Pink Fairies

Pink Fairies

Pink Fairies are a London rock group formed out of the late 1960s underground scene. They are active from 1970 to 1988 and are associated with acid rock, garage rock, hard rock, heavy psych, proto-punk and psychedelic rock.

History

The group develops from a drinking club set up in 1969 by Steve Peregrine Took and Syd Barrett. Took, Mick Farren and Twink give the group its name, although Twink later uses it for a separate project called Pink Fairies Mark 2 with three former Deviants members. The band is closely connected with the Deviants, and members move between the two groups over the years.

In its earliest form, the band is led by Paul Rudolph on guitar with two drummers, Twink and Russ Hunter. The line-up changes frequently. Mick Farren's solo album Mona features the original Pink Fairies Mark 1 line-up. According to Jason Ankeny of AllMusic Guide, the Social Deviants mainly consist of Mick Farren, Paul Rudolph, Duncan Sanderson and Russell Hunter, with satellite members including Marc Bolan, Steve Peregrine Took and players from Group X, later Hawkwind.

Reformations and later line-ups

After the Mark 2 version breaks up in 1972, a new Mark 3 line-up forms and later adds Larry Wallis, who previously plays with Shagrat. Wallis becomes a key figure and leads the band on the Kings of Oblivion album. He also plays in the original Motörhead line-up with Lemmy and fills in for Lemmy on a Hawkwind tour of America after Lemmy is deported back to England.

Although Steve Peregrine Took is never in an official line-up after Mark 1, he remains associated with the band. He plays support slots, sometimes joins as a third drummer, and once appears on bass.

In 1975, the Kings of Oblivion-era line-up reunites for a one-off London gig. The response leads to an official reformation of the core group of Rudolph, Sanderson and Hunter, who add Martin Stone before the band disbands again in 1977. A decade later, the original line-up, minus Rudolph but including Wallis, reunites for Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em before ending again.

Performances and releases

The Pink Fairies build a reputation for free music, anarchy, impromptu gigs and agitprop stunts. Their first European excursion is a performance at the three-day Ruisrock Festival in Turku, Finland, in 1971. That set is recorded by the state radio station and features Russell Hunter, Paul Rudolph and Duncan Sanderson as a three-piece. The performance includes a version of the Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows and is noted for heavy, acid-drenched improvisation.

The band later issues reissues of 1960s and 1970s material, along with more recent jam recordings, in limited pressings distributed through smaller networks of distributors, band members and friends.

Members

Members linked with the group include John Charles Alder, Trevor Burton, George Butler, Andy Colquhoun, Alan Davey, Mick Farren, Lucas Fox, Russell Hunter, Paul Rudolph, Duncan Sanderson, Steve Peregrine Took, Larry Wallis, Mick Wayne and Martin Stone.