Ronnie Peel

Ronald Robert Peel[1] (9 August 1946 – 1 November 2020),[2] also known professionally as Rockwell T. James, was an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Ronnie Peel
Also known asRockwell T. James
Born9 August 1946
Died1 November 2020 (aged 74)
Wakefield, New South Wales
Occupation(s)Musician
Years active1964–2020
LabelsLaneway Music
Associated actsThe Missing Links
The Pleazers
Thunderclap Newman
The La De Da's
John Paul Young

Biography

Peel began his career in music in the early 1960s as bassist for the Port Macquarie surf band The Mystics.[3][4] In 1964, Peel and Mystics' lead guitarist Dave Boyne were recruited to join The Missing Links. The band was known for its long unruly hair, and pioneered the use of audio feedback and reverse tape effects in Australia. They enjoyed moderate success in Sydney and released a single on Parlophone in March 1965. Peel left the band in June 1965.[3]

Peel next joined Sydney-based band The Pleazers. With a New Zealand recording contract and a club residency, they relocated to Auckland where they achieved a number of hit singles and a significant following.[5][6][7] Peel left the band in late 1966.[8] In 1967 he joined a revived Ray Brown & the Whispers for a short time.[9]

In 1968 Peel launched a solo career under the name Rockwell T James. Backed by his band The Rhythm Aces, he released one single "Love Power"[10] which peaked at #52 on the AMR Top 100 singles chart.[11]

Peel travelled to the United Kingdom in 1971 and briefly joined Thunderclap Newman.[2] When that band broke up in April 1971, he returned to Australia and was asked to join One Ton Gypsy, a supergroup put together by Ray Brown, which included Alison MacCallum and Chrissy Amphlett. One Ton Gypsy eventually folded due to the cost of maintaining such a large group.[9]

The La De Da's, led by Kevin Borich, formed in New Zealand in 1963. The band enjoyed great success in Australia and New Zealand but by late 1972 they broke up. Borich decided to rebuild the group as a trio, and approached Peel to join as bassist.[12][13] The reformed group continued the band's success, and released several records.[14] In July 1973 the band's vehicle was involved in a serious road crash that destroyed their gear and put Peel in hospital. Although they were still a top concert attraction, in early 1975 Borich decided to disband the group.[15]

In 1975, John Paul Young achieved his first #1 single with "Yesterday's Hero". Deciding to tour off the success of this record, Young formed the All Stars Band, including Peel as bassist. Peel would continue to return to the All Stars for the next 45 years to support Young, until Peels' death in 2020.[16][17]

Several members of the All Stars issued solo records to capitalise on their new-found visibility. Peel resurrected his Rockwell T. James persona, and recorded prolifically in the period 1976–1979, releasing six singles and an album, A Shot of Rhythm and Blues. His most successful single was "Roxanne", co-written by Peel with Garth Porter and Tony Mitchell from Sherbet.[18] It reached #39 in the AMR Top 100.[19]

Between gigs with the All Stars, Peel performed with the Scattered Aces in 1983–1984[20] and Slightly Shadey in 1987.[21] In 2013 he formed duo The Rockwells with Bobby Fletcher.[22] They released an album Cover Story in 2015.[2]

References
  1. "Ronald Robert PEEL Death Notice - Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Morning Herald". tributes.smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. "Bassist Ronnie Peel, AKA Rockwell T. James, has died | NME Australia". November 2, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  3. "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - The Missing Links". www.milesago.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  4. "PHOTOS: A blast from March 31, 1964". Port Macquarie News. March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  5. "Pleazers". www.sergent.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  6. "The Pleazers | Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  7. "Pleazers, The | Nostalgia Central". Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  8. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "The Pleazers". whammo.com.au. Archived from the original on 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  9. "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - Ray Brown & The Whispers". www.milesago.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  10. Cashmere, Paul (November 1, 2020). "R.I.P. Ronnie Peel aka Rockwell T James". Noise11.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  11. "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1968". Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  12. "Feature - Moments Like These: Kevin Borich". Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  13. "Where Do You Go Now My Lovelies - Borich Raps To Colbert - Story | AudioCulture". www.audioculture.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  14. "La De Da's". www.sergent.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  15. "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - The La De Das". www.milesago.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  16. "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - John Paul Young". www.milesago.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  17. "The Allstar Band". www.johnpaulyoung.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  18. "Video: The Rockwells". Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  19. "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1976". Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  20. "Scattered Aces | Australian Music Database". www.australianmusicdatabase.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  21. "Slightly Shadey | Australian Music Database". www.australianmusicdatabase.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  22. "The Rockwells". laneway-music. Archived from the original on 2020-03-14. Retrieved 2020-11-09.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.