artists on British tours. And again also acted as session on various recordings, such as <b><span style="color:olive">Champion Jack Dupree</span></b><span style="color:olive"> </span>with <span style="color:red">From New Orleans to Chicago</span> <b> <span style="color:olive">and Eddy Boyd </span></b>with <span style="color:red">Eddie Boyd and his Blues Band</span>. It was during the Champion Jack Dupree Session for Mike Vernon that Vernon decided that 'Tony McPhee' didn't have a bluesy enough feel to it, listed on the Album credits. So Mike suggested first using the initials T.C., but Tony decided that that sounded too much like a cartoon character and so a change to T.S. was mutually agreed on. Tony forgot about these initials until the issue of the Blues Anytime Compilation appeared with the name T.S. McPhee. Tony has adopted these initials ever since. During and argument with Mike about loyalty payments for the tracks on this album that the Groundhogs had recorded, Mike gave meaning to his new name. As Tony waited on the phone for an answer to a dispute over loyalties. Mikes' secretary relayed the answer from Mike, "Remember the TS? It stand for tough shit". To this day nobody that appeared on the record has been paid any royalties.</p> <p> <img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs02.JPG" align="left" width="256" height="196">The <b><span style="color:olive">Groundhogs</span></b> now found a new recording home with the Sunset/Liberty label, a specialist label for British Blues artists. It was on this label that Tony and The Groundhogs started to find recognition in record sales. On 7th, 17th and 18th of September 1968 Tony went into the studios with various artists, most notably <span style="color:blue">Jo-Ann Kelly</span> to record the album <span style="color:red">Me and the Devil</span> ,Produced by Mike Batt. The next Month Tony was back in the studios this time with the Groundhogs to record their First full Album. The <b><span style="color:olive"> Groundhogs</span></b> had now grown to a four piece outfit with <span style="color:blue">Tony McPhee</span> (Guitar/Vocals), <span style="color:blue">Pete Cruickshank</span> (Bass), <span style="color:blue">Ken Pustelnik</span> (Drums) and the noted <span style="color:blue">Steve Rye</span> (Harmonica /Vocals). The album <span style="color:red">Scratchin' the Surface</span> was recorded during two four hour studio sessions on the 5th and the 12th of October 1968. The present band had only been together for two weeks before entering the studio.</p> <p>Following the minor success of the two albums Tony was again in demand for session work and played lead guitar with <b><span style="color:olive"> Hapshash And The Coloured Coat </span></b>on their album <span style="color:red">Western Flier</span>. Mike Batt Produced this album and co produced Me and the Devil with Tony. Tony then produced an Album for <b><span style="color:olive">Andy Fernbach</span></b>, <span style="color:red">If you miss your Connexion</span>. Following Scratching the Surface the Groundhogs Returned back to a three piece band, with the departure of Steve Rye. Steve then went on to play with Jo-Ann Kelly in the Brunning Hall Sunflower Blues Band. In June 1969 Tony Once again recorded an album with a group of like minded Blues artists including Jo-Ann Kelly to record<span style="color:red"> I Asked for Water she Gave me Gasoline</span>. This Album was the first Produced by Tony McPhee. Again Following his assembled recordings Tony Went into the studios with the Groundhogs to record their second album, <span style="color:red">Blues Obituary</span>. Feeling the wind of change and the demise of popularity in Blues Tony paid a last tribute to the Blues Music. As history was to show although for a time he played with experimental rock guitar. The blues was always lurking around the corner to return on all his studio recordings throughout the seventies. During the eighties Tony returned to the traditional blues of his past.</p> <p>In February 1970 the <b><span style="color:olive">Groundhogs</span></b> now settled into the line up of <span style="color:blue">Tony McPhee</span> (Guitar/Vocals), <span style="color:blue">Peter Cruickshank</span> (Bass), <span style="color:blue">Ken<img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs04.gif" align="right" width="128" height="197"> Pustelnik</span> (Drums), went back into the studio. The resulting Album <span style="color:red">Thank Christ for the Bomb</span> showed the direction that Tony was to take his music over the next decades. 1970 musically showed the direction that the buying public where moving, apart from Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water and Andy Williams' Greatest hits, all other British chart toppers where rock orientated in 1970. Thank Christ hit the shops hot on the heals as such rock albums as Led Zep III, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple in Rock. Britain had moved solidly into the rock era and The Groundhogs had stamped their mark. The album Thank Christ fulfilled every rock listeners wish with screaming Guitars, thundering bass lines and crashing drums. Perfect, the album rose up the British charts to reach number 9 staying in the charts for 13 weeks. With the chart success glowing, The Hogs went straight back into the studio in November 1970 to record the seminal <span style="color:red">Split</span>. The first half of the album, based on Tony's experience of a mental breakdown. The album shot up the British charts in April 1971 faltering at number 5 after copies had sold out, with the printers unable to fulfil the growing supply. By the time new copies where pressed the Rolling stones album Sticky Fingers had stolen the thunder and sales. The Hogs had by now, to keep up their sales undertaken a punishing British tour. During April 1971 backing the Rolling stones on their British tour. The set at Leeds University was recorded by the Stones mobile studio. The resulting tapes where given to Tony as a present. Promotional albums where cut from these tapes and sent to American Radio stations to promote the Album and group in America. The album <span style="color:red">Live in Leeds</span> was for many years rumoured to be a bootleg recording. And unavailable until it's re-issue on the Hoggin the stage album. Not wishing to let the momentum of Split go United Artists the bands label pushed them back into the studio to cut another record. Recorded in January 1972 <span style="color:red">Who will save the world</span> was a hastily written album. Short on time Tony commissioned the famed 'Marvel Comics' artist Neal Adams to design the cover. The result a flip open gatefold cover gave the stimulus for Tony to write many of the tracks. Hastily finished the album hit the British charts in March 1972 reaching number eight and staying in the charts for 9 weeks. The album is the least favourite of Tony's but to many hog fans it remains one of their favourites.</p> <p>Following a tour of the States, Tony returned with a fractured bone in his wrist. Ken Pustelnik left after finding the tour too much to cope with, and was replaced in the <b><span style="color:olive">Groundhogs</span></b> by ex Egg Drummer <span style="color:blue">Clive Brooks</span>. By September 1972 The new line up was rushed back to the studios to record <span style="color:red">Hogwash</span>. By now the thunder had moved out of the Groundhogs sound to be replaced by the softer blues feel. Tony had now moved into the experimental stage adding many studio and guitar effects to the album. After a period of gigging around Britain the Hogs found their fan base diminishing, and the Hogs began playing smaller venues again. </p> <p> <img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs05.JPG" align="left" width="153" height="208">By 1973 Tony had decided to use the experimental techniques he had been toying with, to write a solo album. Recorded in his home studio in Suffolk. His studio having been filled with the old recording equipment from De Lane Lea Studios. Released in 1973 <span style="color:red">Two Sides of Tony TS McPhee</span> was a two sided affair. The first side composed of Traditional styled blues songs, some of the best sounding songs written in the blues style for a while to come. The second moving the blues to a new era using keyboards and electronic gadgetry to produce a distinctly 'McPhee' sound. Collecting the Groundhogs together in 1974 Tony took the Hogs back into the studio, His own in Suffolk to record the album <span style="color:red">Solid</span>. The album Charted 1st July 1974 reaching number 31 for one week. The last Groundhogs album to reach the charts. At this point dogged by poor management and with a falling fan base the hogs disbanded.</p> <p>At the end of 1975 Tony reformed the <b><span style="color:olive"> Groundhogs</span></b> with a new line up. Gone was the Trio, to be replaced by a foursome line up. Tony put together a new style line up, with Dave <span style="color:blue">Wellbelove</span> on second guitar, <span style="color:blue">Martin Kent</span> (Bass) and <span style="color:blue">Mick Cook </span>(Drums). The band released the album <span style="color:red">Crosscut Saw </span>in early 1976. Still keeping with a blues rock style. The album failed to chart. Undaunted Tony Returned to his studio in August of 1976 to record another album. The <b> <span style="color:olive">Groundhogs</span></b> again took a change of personnel with the second guitar spot changing to <span style="color:blue"> Rick Adams</span>. The new album <span style="color:red">Black Diamond</span> again failed to chart. 1976 was the year that Punk music took off with a vengeance in Britain. Bands from the sixties and earlier part of the seventies where seen as old hat and boring. At this point Tony disbanded the Groundhogs for what seemed like the last time.</p> <p>After the demise of the Groundhogs Tony recruited a new group naming them after the Robert Johnson song Terraplane Blues. The new band was called <b><span style="color:olive">Terraplane</span></b>. With Tony at the helm on Guitar he kept to the four piece format, with <span style="color:blue">Joe Young</span> (second Guitar), <span style="color:blue">Alan Fish</span> (Bass) and <span style="color:blue">Wilgur Campbell</span> (Drums). Tony used the band to tour and play some session work. The band recorded two demo tracks <span style="color:red">Down in the Bottom</span> and <span style="color:red">Shake for Me</span> in 1977, Later released on the Best of AOG album. Tony worked alongside his old friend from Scratchin' the surface days Mike Batt, playing guitar on his <span style="color:red"> Tarot Sweet</span> album in 1979. Teaming up with Billy Boy Arnold with Terraplane in 1979 to record <span style="color:red">Checkin' it Out</span>. Later released in 1982.</p> <p>In 1983 Terraplane was disbanded and a new Band reformed. The<b><span style="color:olive"> Tony McPhee Band</span> </b>back to a trio with <span style="color:blue"> Alan Fish</span> (Bass)<img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs06.JPG" align="right" width="78" height="231"> played the British club circuit, cutting one single <span style="color:red">Time of Action</span>, only available at gigs.</p> <p>In 1984 the First Live album <span style="color:red">Hoggin the Stage</span> was released. Spurred on by the success of this album Tony Reformed the <b> <span style="color:olive">Groundhogs</span></b>. With <span style="color:blue">Alan Fish</span> (Bass) and <span style="color:blue">Mick Kirton</span> (Drums), the Hogs toured extensively and produced two sets of recordings, <span style="color:red"> Razors Edge</span> was recorded in September 1984. And <span style="color:red">No Surrender</span> a live recording of a gig in 1985(released in 1989)</p> <p>By 1987 it was all change again as the <b><span style="color:olive"> Groundhogs</span></b> changed crew yet again. <span style="color:blue"> Dave Anderson</span> (Bass) one time bassist with Amun Duul and Hawkwind, and <span style="color:blue">Mick Jones</span> (Drums) now made up the band and in 1987 they went into the Foel Studios in Wales and cut the album <span style="color:red">Back against the Wall</span>. A year later in 1988 another live album of favourites, <span style="color:red">Hogs on the Road</span> was released. By the end of the eighties the Groundhogs had clocked up a few miles and it was time for a reprieve.</p> <p>In 1990 Tony undertook a fresh <b><span style="color:olive">solo</span></b> tour and in Germany recorded a live set in Nimelung. The album <span style="color:red">The Blues and the Beast</span> was only released in Germany in 1993. Between July and December in 1993 Tony recorded another new album in his him studios in Shropshire England. Playing all instruments the resulting album <span style="color:red">Foolish pride</span> saw Tony truly back on top, with some supreme playing, writing and recording of studio tracks again. At the end of 1993 Tony suffered a stroke. At first it was feared that it would be the end of his musical career. In 1994 Tony once again entered the studio to produce a part studio and part live solo album <span style="color:red">Slide, T.S. Slide</span>. The first 6 tracks recorded at his home again. The last 8 track recorded in Austria on a Jefferson Starship tour. The two albums staying very much to the traditional 'Hookeresque' blues. 1995 saw Tony appearing at the memorial concert in benefit of the late Alexis Korner. Three C.D.s produced contain two great versions of some two old favourites, Groundhog Blues and Death letter. and a new track for Tony by Muddy Waters, I can't be satisfied.</p> <p>The early nineties saw Tony staying with his favourite blues, but in 1996 the pull was too strong. A reformed <b><span style="color:olive"> Groundhogs </span></b>was put together with <span style="color:blue">Pete Chymon</span> (Bass) and <span style="color:blue">Dale Iviss</span> (Drums) to play a live set of 'un-played' live favourite Hogs tracks. The resulting album <span style="color:red">Who Said Cherry Red</span> was released in October 1996.</p> <p>During March 1997 Tony returned to his home studio once again to record another set of <b><span style="color:olive">solo</span></b> blues. Since the beginning of the Nineties Tony has been honing down on his Blues tracks writing many new ones and updating a few tradition songs to fit into his set. <span style="color:red">Bleaching the Blues</span> released in April 1997 takes Tony's guitar and composing skills to new heights. Perhaps having shaken off the rock legacy of the past with Who said Cherry red, Tony can now concentrate on the music he has always loved, the Blues. </p> <p> <img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs07.JPG" align="left" width="145" height="147">At the end of 1997 Tony had reformed the <b><span style="color:olive"> Groundhogs</span></b> to record another album. <span style="color:blue"> Eric Chipulina</span> (Bass) and <span style="color:blue">Pete Correa</span> (Drums) took on the mantle this time around. Recorded at the Astra Studios in Kent <span style="color:red">Hogs in Wolf's Clothing</span> was released early in 1998. A tribute album to Howling Wolf, a blues player that has influenced much of Tony's work throughout his recording career. This album shows how far Tony has progressed since the nineties. Building on a superb basis of solo albums this Groundhogs album shows the talents of one of Britons foremost blues and rock guitarists players. By the end of the year Tony was preparing another album and in January 1999 he took the new Groundhogs line-up back into the Astra studios to record a new album. <span style="color:red">The Muddy Water Song Book,</span> another tribute album, this time to the songs of Muddy Waters. T The end of the year A Live Video was released documenting a stage show at The Astoria in London. <font color="#FF0000">Live at the Astoria, </font>featured Tony on Guitar with Eric Chipolina on Bass and Pete Correa on Drums and was recorded in February the year before in 1998.</p> <p>The turn of the century saw the Groundhogs change personnel back to Dave Anderson and Mick Jones as the Groundhogs<img border="0" src="../Buttons/Groundhogs08.JPG" align="right" width="198" height="130"> continued to gig. 2000 saw the release of a solo gig by Tony McPhee, <font color="#FF0000">Live in Poland </font>was a limited issue CD recorded earlier in the year in during a Polish tour. The next new material was also to be an album of acoustic guitar of new material, this new album <font color="#FF0000">Blues at Ten</font> released in 2004, featured solo and duet work with Tony's Partner Joanna Deacon. At the same time in 2004 a new film, <font color="#FF0000">60/40 Split </font>and book <font color="#FF0000">Hoggin' the Page</font> where at last issued. <br> The book a comprehensive history of the band from the beginnings to the first demise of the Groundhogs in 1976. The film issued on DVD shows a snapshot of images and gigs from the past with footage of a concert featuring original band members <font color="#0000FF">Ken Pustelnik</font> on drums and <font color="#0000FF">Peter Cruickshank</font> on bass. the return of the original players was timed to coincide with the book and DVD release. at first the "<b><font color="#808000">The Original Groundhogs</font></b>" was to last for a few gigs, but a list of successful gigs spurred Tony to continue the band through 2004 and into 2005. The band finally disbanded due to {once again} "personnel differences". Tony for some time returned to solo work and duets with Joanna, playing the blues at the heart of his work.<br> Once again in 2007 Tony reassembled a <font color="#808000"><b>Groundhogs</b></font> touring band and mixes his Blues gigs with Groundhog's Rock gigs.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:7.5pt">Details for the History and Time line where found from various sources, mainly record covers, old music magazines, "the New Rock Record" and "Record Collectors Rare Records". Help in amending and adding details to John Mc Gowan (Dec 2000).</span></p> <p><font size="4">© 2007, 2008 T. Sherratt</font></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"> Poster for the 1971 Groundhogs Tour</span></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"> Poster for the 1973 Tour</span></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p> <p> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="center"><a href="../Index.HTML"><IMG height=31 alt=Home src="../Buttons/ButtonHome.JPG" width=220 border=0></a><a href="../Discography/Discography.html"><img border="0" src="../Buttons/ButtonDiscography.JPG" width="220" height="31"></a><a href="Museum.htm"><img border="0" src="../Buttons/ButtonMuseum.JPG" width="220" height="31"></a></p> </body> </html>