Peter Astor
Encyclopedia
Pete Astor is a British songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with The Loft
, The Weather Prophets
and Ellis Island Sound
.
, England, in 1959. He formed The Loft
in 1980, the band signing to Creation Records
and releasing a few singles before splitting up in 1985. He then formed The Weather Prophets
, who released three albums between 1986 and 1988. When the Weather Prophets split up, Astor embarked on a solo career with the album Submarine in 1990, again on Creation Records, followed by Zoo in 1991. Finding success in France, Astor moved to the Danceteria label to release Paradise (1992, as Peter Astor and the Holy Road), and God and Other Stories in 1993. After becoming disillusioned with the music business, he disappeared from view for a number of years, returning in the late 1990s with his Ellis Island Sound
and The Wisdom of Harry
projects.
In 2005, another Astor solo album, Hal's Eggs , appeared on Static Caravan Recordings
(this time as Pete Astor). At around the same time, various Cherry Red
compilation albums featuring his work were released, ultimately leading to the surprise reformation of his first band, The Loft
.
Astor continues to perform and record with both Ellis Island Sound
and The Loft
and has recently released Songbox on the Second Language
label.
The Loft
The Loft is the location for the first underground dance party that was created by David Mancuso on February 14, 1970 in New York. Since then, the term The Loft has come to represent Mancuso's own version of a non-commercial party where no alcohol, food, or beverages are sold...
, The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets were a British indie band formed in London in 1986 after the break-up of The Loft. After two studio albums, the band split up, with singer Peter Astor going on to a solo career.- History :...
and Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound are an instrumental band from London, England. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor and David Sheppard , and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner.The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number...
.
History
Pete Astor was born Abe Smith in ColchesterColchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, England, in 1959. He formed The Loft
The Loft (band)
The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
in 1980, the band signing to Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
and releasing a few singles before splitting up in 1985. He then formed The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets were a British indie band formed in London in 1986 after the break-up of The Loft. After two studio albums, the band split up, with singer Peter Astor going on to a solo career.- History :...
, who released three albums between 1986 and 1988. When the Weather Prophets split up, Astor embarked on a solo career with the album Submarine in 1990, again on Creation Records, followed by Zoo in 1991. Finding success in France, Astor moved to the Danceteria label to release Paradise (1992, as Peter Astor and the Holy Road), and God and Other Stories in 1993. After becoming disillusioned with the music business, he disappeared from view for a number of years, returning in the late 1990s with his Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound are an instrumental band from London, England. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor and David Sheppard , and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner.The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number...
and The Wisdom of Harry
The Wisdom of Harry
The Wisdom of Harry was an experimental electronic music ensemble from London, England. The group was formed by Peter Astor, formerly the singer/songwriter of Weather Prophets and The Loft, in 1997 and began doing remixes for musicians such as Cornelius and Andrew Weatherall...
projects.
In 2005, another Astor solo album, Hal's Eggs , appeared on Static Caravan Recordings
Static Caravan Recordings
Static Caravan Recordings is an independent record label, whose discography includes releases by Darren Hayman, The Hornblower Brothers, Shady Bard, The Yellow Moon Band, Tunng, Peter Astor, Magnetophone, Fieldhead and Serafina Steer....
(this time as Pete Astor). At around the same time, various Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
compilation albums featuring his work were released, ultimately leading to the surprise reformation of his first band, The Loft
The Loft (band)
The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
.
Astor continues to perform and record with both Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound
Ellis Island Sound are an instrumental band from London, England. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor and David Sheppard , and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner.The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number...
and The Loft
The Loft (band)
The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
and has recently released Songbox on the Second Language
Second language
A second language or L2 is any language learned after the first language or mother tongue. Some languages, often called auxiliary languages, are used primarily as second languages or lingua francas ....
label.
Albums
- Submarine (Creation, 1990)
- Zoo (Creation, 1991)
- Paradise (Danceteria, 1992, as Peter Astor and the Holy Road)
- God and Other Stories (Danceteria, 1993)
- Providence: The Best of Peter Astor (Epic Japan, 1999)
- Hal's Eggs (Static Caravan, 2005, as Pete Astor)
- Injury Time (Cherry Red, 2006)
- Songbox (Second Language, 2011, as Pete Astor)
Singles
- "Walk Into the Wind" (Creation, 1990)
- "Chevron" (Creation, 1991)
- "Der Kaiser, Der Dealer und Das Geburtstagskind/Lundi Bleu" (Creation, 1991, split 7-inch with The TimesThe Times (band)The Times are a British, 1980s-90s, independent band, the brainchild of Ed Ball, co-founder member of the Television Personalities, Teenage Filmstars and 'O' Level.-Whaam! Records 1981-1982:...
) - "Almost Falling in Love" (Danceteria, 1992, as Peter Astor and the Holy Road)
- "Disco Lights" (Danceteria, 1993)
See also
- The LoftThe Loft (band)The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
- The Weather ProphetsThe Weather ProphetsThe Weather Prophets were a British indie band formed in London in 1986 after the break-up of The Loft. After two studio albums, the band split up, with singer Peter Astor going on to a solo career.- History :...
- The Wisdom of HarryThe Wisdom of HarryThe Wisdom of Harry was an experimental electronic music ensemble from London, England. The group was formed by Peter Astor, formerly the singer/songwriter of Weather Prophets and The Loft, in 1997 and began doing remixes for musicians such as Cornelius and Andrew Weatherall...
- Ellis Island SoundEllis Island SoundEllis Island Sound are an instrumental band from London, England. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor and David Sheppard , and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner.The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number...