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Rock to Marriott’s music

Raspy voiced Steve Marriot

Humble Pie was formed and fronted by the raspy-voiced Steve Marriott. He connected with ex-Herd guitarist Peter Frampton, ex-Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirly. They retired to Marriott’s Essex cottage for months of rehea rsal and came up with the hit single, Natural Born Boogie.

Humble pie toured the U.S. for the first time in late 1969. Its first two albums, As Safe as Yesterday Is and the acoustic oriented Town an Country went without causing a rumble. The afore mentioned albums were rehashed and sold as Lost and Found.

Subsequently, it went for change in manager and replaced the first with Dee Anthony. Its next LP, Humble Pie, featured Frampton’s melodic acoustic rock. But neither this nor the following offering, Rock On, made an impression in the U.S. markets.

Anthony packed the group off to a frenzied tour of the U.S. The result was, Performance — Rockin’ the Fillmore, recorded live at the Fillmore East in May 1971. Later that year, Peter Frampton decided to depart and pursue a much lucrative solo career. He was replaced by guitarist Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson and its new release, based on boogie material, Smokin’, was the group’s most successful album. Shortly thereafter, the outfit’s fortunes fell and the combination split up.

Marriott formed his own band called ‘Steve Marriott’s All-Stars’. But this was not to last and he did a right about turn and joined Small Faces, his band prior to Humble Pie.

By 1980, Marriott and drummer Jerry Shirly had re- formed Humble Pie with ex- Jeff Beck vocalist Bobby Tench. Their two albums, On to Victory and Go for the Throat, left without a trace.

In mid 1981, the group’s tour was interrupted when Marriott smashed his head on a hotel door and the second break came when he was hospitalised with an ulcer.

In 1991, Marriott was killed in a fire in his 16th century cottage at age 44. He and Peter Frampton had completed three songs which later appeared on Frampton’s solo albums.

A. GEORGE ANTHONY

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