Tuesday, 29 March 2011

Ged Peck (guitar)


BANDS:
  • Rudy Rome Orchestra
  • The Favourite Sons [1965-1966]
  • Freddie Mac Band [1966-1967]
  • Billie Davis Band [Jun 67-Jul 67]
  • Screaming Lord Sutch Band [Aug 67]
  • Billie Davis Band [Aug 67-Sep 67]
  • The Flowerpot Men [Oct 67-1968]
  • David Garrick Band [1968]
  • The Flowerpot Men [1968]
  • Storm [1968]
  • Bob & Earl [1969]
  • Billy Fury Band [1969]
  • Marsha Hunt Band [1969-1970]
  • Warhorse [1970-1971]

BIOGRAPHY:

Superb, powerful guitar player and owner of a special sound, Ged Peck was an important part of the British scene of mid 60s.

Ged Peck while in Warhorse. Ritchie Blackmore bought this guitar from Ged - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

Ged was born on October 19th, 1947 in West Hendon, London, England.


EARLY BANDS - SOME PHOTOS


When he was 14, he was playing in a Jewish Orchestra called Rudy Rome Orchestra.

Ged Peck at the beginning of his career, he was 14, with a 245TDC Gibson - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck



Ged Peck in 1962 at 15 with an early band, pictured left, kneeled - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


THE FAVOURITE SONS


The Favourite Sons, circa 1964, with Ged Peck - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

This is the first band I know with Ged Peck, but don´t know about the other three members:

THE FAVOURITE SONS #?
1965-1966
Ged Peck
guitar
+ others unknown to me. Help!

In 1966, the band backed Marc Bolan on what was his second single, 'The third degree / San Francisco poet', released in June 1966 by Decca label, and produced by Mike Hurst (of The Springfields).

They also backed Tommy Quickly in Scotland.


FREDDIE MAC BAND


In early 1966, Ged Peck joined the massive Freddie Mac Band. They continually changed personnel. The band went from 12 to 18 members at any one time! When Ged joined, these are some of the mates that played in the band:

FREDDIE MAC BAND #?
1966
Freddie Mac
vocals
Derry Wilkie
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Alan Cartwright
bass
Billy Davidson
keyboards
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Soon after Ged was recruited, the drummer was the great, late BJ Wilson:

FREDDIE MAC BAND #?
1966
Freddie Mac
vocals
Derry Wilkie
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Alan Cartwright
bass
Billy Davidson
keyboards
B J Wilson
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Freddie Mac Band - from left to right: Ged Peck, Bill Davidson, Alan Cartwright, Roger Truth - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

When Alan Cartwright and BJ Wilson left (both later joined Procol Harum), Nick Simper and Roger Pinner (nicknamed Solly, also known under the alias Roger Truth) joined:

FREDDIE MAC BAND #?
?
Freddie Mac
vocals
Derry Wilkie
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Billy Davidson
keyboards
Roger Truth
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!
The Piratesê

Nick Simper left to form a new edition of The Pirates (now without Johnny Kidd, recently deceased). So, there were more lineups of Freddie Mac Band with Ged, but can´t find any details.

They played in France in 1968, toured Scotland and Ireland as well as all over Britain. And Ged finally left, after a year in the band.

Other info on members of Freddie Mac Band (I know up to 35 members)
Already covered (2): Tex Makins, Jeff Seopardie
To be covered (16): Chris Burdett, Alan Cartwright, Mick Clarke, Billy Davidson, Roy Davies, Carl Douglas, Mick Eve, Steve Humphries, Dick Morrissey, Viv Prince, Art Regis, Nick Simper, Eddie Thornton, Roger Truth, Roger Warwick, B J Wilson


BILLIE DAVIS BAND


Billie Davis Band in Frankfurt, 1967: from left to right: Billie Davis, Ged Peck, Nick Simper, Carlo Little - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

Still in June 1967, Ged Peck got the job with female singer Billie Davis, replacing the pianist in the band, and thus rejoining his mates Simper and Little:

BILLIE DAVIS BAND #?
Jun 67
Billie Davis
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Carlo Little
drums

The band was known as Billie Davis And The Quality.

And, still in June 1967, after a few gigs, Billie Davis augments her band with a keyboardist, P J Kelly:

BILLIE DAVIS BAND #?
Jun 67-Jul 67
Billie Davis
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
P J Kelly
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums

At some point, Tex Makins took over Nick Simper in Billie Davis Band:

BILLIE DAVIS BAND #?
1967
Billie Davis
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Carlo Little
drums
+ keyboardist unknown to me. Maybe Art Regis?

In July 1967, Art Regis joins Billie Davis Band:

BILLIE DAVIS BAND #?
1967
Billie Davis
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Art Regis
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums
Screaming Lord Sutch Bandê
Screaming Lord Sutch Bandê
Screaming Lord Sutch Bandê

When Billie stopped doing her concerts, Carlo Little asked Lord Sutch to rejoin him, bringing most of his mates with him.


SCREAMING LORD SUTCH BAND


Lord Sutch Band: from left to right: Nick Simper, Lord Sutch, Ged Peck, Carlo Little - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Lord Sutch Band: from left to right: Nick Simper, Lord Sutch, Ged Peck, Carlo Little - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Lord Sutch Band: incident with fire in a gig onstage in Wales, August 1967 - Ged Peck on the right, Lord Sutch in the middle - not shown: Nick Simper and Carlo Little - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

In August 1967, this was Lord Sutch´s lineup:

SCREAMING LORD SUTCH BAND #?
Aug 67
êBillie Davis Band
êBillie Davis Band
êBillie Davis Band
Screaming Lord Sutch
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Freddie Fingers Lee
keyboards, vocals
Carlo Little
drums
Billie Davis Bandê
Billie Davis Bandê
Billie Davis Bandê

They played a Welsh tour, as well as on odd gigs in London, the South coast and Newcastle.

Many of the players in Sutch's band returned to play for him over the next years, sometimes for just one gig, or a tour. This makes the chronology almost impossible!

I need to confirm this point: during 1967, I´d like to know if Ged stayed with Lord Sutch (now under the new name Lord Sutch & Roman Empire) from January to April. I guess the lineup wasn´t stable. Does anybody know? Some possible bandmates at that time can be: Tony Dangerfield, Matthew Fisher or Joel James.

Other info on members of Screaming Lord Sutch Band (I know up to 137 members)
Already covered (3): Clive Edwards, Mac Poole, Harry Reynolds
Old pages (6): Herbie Armstrong, Jeff Beck, Rick Brown, Jimmy Jewell, Micky Waller, Dave Wendells
To be covered (127): Mick Abrahams, Dave Adams, Neil Ainsby, Avid Andersen, Larry Anderson, Angi Antinori, John Banks, Johnny Bedder, Sid Berry, Neil Besmoori, Ritchie Blackmore, Derek Bond, Bob Burgos, Jim Byers, Johnny Casanova, Jerry Chapman, Fred Cheeseman, Vic Clark, Terry Clemson, Stuart Colman, Pete Cowling, Frogman Curtis, Brad Dallaston, Tony Dangerfield, Spencer Davies,... up to 127 musicians.


BILLIE DAVIS BAND (again)


In August 1967, Billie Davis started playing gigs again, so her mates came back to play with her (although Peck, Simper and Little still were part of Lord Sutch Band):

BILLIE DAVIS BAND #?
1967
êScreaming Lord Sutch Ban
êScreaming Lord Sutch Ban
êScreaming Lord Sutch Ban
Billie Davis
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Art Regis
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums
The Flowerpot Menê
The Flowerpot Menê
Jimmy James And The Vagabondsê
The Flowerpot Menê

Finally, in September 1967, when Billie Davis stopped touring again, the band was asked by Spencer Davis Management to tour backing the Flowerpot Men. All joined except Regis.

Other info on members of Billie Davis Band (I know up to 11 members)
Already covered (2): Tex Makins, Barry Reynolds
To be covered (5): Phil Curtis, Billy Davidson, Carlo Little, Art Regis, Nick Simper


THE FLOWERPOT MEN


The Flowerpot Men backing band playing as openers, before the vocalists appeared - from a German TV appearance in Munich. From left to right: Ged Peck, Carlo Little, Nick Simper, Jon Lord (not shown) - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


The Flowerpot Men in Denmark, 1968 - the four vocalists with Ged Peck - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

In October 1967, the whole band is hired for playing as the live band for The Flowerpot Men, a nice, sweet band full of vocal harmonies:

THE FLOWERPOT MEN #?
Oct 67-Jan 68
êBillie Davis Band
êBillie Davis Band
êBillie Davis Band
Tony Burrows
vocals
Neil Landon
vocals
Pete Nelson
vocals
Robin Shaw
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Billy Davidson
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums

In January 1968, the great Jon Lord replaces Davidson:

THE FLOWERPOT MEN #?
Jan 68-Feb 68
Tony Burrows
vocals
Neil Landon
vocals
Pete Nelson
vocals
Robin Shaw
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Jon Lord
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums
Roundaboutê
Roundaboutê

They toured Europe, covering Denmark, Holland and Germany. But, just a month later, in February 1968, Lord and Simper leave to form Roundabout (the seed for Deep Purple).

In February 1968, Lord was replaced for a short time by Johnny Carroll. I don't know if there were more lineups in the meantime, but this was another great one, with the fantastic Tex Makins:

THE FLOWERPOT MEN #?
1968
Tony Burrows
vocals
Neil Landon
vocals
Pete Nelson
vocals
Robin Shaw
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Johnny Carroll
keyboards
Carlo Little
drums

They recorded lots of live tracks for the BBC and other places, so maybe some of them have surfaced in compilations or reissues. Can someone tell me, please?
When Carroll leaves, the band didn't recruit a new keyboardist:

THE FLOWERPOT MEN #?
1968
Tony Burrows
vocals
Neil Landon
vocals
Pete Nelson
vocals
Robin Shaw
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Carlo Little
drums


DAVID GARRICK BAND


Taken in Switzerland while on tour with David Garrick - from left to right: manager Freddy Von Wille, Ged Peck & Carlo Little - photo taken by Tex Makins - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Taken in Switzerland while on tour with David Garrick - from left to right: manager Freddy Von Wille, Tex Makins & Carlo Little - photo taken by Ged Peck - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Around 1968, while still playing for The Flowerpot Men, the same musicians went to back singer David Garrick in a Swiss tour over Switzerland:

DAVID GARRICK BAND #?
1968
êThe Flowerpot Men
êThe Flowerpot Men
êThe Flowerpot Men
David Garrick
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Carlo Little
drums
The Flowerpot Menê
The Flowerpot Menê
The Flowerpot Menê

Other info on members of David Garrick Band (I know up to 5 members)
Already covered (1): Tex Makins
To be covered (2): Carlo Little, Mick Rogers


THE FLOWERPOT MEN (again)


After a while, Tex Makins left The Flowerpot Men, being replaced by Gordon Haskell:

THE FLOWERPOT MEN #?
1968
êDavid Garrick Band
êDavid Garrick Band
Tony Burrows
vocals
Neil Landon
vocals
Pete Nelson
vocals
Robin Shaw
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Gordon Haskell
bass
Carlo Little
drums
Stormê

Then, Ged left The Flowerpot Men.

Other info on members of The Flowerpot Men (I know up to 14 members)
Already covered (2): Jon Lord, Tex Makins
Old pages (1): Micky Keene
To be covered (10): Tony Burrows, Johnny Carroll, Billy Davidson, Gordon Haskell, Neil Landon, Carlo Little, Pete Nelson, Robin Shaw, Nick Simper, Mick Stewart


STORM


Then, Ged Peck formed a band called Storm:

STORM #?
?
êThe Flowerpot Men
Ged Peck
guitar
Tony Dangerfield
bass
Pete Phillips
drums
Marsha Hunt Bandê
Marsha Hunt Bandê

They went on tour across Europe late 1968. On Christmas day 1968, they played in Germany, France, and Germany again, all within hours of each other.

Coming back to Britain, they did an album which never saw the light of day, produced by Adrian Gurvitz (of Gun fame - Dangerfield and Gurvitz had been bandmates in Lord Sutch Band).

They played as backing band for several artists, as we´re going to read right now.

But, in the end, they parted ways.


BOB & EARL


In early 1969, the band Storm became the backing band for American singers, Bob And Earl:

BOB & EARL #?
1969
êStorm
êStorm
êStorm
Bobby Relf
vocals
Earl Nelson
vocals
+
Ged Peck
guitar
Tony Dangerfield
bass
Pete Phillips
drums


BILLY FURY BAND


And thereafter, still in 1969, the band Storm became the backing band for Billy Fury:

BILLY FURY BAND #?
?
Billy Fury
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Tony Dangerfield
bass
Pete Phillips
drums

The band recorded a lot with Fury, but don´t know if anything was ever released. Does anybody know?


MARSHA HUNT BAND


Marsha Hunt and Ged Peck live at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1969 - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

Ged Peck and Pete Phillips joined Marsha Hunt with the new bass player being Ged's mate, Nick Simper (having left Deep Purple in July 1969), as well as percussionist Bobby Stignac (later to join Gonzalez with Chris Mercer):

MARSHA HUNT BAND #?
?
êStorm
êStorm
Marsha Hunt
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Bobby Stignac
percussion
Pete Phillips
drums

I´m not sure of the period, but I guess it was still 1969. But Stignac didn't stay too much in the band.

I have live footage of the band at the Bilzen Festival in 1969, and I see two black percussionists in the band. Can someone tell me who could he be, apart from Bobby Stignac? I´m not sure of the lineup appearing here, can someone confirm me that, please?

Now Marsha Hunt Band was a powerful quartet:

MARSHA HUNT BAND #?
1969
Marsha Hunt
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Pete Phillips
drums

They went on national tour and did the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival.
Around 1969, this was the Marsha Hunt Band, with Mac Poole replacing the departing Pete Phillips:

MARSHA HUNT BAND #?
1969-1970
Marsha Hunt
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Warhorseê
Screaming Lord Sutch Bandê
Warhorseê

As the band wasn´t playing many gigs, Simper left to rejoin Lord Sutch in 1969, but he wasn´t replaced. Finally, in 1970, the whole backing band left Marsha and formed a new combo, Warhorse.

Other info on members of Marsha Hunt Band (I know up to 9 members)
Already covered (2): Mac Poole, Bobby Stignac
To be covered (5): Elton Dean, Marsha Hunt, Pete Phillips, Nick Simper, Roger Truth


WARHORSE


Warhorse promotional photo, 1970 - from left to right: Ashley Holt, Ged Peck, Nick Simper at the front, Frank Wilson, and Mac Poole - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

Warhorse was formed (with the original working name of Iron Horse) in 1970 from the ashes of Marsha Hunt Band, with a promising young keyboardist, none other than Rick Wakeman:

WARHORSE #1
1970-Mar 70
êMarsha Hunt Band
êMarsha Hunt Band
êScreamin´ Lord Sutch Band
êMarsha Hunt Band
Ashley Holt
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Rick Wakeman
keyboards
Strawbsê

Rick and Ged used to do all the arrangements. But Rick Wakeman left soon, in March 1970, as he got an offer from The Strawbs.

Frank Wilson is the new keyboardist in Warhorse:

WARHORSE #2
Mar 70-1971
Ashley Holt
vocals
Ged Peck
guitar
Nick Simper
bass
Frank Wilson
keyboards

Their first album was Warhorse, released in November 1970. But things weren´t going well inside the band, and finally, Ged left them in mid 1971.

Other info on members of Warhorse (I know up to 8 members)
Already covered (1): Mac Poole
To be covered (6): Ashley Holt, Barney James, Peter Parks, Nick Simper, Rick Wakeman, Frank Wilson


AND THEN...


In Birmingham. From left to right: Bill Davidson, Ged Peck, Nick Simper, Carlo Little - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Ged Peck, 1968 - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck


Ged Peck at Trident Studios, recording the Warhorse album - copyright of the photo: Ged Peck

And then, I haven't known more things about his musical career, sadly. He returned to session work for a while, but then soon got out of the business.


DISCOGRAPHY: (3 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (1 credit)
  • Warhorse - Warhorse (11/1970)

    • Members: Ashley Holt, Ged Peck, Mac Poole, Nick Simper, Frank Wilson
    • Technical: Ken Scott
    • Comments: CD reissue contains 5 bonus tracks (4 live tracks from the BBC + 1 demo). One of the vinyl reissues was made with a new title, Vulture blood.
COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (1 credit)
  • The Warhorse story - vols I & II - Warhorse (1997)

    • Members: Ashley Holt, Peter Parks, Ged Peck, Mac Poole, Nick Simper, Frank Wilson
    • Comments: 2CD packaging their two albums, Warhorse and Red sea, including the 11 bonus tracks.
SESSIONS (1 credit)
  • The Third degree / San Francisco poet (SINGLE) - Marc Bolan (06/1966)

    • Members: (RIP: Marc Bolan)
    • Guests: Ged Peck
    • Comments: This was Marc Bolan´s second single, backed by the band Favourite Sons.

QUESTIONS:

01. Was Ged a member of The Circles (Lord Sutch´s backing band at the end of 1966)? Which were the lineup(s)?

02. Does Ged play in any track of The Flower Pot Men albums?

03. Did drummer Roger Truth also play with Marsha Hunt along with Ged and Nick Simper?

04. Did Ged play with Graham Bond and Dick Heckstall-Smith?

05. Did Ged form a band with Mitch Mitchell and Tony Dangerfield? Who else was in the band?

06. Is it true that Ged and Tex returned to Flowerpot Men after backing David Garrick?

07. Did Barry Kingston play keyboards in Flowerpot Men after Billy Davidson and before Jon Lord joined, in 1967?

08. Did Ged play with Vince Eager too?

09. Was Ged ever a member of The Pirates?

10. Does anybody know about Ged studio sessions? With James Royal?

11. Does Ged appear in the album released by Favourite Sons? Sorry, I haven´t the album...

12. Was Billy Davidson a member of Billie Davis Band?


RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 14


Official site(s) - tell them you saw the link here:

From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have:

Wikipedia doesn´t want to include links to this website, but I won´t do the same with them. So, from the great Wikipedia, we have:

THANKS:

Very Special Thanks to:
  • Ged Peck: for adding many details to my original text on his career, as well as his magnificent photos (2003).

  • Special Thanks to:
  • Bill Carter: for exchanging info about Ged playing with Screamin´ Lord Sutch (2005).
  • Patrick Vinet: for exchanging info about Ged playing with Screamin´ Lord Sutch (2010).

  • Thanks to:
  • Gerald Sandison: for offering his help (2004).

  • WHAT'S NEW:

    29/March/2011 - Page added to the blog.
    15/July/2003 - Original page written by me (in the old site).

    RELATED MUSICIANS:

    Ged Peck mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
    Ashley Holt (2)
    Mac Poole (2)
    Nick Simper (2)
    Frank Wilson (2)

    Page created by Miguel Terol on: 15/July/2003 - Last modified on: 18/July/2012. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

    Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.

    3 comments:

    1. Hi,In the early band with Ged crouched,I am the one in the white shirt and black leather waistcoat.My Name is Pete Taylor and still play keyboards at 66.The group was called THE EXPRESSIONS and we were playing in 1963 to 1964.Dave Williams Bass.Mick Collins singer.Lindsay drums.Me Pete Taylor keyboards and brilliant Gibson Stereo Ged.Liptons Agency.

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Just seen this and I remember Pete; a very good organist and all-round nice guy. I have to apologise to him in that I couldn't remember many of the names in that band with the exception of Pete's first name and Lindsay, the drummer, also very good. Didn't Pete play a Farfisa Compact organ? I remember we had a change to tour Germany, which was a big thing in those days, except that I was a year too young to be allowed in to work. I tried changing the date on my passport, but it didn't work and was soon spotted. (If you see this Pete, reply and we'll make contact).

        Delete
    2. Hi guys and galls! If there is anyone here,who knows the lyrics from Vulture blood of Warhorse,please write me back.Kind regards Vladimir Serbia.

      ReplyDelete