The Groundhogs

The Groundhogs were an English blues and rock band founded in late 1963 in London. Named after John Lee Hooker's song "Ground Hog Blues", they were part of the burgeoning British rhythm and blues scene, backing Hooker on his album ...And Seven Nights. They were predominantly a power trio of Tony McPhee (singer, guitarist, song-writer), Peter Cruickshank (bass) and Ken Pustelnik (drums), with Clive Brooks replacing Pustelnik in 1972 until the band split in 1974. They issued seven albums via Liberty/UA, including the UK Top 10 Thank Christ for the Bomb (1970, #9), Split (1971, #5) and Who Will Save the World? (1972, #8).

McPhee resurrected the name with a different rhythm section in 1975 for two more studio albums and again from 1982 to 2003 for a further two studio albums. A reunion of the early 1970s trio in 2003 ended McPhee's run, with Cruickshank and Pustelnik continuing as The Groundhogs Rhythm Section.

McPhee resurrected the name again in 2007 through to 2014, although only for live performances.

Career

Early years, 1962–1967

The band was originally formed as the Dollar Bills in New Cross, London, in 1962 by brothers John and Peter Cruickshank (born in 1943 and 2 July 1945 respectively

At John Cruickshank's suggestion, they became John Lee's Groundhogs when they backed Hooker on his 1964 UK tour. consisted of McPhee as singer and guitarist, bassist Peter Cruickshank, Ken Pustelnik (born 13 March 1946 on a farm near Blairgowrie, Angus, Scotland) on drums and Steve Rye (born 8 March 1946 in London – died 19 July 1992, in London) on harmonica. was promoted with BBC Radio 1 appearances on the In Concert programme from Paris Cinema on 14 May, and a radio session for Mike Harding on 21 July.

Split peaked at number 5 and spent 27 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and achieved gold record status. The first side of the album was a four part suite inspired by McPhee having "a mental aberration ... a panic attack that lasted a few months". and Mike Harding show on 29 March and 26 July. and a session on 29 February at Maida Vale 4 for John Peel.

Pustelnik left during 1972 and Clive Brooks from the band Egg joined on drums for Hogwash, released in November. The group made their first tour of North America, but a horse riding accident suffered by McPhee ended their visit early.

New line-up, 1975–1976

McPhee resurrected the name in 1975 with a new line-up of Martin Kent and Mick Cook on bass and drums respectively, and a second guitarist of either Dave Wellbelove or Rick Adams. Two albums, Crosscut Saw and Black Diamond, were released in 1976 by UA. and this trio also issued the live album Hogs On The Road recorded during a tour of Germany in December 1987.

The group's personnel continued to be changed; a live album Who Said Cherry Red? was recorded with Pete Chymon (bass) and Dale Iviss (drums) at a "secret location" in 1996, and two studio albums with Eric Chipulina and Pete Correa, Hogs in Wolf's Clothing (1998) in tribute to Howlin' Wolf and The Muddy Waters Song Book (1999) in tribute to Muddy Waters were released, being the last studio recordings issued as The Groundhogs.

In 2003, original manager Roy Fisher put together a short-lived 'original line-up' to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. McPhee left the band to pursue an acoustic career, embarking on a major tour in 2004 with Edgar Winter and Alvin Lee and issued an acoustic blues album Blues at Ten.

The Groundhogs Rhythm Section, 2004–2014

After McPhee's departure from the 2003 re-union, Cruickshank and Pustelnik continued forming The Groundhogs Rhythm Section with invited frontmen, latterly with Eddie Martin. The Groundhogs Rhythm Section's last recruits, Bob Bowles (guitar, vocals) and Jon Buckett (guitars, keyboards, vocals), joined Pustelnik and Cruickshank in February 2011.

Final line-up, 2007–2014

McPhee put together a new band in 2007, with long-time Groundhogs bassist Dave Anderson (ex-Hawkwind) and Marco Anderson on drums. This trio toured the UK in 2008 with Focus and Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash. The 2009 line-up of Tony McPhee's Groundhogs comprised McPhee, Anderson and previous long-term drummer Mick Jones. As of 2011, the new Groundhogs' line-up consisted of McPhee, Anderson, Joanna Deacon (vocals), and Carl Stokes (drums) from the death rock band Cancer.

Due to McPhee's ongoing health issues relating to a stroke in 2009, Tony McPhee & Groundhogs retired in January 2014, although McPhee and Stokes have since worked with David Tibet's Current 93. McPhee died on 6 June 2023.

Musical style

Groundhogs initially formed as a blues band, psychedelic, progressive music and space rock

Personnel

Members

;Former members

Joanna Deacon – vocals (2001–2003, 2011–2014)
Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals (1963–1974, 1976, 1982–2004, 2007–2014; died 2023)
Dave Anderson – bass (1986–1988, 2001–2003, 2007–2014)
Carl Stokes – drums (2011–2014)
Peter Cruickshank – bass (1963–1974, 2003–2004)
Dave Boorman – drums (1963–1965)
Bob Hall – keyboards (1963–1965)
John Cruickshank – harmonica, vocals (1963–1964)
Ken Pustelnik – drums (1965–1972, 2003–2004)
Tom Parker – keyboards (1965)
Steve Rye – harmonica (1969; died 1992)
Clive Brooks – drums (1972–1974; died 2017)
Dave Thompson – bass (1972)
Mick Cook – drums (1976; died 1997)
Martin Kent – bass (1976)
Dave Wellbelove – guitars (1976)
Rick Adams – guitars (1976)
Alan Fish – bass (1982–1994)
Wilgar Campbell – drums (1982–1984; died 1989)
"Mighty" Joe Young – guitars (1982–1983)
Mick Kirton – drums (1984–1989)
Mick Jones – drums (1989–1994, 1999–2003, 2009–2011)
Chris Bennett – drums (1990–1991)
Jon Camp – bass (1989)
Eric Chipulina – bass, live guitars (1994–1996, 1996–1999)
Pete Correa – drums (1994–1996, 1996–1999)
Pete Chymon – bass (1996)
Dale Iviss – drums (1996)
Brian Jones – bass (1999–2001)
Marco Anderson – drums (2007–2009)

Lineups

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99%

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1963–1964

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1964–1965

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1965

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1965–1969

| valign=top |

John Cruickshank – harmonica, vocals
Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Bob Hall – keyboards
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Dave Boorman – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Bob Hall – keyboards
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Dave Boorman – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Tom Parker – keyboards
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Ken Pustelnik – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Ken Pustelnik – drums

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1969

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1969–1972

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1972

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1972–1974

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Steve Rye – harmonica
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Ken Pustelnik – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Ken Pustelnik – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Dave Thompson – bass
Clive Brooks – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Clive Brooks – drums

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1974–1975

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1975–1976

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1976

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1976–1982

| valign=top |

Disbanded

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Dave Wellbelove – guitars
Martin Kent – bass
Mick Cook – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Rick Adams – guitars
Martin Kent – bass
Mick Cook – drums

| valign=top |

Disbanded

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1982–1983

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1983–1984

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1984–1987

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1987–1988

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
"Mighty" Joe Young – guitars
Alan Fish – bass
Wilgar Campbell – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Wilgar Campbell – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Mick Kirton – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Dave Anderson – bass
Mick Kirton – drums

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1988–1989

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1989

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1989–1994

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1994–1996

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Mick Kirton – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Jon Camp – bass
Mick Jones – drums
Chris Bennett – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Alan Fish – bass
Mick Jones – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Eric Chipulina – bass, live guitars
Pete Correa – drums

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1996

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1996–2000

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2000–2001

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2001

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Pete Chymon – bass
Dale Iviss – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Eric Chipulina – bass, live guitars
Pete Correa – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Brian Jones – bass
Mick Jones – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Mick Jones – drums
Jon Camp – bass

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2001–2003

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2003–2004

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2004–2007

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2007–2009

| valign=top |

Joanna Deacon – vocals
Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Dave Anderson – bass
Mick Jones – drums

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Peter Cruickshank – bass
Ken Pustelnik – drums

| valign=top |

Disbanded

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Dave Anderson – bass
Marco Anderson – drums

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2009–2011

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2011–2014

| valign=top |

Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Dave Anderson – bass
Mick Jones – drums

| valign=top |

Joanna Deacon – vocals
Tony McPhee – guitars, vocals
Dave Anderson – bass
Carl Stokes – drums

The Groundhogs rhythm section

;Current members

Bob Bowles – guitars, vocals (2011–2014)
Jon Buckett – guitars, keyboards, vocals (2011–2014)
Peter Cruickshank – bass (2004–2014)
Ken Pustelnik – drums (2004–2014)

;Former members

Chas Depaolo – guitars, vocals (2004–2006)
Dave Weld – guitars, vocals (2004–2006)
Eddie Martin – guitars, vocals (2006–2011)

Discography

Albums

as Groundhogs:

Studio albums

Scratching the Surface (December 1968)
Blues Obituary (September 1969)
Thank Christ for the Bomb (May 1970) – UK Number 9
Split (March 1971) – UK Number 5
Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs (March 1972) – UK Number 8, US Number 202
Hogwash (October 1972)
Solid (June 1974) – UK Number 31
Crosscut Saw (February 1976)
Black Diamond (October 1976)
Razor's Edge (May 1985)
Back Against the Wall (July 1987)
Hogs in Wolf's Clothing (January 1998)
Muddy Waters Songbook (April 1999)

Live

Hoggin' the Stage (April 1984) – Recorded in Leeds and London in 1971 and Stockholm in 1976.
Extremely Live (July 1988)
Hogs on the Road (June 1988) – Recorded in Germany in December 1987
No Surrender (August 1989)
Groundhog Night (July 1993)
Who Said Cherry Red? (October 1996)
Live at Leeds '71 (August 1998) – Featuring the five tracks recorded in Leeds previously released on "Hoggin' The Stage"
No Surrender – Razors Edge Tour 1985 (1998) – Recorded in Northfleet, Kent, in 1985
UK Tour '76 (1999)
U.S. Tour '72 (1999) (Akarma Records)
Live at the Astoria (September 2001) – Recorded at the Astoria, London, on 20 February 1998.
Live at the New York Club, Switzerland 1991 (2007)
Live at Anti WAA Festival 1989 (CD, 2014; Nibelung Records)
Christmas Marketing in Weiden (Download 2017) (Nibelung Records)
Road Hogs: Live from Richmond to Pocono (3LP/2CD, 2021) (Fire Records) – Live at Richmond Athletic Ground, London, England, 7 November 1969 & at Pocono Raceway, Pennsylvania, USA, on 8 July 1972

Radio sessions and in concert

BBC Radio One Live In Concert (1994, Windsong International) from 24 February 1972 and 23 May 1974

Tony McPhee (solo):

The Two Sides of T.S. McPhee (1973)
The Blues and the Beast (1991) (Nibelung Records)
Foolish Pride (February 1993)
Slide, T.S., Slide (1996)
Bleaching the Blues (April 1997)

With John Lee Hooker:

...And Seven Nights with John Lee Hooker (Verve Folkways, 1965)

DVDs and videos

Live at the Astoria (1999) [video]
60/40 Split (2005) [DVD]
Live at Anti WAA Festival 1989 (DVD, 2014; Nibelung Records)

References

Bibliography

External links

[ Groundhogs biography at the AMG website]
Groundhogs & Tony McPhee's Official Website
Fan Site with complete Discography
Tony McPhee's MySpace page
Rare photos & video clips
Groundhogs at Fire Records