Pink Fairies are an English rock band initially active in the London (Ladbroke Grove) underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug use, and anarchy, and often performed impromptu gigs and other stunts, such as playing for nothing outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight pop festivals in 1970, as well as appearing at Phun City, the first Glastonbury and many other free festivals including Windsor and Trentishoe.
The group was formed after the three musicians from the Deviants (Paul Rudolph, guitar and vocals, Duncan Sanderson, bass and Russell Hunter, born Barry Russell Hunter, drums), sacked their singer and leader Mick Farren during a disastrous tour of the West Coast of the United States.
(read more on Wikipedia)
Links to Peel[]
On his 04 July 1970 show, Peel dedicated a David Bowie tune called 'Memory Of A Free Festival' to the Pink Fairies and Hawkwind, for being the only two groups who played for free at the “far from free” Bath Festival.
The band performed their debut session for Peel in October 1970 after their audition for it was passed, despite comments, according to Ken Garner's The Peel Sessions book, where they described their music as a most ugly noise and not for general use.
Peel mentioned on his 03 July 1992 show being at the 1971 Glastonbury Festival, where Pink Fairies also performed at the event. However, an article by Peel written in the Disc & Music Echo column of July 10, 1971, mentioned that he regretted not going to the festival. He may have attended the 1970 festival instead, which Pink Fairies also performed. The group also performed at the Paris Theatre in London, where their concert was broadcast on 16 November 1971 which was hosted by Peel.
Sessions[]
The Snake (1970 BBC Top Gear Radio Broadcast)
Two of their session tracks ('Lucille' and 'The Snake') are available on Mandies And Mescaline Round At Uncle Harry's (CD, 1998, NMC Music)
1. Recorded: 1970-11-10/24. First Broadcast: 28 November 1970
- Lucille / The Snake / 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds
Live[]
Recorded at the Paris Theatre: 1971-10-14. First Broadcast: 16 November 1971
- Johnny B Goode
- Uncle Harry's Last Freakout
Other Shows Played[]
- 1971
- 06 February 1971: unknown
- 27 February 1971: The Snake (7") Polydor
- 30 June 1972: I Saw Her Standing There (LP – What A Bunch Of Sweeties) Polydor
- 07 July 1972: Portobello Shuffle (LP – What A Bunch Of Sweeties) Polydor
- 18 July 1972: I Saw Her Standing There (LP – What A Bunch Of Sweeties) Polydor
- 1973
- 28 June 1973: City Kids (LP - Kings Of Oblivion) Polydor
- 05 July 1973: Raceway (LP – Kings Of Oblivion) Polydor
- 1977
- 05 October 1977: Between The Lines (v/a album - Hits Greatest Stiffs) Stiff FIST 1
- 1980
- 20 May 1980: Well Well Well (7”) Polydor
- 1992
- 03 July 1992: 'Do It (Compilation LP-Glastonbury Fayre Festival)' (Revelation)