Peter Baron started playing the drums in the early sixties and since then he has gone on to play many styles and types of music…
In 1972 he became a member of Marty Wilde’s band where he first met Brian Hodgson. This band went on to become Fatso, and with the arrival of Gerry Hogan, they became Hogan’s Heroes. During the seventies, Peter was also working extensively in the recording industry as a professional session man playing for radio, television, films and also with various bands.
He made regular appearances on BBC Children’s Television during the seventies and eighties but eventually made the decision to give this up in favour of live playing.
As a result of his varied live and studio work he has been fortunate to play with many bands, orchestras and artistes, in styles of music as diverse as Charles Aznavour, Marvin Hamlish, Spike Milligan, Neil Innes, Ray Ellington, The BBC Radio and Concert Orchestras, Geno Washington, B.A.Robertson, Leo Sayer, Dave Edmunds, Joe Brown, Sam Brown, Lulu, The Three Degrees, The Nolan Sisters, Kit Hain, Elaine Page, Salena Jones, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, The Bay City Rollers, David Allan Coe, Marty Stuart and Lonnie Donegan. He was a member of the Elkie Brooks Band in the late seventies.
In 1979 he joined the American based band Night which featured Chris Thompson, Robbie McIntosh and the late Nicky Hopkins. They toured in the U.S.A. during that year as the opening act on the Doobie Brothers “Minute By Minute” tour and enjoyed Billboard 100 chart success with the single “Hot Summer Nights”. This was followed by a spell with the English Classical Rock band Renaissance with whom he recorded two albums and toured both Europe and the USA.
He was a regular performer at Gerry Hogan’s annual festival of pedal steel guitar. As a result of the meeting with Gerry Hogan he soon started to play with Albert Lee, in the band that became Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes. This gave Peter more chance to exercise his vocal skills and although he is known primarily as a drummer, singing too, has always been a passion. Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes recorded many CDs and DVDs during the nearly thirty years they were together Peter was featured vocally on both these recordings and also the extensive tours the band undertook.
Where you may be asking, ‘is this trip down memory lane going…’ well it’s leading us to Another Life. Which is the latest release from Peter, who notes:
“Another life is what I got in 2016, when after nearly thirty years Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes decided to call it a day. It had been a great time in a fine band. We toured and recorded relentlessly during that period.
“For many years it had been my intention to record a solo album, but I had never before been able to afford the necessary time. Following a fortuitous meeting with my old friend, guitarist and producer Kevin Healy it was decided we would work together on this project. In addition to contributing some great playing, Kevin engineered, arranged and produced Another Life at his GraceNotes Studio.”
The album tracks include In Another Life, Earthbound, Baby Come Home, The Ghost Is Laid and Take Me Where The River Flows to mention just a few. The release, via Heroic Records and Cadiz Music, comes out on April 29th.
Along with Peter Baron’s vocals the tracks have been crafted by Phil Cranham (Bass Guitar) Dave Bishop (Tenor Saxophone) Mike Bell + Gavin Povey (Piano and Keyboards) Kevin Healy (Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar) Pete Beachill (Trombone) Helen York, Peter Baron, Derek Holt, Jimmy Johnston, Lucy Baron de Moresco, James Baron, Grace Healy, Karen Healy (Backing Vocals) Albert Lee (Electric Guitar) Shanks Putwain, Mike “Ozzie” Osborn (Percussion) Chris Palmer, Andy Pask, (Bass Guitar) Dave Bishop – Tenor Saxophone Bob McKay (Alto Saxophone) John Thirkell (Trumpet) Anna De Bruin, Vaughan Jones (Violin) Reiad Chibah (Viola) Julia Graham (Cello) Paul Morgan (Double Bass) Steve Pearce (Bass Guitar) Andy Findon (Flute) Phil Hopkins (Harmonica) Jerry Douglas (Dobro Guitar).
Peter Baron:
“The album contains fourteen tracks, six of which I wrote with former Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes’ keyboard player Mike Bell. We are both thrilled that they have finally seen the light of day. The other tracks are either covers of lesser known, or previously unreleased songs by friends, colleagues and musicians who have been very dear to my heart.
“When making this album, I was privileged to have the company of and play with some of the finest musicians in the world. Many I had played with over the years, but eventually circumstances had taken us in different directions. I am proud to have shared their company again. They have played with the likes of Alison Krauss, Lisa Stansfield, Robbie Williams, Boyzone, Climax Blues Band, Sting, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney and many more…”
