The Pink Fairies
The excessive, drug-fueled Pink Fairies grew out of the Deviants, a loose-knit band formed in 1967 by members of the West London hippie commune Ladbroke Grove. Initially dubbed the Social Deviants and consisting primarily of vocalist Mick Farren, guitarist Paul Rudolph, bassist Duncan Sanderson, and drummer Russell Hunter, the group also featured satellite members Marc Bolan, Steve Peregrine Took, and players from the band Group X, later rechristened Hawkwind. After three noisy, psychedelic albums and a U.S. tour, Farren exited to become a music journalist and the remaining Deviants returned to London, where they recruited vocalist and former Pretty Things drummer Twink (born John Alder), who suggested the name Pink Fairies. Despite gaining a reputation for mythic debauchery, the group remained largely an underground sensation before signing to Polydor and issuing its 1971 debut, Never Never Land, a manic, decadent album featuring the live staples "Do It" and "Uncle Harry's Last Freak Out."
Shortly after the record's release, Twink departed, and the Pink Fairies continued on as a trio for 1972's What a Bunch of Sweeties; recorded with assistance from the Move's Trevor Burton, the album reached the Top 50 on the U.K. charts, and was the group's most commercially successful effort. Soon, Rudolph exited to become a full-time member of Hawkwind, and was replaced by UFO's Larry Wallis for 1973's hard rock excursion Kings of Oblivion. Twink rejoined the Pink Fairies' ranks a short time later, but the group nonetheless disbanded before the end of the year. In 1975, the Kings of Oblivion-era lineup reunited for a one-off London gig; an enthusiastic response led to the official re-formation of the nucleus of Rudolph, Sanderson, and Hunter, who added former Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers vocalist Martin Stone before disbanding again in 1977. A decade later, the original lineup -- minus Rudolph but including Wallis -- reunited for the album Kill 'Em and Eat 'Em before calling it quits yet one more time. Drummer Russell Hunter died on December 19, 2023, at the age of 76.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
Discography
17 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Kill 'Em & Eat 'Em
Alternative & Indie - Released by Crimson on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Neverneverland
Pop - Released by UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) on 1 May 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What A Bunch Of Sweeties
Pop - Released by UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) on 7 Aug 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kings Of Oblivion
Pop - Released by UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) on 1 Jun 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live Fuzz 1971 - Uk & Finland
Rock - Released by Purple Pyramid Records on 1 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fuzz Freakout 1970-1971
Rock - Released by Purple Pyramid Records on 4 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pink Fairies and Friends
The Pink Fairies, The Deviants, Andy Colquhoun
Rock - Released by Floating World on 31 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live at the Roundhouse / Previously Unreleased / Do It EP
Rock - Released by ACE RECORDS on 28 Apr 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
No Picture
Progressive Rock - Released by Explore Rights Management LTD on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Up The Pinks - An Introduction to
Pop - Released by UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Pink Fairies and Friends, Vol. 2
The Pink Fairies, Mick Farren, Andy Colquhoun
Rock - Released by Floating World on 29 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pleasure Island
Progressive Rock - Released by Explore Rights Management LTD on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Duo
Progressive Rock - Released by Explore Rights Management LTD on 19 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the BBC 1970 - 1971
Rock - Released by Homespun on 7 Feb 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Resident Reptiles
Rock - Released by Purple Pyramid Records on 24 Aug 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo