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Peter Thorup
Foto: Heinrich Klaffs (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) — Alexis Korner & Snape med Peter Thorup, Musikhalle, Hamburg, november 1972
Modern

Peter Thorup

This artist is no longer with us.
Born: 14 December 1948, Sollerod, Denmark · Died: 3 August 2007, Ronne, Bornholm, Denmark• Denmark• Active: 1965-2007

Danish blues pioneer, co-voice of CCS's "Whole Lotta Love" (Top of the Pops' theme for decades). 1948-2007.

Peter Thorup was one of the founding fathers of Danish blues, and one of the few Danish musicians of his generation to build a genuine international career — as the co-lead voice, alongside Alexis Korner, of one of the most recognisable instrumentals in British television history. Born Peter Eiberg Thorup on 14 December 1948 in Sollerod, Denmark, he began performing at 18 in the Danish soul and blues band Beefeaters (1967) before meeting British blues pioneer Alexis Korner during a Scandinavian tour in the late 1960s (Kilde: Wikipedia). The two formed New Church, and in 1970 co-founded CCS (Collective Consciousness Society) with musical director John Cameron and producer Mickie Most for RAK Records — a large, rotating ensemble of session players including drummer Tony Carr, trumpeters Harold Beckett and Henry Lowther, bassist Herbie Flowers and woodwind player Harold McNair. CCS's instrumental cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" became the theme tune of BBC's Top of the Pops for decades (Kilde: Wikipedia; CCS (band) - Wikipedia). After CCS wound down, Thorup and Korner formed Snape in 1973 during a King Crimson tour of the United States, recruiting former King Crimson members Boz Burrell, Mel Collins and Ian Wallace (Kilde: Wikipedia). In 1976, after several years based in the UK, he returned to Denmark and built a substantial solo career there, releasing the acclaimed Rejsen til Kina and the Peter Thorup Trio album Thin Slices in 1978 (Kilde: Rate Your Music; Discogs). In 1984 he had a Danish chart hit with a Danish-language version of "Islands in the Stream," recorded with Anne Grete (Kilde: Wikipedia). He continued performing at venues across Denmark into his final years and remained a defining figure of Danish blues until his death on 3 August 2007 in Ronne, on the island of Bornholm, at the age of 58 (Kilde: Wikipedia).

Musical Influence

Thorup's lasting mark on popular culture runs through millions of British living rooms rather than the blues world alone: CCS's "Whole Lotta Love" served as the Top of the Pops theme from 1970 into the 1990s, making his voice and Korner's arrangement one of the most-heard pieces of music in UK broadcasting history, while his Snape-era work with former King Crimson members helped bridge British blues-rock and progressive rock scenes in the mid-1970s (Kilde: Wikipedia).

Formative experiences

  • •1967: Began performing with the Danish band Beefeaters, aged 18. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •late 1960s: Met Alexis Korner on a Scandinavian tour; formed New Church. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •1970: Co-founded CCS; "Whole Lotta Love" becomes the Top of the Pops theme. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •1973: Formed Snape during a King Crimson tour, with ex-King Crimson members. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •1976: Returned to Denmark to build a solo career. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •1978: Released Rejsen til Kina and Thin Slices. (Kilde: Rate Your Music)
  • •1984: Danish chart hit with Anne Grete, a Danish version of "Islands in the Stream". (Kilde: Wikipedia)
  • •3 August 2007: Died in Ronne, Bornholm, aged 58. (Kilde: Wikipedia)

Instruments & Equipment

Collaborators

Alexis Korner

Long-standing musical partner across New Church, CCS and Snape from the late 1960s.

Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, Ian Wallace

Former King Crimson members recruited into Snape (1973).

Anne Grete

Duet partner on the 1984 Danish hit version of "Islands in the Stream".

Watch & Listen

Featured

C.C.S. - Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin / Top Of The Pops theme)

CCS's best-known recording, with Thorup on vocals.

45RPMbyJME

Peter Thorup - Rejsen til Kina (1978)

Peter Thorup - Rejsen til Kina (1978)

Peter Thorup - Pafuglefjeren

Peter Thorup - Pafuglefjeren

Watch & Listen

Henter videoer fra YouTube…

Discography

YearTitleProducerStudioLabelChartSalesMusiciansYouTubeNotes
1965I'm Wild About You (single)——Blackpools———
1967Beefeaters——Beefeaters———
1969Meet You There——Beefeaters———
1970Wake Up Your Mind——Solo———
1970The New Church——New Church / Alexis Korner———
1970CCS——CCS / Alexis Korner, RAK Records———Includes "Whole Lotta Love".
1972CCS 2——CCS / Alexis Korner———
1973The Best Band in the Land——CCS / Alexis Korner———
1974Snape——Snape——Boz Burrell (Bass/vocals), Mel Collins (Saxophone), Ian Wallace (Drums)With former King Crimson members Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, Ian Wallace.
1975Accidentally Born in New Orleans——Snape———
1977The Best of CCS——CCS / Alexis Korner———Compilation.
1978Rejsen til Kina——Solo———Acclaimed Danish-language solo album.
1978Thin Slices——Peter Thorup Trio, Metronome———

External links

YouTube Music Wikipedia

Sources

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