Pacific Gas & Electric (band)

Pacific Gas & Electric

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1967 in Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder	Tom Marshall, Brent Block, Glenn Schwartz, Charlie Allen
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	United States, Europe
Key people	Charlie Allen (vocalist), Frank Cook (drummer/manager), Ron Woods (drummer), Jack Beale (manager)
Products	Music albums and singles

Pacific Gas & Electric was a rock ensemble from the United States, active during the late 1960s and early 1970s, fronted by vocalist Charlie Allen. Their most notable commercial achievement was the 1970 gospel-inspired single "Are You Ready?".

Music

The group’s musical style integrated elements of blues, blues rock, soul, soul-rock, psychedelic rock, jazz, and jazz-rock genres.

History

Established in 1967 in Los Angeles, California, the band was founded by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of James Gang), and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously performed with Bluesberry Jam. Allen took on the role of lead singer; later, Frank Cook joined as drummer.

Originally called The Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name after signing with Power Records and released the album Get It On in early 1968. Although the album did not achieve significant success, their performance at the Miami Pop Festival in December 1968 led to a contract with Columbia Records.

Their debut Columbia release, Pacific Gas and Electric (1969), was succeeded by the more commercially successful Are You Ready (1970), featuring the title track which climbed to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Following the recording of Are You Ready, drummer Cook suffered injuries in a car crash and was replaced by Ron Woods; Cook remained involved as the band’s manager. Founding members Marshall and Schwartz left, with Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar) joining; Brent Block moved to rhythm guitar before departing later that year. The group’s racially diverse lineup was distinctive for its time and occasionally incited violent incidents during tours, including one in Raleigh, North Carolina. Video footage from their show at a federal narcotics rehabilitation center in Kentucky was later incorporated into a music video.

During sessions for the PG&E album, Allen pursued a new artistic direction with plans to tour Europe, where "Are You Ready" had gained popularity. Due to pressure from an energy company sharing their name, they abbreviated their band name to PG&E.

Frank Cook was succeeded by Jack Beale (John L Beale, Jr.), manager of Tim Rose. Drummer Alvin Taylor replaced Ron Woods and percussionist Joe Lala. Ken Utterback was succeeded by guitarist Paul Warren. Allen expanded the group by adding a horn section featuring Jerry Aiello on keyboards, Stanley Abernathy on trumpet, along with Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves on saxophones.

Allen and Beale collaborated on an eighteen-month strategic plan to align the band’s goals and generate new material. They secured an agent who arranged extensive touring across the United States.

Beale also contracted Terry King, Tim Rose’s booking agent based in London, who organized an extensive European tour. During this period, PG&E opened for Pink Floyd at Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium and performed alongside Brian Auger & The Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll at West Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, in addition to concerts throughout Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and several television appearances.

As the tour concluded, Allen experienced health issues requiring detoxification and rest as advised by physicians. This ultimately led to the band’s breakup.

A final album entitled Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen was recorded by Allen with session musicians and released through Dunhill Records in 1973.

Post-Band Lives of Members

Beginning in the 1980s, Tom Marshall experienced a decline in health and periods of homelessness.

Frank Petricca shifted his professional focus to become a commodity broker.

Charlie Allen passed away at the age of 48 on May 7, 1990.

Glenn Schwartz took on the role of guitarist for the gospel rock ensemble All Saved Freak Band and died at 77 on November 3, 2018.

Frank Cook earned credentials as a psychologist before his death on July 9, 2021, at age 79.

Alvin Taylor established himself as a highly regarded studio drummer, contributing to the first episode of Saturday Night Live alongside artists such as Elton John, George Harrison, and Billy Preston.

Paul Warren founded The Express and later joined Rod Stewart as a touring guitarist.

Albums

Year	Album	US	Australia	Canada	Record label
1968	Get It On	159	–	–	Power Records
1969	Pacific Gas and Electric	91	38	–	Columbia Records
1970	Are You Ready?	101	–	48	Columbia Records
1971	PG&E	182	–	–	Columbia Records
1973	Starring Charlie Allen	–	–	–	Dunhill Records
	The Best of PG&E	–	–	–	Columbia Records
2007	Live 'N' Kicking at Lexington	–	–	–	Wounded Bird Records

Singles

rowspan="4"|1971 align=left|"The Hunter" – – 27 align=left|"The Time Has Come (To Make Your Peace)" align=left|"One More River to Cross" align=left|"Thank God for You Baby" 1972

Year	Title	Highest Chart Positions by Country				Record label	B-side	Album
		US Billboard Hot 100	R&B Chart	Canada RPM (magazine)	Australia Kent Music Report
1968	"Wade in the Water"	–	–	–	–	Power Records	"Live Love"	'Get It On'
1969	"Bluesbuster"	–	–	–	–	Columbia Records	"Redneck"	'Pacific Gas and Electric'
1970	"Are You Ready?"	14	49	8	44	Columbia Records	"Stagger Lee#Staggolee"	'Are You Ready?'
	"Father Come on Home"	93	–	–	–		"Elvira"
	"Stormy Times"
–	–	81	Tempo Records Australia	"Live Love"
Kent Records	"Long Handled Shovel"	Motor City's Burning
–	–	–	Columbia Records	"Death Row #172"	PG&E
–	–	–	Columbia Records	"Rock and Roller's Lament"	PG&E
97	50	–	–	Columbia Records	"See the Monkey Run"	PG&E
(Love is Like a) Heat Wave"				Columbia Records	"We Did What We Could Do"	'The Best of PG&E'