| Frijid Pink | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Blues rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, hard rock |
| Years active | 1967–1975 2001 2007–present |
| Labels | Parrot Deram Lion Fantasy |
| Associated acts | The Tidal Waves The Unrelated Segments Teezer |
| Website | Link |
| Members | |
| Rick Stevers Brent Austin Ricky Houke |
|
Frijid Pink is a Detroit area blues rock band formed in 1967, best known for their version of "House of the Rising Sun," released in 1969.
The initial line-up of the band included drummer Richard Stevers, guitarist Gary Ray Thompson, bassist Tom Harris, lead singer Tom Beaudry (aka:Kelly Green), and later added Larry Zelanka as off-staff keyboardist.
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Frijid Pink was formed when members of the Detroit Vibrations Stevers and Harris were joined by guitarist Gary Ray Thompson, (who convinced Vibrations' manager Clyde Stevers (Richard's father) that he was a better candidate for a guitarist), and singer Tom Beaudry, who later took the stage name Kelly Green. They spent their first two years touring throughout the Southeast Michigan/Detroit area and eventually signed with Parrot Records. Their first two singles, "Tell Me Why" and "Drivin' Blues" (both released in 1969) failed to attract much attention, but their third 1969 effort, a distorted guitar-driven rendition of "House of the Rising Sun," reached the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in winter 1970. This disc sold over one million copies, thereby receiving a gold disc.[1] The track also peaked at #4 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] The song was a "filler," using up time at the end of a recording session. The band was so popular in their native Detroit area that a fledgling Led Zeppelin (who were just then getting started from the remnants of The Yardbirds) opened for them at Detroit's Grande Ballroom. Frijid Pink often shared billing with the likes of the MC5, The Stooges, The Amboy Dukes and others.
Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did their second release Defrosted. Most of the album's writing was provided by duo of Beaudry and Thompson. Subsequent singles including "Sing A Song For Freedom" and a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" failed to match earlier successes, and after the disappearance of Beaudry and Thompson, a new lineup was formed featuring the late Jon Wearing on vocals, Craig Webb on guitar, and Larry Zelanka on keyboards. This version of the group recorded 1972's Earth Omen. The group would have another lineup in place before re-entering the studio to record 1975's All Pink Inside with Jo Baker on vocals and Larry Popolizio playing the bass. Jon Wearing died of unknown causes on January 4, 2009.
In 1981 Stevers and Harris joined forces with Arlen Viecelli, lead singer/guitarist of Salem Witchcraft, and Ray Gunn, guitarist of Virgin Dawn, to record an album at Sound Suite studio in Detroit. The music was written by Viecelli and Gunn and was set to be released in the summer of 1982. However, during failed negotiation attempts with numerous record companies by the group's manager (the aforementioned Clyde Stevers), the group disbanded and the material was never released.
Another version of the band (featuring no past members) formed in 2001. They recorded one album, Inner Heat, which was set for release in 2002, but was pulled by the record label, Dynasty Records. In 2005 another lineup formed featuring most of the original members; drummer Stevers had succeeded in getting bassist Tom Harris and vocalist Tom Beaudry together with guitarist Steve Dansby (from a late 1970s line-up of Cactus) and keyboardist Larin Michaels.
In late 2006, after a failed attempt to once again reunite the original members, Stevers began auditioning other musicians for the reformation of Frijid Pink. This new lineup has recorded an album which was released in March 2011 on the Repertoire label, and is available in the U.S. as an import. The album is a mix of re-recorded older songs and new original music.