Dead Fred
Encyclopedia
Dead Fred is mainly known as the keyboard player in 1980 space rock / hard rock bands Inner City Unit
and Hawkwind
.
Prior to ICU/Hawkwind he had a long and varied career in the UK music scene.
In the mid 1960s, he was signed to The King Agency as part of "The Thump". In the early 1970s, he played with The Steve Gibbons
Band. In 1973/4, Fred toured Germany with Rufus Thomas
(The Dog), Gene Knight, King Floyd
, & other soul acts. From 1975-78 was part of "The Light Fantastic", a midlands based rock horror band. In 1979 he played white reggae with China Street.
In 1979 Inner City Unit was formed by Nik Turner
from Hawkwind with Fred as Keyboard player. In 1984, Nik Turner and Fred both joined Hawkwind for an extensive tour of the UK. Following this tour, they re-formed Inner City Unit.
1986 saw Inner City Unit Split from Nik Turner. Fred, along with Steve Pond and Mick Stupp, formed a power trio called The Maximum Effect, releasing one 7" single before teaming up with another former Hawkwind member, Robert Calvert
.
In late 1986, Robert Calvert from Hawkwind was asked to play a solo date at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall
and he asked Fred and Steve Pond to be his band Krankschaft. This show was subsequently issued as a live album on vinyl and CD.
Twenty years after the death of Robert Calvert, a tribute concert was arranged in his memory. Fred and Steve Pond re-formed Krankschaft and played a set of Robert Calvert songs, which was well received and became the impetus behind a full-scale revival of the Krankschaft name. In October 2009, a studio album of Robert Calvert songs called The Flame Red Superstar was released.
LP (1968) - IMLP 019 (As "Stuff Smith")
Maximum Effect: Espania - 7" Vinyl Single
Inner City Unit
Inner City Unit is a British punk/space rock band fronted by ex-Hawkwind founder Nik Turner on saxophone with Judge Trev Thoms or Steve Pond , Dead Fred , Baz Magneto, Dave Anderson or Nazar Ali Khan , and Mick Stupp or Dino Ferari on drums.-History:Thoms and Ferrari were both key members of...
and Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
.
Prior to ICU/Hawkwind he had a long and varied career in the UK music scene.
In the mid 1960s, he was signed to The King Agency as part of "The Thump". In the early 1970s, he played with The Steve Gibbons
Steve Gibbons
Stephen William Gibbons , Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Bendigo, Victoria...
Band. In 1973/4, Fred toured Germany with Rufus Thomas
Rufus Thomas
Rufus Thomas, Jr. was an American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian fromMemphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the...
(The Dog), Gene Knight, King Floyd
King Floyd
King Floyd was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his Top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".-Early career:...
, & other soul acts. From 1975-78 was part of "The Light Fantastic", a midlands based rock horror band. In 1979 he played white reggae with China Street.
In 1979 Inner City Unit was formed by Nik Turner
Nik Turner
Nik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
from Hawkwind with Fred as Keyboard player. In 1984, Nik Turner and Fred both joined Hawkwind for an extensive tour of the UK. Following this tour, they re-formed Inner City Unit.
1986 saw Inner City Unit Split from Nik Turner. Fred, along with Steve Pond and Mick Stupp, formed a power trio called The Maximum Effect, releasing one 7" single before teaming up with another former Hawkwind member, Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
.
In late 1986, Robert Calvert from Hawkwind was asked to play a solo date at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
and he asked Fred and Steve Pond to be his band Krankschaft. This show was subsequently issued as a live album on vinyl and CD.
Twenty years after the death of Robert Calvert, a tribute concert was arranged in his memory. Fred and Steve Pond re-formed Krankschaft and played a set of Robert Calvert songs, which was well received and became the impetus behind a full-scale revival of the Krankschaft name. In October 2009, a studio album of Robert Calvert songs called The Flame Red Superstar was released.
Discography
Blues Anytime Vol. 3 - ImmediateImmediate
Immediate may refer to:* Immediacy * Immediate Records, a British record label* The Immediate, an Irish rock group* Immediate Music, a music composition company...
LP (1968) - IMLP 019 (As "Stuff Smith")
- Inner City Unit: Passout - Vinyl Album
- Inner City Unit: Punkadelic - Vinyl Album
- Inner City Unit: The Maximum Effect - Vinyl Album
- Inner City Unit: Newanatomy - Vinyl Album
- Inner City Unit: Blood & Bone - 12" Vinyl EP
- Inner City Unit: The Presidents Tapes - Vinyl Album
Maximum Effect: Espania - 7" Vinyl Single
- Robert Calvert: Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - Vinyl & CD Album
- Robert Calvert: Newcastle 1986 [Live] - CD Album
- Robert Calvert: Blueprints from the Cellar - CD Album
- Robert Calvert: Live at the Carlisle Stars & Stripes - CD Album 2009
- Krankschaft: The Flame Red Superstar - CD Album 2009