Peter Laughner
Encyclopedia
Peter Laughner was an American
guitarist
, songwriter
and singer.
A native of Bay Village, Ohio
, Laughner remains a rather little known figure; nonetheless, Richie Unterberger
described him as "probably the single biggest catalyst in the birth of Cleveland's alternative rock
scene in the mid 1970s."
and the early work of Pere Ubu
. In addition to all this, he wrote for Creem
magazine.
Laughner was a voracious rock fan and writer, and was heavily influenced by the writings of Lester Bangs
. Like Bangs, Laughner worshiped Lou Reed
, but also drew inspiration from folk and blues figures such as Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie
. Tom Verlaine
was also one of Laughner's idols. He was a unique, visceral lead guitarist whose greatest influence was Fairport Convention
guitarist Richard Thompson.
Laughner was briefly considered as a replacement for Richard Lloyd when he departed Television
, a band he championed from their earliest days. However, Richard Lloyd disputes this.
in 1977 at the age of 24. Lester Bangs wrote a eulogy for him, simply titled "Peter Laughner is Dead".
Rumors to the effect that Laughner was despondent, even suicidal, at the time of his death have been contradicted by Laughner's last known message, written and mailed to Cleveland singer Ruby Port on the evening prior to his death. This letter revealed his intent to move to a retreat in the Ohio countryside, where he could write new music as well as rest and regain his health.
As of 2007, the Smog Veil
record label is reported to be releasing a Laughner box set (with tapes procured from Handsome Productions, David Thomas, Tim Wright, and others) which may materialize in 2011.
In addition to solo recordings, Laughner's live guitar and vocal work is available in the Rocket from the Tombs
bootleg The Day the Earth Met the Rocket from the Tombs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and singer.
A native of Bay Village, Ohio
Bay Village, Ohio
-Education:Bay High School was awarded the blue ribbon award in the school year of 2010-11.Newsweek magazine placed Bay High School 793rd in its 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 U.S...
, Laughner remains a rather little known figure; nonetheless, Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
described him as "probably the single biggest catalyst in the birth of Cleveland's alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
scene in the mid 1970s."
Music career
Laughner led a variety of groups. Among them were Mr. Charlie, Cinderella Backstreet, Peter & The Wolves, The Blue Drivers and Friction. However, his most enduring contributions were to Rocket From The TombsRocket From The Tombs
Rocket From the Tombs is an American rock music band originally active from mid-1974 to mid-1975 in Cleveland, Ohio.Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys...
and the early work of Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
. In addition to all this, he wrote for Creem
Creem
Creem , "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine," was a monthly rock 'n' roll publication first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. It suspended production in 1989 but received a short-lived renaissance in the early 1990s as a glossy tabloid...
magazine.
Laughner was a voracious rock fan and writer, and was heavily influenced by the writings of Lester Bangs
Lester Bangs
Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs was an American music journalist, author and musician. He wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock 'n' roll criticism....
. Like Bangs, Laughner worshiped Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, but also drew inspiration from folk and blues figures such as Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
. Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman for the New York rock band Television.-Biography:...
was also one of Laughner's idols. He was a unique, visceral lead guitarist whose greatest influence was Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
guitarist Richard Thompson.
Laughner was briefly considered as a replacement for Richard Lloyd when he departed Television
Television (band)
Television was an American rock band, formed in New York City in 1973. They are best known for the album Marquee Moon and widely regarded as one of the founders of "punk" and New Wave music. Television was part of the early 1970s New York underground rock scene, along with bands like the Patti...
, a band he championed from their earliest days. However, Richard Lloyd disputes this.
Death
Laughner had severe drug and alcohol abuse problems that ultimately led to his death by acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis or acute pancreatic necrosis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. It can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment...
in 1977 at the age of 24. Lester Bangs wrote a eulogy for him, simply titled "Peter Laughner is Dead".
Rumors to the effect that Laughner was despondent, even suicidal, at the time of his death have been contradicted by Laughner's last known message, written and mailed to Cleveland singer Ruby Port on the evening prior to his death. This letter revealed his intent to move to a retreat in the Ohio countryside, where he could write new music as well as rest and regain his health.
Recordings
Laughner's only known entrance into a recording studio was for the Pere Ubu single sessions, though he left behind countless lo-fi live, rehearsal, and demo recordings. In 1994, Tim/Kerr label released Take the Guitar Player for a Ride, a 15 track compilation drawn from these tapes. This compilation had no sales and has since gone out of print. Fans continue to circulate bootleg recordings and a Cleveland-based label, Handsome Productions, offers a comprehensive collection of his music on CD, officially endorsed by his estate.As of 2007, the Smog Veil
Smog Veil Records
Smog Veil Records is a Chicago, IL based independent record label. In addition to standard CD, DVD, and vinyl distribution, Smog Veil all distributes its media via the digital channels, including Napster and iTunes.-Label Information:...
record label is reported to be releasing a Laughner box set (with tapes procured from Handsome Productions, David Thomas, Tim Wright, and others) which may materialize in 2011.
In addition to solo recordings, Laughner's live guitar and vocal work is available in the Rocket from the Tombs
Rocket From The Tombs
Rocket From the Tombs is an American rock music band originally active from mid-1974 to mid-1975 in Cleveland, Ohio.Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys...
bootleg The Day the Earth Met the Rocket from the Tombs.