I can almost hear the chorus of “who???”  I choose Peter Farrelly for this series for one moment in my teenage concert going years.  Peter was the bassist/vocalist with Irish prog-rockers Fruupp. Waist-length hair, a Gibson Les Paul recording bass, and knee-high boots, he cut a dashing figure, alternating the music with spoken passages, for which he would retire to a wing-backed armchair, by the light of an old standard lamp, reading their peculiar myths and legends. But the moment that had my jaw hitting the floor as an impressionable young lad was when they launched into their song “On a clear day”. Intricate bass lines underpinning his vocal, seemingly impossible to perform at the same time! It was the first time I’d seen live a bassist exhibit such skill, and it had a profound effect on me. He also designed most of the bands artwork for their album covers – and played the flute!

Fruupp released four albums in the early seventies, the final one, Modern Masquerades, being produced by King Crimson’s Ian McDonald (later to be part of Foreigner) who also played sax on the album. They developed something of a following in the UK and supported both Genesis and Queen on tour in 1974.

They finally split in 1976.

There were rumours of a reunion in 2006, and who knows , it may still happen. But do yourselves a favour, and check out the music of this undiscovered gem of a band!

Recommended listening: Tracks: One a fine Day, Janet Planet, Gormenghast

Albums: The Prince of Heaven’s Eyes, Modern Masquerades

Kev Moore