OF ALL THE artists featured on the Mill Sessions, Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton will perhaps be the most familiar to people of a certain age due to the time he spent as guitarist with the UK’s premier 1970s/1980s country band Poacher.
Boosted by a winning appearance on a 1977 episode of the TV talent show New Faces, the Warrington-based band became a popular UK touring act for over a decade and were the first British country band to score a hit on the Billboard Hot Country Charts, with Darlin’ in 1979. Pete joined the band as they embarked on a trip to the U.S. and stayed with them as a performer and songwriter until the mid-1990s.
His musical career began not in Warrington but his birthplace Guernsey where he was earning money from the age of 15 working with some of the Island’s popular dance bands. From there he joined the Who-inspired My Generation until moving to London to attend college. Before long though he was back making music after joining the “power trio” Pondersend with whom he would often return to Guernsey to perform Summer season gigs.
It was in Guernsey in the mid-1970s that Pete’s talent was spotted by Warrington-based Maxwell’s Silver Hammer who persuaded him to join. When they split, he briefly became a member of The Cyril Dagworth Players before Poacher came calling.
In the years since then Pete has kept his hand in, writing quality songs and playing regular gigs with the Barflys and The Escape Committee.
A respected “bluesman” with a loyal following, Pete was delighted to chat to Andy Green about his career in music…
“It’s been eventful” – Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton chats to Andy Green about his career in music
Look Up To Me (Mill Session) by Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton
Written for and recorded by Poacher in 1982 on Ritz Records, Pete says Look Up To Me was influenced by his time working with Cheshire-born Paul Kennerley who went on to write songs that have been recorded by The Judds, Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless and others.
Answers On A Postcard (Mill Session) by Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton
One of Pete’s newer ‘social commentary’ songs which, he says, is not for the faint hearted…
Oh My Bye Bye (Mill Session) by Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton
“This,” says Pete. “Is a doff of the cap to J.J. Cale ‘road song’ …”
Love You Like Crazy (Mill Session) by Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton
“This is a rare thing,” says Pete – a Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton love song…
For more information on Pete ‘Sarge’ Frampton visit his YouTube page “Frammo” or the Facebook page of The Escape Committee
If you are a new or established songwriter/performer and are interested in participating in a future Mill Session, please email your details via this link.
