Pacific Gas & Electric (band)
| Pacific Gas & Electric | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, PG&E |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Blues rock |
| Years active | 1967–1973 |
| Labels | Kent, Columbia, Dunhill |
| Associated acts | Charlie Allen, Bluesberry Jam, Glenn Schwartz |
| Past members |
Charlie Allen Tom Marshall (1967–70) Brent Block (1967–70) Glenn Schwartz (1967–70) Frank Cook (1967–70) Ron Woods (1970–72) Frank Petricca (1970–72) Ken Utterback (1970–72) Jerry Aiello (1971–72) Stanley Abernathy (1971–72) Paul Warren (1972) Alfred Galagos (1971–72) Virgil Gonsalves (1971–72) Joe Lala (1971) |
Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was the gospel-tinged "Are You Ready?" in 1970.
The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.
Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970. The title track "Are You Ready?" reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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