Freddie 'Fingers' Lee
| Freddie 'Fingers' Lee | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Frederick John Cheesman |
| Born |
November 24, 1937 Blackhill, Consett, Durham, England |
| Died | January 13, 2014 (aged 76) Northampton, England |
| Genres | Rock and roll, rockabilly, country |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1959–2002 |
| Associated acts | Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages |
Freddie 'Fingers' Lee (November 24, 1937 – January 13, 2014) (born Frederick John Cheesman) was a British singer, guitarist and pianist. His repertoire ranged from rock and roll, rockabilly and country music. He was known for his wild antics on stage, which sometimes included destroying a piano with an axe or chainsaw.
Born in Consett, Durham in 1937, Lee lost his right eye following an accident with a dart thrown by his father. He would later sometimes cover this eye with a pirate patch. Working as a scaffolder in London in the mid-1950s he taught himself to play his landlady's piano.
His music career began in the late 1950s as the guitarist of a skiffle band. His music direction was influenced by Jerry Lee Lewis and he later said, "when I was a child I was impressed by Winifred Atwell who played piano and I did not think we could play this instrument as did Jerry Lee Lewis." He then joined Screaming Lord Sutch as pianist beside the young Ritchie Blackmore on guitar. He then toured with Eden Kane, Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde.
In 1960 be became the guitarist for the Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages - it was Sutch who gave him his nickname - but moved to piano after Ritchie Blackmore joined the band. He often wore an eye patch over his right eye.
In the 1960s, Lee made many tours across Europe. Playing in the Star-Club in Hamburg, he met the Beatles and later said, "I am from the same background as them, the working class with the same ideal." He also played with many of his heroes including Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Gene Vincent and the Crickets.
Forming his own band in 1965, an early member was Ian Hunter, later to form Mott The Hoople. He released the singles "The Friendly Undertaker" (1965) and "Bossy Boss" (1966). His stage antics continued - with pianos destroyed with chainsaws and explosives.
...
Wikipedia