Introduction to Foghat

Foghat’s formation and early days

Although the band’s sound was unmistakably American, all of the members of Foghat are actually English natives. It was in London, 1970 where Foghart’s seeds originated. Original members Dave “Lonesome Dave” Peverett (guitars/vocals), Tony Stevens (bass) and Roger Earl (drums) had once been with the blues combo Savoy Brown. The trio left Savoy Brown to form their own group. Guitarist/slide guitarist Rod Price had previously played for Black Cat Bones and later joined Foghat in late 1970, and the following month they had it named as Foghat. They eventually signed to Bearsville Records label.

In 1972, Foghat released their self-titled debut album. Its single “I Just Want to Make Love to You” became a minor hit on the Hot 100. Their second album (1973), also self-titled (alternatively known too as Rock and Roll), , fared even better on the charts and became Foghat’s first gold-certified album. In 1974, Foghat released their third album Energized, which went to #34 on the on the Billboard 200, and their fourth one Rock And Roll Outlaws which peaked at #40 on the same chart.

The following year Foghat released their fifth LP Fool for the City which produced their biggest hit yet, “Slow Ride” which peaked at #20 on the Hot 100. The album itself reached its peak position on the Billboard 200 at #23. By then Foghat was packing huge arenas in their live concerts. Because of this, in 1975 Tony Stevens quit the band because he was tired from the seemingly endless touring, and was subsequently replaced by Nick Jameson. Jameson would then be replaced by Craig MacGregor in 1976.

Also in that year Foghat released their sixth LP Night Shift which produced two singles “Drivin’ Wheel” (at #34) and “I’ll Be Standing” (at #67).

The following year Foghat released their first live album simply titled Foghat Live, their most successful album in terms of chart performance, peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200. It included their earlier minor hit “I Just Want to Make Love to You.” This live version fared better on the Hot 100 at #33.

In 1978 Foghat released another LP Stone Blue which produced the hit title track (at #36), and the album itself went to #25 on the pop album chart. 1979’s Boogie Motelwas to be Foghat’s last Top 40 hit album. It produced the hit single “Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was A Fool)” which peaked at #23 on the Hot 100.

Lonesome Dave’s retirement and return

After that, their subsequent releases began to flop, probably due to the rise of disco that effectively put an end to their good run on the charts. 1983’s Zig-Zag Walkbarely made a dent on the Billboard 200 at #192, their last charting album there.

In 1984, Lonesome Dave retired from active life on the road, and this led to the breakup of Foghat. The lineup at that time was Earl, Erik Cartwright and MacGregor, who continued to play together as the Kneetremblers. Along with new members, they continued touring and decided to reinstate their original band name.

Perhaps unsatisfied with his own early retirement, Lonesome Dave returned in 1990 to form his own version of Foghat with newer members. In 1993, Lonesome Dave and the other original members — Price, Stevens and Earl — reunited as the good ol’ Foghat once more to produce a new studio album Return of the Boogie Men the following year. For years Foghat continued to hit the road, and released the live album Road Cases in 1998.

Deaths of Lonesome Dave and Rod Price; Foghat today

The classic Foghat lineup sadly ended for good with the death of Peverett in February 2000 due to cancer; he was 56 years old. Despite the tragedy, the band still soldiered on, with new lead vocalist Charlie Huhn in tow. In 2003, the band released Family Joules, their first album without Lonesome Dave. Two years later Price passed away in March 2005 from a heart attack that caused his fatal fall. Since then, the present lineup now consists of Huhn, MacGregor, Earl and new lead guitarist Bryan Bassett. In 2010, Foghat released their most recent studio album Last Train Home which witnessed the band’s return to playing the blues.