Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band
Copyright Status of this video is: Unknown. Copyright Holder - Please contact us!
The Pacific Gas & Electric Blues Band were formed in 1967, in Los
Angeles, by guitarists Tom Marshall and Glenn Schwartz, Brent Block on
bass, and drummer Charlie Allen. Wikipedia states that Glenn was
previously in the James Gang with Joe Walsh in Cleveland, Ohio. That
article also states that Glenn left the James Gang in 1968 and if that
is the case he could hardly have started the band or have been a
founding member. Nevertheless, Glenn was already a guitar legend in the
north eastern Ohio scene.
The band soon discovered that Charlie Allen was the best singer in the
band so he became the front man and Frank Cook, of Canned Heat, took
over the drummer's throne. The band shortened their name to Pacific Gas
& Electric upon signing to Kent Records. In early 1968 they
released their debut album 'Get It On' to very little critical acclaim
and the record nearly sank without a trace. The band's live
performances were so stellar that they were signed to Columbia Records
following their "kick ass and take hyphenated names" show at the Miami
Pop Festival.
band so he became the front man and Frank Cook, of Canned Heat, took
over the drummer's throne. The band shortened their name to Pacific Gas
& Electric upon signing to Kent Records. In early 1968 they
released their debut album 'Get It On' to very little critical acclaim
and the record nearly sank without a trace. The band's live
performances were so stellar that they were signed to Columbia Records
following their "kick ass and take hyphenated names" show at the Miami
Pop Festival.
1969 saw the release of their first Columbia album 'Pacific Gas &
Electric' which is still a personal favorite and my all time choice of
play of their releases. The album charted at 91 on the Billboard Top
200. In 1970 the band released 'Are You Ready' to considerable
critical acclaim and the title track reached number 14 on the Billboard
Hot 100. Frank Cook was injured in an automobile accident and was
replaced on drums while he stayed on with the band as their manager.
There were a few other line up changes at this time such as a new
bassist, Frank Petricca, and Ken Utterback took over the lead guitarist
slot.
Electric' which is still a personal favorite and my all time choice of
play of their releases. The album charted at 91 on the Billboard Top
200. In 1970 the band released 'Are You Ready' to considerable
critical acclaim and the title track reached number 14 on the Billboard
Hot 100. Frank Cook was injured in an automobile accident and was
replaced on drums while he stayed on with the band as their manager.
There were a few other line up changes at this time such as a new
bassist, Frank Petricca, and Ken Utterback took over the lead guitarist
slot.
The band caved into pressure from the California utility company of the
same name and shortened their name to PG&E. The band also added a
horn section and a percussionist to the line up. PG&E released a
new album, 'PG&E', and appeared and performed in Otto Preminger's
'Tell Me You Love Me, Julie Moon' with Liza Minelli.
same name and shortened their name to PG&E. The band also added a
horn section and a percussionist to the line up. PG&E released a
new album, 'PG&E', and appeared and performed in Otto Preminger's
'Tell Me You Love Me, Julie Moon' with Liza Minelli.
Wiki mentions the band was unusual at the time for including both black
and white musicians and alludes to a show in Raleigh, North Carolina,
which included rioting and gunfire. The band was touring like crazy at
this time. I caught them in Panama City opening for The Amboy Dukes and
they brought the house down with everyone dancing on their seats. They
rocked the house and the after party at Holiday Inn was awesome.
and white musicians and alludes to a show in Raleigh, North Carolina,
which included rioting and gunfire. The band was touring like crazy at
this time. I caught them in Panama City opening for The Amboy Dukes and
they brought the house down with everyone dancing on their seats. They
rocked the house and the after party at Holiday Inn was awesome.
All things come to an end, even good ones, and the band split up. In
1973 an album entitled 'Pacific Gas & Electric starring Charlie
Allen' was released on the Dunhill label with Charlie and a bunch of
studio musicians. Charlie died in 1990 at age 48. Frank Petricca
became a stock broker. Tom Marshall suffered a series of health problems
and the deterioration of his personal circumstances and spent most of
the 1980s homeless.
1973 an album entitled 'Pacific Gas & Electric starring Charlie
Allen' was released on the Dunhill label with Charlie and a bunch of
studio musicians. Charlie died in 1990 at age 48. Frank Petricca
became a stock broker. Tom Marshall suffered a series of health problems
and the deterioration of his personal circumstances and spent most of
the 1980s homeless.
Broken Links Bumming You Out?
Still Hungry For More?
Click a letter for your next stop on the
music-go-round.
