Frijid Pink

Frijid Pink is a Detroit area hard rock/blues band formed in 1967, best known for their version of "House of the Rising Sun", released in 1969.

The initial line-up of the band included drummer Richard Stevers, guitarist Gary Ray Thompson, bassist Tom Harris, lead singer Tom Beaudry (aka:Kelly Green), and later Larry Zelanka as off staff keyboardist.

Career

Frijid Pink, formed from members of the Detroit Vibrations, spent their first two years touring throughout the Southeast Michigan/Detroit area. The group eventually signed with Parrot Records in 1969. Their first two singles, "Tell Me Why" and "Drivin' Blues", failed to attract much attention, but their third effort, a distorted-guitar-driven rendering of "House of the Rising Sun", reached the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. This disc sold over one million copies, thereby receiving a gold disc.^[1] The song was literally a "filler", using time at the end of a recording session. A big hit in the U.S. (rising to #7 in February 1970), it became an even bigger hit in Europe. The band was so popular in their native Detroit area that a fledgling Led Zeppelin (who were just then getting started from the remnants of The Yardbirds) opened for them at Detroit's Grande Ballroom. Frijid Pink often shared billing then with the MC5, The Stooges, The Amboy Dukes and others.

Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did their second release Defrosted. Most of the first album's and all of the second album's writing was provided by Beaudry/Thompson. Subsequent singles including "Sing a Song for Freedom" and a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" failed to match earlier successes, and after the departure of Beaudry and Thompson, a new lineup, featuring Jon Wearing on vocals, Craig Webb on guitar and Larry Zelanka on keyboards recorded 1972's Earth Omen. The group would have another lineup in place before re-entering the studio to record 1975's All Pink Inside with Jo Baker on vocals and Larry Popolizio playing the bass.

In 1981 Rick Stevers and Tom Harris joined ranks with Arlen Viecelli-(Lead Singer/Guitarist of the Salem Witchcraft Band..www.salemwitchcraftband.com - www.arlenrocks.com) and Ray Gunn-(Guitarist/Virgin Dawn), to record an Album at Sound Suite Studios in Detroit, Mi. The music was written by Arlen Viecelli and Ray Gunn and was to be released in the summer of 82. Unfortunately, during negotiations by Clyde Stevers, (Band Manager), with numerous Record Companies, the band decided to dis-band and the material was never released to the public.

Over the years there have been several personnel line-ups for Frijid Pink, even some without any original members. One such version of the band formed in 2001. They recorded one album, Inner Heat, which was set for release in 2002, but was pulled by the record label, Dynasty Records. In 2005 another lineup formed featuring most of the original members; drummer Stevers had succeeded in getting bassist Tom Harris and vocalist Tom Beaudry together with guitarist Steve Dansby (ex late 1970s lineup of Cactus) and keyboardist Larin Michaels. In late 2006, after a failed attempt to once again reunite the original members, Stevers began auditioning other musicians for the reformation of Frijid Pink. This new lineup has recorded an album and continues to play club dates and public functions in the southeast Michigan area.

Discography

Singles

• "Tell Me Why" / "Cryin' Shame" (Parrot 334) 1969
• "Drivin' Blues" / "God Gave Me You" (Parrot 340) 1969
• "House of the Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Parrot 341) 1969; #7 on Billboard Hot 100 (February 1970), #3 in Canada, #1 in Germany, #4 in U.K.
• "House of the Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Deram 17044); 1970, France
• "House of the Rising Sun" / "Crying Shame" (EPDM 1014); 1970, Portugal
• "Sing a Song for Freedom" / "End of the Line" (Parrot 349) 1970, #55 on Billboard Hot 100 (July), #22 in Canada
• "Sing a Song for Freedom" / "End of the Line" (DM 309); 1970, France
• "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (Parrot 352) 1970, #72 on Billboard Hot 100 (December), #38 in Canada
• "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (SDM 117); 1971, Portugal
• "Music for the People" / "Sloony" (Parrot 355) 1971
• "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (Parrot 358) 1971
• "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (DM 336) 1971 France
• "I Love Her" / "Lost Son" (Parrot 360) 1972
• "Earth Omen" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 115) 1972
• "Go Now" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 136) 1972
• "Rainbow Rider" / "Earth Omen" (MGM 2006130); 1973, Germany
• "Big Betty" / "Shady Lady" (Lion 158) 1973

Albums

• Frijid Pink (Parrot 71033) 1970 #11 in U.S.
• Frijid Pink (Deram SML-R 1062); 1970; France, UK
• Defrosted (Parrot 71041) 1970 #149 in U.S.
• Defrosted (Deram SML-R 1077); 1970; France, UK
• Earth Omen (Lion LN-1004) 1972
• All Pink Inside (Fantasy 9464) 1975
• Inner Heat (Dynasty) 2002 (unreleased)
• TBA (2009)

Compilations

• The Beginning Vol. 5 (Deram) 1973. German compilation; rare import
• Hibernated (2002) 3-CD Box Set that includes first three albums plus non-album singles

References