Eccentric Man A Biography Discography of Tony TS McPhee Paul Freestone 9780956865205 Books
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Eccentric Man A Biography Discography of Tony TS McPhee Paul Freestone 9780956865205 Books
Classic rock fans are generally familiar with guitar gods such as Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower, Leslie West, and Frank Marino. Legends such as these brought excitement, creativity, virtuosity, and emotion to the electric guitar craft.Far less known, at least in the United States, is Tony McPhee, guitarist/singer/songwriter/leader of the English group The Groundhogs. As a teenager and young man I was amazed by McPhee's unusual chord patterns and searing lead runs on albums such as Blues Obituary, Thank Christ For The Bomb, Split, Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs!, Hogwash, The Two Sides of Tony McPhee, Solid, etc. Good gosh, could the man write songs and play a mean guitar!
Whereas Eric Clapton turned his back on the small group format of Cream to surround himself with big talent ensembles, becoming more and more commercial, McPhee [who turned down an invitation by John Mayall to replace Clapton when he departed the Bluesbreakers] kept plugging away in three and four piece bands, staying true to his artistic vision. His unique guitar work includes everything from electric psychedelia to hard rock, from slide to acoustic blues. McPhee's guitar could howl and roar and astound, only to softly and tenderly rip and tug at your emotions just a few bars later. Not to be overlooked by Tony's musicianship are his thoughtful lyrics of a left persuasion that addressed topics such as war and pollution and food reform. These serious lyrics were perfectly matched by McPhee's gruff and earnest voice, which unfortunately was recently affected by a stroke.
Tony McPhee is the real deal, a musician who for years paid his dues not unlike the struggling young Hendrix. Paul Freestone's book ECCENTRIC MAN [a valid description of McPhee as well as the name of one of his most popular songs, which has been covered by bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age] thoroughly documents McPhee's career, and includes extensive sections detailing gigs, radio and TV appearances, equipment, discography, etc.
From backing John Lee Hooker to headlining in English concerthalls to just trying to scratch out a living as a musician, Tony McPhee's story fascinates in today's era when rock groups all sound the same, molded by a capitalism that discourages art and creativity. It makes one realize that sometimes the breaks and timing just don't go a person's way, especially when you stay true to your principles. As Jimi once sang out when discovering that his key no longer fit his girlfriend's door: "That's alright, I've still got my guitar"!
If you already love Tony McPhee's music, you must purchase this biography, written by one of his biggest longtime fans. If you aren't familiar with McPhee or The Groundhogs, start with the classic albums mentioned above. Then move on to the many more studio and concert efforts in his catalogue.
Long live Tony McPhee, his music, and what he stands for! If you are into guitar god music, put him on your short list.
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Eccentric Man A Biography Discography of Tony TS McPhee Paul Freestone 9780956865205 Books Reviews
The author of this book Paul Freestone was the editor of the T.S. McPhee fanzine The Yelping Hounds so who better to tell the story of T.S. and The Groundhogs. Paul's book is filled with over 460 pages of information and includes tons of rare pictures. This is the definitive biography and discography of Tony McPhee and The Hogs. Better get your copy while it's still available. Get more information and better pricing by contacting paul@paulfreestone.co.uk
Here's an excellent work about a British guitarist that has been largely ignored here in the US, namely Tony (TS) McPhee. Tony led The Groundhogs group for many years and through many different configurations, and author Paul Freestone documents every phase of the amazing career in loving detail. To be sure, this book is *not* a dry, academic compendium of the gigs, guitars, empty bottles and band members in the manner of some laundry list. Instead, author Freestone contextualizes his discussion of McPhee's genius by examining how the guitarist's life and work fit into and then influenced the British music scene. This is especially true in the earliest chapters where Freestone tells the story of McPhee's beginnings as a backing guitarist for John Lee Hooker and other US blues performers on their UK tours, and in the chapters documenting the years 1969-1972 where Groundhogs was making its best known records, including "Split" and "Blues Obituary." Besides getting loads of tasty facts about McPhee himself and the Groundhogs, which is certainly the main point, American readers will learn much about the complex issues of race (both in America and the UK), the role blues music played in the lives of English youth, and how the music industry worked in 1960s Britain.
Freestone has been criticized in some quarters for a lack of objectivity or impartiality, and it may indeed be the case that he sees McPhee's life through the legended 'rose-coloured glasses.' But Freestone is not playing at journalism here; instead, he expresses his opinion, openly and without apology. Whether or not such fondness for the subject is appropriate in a biographer, if anyone has earned the right to express his opinion about McPhee and the Groundhogs, it must be Freestone, considering the incredible amount and thoroughness of the research he's undertaken and which is evident throughout "Eccentric Man." My only criticisms of the book, and both are quite minor, is that there is the occasional typo and sometimes the text gets a bit repetitive.
Nevertheless, "Eccentric Man" is remarkably fun to read and the copious photos are very good and nicely reproduced. If you care at all about McPhee or you vaguely remember getting into a Groundhogs LP at some frat house party back in the day, then this book is one you'll enjoy. Grade = A.
Classic rock fans are generally familiar with guitar gods such as Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower, Leslie West, and Frank Marino. Legends such as these brought excitement, creativity, virtuosity, and emotion to the electric guitar craft.
Far less known, at least in the United States, is Tony McPhee, guitarist/singer/songwriter/leader of the English group The Groundhogs. As a teenager and young man I was amazed by McPhee's unusual chord patterns and searing lead runs on albums such as Blues Obituary, Thank Christ For The Bomb, Split, Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs!, Hogwash, The Two Sides of Tony McPhee, Solid, etc. Good gosh, could the man write songs and play a mean guitar!
Whereas Eric Clapton turned his back on the small group format of Cream to surround himself with big talent ensembles, becoming more and more commercial, McPhee [who turned down an invitation by John Mayall to replace Clapton when he departed the Bluesbreakers] kept plugging away in three and four piece bands, staying true to his artistic vision. His unique guitar work includes everything from electric psychedelia to hard rock, from slide to acoustic blues. McPhee's guitar could howl and roar and astound, only to softly and tenderly rip and tug at your emotions just a few bars later. Not to be overlooked by Tony's musicianship are his thoughtful lyrics of a left persuasion that addressed topics such as war and pollution and food reform. These serious lyrics were perfectly matched by McPhee's gruff and earnest voice, which unfortunately was recently affected by a stroke.
Tony McPhee is the real deal, a musician who for years paid his dues not unlike the struggling young Hendrix. Paul Freestone's book ECCENTRIC MAN [a valid description of McPhee as well as the name of one of his most popular songs, which has been covered by bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age] thoroughly documents McPhee's career, and includes extensive sections detailing gigs, radio and TV appearances, equipment, discography, etc.
From backing John Lee Hooker to headlining in English concerthalls to just trying to scratch out a living as a musician, Tony McPhee's story fascinates in today's era when rock groups all sound the same, molded by a capitalism that discourages art and creativity. It makes one realize that sometimes the breaks and timing just don't go a person's way, especially when you stay true to your principles. As Jimi once sang out when discovering that his key no longer fit his girlfriend's door "That's alright, I've still got my guitar"!
If you already love Tony McPhee's music, you must purchase this biography, written by one of his biggest longtime fans. If you aren't familiar with McPhee or The Groundhogs, start with the classic albums mentioned above. Then move on to the many more studio and concert efforts in his catalogue.
Long live Tony McPhee, his music, and what he stands for! If you are into guitar god music, put him on your short list.
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