Pistol Pete

Pistol Pete is Benjamin Newell, a musician from Illinois, born in 1962. The name is used for more than one act, including a hip-hop remixer and a blues-oriented performer, and the details here combine the material in the supplied information.

Music and style

As a remixer, Pistol Pete works with hip-hop and dance music, including hip-house, acid, juke, 8bit, and sample-based production. He remixes artists such as Clipse, Crime Mob, Ghostface, and Dead Prez, and his work is described as drawing on the sounds of late-1980s hip-hop while pushing tempos hard. His output also includes an original single, “Make 'em Pop/ Care Bears on Crack,” and recordings for labels including Vicious Pop Digital and P-Vine Records in Japan.

Live performance

In his blues and rock performances, Pistol Pete plays rock, blues, funk, jazz, and cover material as well as his own songs. He is self-taught and has a reputation for adapting sets to the venue and audience. He has won two titles in the International Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Competitions and appears on Showtime at the Apollo.

Career highlights

Pistol Pete has more than 25 years of live performance experience and tours in Japan, Poland, and Italy, while also playing regularly at clubs and festivals across the United States. He opens for and shares stages with artists including Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Foreigner, Head East, Cheap Trick, Foghat, Kansas, Junior Wells, Bo Diddley, Corey Stevens, Joe Bonamassa, Mr. Mister, Freddie Jones Band, and Otis Rush. Brian May of Queen attends one of his Chicago performances and invites him to a concert and backstage at the Allstate Arena after hearing him play with only one string left on his guitar.

Recording and commercial work

His recorded work includes five independent CDs and two CD releases on P-Vine Records. He also writes and records commercial jingles for Bob Watson Chevrolet, Ameritech Bell, Boston Chicken, Collins Chevrolet, and Domino’s Pizza. In 2007, URB Magazine includes him in its “Next 100” artists to watch.