Foghat
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in London, England |
| Founder | Dave Peverett, Tony Stevens, Roger Earl, Rod Price |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Rock music albums, live performances |
Foghat is a British rock group that originated in London in 1971, distinguished by their signature electric slide guitar style. Among their 17 studio albums, which include eight gold records, one platinum, and a double platinum live album, their 1975 track "Slow Ride" remains especially notable. Despite numerous changes in band members, they persist in both recording new material and performing live.
1970s
The band initially consisted of Dave Peverett (guitar/vocals), Tony Stevens (bass), and Roger Earl (drums), all of whom previously played with Savoy Brown. Guitarist and slide guitarist Rod Price joined from Black Cat Bones. The group adopted the name "Foghat" in January 1971 and relocated to the United States following their signing with Bearsville Records.
Their first album, Foghat (1972), was produced by Dave Edmunds and featured a well-received cover of Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You". Their second self-titled album achieved gold status. Subsequent albums released were Energized (1974), Rock and Roll Outlaws (1974), and Fool for the City (1975). Tony Stevens departed in 1974 due to the demands of extensive touring; producer Nick Jameson stepped in temporarily on bass for Fool for the City. Craig MacGregor became the permanent bassist in 1975.
The albums Night Shift (1976), the live recording Foghat Live (1977), and Stone Blue (1978) all earned gold certifications. The song "Slow Ride" climbed to number 20 on the US charts and number 14 in Canada. Their live album Foghat Live became their highest-selling work, receiving double platinum status. Other popular tracks included "Drivin' Wheel", "Stone Blue", and "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)". Rod Price exited the band in 1980 due to touring pressures and a shift towards new wave pop influences; Erik Cartwright replaced him by February 1981.
1980s
Following 1978, Foghat experienced a decline in record sales, with their final Bearsville release, Zig-Zag Walk (1983), briefly reaching number 192 on the charts. MacGregor left the band in 1982; Nick Jameson returned for the albums In the Mood for Something Rude and Zig Zag Walk, before being succeeded by Kenny Aaronson (1983) and subsequently Rob Alter (1983–1984). MacGregor rejoined in 1984.
The group briefly disbanded in 1984 after Peverett returned to England. Earl, MacGregor, and Cartwright reassembled with new frontman Eric (E.J.) Burgeson on vocals and guitar, maintaining touring activity into the early 1990s. During this period, several bassists rotated through the lineup, including MacGregor (1986–1987, 1991, 1993), Brett Cartwright (1987, 1988–1989), Jeff Howell (1987–1991), Phil Nudelman (1989–1990), Billy Davis (1990–1993), and Dave Crigger (1992–1993).
1990s
By 1990, Peverett had returned to America and established Lonesome Dave's Foghat, which featured Bryan Bassett (formerly of Wild Cherry), Stephen Dees on bass, and Eddie Zyne on drums. Both Dees and Zyne had previously worked with Hall & Oates. In 1991, Riff West replaced Dees on bass, while Rod Price made guest appearances.
In 1993, prompted by producer Rick Rubin's encouragement, the original members reunited. Although Rubin was unable to produce their work, they issued Return of the Boogie Men (1994) along with the live album Road Cases (1998). Their last release of the decade was King Biscuit Flower Hour (1999), which contained live performances from 1974 and 1976.
After six years together following the reunion, the original lineup concluded when Price retired from touring duties. Bryan Bassett from Lonesome Dave's Foghat then joined as guitarist.
2000s
The 2000s witnessed the passing of founding members Peverett and Price. On 7 February 2000, Peverett succumbed to complications from kidney cancer at the age of 56.
Charlie Huhn, known for his work with Humble Pie, Ted Nugent, and Victory, stepped in as lead vocalist and guitarist. This formation—Earl, Stevens, Bassett, and Huhn—produced the album Family Joules in 2003.
Price passed away on 22 March 2005 at age 57 following a fall triggered by a heart attack. Later that year, original bassist Stevens departed and was succeeded by MacGregor.
2010s
By 2010, Foghat's roster consisted of Earl, MacGregor, Huhn, and Bassett. During Earl’s recovery from surgery, Bobby Rondinelli—formerly of Rainbow and Black Sabbath—served as a temporary drummer. That summer, Jeff Howell also substituted for MacGregor due to illness. On 15 June 2010, the band released Last Train Home, fulfilling a creative vision shared by Earl and Peverett. The record included blues standards, three original tracks, and contributions from longtime collaborator Eddie Kirkland, who had performed with the group since 1977. Additional performers on the album were Howell (bass), Earl (piano), and Lefty Lefkowitz (harmonica). Earl described the release as "a tribute to Lonesome Dave" and commended Huhn and Bassett for their mutual dedication to the blues.
In December 2013, Foghat issued the DVD Live in St. Pete. On 10 November 2015, they revealed plans for a fan-funded studio album through PledgeMusic. The resulting album, Under the Influence, was released on 24 June 2016 and debuted at number 17 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart while reaching number 40 on the Independent Album charts.
The band followed up with a live album titled Live at the Belly Up in June 2017. On 9 July 2017, former lead guitarist Erik Cartwright (who played from 1981 to 1984) died of a heart attack at age 66.
Longtime bassist MacGregor was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2015; however, an earlier diagnosis in 2012 was not disclosed to him until three years later. He campaigned for legislation mandating timely communication of test results between doctors and patients. Although remaining a member of Foghat, chemotherapy side effects prevented him from performing live; Rodney O'Quinn—formerly with Pat Travers—filled in on bass during tours. MacGregor died on 9 February 2018.
In February 2017, Matt Barranti substituted for Bryan Bassett during a performance in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
2020s
The lineup featuring Earl, Bassett, Huhn, and O'Quinn recorded a live album titled 8 Days on the Road in November 2019; it was released in July 2021.
In January 2022, Charlie Huhn retired as lead vocalist and was succeeded by Scott Holt, who had previously worked as guitarist for Buddy Guy and provided vocals on Under the Influence as well as the Foghat side project Earl & the Agitators.
In August 2023, Foghat announced their seventeenth studio album Sonic Mojo. Its lead single "Drivin’ On," co-written by Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown fame, was released on 10 November 2023—a year following Simmonds' death from colon cancer.
During January 2025, Blue Oyster Cult drummer Jules Radino filled in for an unwell Roger Earl until Earl returned in May. Additionally that year, crew member Eddie Lefebvre began performing percussion live alongside the band.
Members
Present
- Roger Earl – drums
- Bryan Bassett – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
- Rodney O'Quinn – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Scott Holt – lead vocals, guitar
Past
- Dave Peverett – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Rod Price – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Stevens – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Nick Jameson – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Craig MacGregor – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Erik Cartwright – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Kenny Aaronson – bass guitar
- Rob Alter – bass guitar
- Charlie Huhn – lead vocals, guitar
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Rankings | Certifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | US Blues |
US Hard Rock |
US Indie | AUS | |||
| Foghat |
|
— | 127 | — | — | — | 23 |
|
| Foghat (Rock and Roll) |
|
— | 67 | — | — | — | — | |
| Energized |
|
38 | 34 | — | — | — | — |
|
| Rock and Roll Outlaws |
|
82 | 40 | — | — | — | — |
|
| Fool for the City |
|
85 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
|
| Night Shift |
|
77 | 36 | — | — | — | — |
|
| Stone Blue |
|
21 | 25 | — | — | — | 82 |
|
| Boogie Motel |
|
— | 35 | — | — | — | — | |
| Tight Shoes |
|
76 | 106 | — | — | — | — | |
| Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce |
|
— | 92 | — | — | — | — | |
Live albums
| Album Title | Release Details | Chart Peak Positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN |
US | |||
| Foghat Live |
|
5 |
11 |
|
| Road Cases |
|
— |
— |
|
| Extended Versions: The Encore Collection |
|
— |
— |
|
| Decades Live |
|
— |
— |
|
| Live II |
|
— |
— |
|
| Live at the Blues Warehouse |
|
— |
— |
|
| Live at the Belly Up |
|
— |
— |
|
| 8 Days on the Road |
|
— |
— |
|
| Slow Ride - Live In Concert |
|
— |
— |
|
Compilations
| Album Name | Release Information | Certifications | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Best of Foghat |
|
| |||||||||||||
| The Best of Foghat, Volume 2 |
|
||||||||||||||
| Slow Ride and Other Hits |
|
||||||||||||||
| Anthology [2-CD] (features reissue of the 1972 Foghat album) |
|
||||||||||||||
| Hits You Remember - Live |
|
||||||||||||||
| The Essentials |
|
||||||||||||||
| The Definitive Rock Collection [2-CD] |
|
||||||||||||||
| Drivin' Wheels: Best of 1972-1982 [2-CD] |
|
||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not issued in that region. | |||||||||||||||
Singles
| Year | Song Title | Highest Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AUS | CAN | ||
| 1972 | "I Just Want to Make Love to You" | 83 | 31 | — |
| 1973 | "What a Shame" | 82 | — | — |
| "Ride, Ride, Ride" | — | — | — | |
| 1974 | "That'll Be the Day" | — | — | — |
| "Step Outside" | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Slow Ride" | 20 | — | 14 |
| 1976 | "Fool for the City" | 45 | — | — |
| "Drivin' Wheel" | 34 | — | 41 | |
| 1977 | "I'll Be Standing By" | 67 | — | — |
| 1977 | "I Just Want to Make Love to You (live)" | 33 | — | 28 |
| 1978 | "Stone Blue" | 36 | — | 61 |
| "High On Love" | — | — | — | |
| 1979 | "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)" | 23 | 86 | 33 |
| colspan ="5" ! — signifies singles that failed to chart. | ||||
Live Now – Pay Later attained position No. 15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart. Slipped, Tripped, Fell in Love reached No. 12 on the same ranking.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Musical groups formed in England in 1971
- English bands disbanded in 1984
- Musical acts reformed in England in 1993
- Artists signed to Atlantic Records
- English rock quartets
- London-based rock bands
- English blues rock ensembles
- English hard rock bands
- Boogie rock ensembles
- Recipients of Grammy Awards
- Bands established in 1971
- Groups disbanded in 1984
- Bands reestablished in 1993
- Artists associated with Bearsville Records
- Rhino Entertainment recording artists
- English musicians residing in the United States
- Musical groups disestablished in 1984