Pete French

{{Short description|British singer (born 1948)}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Peter French.png | caption = French in 2018 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1948|10|16}} | birth_place = London, England | genre = Rock | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 1960s–1981, 1999, 2004–present | past_member_of = Leaf Hound, Atomic Rooster, Cactus }}

'''Peter French''' (born 16 October 1948) is a British rock singer-songwriter from London. He was the lead singer for Leaf Hound, and had short tenures in Atomic Rooster and Cactus. French has also worked with Beck, Bogert & Appice (and their drummer Carmine Appice) and Cozy Powell and has performed in bands based in the United Kingdom, United States and Germany.

== Career ==

=== Early career === French began his career in the mid 1960s. His first band was The Max Brown Group.<ref name=":2">[https://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/01/interview-with-pete-french-legendary.html Pete French interview]</ref> Some of French's influences included Elvis Presley, Dion DiMucci, Eddie Cochran, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Breznikar |first=Klemen |date=2011-04-19 |title=Leaf Hound interview with Peter French |url=https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/04/leaf-hound-my-interview-with-peter.html |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> One of French's first professional bands was a blues band called Joe Poe with his cousin Mick Halls.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Perfect Sound Forever: Peter French interview |url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/peterfrench.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.furious.com}}</ref> He sang in clubs around the UK in the mid 1960s with different blues bands including Switch, and Erotic Eel .<ref name=":3" />

In 1968, French and Halls joined Bob Brunning of Fleetwood Mac to record an album as The Brunning Sunflower Band. Halls and French were also a part of Black Cat Bones, which included Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke of Free. The bands first and only studio album had been recorded before French joined.

=== Leaf Hound === When Black Cat Bones disbanded in 1970, the remaining members, including Mick Halls as Pete hired him, formed Leaf Hound.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leaf Hound- Growers of Mushroom; Famous Obscurity; Interview with Peter French|url=https://thevinylpress.com/leaf-hound-growers-of-mushroom-famous-obscurity-interview-with-peter-french%EF%BB%BF/|website=The Vinyl Press|date=2019-02-19|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en-US|first=Bill|last=Hart}}</ref> The original lineup recorded their first and only album, ''Growers of Mushroom'', which was released in October 1971, by which time they had already split up.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Get Ready to ROCK! Interview with Pete French vocalist with rock bands Leaf Hound, Cactus and Atomic Rooster|url=https://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/pete_french.htm|access-date=2025-05-17|website=www.getreadytorock.com}}</ref> After the band disbanded, French moved to Birmingham, and joined the band Big Bertha, which included Cozy Powell.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Feeling that the band wasn't going anywhere, French and Powell both left Big Berha and moved to London, where they lived with each other.<ref name=":0" />

=== Atomic Rooster === [[File:Atomic Rooster live at HRH Prog X at Shepherd's Bush Empire 5th Sept 2021 - 51436557671.jpg|thumb|Atomic Rooster live at Shepherd's Bush Empire, 5th September 2021, Pete French stands at the microphone centre stage]] In June 1971, French was asked to join Atomic Rooster while the band were in the middle of recording their album ''In Hearing of Atomic Rooster'' as Vincent Crane felt the band needed a singer who could "project" to an audience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Atomic Rooster Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & M...|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/atomic-rooster-mn0000611881|access-date=2025-05-17|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter French / Michael Halls |url=https://www.jackrussellmusic.net/writers-artists/peter-french-michael-halls/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Jack Russell Music Ltd. |language=en-GB}}</ref> Crane and guitarist John Du Cann had specifically chosen French as he admired Leaf Hound's album and like French's vocals.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Q&A with English singer Peter French, shared the stage and recorded with some of the greatest Rock bands|url=https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/q-a-with-english-singer-peter-french-shared-the-stage-and-recorde|website=blues.gr|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en|first=2025 at 6:30pm|last=Posted by Music Network by Michael Limnios on September 20|first2=View|last2=Blog}}</ref>

He sung on five songs on the album, which entered the UK albums chart in the top 20.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IN HEARING OF ATOMIC ROOSTER|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/atomic-rooster-in-hearing-of-atomic-rooster/|website=Official Charts|date=1971-08-21|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en}}</ref> French felt "a little lost" though after the release as Crane had sacked Du Cann, and drummer Paul Hammond followed with him, so for a short time after joining he was the only other member of the band before Ric Parnell and Steve Bolton were hired.<ref name=":3" /> Pete was their primary lead singer for live performances, and toured Italy, Canada and the United States.

===Cactus=== While on a North American tour with Atomic Rooster in late 1971, Pete was approached by Tim Bogert of Cactus (a band they were touring with) and asked him to join their band in the States; he subsequently agreed after hearing them play: ''"I was completely knocked out by Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice's playing – to me they were to me like America's answer to Led Zeppelin's John Bonham and John Paul Jones, it was raw Rhythm and Blues with power."''<ref name=":0" /> French left Atomic Rooster after the tour, and was replaced by Chris Farlowe in early 1972.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-02-26.pdf americanradiohistory.com] (Website no longer works)</ref> Crane dissaproved of this decision and tried to convince French to stay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atomic Rooster: In Hearing Of… (1971) |url=https://theafterword.co.uk/atomic-rooster-in-hearing-of-1971/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=theafterword.co.uk}}</ref>

The only album French sang on with Cactus was '''Ot 'n' Sweaty'', an album he chose the name for and wrote co-wrote five tracks for.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> After the album was released, French discovered that Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice were planning on leaving Cactus and forming Beck, Bogert & Appice, and Pete was given the opportunity to carry on a new Cactus, which he did briefly before leaving and returning to Britain, as that "was not what I signed a five year contract to do, so I was pretty pissed off and felt very badly treated by Carmine and Tim and the management for trying to double deal. I felt that it would be a complete rip off to tour with the name Cactus without the main rhythm section, so I left".<ref name=":3" />

=== Randy Pie and solo album === Not long after French returned to Britain, he moved again, to Hamburg in Germany, where he lived for three years, and recorded an album with the band Randy Pie: "I hated the name but heard that they were terrific musicians so I gave it a shot and yes I got the audition over some three hundred other would be vocalists".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> When the album was recorded, members of Randy Pie branched off to other smaller bands instead of capitalising off of the albums success, so instead the label gave French a deal to record a solo album back in London.<ref name=":3" />

In 1978, he recorded the solo album ''Ducks In Flight''. The album included works from French, cousin Mick Hills who he had got back in touch with again, as well as Kenney Jones, Brian Robertson and Micky Moody.<ref name=":0" /> The album was well received however Polydor did not sign up French as an artist.<ref name=":0" />

=== Later career === By the 1980s, French was back in London and was "disillusioned with the music scene" as new wave and pop had become the new mainstream music. He recorded the track "Nightmare" with Gillan as his backing band, which went unreleased as labels did not approve of the sound; Gillan frontman Ian Gillan heard the track and soon released it himself.<ref name=":3" /> French returned to the United States after Carmine Appice from Cactus contacted him to write a few songs for his upcoming album, ''Carmine Appice (album)'' in 1981.<ref>{{Citation |title=Rockers - Carmine Appice {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rockers-mw0000851234 |access-date=2025-06-15 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> After this, French retired from music.

On 1 May 1999, French came out of retirement and sang at a tribute concert for Cozy Powell, who had died on 5 April.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Cozy Powell tribute concert |url=https://www.brianmayworld.com/Buxton.htm |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=www.brianmayworld.com}}</ref> Other artists who performed at the concert included Brian May, Spike Edney, Neil Murray, Tony Martin, Mike Casswell, Johnny Marter, Darren Wharton, John Idan, Chris Thompson, Martin Chambers, Bobby Rondinelli, Clayton Moss, Denny Ball, Frank Aiello, Andy Scott, Susie Webb, Zoe Nicholas, Tony Ashton, Chris Farlowe, Russel Gilbrook, Norman Beaker Band and The Bailey Bros.<ref name=":4" />

French and Bogart got in touch in the early 2000s and played a one off gig at the Underworld club; soon after this gig, French learned that musicians at this club and local artists were playing songs from Leaf Hound's album and were big fans of the group.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Pete soon discovered the influence the band had on blues and rock fans, including Wolfmother and Tame Impala, and eventually in 2004, formed a new Leaf Hound band.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wolfmother|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/t/wolfmother/|access-date=2025-05-17|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The new Leaf Hound released a new album in 2007.<ref name=":2" /> In June 2006, French played a few dates with a newly reformed Cactus, featuring Bogert, Appice and Jim McCarty, including a performance at a rock festival in Sweden.<ref name=":0" /> Also in 2006, he performed alongside Ronnie Wood and Micky Green at the wake of Wood's brother Art.<ref name=":6" />

In 2016, over thirty years after Atomic Rooster had ended, the band reformed witth blessings from member Crane's widow, Jean;<ref name=":6" /> French was invited back into the band, 45 years after originally leaving, along with guitarist Steve Bolton, who joined just before French left in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Atomic Rooster - Record Collector Magazine|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/live/atomic-rooster-2|access-date=2025-05-17|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Neillpublished|first=Christina|date=2016-07-08|title=Cambridge Rock Festival shares final lineup announcement.|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/cambridge-rock-festival-shares-final-lineup-announcement|access-date=2025-05-17|website=Louder|language=en}}</ref> In late 2023, French departed the group.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Atomic Rooster @ Black Frog Presents at Chelmsford Social Club|url=https://www.bandsintown.com/e/1034066965-atomic-rooster-at-black-frog-presents-at-chelmsford-social-club?came_from=209|access-date=2025-05-17|website=Bandsintown|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ewingpublished|first=Jerry|date=2024-11-14|title=Atomic Rooster announce live dates for 2025|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/atomic-rooster-announce-live-dates-for-2025|access-date=2025-05-17|website=Louder|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Atomic Rooster-Space Cowboy - Riding The Ranges Of The Universe xx {{!}} By Steve {{!}} Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/steve.b.bolton.1/videos/1767523413746038|language=en|access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref> In a 2025 interview, French said that he enjoyed touring Europe with the new Atomic Rooster, but felt that it "was never to be quite the same without Vince (Crane) and John (Du Cann)'s influence, the creativity seemed to have gone".<ref name=":6" /> He now devotes his career to Leaf Hound.

== Personal life == French was born in London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=platform81 |date=2018-02-01 |title=Atomic Rooster's Peter French - First Time On CD |url=https://theaudiophileman.com/review-peter-french-cd-atomic-rooster/ |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=The Audiophile Man |language=en-US}}</ref> He has a son, Dominic, who is also a musician and who now plays drums with his father in Leaf Hound.{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}

== Discography ==

=== Albums === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Notes |- |1968 |''Bullen St. Blues'' |Brunning Sunflowers Blues Band album |- |1970 |''Leaf Hound'' |Leaf Hound album |- | rowspan="2" |1971 |''Growers of Mushroom''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Peter French Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor...|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-french-mn0001516206|website=AllMusic|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en}}</ref> |Leaf Hound album / ''Growers of Mushroom'' is the ''Leaf Hound'' album from 1970 but with slight changes |- |''In Hearing of Atomic Rooster''<ref name=":5" /> |Atomic Rooster album |- |1972 |'''Ot 'n' Sweaty''<ref name=":5" /> |Cactus album |- | rowspan="2" |1973 |''Beck, Bogert & Appice''<ref name=":5" /> |Beck, Bogert & Appice album / credited as composer |- |''Live in Japan''''<ref name=":5" />'' |Beck, Bogert & Appice live album / co-wrote two tracks |- |1977 |''Fast/Forward<ref name=":5" />'' |Randy Pie album |- |1978 |''Ducks in Flight''<ref name=":5" /> |Solo album |- |1981 |''Carmine Appice''<ref name=":5" /> |Carmine Appice album |- | rowspan="2" |2007 |''Unleashed<ref name=":5" />'' |Leaf Hound album |- |''On Top<ref name=":6" />'' |The Amulators album |- |2014 |''Live in Japan'' |Leaf Hound live album |- |2025 |Once Bitten |Leaf Hound album |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" !Year !A-side !B-side !Notes |- | rowspan="2" |1977 |"Stand Up!" |"Work It Out" |Randy Pie single |- |"Give Me Your Love" |"Same Old Questions" |Solo single |} == References == {{reflist}}{{Atomic Rooster}}{{Cactus (American band)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Pete}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:British singers Category:British rock singers Category:British blues singers Category:English singers Category:English rock singers Category:English blues singers Category:Atomic Rooster members Category:Cactus (American band) members