Tony McPhee

Anthony Charles McPhee (born 23 March 1944) is an English blues guitarist, and founder of The Groundhogs. An early version of this band backed Champion Jack Dupree and John Lee Hooker on UK concerts in the mid-1960s.[1] He is often credited as 'Tony (T.S.) McPhee'. He was given this name by the producer Mike Vernon who suggested adding 'T.S.' to his name when McPhee released a duet single with Champion Jack Dupree in 1966 called Get Your Head Happy, in order to make it look more like an official blues name. It stands for Tough Shit.[2]

For the English soccer player, see Tony McPhee (footballer).
Tony McPhee
McPhee with The Groundhogs, London, September 1991
Background information
Birth nameAnthony Charles McPhee
Also known as"TS" McPhee
Born (1944-03-23) 23 March 1944
Humberston, Lincolnshire, England
GenresBlues rock, blues
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Associated actsThe Groundhogs
Websitehttp://www.thegroundhogs.co.uk/

The Groundhogs evolved into a blues-rock trio that produced three UK Top 10 hits in the UK Albums Chart in the early 1970s. Although they have continued to play in various line-ups to the present day, McPhee officially retired from the band in 2015.[3]

Solo album The Two Sides of Tony (T.S.) McPhee was released in 1973. Side A of this record is blues rock and Side B is a single psychedelic art rock electronic composition, featuring Arp 2600 Synthesizers, Electric Piano and The Rhythm Ace Drum Synthesizer exploring McPhee's strong stance against Fox and Stag-Hunting.[4][5] McPhee has also released many other solo acoustic blues records, as well as duets with Jo Ann Kelly.[5]

Apart from the Groundhogs, McPhee has played with Herbal Mixture, the John Dummer Band, Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, Tony McPhee's Terraplane, Tony McPhee's Turbo, the Tony McPhee Band[6] and Current 93.[7]

In 2009, McPhee suffered a stroke which affected his speech and ability to sing.[8]

McPhee's definitive biography, written by Paul Freestone was published in 2012.[5]

Solo discography
  • 1966 Ain't Gonna Cry No More – Someone To Love Me
  • 1966 You Don't Love Me When You Gotta Good Friend
  • 1968 Me and the Devil - Various Artists
  • 1969 I Asked for Water - Various Artists
  • 1971 Same Thing on Their Minds
  • 1973 Two Sides of Tony McPhee
  • 1984 Razor Edge
  • 1991 The Blues And The Beast
  • 1993 Foolish Pride
  • 1996 Slide, T.S., Slide
  • 1996 Herbal Mixture-Groundhogs
  • 1997 Bleachin' The Blues
  • 2000 Live In Poland At Blues Express
  • 2004 Blues At Ten

References
  1. Bruce Eder (22 March 1944). "Tony McPhee | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. Brunning, Bob (1986). Blues : the British connection (1. publ. in the UK. ed.). Poole: Blandford Press. p. 97. ISBN 9780713715873.
  3. "Interview: Ken Pustelnik". Bristol 24/7. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  4. "The Groundhogs interview with Tony McPhee". www.psychedelicbabymag.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. Freestone, Paul (2012). Eccentric Man: A Biography & Discography of Tony (TS) McPhee. Incompetent Publishing. ISBN 9780956865205.
  6. "An Interview with Tony "TS" McPhee of The Groundhogs: A Legendary Artist of British Blues History". blues.gr. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. "Current 93: I Am the Last of All the Field That Fell: A Channel Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. "Official Tony (TS) McPhee & The Groundhogs Web Site". Thegroundhogs.co.uk. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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