July 31 2009
Lost Rock — Humble Pie
posted by Nick Sampson at 11:37 am
After leaving the hugely successful Small Faces in early 1969, Steve Marriott formed Humble Pie with Peter Frampton (Herd – guitar/vocals), Greg Ridley (Spooky Tooth – bass) and Jerry Shirley (Valkyrie – drums).
The new ‘super group’ attracted considerable media attention and quickly decamped to Essex, using Steve’s cottage in Moreton and a nearby village hall for writing and rehearsal.
Debut album As Safe Is Yesterday (Is) and hit single (number four in the UK) “Natural Born Boogie” followed on Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate label in July 1969.
After extensive touring and a second album the Immediate label folded. The band then signed to A&M, released the self titled Humble Pie and set their sights on the USA, where they soon became a big live act. During this time Marriott emerged as the main frontman and Frampton left — going on to a massive mid-seventies solo career.
Soon after Frampton’s departure Rockin The Fillmore was released. A huge seller, it’s been claimed by some-that-claim-these-things as one of the greatest live albums.
With replacement guitarist Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson on board the band released Smokin in 1972 (featuring the blistering “Thirty Days in the Hole”). It went on to be the Pie’s biggest seller.
1973’s Eat It followed, featuring the The Blackberries (Clydie King, Venetta Fields and Billie Barnum), a trio of former Ikettes. The band toured the album hard (taking their reputation for partying and The Blackberries with them) but things gradually started winding down until Humble Pie finally split in 1975.
In 1991 Marriott and Frampton got together again, writing and demoing new material. Unfortunately, a day after returning from recording in the States Steve Marriott was killed in a fire at his Essex cottage. He was 44.
Nick Sampson is a founding member of Netherworld Dancing Toys. He now plays in Auckland rock band Rata & Sons
Video: This cracking bit of Chuck Berry/Little Queenie style rock n roll (with Beatle licks thrown in for good measure) was Humble Pie’s debut single in July 1969 … even if the clip says 1968…
And this one’s a cracker too… “I Don’t Need No Doctor”