Mott the hoople bassist peter overend watts has died at the age of 69. Mott the hoople memorabilia linked to bowie goes under hammer guitars, posters and stage costumes owned by the late peter overend watts are being sold. Ian hunter on mott the hoople, ringo starr, and mick ronson. They were stan tippins vocals, mick ralphs guitar, pete overend watts bass, terence dale buffin griffin drums and terry allen phally on the organ. From 1969 to 1979 overend watts recorded and toured extensively with mott the hoople, mott, and british lions before shunning the limelight. Rip overend,what a horrendous year for us mott diehards with pete following the. Watts passing occurred just over a year after that of mott drummer terence dale buffin griffin, who died jan. Peter overend watts outlandish bass player with mott the hoople who later became obsessed with walking.
Watts died in birmingham on 22 january 2017 from throat cancer at the age of 69. My deep appreciation and gratitude to peter purnell of angel air records and mark preston for helping me. Australia out photo of pete overend watts and mott the hoople and morgan fisher and dale griffin and ray major and nigel benjamin. Ralphs and tippins had been in a local hereford band the buddies, and watts had been in a local rossonwye band the soulents with dale buffin griffin on drums. I did individual shots of all the band members and ian was the last to emerge from the dressing room.
Ian hunter on mott the hoople, ringo starr, and mick. Its been five months since pete overend watts, the soul of mott the hoople, passed away, and its now that the title of his only solo begins to make sense. Follow overend watts and explore their bibliography from s overend watts author page. Pete overend watts th may 1947 21st january 2017 7.
Jan 22, 2017 peter overend watts, the bassist for the rock band mott the hoople, died sunday, jan. His book the man who hated walking was published in 20. Mott the hoople mommas little jewel with lyrics in. Another early book from peter watt is the shadow of the osprey which is as story of affection, vengeance and murder. Overend, as he called himself for some inexplicable reason, was always friendly, down to earth, a great big tall geyser especially in those ludicrous platform boots that he wore on stage who sometimes died his.
Although the pic scores poorly on technical merit, the fun value more than compensates. Humourous account of overend watts walk of the south west coast path. It was a seven and half inch spool in a box, and it said something like, this may be of use to you. Photo of ian hunter and dale griffin and pete overend watts. Overend, as he called himself for some inexplicable reason, was always friendly, down to earth, a great big tall geyser especially in those ludicrous platform boots that he. Photo of pete overend watts and mick ronson and mott the. A facebook page for one of sir peter overend watts gibson thunderbirds, to let mott the hoople fans know its still alive and kicking. Great musician, great bloke, his book the man who hated walking is a classic.
His death comes a year after that of mott the hoople drummer dale griffin, who died at age 67, as well as the man who brought the band its best known song, david bowie. Mott the hoople memorabilia linked to bowie goes under. The man who hated walking by overend watts goodreads. It was also stevens who urged watts to use his unusual middle name, overend, an ancient family name that. Pete overend watts, the original bassist for the british 70s band mott the hoople, died on jan. Overend watts, with his homemade silver hair, sense of mad fun, a natural and gonzoid cool and, as ian hunter once sang so perfectly about him, a rock n roll star. Mott the hoople founding member pete overend watts has died aged. Peter overend watts, the bassist for mott the hoople, died this past sunday at age 69 overend, which many presumed to be a nickname, was, in fact, his actual middle name. His death comes a year after that of mott the hoople drummer dale griffin, who died at age 67, as well as the man who brought the.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of overend watts books online. Peter pete overend watts was an english bass guitar player and founding member of the 1970s rock band mott the hoople. Hes real gone scheduled for september 1st release was to be titled shes real gone but, knowing it would see the light of day posthumously, the legendary bassist twisted the records opener tag into something. He died on january 22, 2017 in herefordshire, england. Peter overend watts passed away on january 22, 2017 at the age of 69. The group formed as silence in 1968 in hereford, england with pete overend watts on bass, verden allen on organ, dale griffin on drums, ralphs on guitar, and stan tippens as their lead singer. Syd barrett the breakdown of syd as told by his sister and band members radio broadcast 090611 duration. Overend was famous for his spray painted silver hair and for pioneering the red stack healed boots influencing the new york dolls. Peteoverends writing style is wonderful, and you feel like youre out there. Mott the hoople bassist and founding member pete overend watts has died following a sixyear battle with throat cancer. They were lovely guys but as ian hunters great book diary of a. One remarkable anecdote in devines book is that island was. The shades of ian hunter, mick ronson and mott the hoople. After releasing a few moderately selling albums, they called it quits in.
But honestly the book is very well written and you get to know overend aka pete watts quite well. Pete overend watts 19472017 after three years of poor record sales mott the hoople were on the verge of giving up and going their separate ways. This is a facebook site dedicated to terence dale buffin griffin, the drummer of mott the hoople, mott and british. He switched to bass when he was 18 and eventually started playing professionally with guitarist mick ralphs in the buddies. Peter overend watts, the bassist for the rock band mott the hoople, died sunday, jan. And their bass player was the great overend watts the coolest and droogiest looking lunatic to ever totter around the top of the pops studio. He was known for being the founding member and guitarist of 1970s rock band, mott the hoople. The book ends in a manner that is continuous as the characters have a certain responsibility to carry on in the next sequel. Mott the hoople in 1973 mick ralphs, ian hunter, dale griffin and pete overend watts chris walterwireimage. Pete overend watts, who founded and played bass for mott the hoople, has passed away after a battle with cancer. Pete overend watts, best known as the bass player for mott the hoople passed away on sunday 22 january from throat cancer, at the age of 69. Peter pete overend watts may 1947 22 january 2017 was an english bass guitar.
Overend watts, also known as pete overend watts born may 1947, yardley, birmingham, england died 22 january 2017 was an english bass guitar. Posthumous album by mott the hoople cofounder pete. Jan 23, 2017 mott the hoople bassist peter overend watts has died at the age of 69. Overend watts was born on may, 1947 in yardley, birmingham, uk as peter overend watts. It was released on the cbs label in the uk and the columbia label in the united states. Former mott the hoople lead singer ian hunter broke the sad news on twitter last night, telling his followers. Its the first album without former lead singer ian hunter, and includes two new members. Overend watts, also known as pete overend watts born may 1947, yardley, birmingham, england died 22 january 2017 was an english bass guitar player and founding member of rock band mott the hoople. The album is a fitting tribute to a sadly missed icon. Peter pete overend watts may 1947 22 january 2017 was an english bass guitar player and founding member of the 1970s rock band mott the hoople. When david bowie offered all the young dudes to mott the. Young dudes and old feuds to write this account of one of the great british bands, i did separate interviews with all members of their original hit lineup. From 1969 to 1979 overend watts recorded and toured extensively with mott the hoople, mott, and british lions before shunning the limelight and turning his hand to record producing. Peter overend watts may 1947 22 january 2017 was an english bass guitarist.
Jan 23, 2017 mott the hoople founding member pete overend watts has died aged 69. Rip mott the hoople bassist pete overend watts observer. The group quickly attracted attention, especially that of producer guy stevens, who worked for island records. Peter overend watts obituary peter overend watts funeral. They are probably best known for the song all the young dudes, written for them by david bowieall the young dudes, written for them by david bowie. Mott the hoople interviews paul du noyer music book. Peter overend watts played bass with mott the hoople during their glory days with ian hunter and mick ralphs on guitar.
He also produced records, the most high profile being for hanoi rocks, dumb blondes, and the single she made everything groovy for the british indie band the ogdens. Watts first official foray into literature the man who hated walking, available now by way of wymer publishing is a laughoutloud, riveting documentation of his 650 mile actually 680 miles if you include overend s several missteps two month journey of the south west coast path in 2003 one of the most expansive waymarked long. A lot of books about people in the rock music business are boring to me. The overend watts collection peter s stage name includes an autographed photo of mick ronson, who played guitar with both bowie and mott. My extremely eccentric, lovely mate peter overend watts has left the building. The 1970s heyday of mott the hoople is well remembered and reported, and has been in the forefront of their fans memories following the sad death in january 2017 of bassist pete overend watts.
The band relied on the songwriting insight of vocalistpianistguitarist ian hunter, and the tough guitar style of mick ralphs, along with ralphs original bandmates from silence, dale buffin griffin on drums, verden allen on organ and pete overend watts on bass. Hunter also affords the reader great insight into the sartorial splendor of peter overend watts. A must for all mott the hoople, mott and british lions fans. Few bands, after all, have meant so many things to so many people, while two very separate career trajectories a bluesy dylanesque bar band on one hand, glammy postbowie storm troopers on the other ensure that even devoted acolytes will. Mott the hoople mommas little jewel with lyrics in description. Pete overend watts simple english wikipedia, the free. We received this tape at island studios one day just after the brain capers sessions, recalls pete overend watts. Ian hunter, mick ralphs, pete overend watts, buffin and verden allen.
Morgan fisher, dale buffin griffin, ray major, nigel benjamin, pete overend watts posed, group shot photo by gab archiveredferns. Ltw is particularly sad to report the death of the great overend watts the great bass player from mott the hoople and friend of the site. A remastered version was released in cd format in 2006 by wounded bird records in us. Peter pete overend watts died from throat cancer at the age of 69 on 22. Also in 20, watts published his facetiously titled book the man who hated walking wymer. What a shame we have lost him as we will never get to hear any more treasures like hes real gone. Photo of ian hunter and dale griffin and pete overend watts and mick ralphs and ian hunter and mott the hoople and verden allen. So hunter, ralphs, watts and griffin allen having quit poured their focus into. Photo of pete overend watts and mick ronson and mott the hoople.
Pete overend watts, mick ronson performing live onstage with mott the hoople get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. The doc thomas group had a concert residency at a nightclub in a. Once i had established this rapport, things went really smoothly and became much more fun. January 22, 2017 peter overend watts was born in the yardley neighborhood of birmingham, england on may, 1947. Rip pete watts, bass player in mott the hoople, whom i knew quite well back in my melody maker days, at least until the group fragmented after the departure of ian hunter. Mott the hoople were formed in 1966 as the doc thomas group with mick ralphs on guitar, stan tippins on vocals, and pete overend watts on bass. Overend watts who died early this year was a bass player, record producer, songwriter, author and founder member of mott the hoople and was the driving force behind the mth reunion shows of 2009 and 20 before his death after a long illness he finally completed his solo album that he had been promising to deliver to his legion of fans for the past decade plus, and in. On sunday, mott the hoople bassist and founding member pete overend watts died at the age of 69 after battling throat cancer. Watts began playing the guitar at the age of and by 1965, he had switched to bass guitar and became a professional musician. The solo album by pete overend watts, cofounder of muchloved british band mott the hoople who died in january, will be released posthumously on 1 september by angel air records. Lord litters magic music box 2017 2 internet archive. Pete overend watts didnt do interviews for this documentary but every other member.
Peter overend watts may 1947 january british bassist and founder of the band mott the hoople. Rip pete watts, bass player in mott the hoople, whom i knew quite well back. Nov 10, 2011 calling that mott the hoople a bands band makes it sound like humans didnt like them. Born in yardley, birmingham, watts started on guitar while at ross grammar school. Peter overend watts, musician and songwriter, born may 1948. The cry of the curfew has a welldesigned cover and has fruitfully made maximum sales. His mott bandmate, ian hunter the groups singer tweeted. Drive on is a 1975 album by british band mott one year before, named mott the hoople. And overend s just a rock and roll star ballad of mott the hoople rip pete overend watts. Han toimi myos levytuottajana, muun muassa hanoi rocksille. Calling that mott the hoople a bands band makes it sound like humans didnt like them. For a group whose living legacy stretched to just seven albums and one live set, anthologizing mott the hoople has proven extraordinarily problematic. Mick ralphs, pete overend watts, dale griffin, ian hunter, verden allen posed, group shot photo by gemsredferns. Even amid the glittering extravagance of the glam rock era, peter overend watts, who has died of throat cancer aged 69, managed to stand out from the crowd.
777 48 1252 26 1556 1377 464 461 91 407 1032 1067 1300 1454 388 1463 859 518 864 389 1201 530 1302 1128 1423 402 23 78 853 59 1222 357 1442