John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

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Wigwam

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(This page is about the Finnish band. For the electronic group of the same name, see Wigwam(2)).
Wigwam

Wigwam is a Finnish progressive rock band formed in 1968 and was founded after the split of the seminal Blues Section, with whom drummer Ronnie Österberg had played before. He formed the band as a trio, but soon brought in British expatriate singer/songwriter Jim Pembroke (also in Blues Section) and organist Jukka Gustavson. A year later, Pekka Pohjola joined on bass.

For a time in the 1970s Wigwam seemed poised to break through in Europe, along with bands like Tasavallan Presidentti, but even though they were highly praised by the UK press large-scale international fame eluded them, and by 1978 they had disbanded. Jim Pembroke and Ronnie Österberg formed the Jim Pembroke Band in late 1979, but following health problems with diabetes, Österberg committed suicide on December 6, 1980.

Wigwam reformed in the 1990s with the Pembroke-Rechardt-Groundstroem core intact, and has been active to the present. In Finland they have a lasting (although limited) following, and their influence on Finnish rock music is widely recognised.

In 2021, singer, Jim Pembroke died at the age of 75.

Links to Peel[]

Peel was fond of the band's music in the mid 70's and reviewed their single, Freddie Are You Ready, for the Singles Reviews in Sounds, published on 7th June 1975, where he gave it 4 stars out of 5 and described the track as a tuneful and mellow wee thing. By the time punk arrived, Wigwam's music was played less on his shows. However, in 2000, Peel played their song, Guardian Angels The Future, after playing a track from an electronic group also called Wigwam.

Shows Played[]

Freddie_Are_You_Ready

Freddie Are You Ready

1975
  • 23 June 1975: Freddie Are You Ready (LP - Nuclear Nightclub) Virgin
  • 30 June 1975: Pig Storm (LP - Nuclear Nightclub) Virgin
  • D030: Do Or Die (LP - Nuclear Nightclub) Virgin
1976
  • 21 May 1976: Lucky Golden Stripes And Starpose (LP - Lucky Golden Stripes And Starpose) Love
1979
  • 25 July 1979: Nuclear Nightclub (album - Rumours On The Rebound) Virgin
  • 01 August 1979: Freddie Are You Ready (LP - Nuclear Nightclub) Virgin
2000

External Links[]

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