Frijid Pink

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Frijid Pink

The group in 1970.
Background information
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres Acid rock, 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. On their last released album "All Pink Inside" the line-up was Craig Webb, Guitar Larry Popolizio, Bass Rick Stevers, Drums, Jo Baker Harp/Vocal with the addition of Rockin' Reggie Vincent, Vocals and David Ahlers, Piano.

Career

Frijid Pink was formed when local Detroit-area band The Detroit Vibrations, which featured Stevers and Harris, were joined by guitarist Gary Ray Thompson and singer Tom Beaudry, who later took the stage name Kelly Green. At some point Thompson convinced Vibrations' manager Clyde Stevers (Richard's father) that he was a better musician than the Vibrations' current guitarist. 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 the spring of 1970. This disc sold over one million copies, thereby receiving a gold disc.[1] The track also peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] and #3 in the Canadian RPM Magazine charts. 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 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 other local groups of that era.

Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did their second release Defrosted, with most of the album's writing being 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 departure of Beaudry and Thompson, a new lineup was formed featuring 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.

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, after failed negotiation attempts with various 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 yet 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 guitarists for the reformation of Frijid Pink. A keyboard player was also brought in, recruited by Stevers from an Oldies cover band they had played in together, and from which Stevers had recently resigned. Over the course of the next five years, this new lineup would play a dozen or so gigs, such as local venues and street fairs, but never had any steady work or did any touring. The focus would eventually shift to basement recordings and eventually piecing an album together, which was released in March 2011 on the Repertoire label. This album, available in the U.S. as an import, is a mix of re-recorded songs from the group's previous albums and new original music. In late 2011, the lead singer/guitarist/engineer and the keyboard player were replaced, which ended the longest contiguous line-up in the band's history. Recording work continued with this latest lineup, and an EP was released in late Spring of 2012.

Discography

Singles

  • "Tell Me Why" / "Cryin' Shame" (Parrot 334) 1969
  • "Drivin' Blues" / "God Gave Me You" (Parrot 340) 1969
  • "House of the Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Parrot 341) 1969; No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100 (February 1970), No. 3 in Canada, No. 1 in Germany, No. 4 in UK[2]
  • "House Of The Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Deram 17044); 1970, France
  • "House Of The Rising Sun" / "Crying Shame" (EPDM 1014); 1970, Portugal
  • "Sing A Song For Freedom" / "End Of The Line" (Parrot 349) 1970, No. 55 on Billboard Hot 100 (July), No. 22 in Canada
  • "Sing A Song For Freedom" / "End Of The Line" (DM 309); 1970, France
  • "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (Parrot 352) 1970, No. 72 on Billboard Hot 100 (December), No. 38 in Canada
  • "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (SDM 117); 1971, Portugal
  • "Music For The People" / "Sloony" (Parrot 355) 1971
  • "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (Parrot 358) 1971
  • "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (DM 336) 1971 France
  • "I Love Her" / "Lost Son" (Parrot 360) 1972
  • "Earth Omen" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 115) 1972
  • "Go Now" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 136) 1972
  • "Rainbow Rider" / "Earth Omen" (MGM 2006130); 1973, Germany
  • "Big Betty" / "Shady Lady" (Lion 158) 1973

Albums

  • Frijid Pink (Parrot 71033) 1970 No. 11 in U.S.
  • Frijid Pink (Deram SML-R 1062); 1970; France, UK
  • Defrosted (Parrot 71041) 1970 No. 149 in U.S.
  • Defrosted (Deram SML-R 1077); 1970; France, UK
  • Earth Omen (Lion LN-1004) 1972
  • All Pink Inside (Fantasy 9464) 1975
  • Inner Heat (Dynasty) 2002 (unreleased)

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 279. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
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