Music:
Member Since: 22/05/2007
Sounds Like: piblokto : "attacks of screaming, crying, and running naked through the snow; may be suicidal or homicidal (Eskimo women)"
Born on 25th December 1940 in Ashstead, Surrey, Pete Brown first came to prominence as a poet, his first published poem appearing in 'Evergreen Revue' in the US in 1954. In the mid-sixties he formed a songwriting partnership with Cream bassist Jack Bruce to write lyrics for the trio which also featured guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker. After Cream disbanded, Brown continued to write with Bruce but also began his own recording career with the group Pete Brown And His Battered Ornaments. Along with Brown on vocals and the famous african talking drums, the group comprised of Pete Bailey (Percussion), Charlie Hart (Keyboards), Dick Heckstall-Smith (Tenor Saxophone), Nisar Ahmed 'George' Khan (Tenor Saxophone), Roger 'Butch' Potter (Bass, banjo), Chris Spedding (Guitar, chittara, piano) and Rob Tait (Drums).
The Battered Ornaments released an underrated single; 'The Week Looked Good On Paper/Morning Call' on the Parlophone label in 1969 and then recorded their first album 'A Meal You Can Shake Hands With In The Dark', a mixture of jazz-rock and blues, which was released on the Harvest label (SHVL 752) in 1969.
On the eve of their prestigious support slot at the Rolling Stones' Hyde Park concert Brown suffered the indignity of being thrown out of his own band. Following his shock sacking as leader of The Battered Ornaments, he set about forming a new band, Piblokto!.
Mark Brennan has this to say; "Retaining the services of Battered Ornaments drummer Rob Tait he recruited Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen, bassist Roger Bunn and organist Dave Thompson and released the single 'Living Life Backwards / High Flying Electric Bird'. This was followed in mid 1970 by the LP 'Things May Come And Things May Go But The Art School Dance Goes On Forever', an album that to this day is regarded as one of the finest of the progressive era. A lot more commercial than the LP he made with the Battered Ornaments it nonetheless was a varied work containing Jazz tinged Rock alongside laid back Folk melodies and all augmented by Brown's witty, questioning and poetic lyrics."
By the time of Pibloktos! second single 'Can't Get Off The Planet / Broken Magic' Roger Bunn had left to pursue a solo career (he released the LP 'Piece Of Mind' in 1971) and had been replaced by Steve Glover. It was this line up that also recorded the LP 'Thousands On A Raft' which came with a highly original sleeve depicting both Concorde and the Titanic sinking into the sea whilst rafts of toast helped thousands of baked beans to escape! However shortly after the LP's release Brown broke up the band to create a new look Piblokto!. This featured ex Eyes Of Blue members Phil Ryan and John Weathers, plus guitarist Brian Breeze and bassist Steve Glover who remained from the second LP's lineup. This version of Piblokto! however made only one single 'Flying Hero Sandwich / My Last Band' before a deal for Piblokto! to tour the States fell through and Brown disbanded the unit altogether.
Jim Mullen, a fine guitarist of a jazz & blues persuasion, went on to join Brian Auger's Oblivion Express in the early '70s and featured on three albums: "Oblivion Express", "A Better Land", and "Second Wind". In 1972 he appeared on Vinegar Joe's 2nd album "Rock'n'Roll Gypsies" in '72, and then featured on Steve York's LP "Manor Live" ('73) together with many other U.K. jazz/bluesers. He played on Kokomo's first album in 1975, and then formed Morrisey-Mullen with jazz saxophonist Dick Morrissey (from If), who produced two fine albums in the late '70s.
Record Label: Unsigned