Pete Brown

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Pete Brown is a British songwriter, singer, poet, percussionist and producer.
Pete’s poetry career began in the 1950s. He joined Mike Horovitz’s New Departures Jazz/Poetry group (which included, at various times, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Graham Bond, Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins) in 1960. Pete and Mike appeared at the legendary Albert Hall Poetry Incarnation of 1965, alongside U.S. icons Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and William Burroughs.
In 1966, Pete was asked to contribute lyrics for the newly formed Cream, and wrote the gigantic hits ‘I Feel Free’, ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ and ‘White Room’. He went on to work with Jack Bruce – Cream’s singer and bass player – for over thirty years. In 1966 Pete also went electric, forming the First Real Poetry Band with guitarist John McLaughlin.
In 1968, as leader of the underground jazz/rock band The Battered Ornaments, Pete became a singer by default (no one else wanted the job!). After that, he formed the long-lived Piblokto, for whom he recruited guitar star Jim Mullen and then his current musical partner, Welsh keyboard player Phil Ryan. In 1972 Pete teamed up with his mentor Graham Bond in Bond and Brown.
Several bands later, under the onslaught of Punk, Pete quit music in disgust (nobody noticed) and took up screenwriting, which he still practises.
Back in music in 1994, after their albums ‘Ardours of the Lost Rake’ and ‘Coals to Jerusalem’, Pete and Phil put together The Interoceters, their longest-lived band, which lasted until 2007 – although Phil was forced to quit earlier due to his wife’s illness. Pete also began touring in Germany as a guest with the Hamburg Blues Band.
In 2009 Pete and Phil began recording again, producing ‘Road of Cobras’ with guests Arthur Brown, Maggie Bell and Mick Taylor. In 2010 Pete and Phil formed their current band, Psoulchedelia, which began touring in 2011. The band’s new record is expected in spring 2012.
Since 1989 Pete has had a parallel career as a producer, working with Jeff Beck, Peter Green, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jack Bruce, and Mick Taylor as well as many young acts.
Pete’s autobiography ‘White Rooms and Imaginary Westerns’ was published in 2010.
Find out more about Pete Brown in his website

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