“I believe that Rock culture, and its music from Elvis to Who and Van Halen etc, has given a valuable opening for music minded artists to be able to express themselves and to be able to let their emotions out.”

Peter French: The Rock n’ Roll Voice

Peter French is an English hard-rock singer who emerged as the frontman of Leaf Hound on their 1971 release Growers of Mushroom. After one-album stints in Atomic Rooster, Cactus, and Randy Pie, he released a 1978 solo album, Ducks in Flight, on Polydor. Peter French first fronted beatsters The Switch, a semi-professional band that included his guitarist cousin Mike Halls. After some initial stabs at co-writing, they tried to rope in Bob Brunning, a high-profile bassist due to his role as a placeholder for John McVie in the formative lineup of Fleetwood Mac. Instead, they became the nucleus of his act, the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band. For a time in 1969/70, French was part of the shortplayer act Big Bertha, which also featured drummer Cozy Powell, ex-Move bassist Ace Kefford, and guitarist Dave Ball, who later replaced Robin Trower in Procol Harum. In 1970, French and Hall joined Black Cat Bones, a blues-rock band with a loaded history — members of Free and Ashkan had already passed through the lineup — that had just released their one album, Barbed Wire Sandwich.

(Peter French / Photo © by Robert Grablewski)

The French/Hall lineup immediately picked a new name, Leaf Hound, and released the 1971 Decca album Growers of Mushroom. After the departure of Black Cat founders Derek and Stuart Brooks, French and Hall led a reconstituted four-piece Leaf Hound on a 1971 European tour. That same year, French jumped ship to Atomic Rooster to sing on their third album, In Hearing Of. In 1972, French joined American hard-rockers Cactus for their fourth album ‘Ot ‘N’ Sweaty. After some years away from the scene, French sang on 1977 albums by Randy Pie (Fast/Forward), Jon Petersen & Skyliner (Jet Flight #3), and the all-star Der Führer – Rock Opera by composers Lothar Siems and Walter Quintus. He briefly joined Randy Pie, a German act on Polydor, which gave him the chance to make a solo album. Recently, Repertoire Records released a new album by Leaf Hound titled "Once Bitten".

Interview by Michael Limnios                Special Thanks: Peter French

How has the music and rock counterculture influenced your views? 

I believe that Rock culture, and its music from Elvis to Who and Van Halen etc, has given a valuable opening for music minded artists to be able to express themselves and to be able to let their emotions out.

What moment changed your music life the most?

When I suddenly realized that people actually liked my vocals and my lyrics.

What characterizes your music philosophy?

If you can, enjoy the music you create, if the feeling goes then change bands, start afresh until you enjoy it once again

What keeps a musician passionate after fifty five years in rock, blues?

Well you either have the music in your veins or you don't, and it’s really tough out there but if you feel you still have something to offer then you carry on. 

“I miss the professional business approach of record companies to assist their artists. Artists now have to try to finance their recordings themselves, advertise for themselves, and the legal protection to artists and their music recordings has all but disappeared.” (Photos: Peter French with Atomic Rooster & Peter French on stage)

Why do you think that Leaf Hound and  Atomic Rooster music legacy continues to generate such a devoted following?

I originally joined and recorded with Atomic Rooster in 1971 the "In Hearing Of Album" with Vincent Crane on Keys, and John Cann guitar, and Paul Hammond on drums, at that time it was a very excellent original act both in its musical rock content and sound.

When I was invited to attempt to reform Atomic Rooster many years later by Pete Barton's Rock Artist Management after receiving kind permission given to me by Vincent's widow Jean Cheeseman to be able to use the name once more, I decided to give it a try, and I spent quite a few years again touring Europe with the reformed Atomic Rooster band but It was never to be quite the same without Vince and John's influence, the creativity seemed to have gone.

But Leaf Hound however was something else, note;- it was after Atomic Roosters Vincent Crane and John Cann  heard Leaf Hounds first ever "Growers Of Mushroom" Album they were  so impressed that they both asked me to join Atomic Rooster and invited me to record the Album with them.

Leaf Hound is still alive and is a very musically creative original Classic Rock band, over the years Leaf Hound have recorded four albums together with all original material, Growers Of Mushroom , Unleashed, Live in Japan, and our latest excellent album titled "Once Bitten" which has received fab reviews from Classic Rock Magazine etc. 

Upon reflection its quite something to think that Leaf Hound have been making Classic Rock music for over fifty years and Leaf Hound still rocks.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you'd like to share with us?

I have had the pleasure of so many experiences over the years.

Touring the States and playing to 320,000 people at the Mount Pocono Festival NY

Playing and recording the 'Ot N Sweaty'  Albums tracks live on stage with Cactus at the fabulous Mar y sol festival in Puerto Rico. 

Recording my solo album "Ducks In Flight" with Brian Robertson of Thin Lizzy, & Micky Moody of Whitesnake, and Kenny Jones Faces etc.

To have performed on stage with Ronnie Wood to "Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller" at Ronnie Wood's brother Art Woods Wake with Micky Green of the Stranglers.

Playing with Cozy Powell in Big Bertha.

Recording in Jim Morrison's studio in LA.

“Before a show I do get a bit apprehensive, knowing that people have paid good money to see you and want a good show, but when you walk out on that stage and the lights go on, then its showtime and its time to let the music do the talking and its time to rock.” (Photo: Peter French with Brunning Sunflower Blues Band, 1968)

What do you miss most today from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future?

There was a wonderful explosion of musical talent during the late Sixties and right through the Seventies and into the early Eighties, almost every week there were so many new original bands with their own compositions on Music shows on the TV, you hardly see any new bands being promoted these days, its very sad.

I miss the professional business approach of record companies to assist their artists. 

Artists now have to try to finance their recordings themselves, advertise for themselves, and the legal protection to artists and their music recordings has all but disappeared.

Record companies don't want to spend a penny to assist artists by offering record advances anymore and now face the threat of AI  Artificial Intelligence being used in music, I have actually heard artificial vocals and compositions done totally without any human involvement. 

I hope that the human spiritual element will survive in music, but it needs to have legal protection from the conglomerate organizations that are finding ways to take the musicians money away from them and suffocating the profession.

What were the reasons that made the UK in the 60s/70s to be the center of Rock / Blues research and experiments?

I think it started when the UK, started promoting black American blues artists who felt they weren't being appreciated for their art in the States, but in the UK, from Muddy Waters to BB King and Jimi Hendrix their music was loved and later was translated into many Blues Rock compositions, this also led to the amazing music fashion being introduced by so many bands like the Stones, Kinks, Faces, Roxy Music, etc, etc.

“Well you either have the music in your veins or you don't, and it’s really tough out there but if you feel you still have something to offer then you carry on.” (Peter French, c.1971 - Peter French on stage / Photo by Frank Landzettel/Mr.ProgBook)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music is the way for musicians to be able to express themselves and their feelings, be it sad, happy, or angry, because whatever the mood music manages to soothe the soul. 

How do you prepare for your recordings and performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina? 

Before a show I do get a bit apprehensive, knowing that people have paid good money to see you and want a good show, but when you walk out on that stage and the lights go on, then its showtime and its time to let the music do the talking and its time to rock.

What do you think is key to a life well lived?

All I can say is that I am pleased to have had the opportunity to have played with so many swell artists over the years, and to have played to so many great audiences, and to have recorded in England, Germany, and America, 

My albums are:

"Bullen Street Blues" Brunning Sunflower Blues Band

“In Hearing Of “ Atomic Rooster

“Ot N Sweaty" Cactus

"Ducks in Flight" Peter French

"Fast Forward" Randy Pie

"On Top” The Ambulators

“Growers Of Mushroom' Leaf Hound

“Unleashed" Leaf Hound

“Live in Japan” Leaf Hound

And my latest album, “Once Bitten'” Leaf Hound

(Peter French / Photo © by Robert Grablewski)