Greg Ridley
Encyclopedia
Alfred Gregory 'Greg' Ridley (23 October 1942 in Aspatria
, Cumberland
, England
– 19 November 2003 in Alicante
, Spain
) was one of the more visible rock
bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie
. As a teenager he became part of British
rock & roll's third wave.
in 1964, playing blues based music. The band added guitarist Luther Grosvenor
and American keyboard player Gary Wright, before changing their name to Spooky Tooth
in 1968. Spooky Tooth signed to Island
and recorded two albums It's All About Spooky Tooth (1968) and Spooky Two (1969).
In January 1969 Ridley was approached by Steve Marriott
from the Small Faces - who was forming a new band, called Humble Pie
. The line up also included guitarist Peter Frampton
from The Herd
and drummer Jerry Shirley
. Humble Pie's first album As Safe As Yesterday Is
was released and a second album Town and Country
was also released in the same year. A contract with A&M Records
and a re-working of their sound into a harder brand of music, coupled with extensive touring of US followed. A double album
Performance Rockin' the Fillmore
, featuring a now historic recording of a raw performance of rare quality, catapulted Humble Pie into rock history. Ridley's powerful bass playing anchored the band's performance and was at the centre of their sound. In addition Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley
comprised one of the most respected rhythm sections in Rock music
during this period.
This incarnation of Humble Pie continued until 1975 and Ridley left the music business, after finishing an unreleased album with Marriott and abortive attempts with bands such as Mike Patto
and Ollie Halsall
's band Boxer
.
On 14 April 2001 he appeared with Jerry Shirley
, Peter Frampton
and Clem Clempson
, billed as a one off Humble Pie
re-union, at a Steve Marriott Tribute Concert. Earlier that year, he had also become involved with a Humble Pie
project initiated by Jerry Shirley's reactivation of the group. and the enlisting of another former Humble Pie guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench
. This resulted in the album Back on Track
, released by Sanctuary
in 2002 and a short tour of Germany with Company of Snakes
during the early part of 2003. The project was cut short when Ridley became ill.
and resulting complications. He was 61.
Aspatria
Aspatria is a small town and civil parish in Cumbria, England, and lies half way between Maryport and Wigton, on the A596. Historically within Cumberland, it is about away from the coast. It is approximately seven miles from the northern boundary of the Lake District, and located to the south east...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– 19 November 2003 in Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) was one of the more visible rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
. As a teenager he became part of British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
rock & roll's third wave.
Career
Early in his career Greg Ridley played under the name of Dino as guitarist for "Dino & the Danubes" before joining bands such as the "Ramrods". Ridley and Mike Harrison formed The VIPsThe V.I.P.s
The V.I.P.s, also known as Hotel International, is a 1963 British drama film. It was directed by Anthony Asquith, produced by Anatole de Grunwald and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
in 1964, playing blues based music. The band added guitarist Luther Grosvenor
Luther Grosvenor
Luther James Grosvenor is an English rock musician, who played guitar in Spooky Tooth, briefly in Stealers Wheel and, under the pseudonym "Ariel Bender", in Mott the Hoople and Widowmaker....
and American keyboard player Gary Wright, before changing their name to Spooky Tooth
Spooky Tooth
Spooky Tooth are an English rock band principally active, with intermittent breakups, between 1967 to 1974. In recent years, the band has been reconstituted at various points, and continues to perform occasionally.-Career:...
in 1968. Spooky Tooth signed to Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and recorded two albums It's All About Spooky Tooth (1968) and Spooky Two (1969).
In January 1969 Ridley was approached by Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
from the Small Faces - who was forming a new band, called Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
. The line up also included guitarist Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
from The Herd
The Herd
The Herd may be:* The Herd , the 1960s UK band that launched Peter Frampton's career* The Herd , a hip-hop outfit from the suburbs of Sydney, Australia* The Herd , a 1978 Turkish film...
and drummer Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
. Humble Pie's first album As Safe As Yesterday Is
As Safe As Yesterday Is
As Safe As Yesterday Is is the debut album for rock band Humble Pie, released in the UK in August 1969. The album peaked at number 16 in the UK album chart.Featuring former frontmen Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton...
was released and a second album Town and Country
Town and Country (album)
Town and Country is rock outfit Humble Pie's second studio album, released in November 1969 .-Album profile:An interesting anomaly in the Humble Pie oeuvre, Town And Country finds the band in a gentler mood than their first album...
was also released in the same year. A contract with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
and a re-working of their sound into a harder brand of music, coupled with extensive touring of US followed. A double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Performance Rockin' the Fillmore
Performance Rockin' the Fillmore
Performance Rockin' the Fillmore is the 1971 live double-album/one-cd by English blues-rock group Humble Pie. It reached #21 on the Billboard 200, and hit the UK Top 40.-Album profile:...
, featuring a now historic recording of a raw performance of rare quality, catapulted Humble Pie into rock history. Ridley's powerful bass playing anchored the band's performance and was at the centre of their sound. In addition Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
comprised one of the most respected rhythm sections in Rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
during this period.
This incarnation of Humble Pie continued until 1975 and Ridley left the music business, after finishing an unreleased album with Marriott and abortive attempts with bands such as Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
and Ollie Halsall
Ollie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
's band Boxer
Boxer (band)
Boxer was a rock band formed by keyboardist Mike Patto and guitarist Ollie Halsall in 1975. They signed to Virgin and three albums followed , Below the Belt , Absolutely and Bloodletting , which also featured Bobby Tench and Boz Burrell...
.
On 14 April 2001 he appeared with Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
and Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
, billed as a one off Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
re-union, at a Steve Marriott Tribute Concert. Earlier that year, he had also become involved with a Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
project initiated by Jerry Shirley's reactivation of the group. and the enlisting of another former Humble Pie guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench
Bobby Tench
Robert Tench , also known as Bob Tench, Bobby Tench and Bobby Gass is a British vocalist and guitarist. Originally a bass player he began singing with Gass influenced by artists such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles...
. This resulted in the album Back on Track
Back on Track (Humble Pie album)
Back on Track is the thirteenth studio album by Humble Pie recorded after Jerry Shirley re-formed Humble Pie in 2001 with a line-up including their original bassist Greg Ridley, guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench and the new addition of rhythm guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell, who wrote or co-wrote...
, released by Sanctuary
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
in 2002 and a short tour of Germany with Company of Snakes
Company of Snakes
The Company of Snakes were an English rock band formed in 1998, by former members of the English rock band Whitesnake who were also members of The Snakes. They released two albums before morphing into M3 during 2004.- History:...
during the early part of 2003. The project was cut short when Ridley became ill.
Death
On 19 November 2003, Ridley died in Alicante, Spain of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and resulting complications. He was 61.