2009 was a shit year... not only did bassist Dave Anderson (formerly of Hawkwind & Amon Duul) have two heart attacks, but front man, singer songwriter and legendary guitarist Tony McPhee had a stroke.
And recovery has been in slow motion, McPhee's stroke took only one thing from Tony, but it was a big thing, his speech and with it day to day communication, singing and the ability to tell people to F**K off.
So never one to curl up in a corner bemoaning his fate, Tony got out all the songs and pieces he has been working on for the last 25 years and started to pull it all together, by the end of 2009 he had Jack Endino (Groundhogs fan who produced Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and pretty much anything grunge that has come out of the Seattle) over from the States, booked Dave Andersons Foel Studio and started work.
The album is waiting for the one elusive thing to set it in plastic, not the title, it WILL be called 'AT THE THIRD STROKE' (seriously, Tony's own slightly warped sense of humour), not the production (Jack is still waiting in his Seattle eerie) or even the record company (long term association with 'Talking Elephant Records') BUT the singing voice of McPhee.
Not to be discouraged and by way of a kick up the bootie, everyone (the rest of THE GROUNDHOGS and those mentioned above) have ganged up on McPhee and worked to release one track "DRY LAND' featuring Tony's pre-stroke vocals for his 67th Birthday on 23rd March.
It will be generally available on the ususal download sites.
They are also featuring a live performance of the track at this years gigs... its one of the ones they make Tony sing on.
GIG LISTINGS
April
8, Palladium Club, Bideford, EX39 2DE
9, Marrs Bar, Worcester, WR1 1TA
15, Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, London W1D 4JB
16, Haverhill Arts Centre, CB9 8AR
28, Vaults, Bishops Castle
30, Area 81, Bristol, BS5 0DN
May
27, The Ferry, Glasgow, G3 8BX
29, Barnard Castle Blues Festival, Durham
June
2, The Blues Kitchen, Camden High Street, NW1 7JN
9, Sweden Rock Festival www.swedenrock.com
18, Sonic Rock Solstice, Builth Wells
July
9, Swansea, TBC
22, Ludlow, Assembly Rooms, SY8 1AZ
September
3, Weyfest, The Rural Life Centre, Farnham, GU10 2DL
October
8, Condom Rally, Mersea Island, Nr. Colchester