Peter Van Hooke
Encyclopedia
Peter Van Hooke was drummer in the English band Mike + The Mechanics (from 1985 to 1995 and again in 2004) as well as having drummed for Cliff Richard
, Van Morrison
's band, Headstone, and Ezio
. During the 1980s he successfully co-produced (along with Rod Argent
) many of Tanita Tikaram
's hits.
Van Hooke grew up in Stanmore, Middlesex and attended Mill Hill school. His schoolmate Chaz Jankel (later of The Blockheads) lived close by, and the two formed The Call of The Wild. This band became the Rik Parnell Independence, featuring the son of bandleader Jack Parnell
as vocalist (later to join Atomic Rooster as drummer, and take the part of the drummer in the movie Spinal Tap). Other members of the Rik Parnell Independence included sax player John Altman
(orchestral arranger and co-writer of The Rutles
music with Neil Innes
) and bass player Jon Rose (later of band Sebastian)
Van Hooke played drums on Van Morrison's albums from 1978's Wavelength
, Into the Music
(1979), Common One
(1980), Beautiful Vision
(1982), Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
(1983), the live album, Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
recorded in 1983 and released in 1984, and The Philosopher's Stone
(1998). For some years he also was the drummer in Morrison's touring band which sometimes included two simultaneous drummers. He can also be heard on Chris de Burgh
's albums Into The Light (1986) and Flying Colours (1988).
Van Hooke was also in demand as a session drummer in the 70s and 80s, and was one of the first UK drummers to own a set of Syndrums, initially coming to prominence on the Marshall Hain
hit "Dancing in the City".
In 2004 he toured with German band "Schiller" who despite being massive in their homeland only had a minor UK hit to date with Das Glockenspiel"
Van Hooke is married and has three sons.
Van Hooke has recently created and co produced a new television series called Live from Abbey Road
which was aired on Channel 4
in 2006–2009 in the United Kingdom.
Van Hooke co-produced with his former Mike and the Mechanics bandmate Paul Carrack
his album A Different Hat, on which Carrack performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
. It was released in 2010.
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
's band, Headstone, and Ezio
Ezio (band)
Ezio is a folk music band from Cambridge, England formed in 1990. Ezio have six studio albums, one compilation album, four live albums and three videos / DVDs, built up a large fanbase without breaking into the mainstream of the British music scene...
. During the 1980s he successfully co-produced (along with Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
) many of Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
's hits.
Van Hooke grew up in Stanmore, Middlesex and attended Mill Hill school. His schoolmate Chaz Jankel (later of The Blockheads) lived close by, and the two formed The Call of The Wild. This band became the Rik Parnell Independence, featuring the son of bandleader Jack Parnell
Jack Parnell
John Russell Parnell was an English bandleader and musician.-Biography:Parnell was born into a theatrical family in London....
as vocalist (later to join Atomic Rooster as drummer, and take the part of the drummer in the movie Spinal Tap). Other members of the Rik Parnell Independence included sax player John Altman
John Altman (composer)
John Altman is a British film composer, music arranger, orchestrator and conductor.-Biography:Altman was introduced to the music of the 1930s and 1940s at an early age by an uncle who arranged and composed music for big bands and conducted for Judy Garland, the Marx Brothers, and Laurel and Hardy,...
(orchestral arranger and co-writer of The Rutles
The Rutles
The Rutles are a band that are known for their visual and aural pastiches and parodies of The Beatles. Originally created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a fictional band to be featured as part of various 1970s television programming, the group recorded, toured, and released two UK chart hits in...
music with Neil Innes
Neil Innes
Neil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
) and bass player Jon Rose (later of band Sebastian)
Van Hooke played drums on Van Morrison's albums from 1978's Wavelength
Wavelength (album)
Wavelength, the tenth album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison was released in the spring of 1978. The album has a different musical sound than his previous albums, leaning towards a pop sound with prominent electric guitars and synthesizers. Wavelength was Morrison's best selling...
, Into the Music
Into the Music
Into the Music is the eleventh studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1979 .Typical of Morrison's music, the album draws on a variety of styles, from New Orleans R&B to Philly soul and Celtic folk, with featured soloists, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and violinist...
(1979), Common One
Common One
Common One is the twelfth album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1980.It has been said to be one of his most ambitious and daring albums since Astral Weeks...
(1980), Beautiful Vision
Beautiful Vision
Beautiful Vision is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released February 1982 by Warner Bros. Records in the US and Mercury Records in the UK. As with many of Morrison's recordings, spirituality is a major theme and some of the songs are based on the teachings of...
(1982), Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart is the fourteenth album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1983 ....
(1983), the live album, Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast is the second live album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1984...
recorded in 1983 and released in 1984, and The Philosopher's Stone
The Philosopher's Stone (album)
The Philosopher's Stone is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison released in 1998 .The songs released on this 2-CD thirty track album were previously unreleased outtakes from 1969 to 1988...
(1998). For some years he also was the drummer in Morrison's touring band which sometimes included two simultaneous drummers. He can also be heard on Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
's albums Into The Light (1986) and Flying Colours (1988).
Van Hooke was also in demand as a session drummer in the 70s and 80s, and was one of the first UK drummers to own a set of Syndrums, initially coming to prominence on the Marshall Hain
Marshall Hain
Marshall Hain were a British pop-rock duo, well known for their 1978 hit "Dancing In The City", a UK #3 single in the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1978....
hit "Dancing in the City".
In 2004 he toured with German band "Schiller" who despite being massive in their homeland only had a minor UK hit to date with Das Glockenspiel"
Van Hooke is married and has three sons.
Van Hooke has recently created and co produced a new television series called Live from Abbey Road
Live from Abbey Road
Live from Abbey Road is a 12-part, one-hour performance series/documentary that began filming its first season during 2006 at Abbey Road Studios in London. Season 2 was filmed between 2007 and 2008, season 3 was filmed in 2009 and Season 4 was filmed in 2011...
which was aired on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in 2006–2009 in the United Kingdom.
Van Hooke co-produced with his former Mike and the Mechanics bandmate Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
his album A Different Hat, on which Carrack performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
. It was released in 2010.