Peter Solley

At the age of 13, he won a scholarship to Trinity College of Music in London and after graduating became a session musician. In the late 1960s he played in The Thunderbirds, the backing group for vocalist Chris Farlowe, and was also in the backing band of singer Terry Reid, who toured with The Rolling Stones and Cream in the United States in 1968. During 1969 and 1970 he served as touring organist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Solley was a founding member of British progressive rock band Paladin, whose second LP Paladin Charge! featured a cover design by Roger Dean. Following the break-up of Paladin in 1973, Solley joined Fox, which had a series of hit singles before breaking up in 1977. In 1973-75 he was a member of SNAFU, playing and singing on two of their three albums. After turning down membership in several groups, in 1976 Solley became a member of the progressive rock group Procol Harum playing organ and synthesisers, (this allowed Chris Copping to take over on bass guitar). During his time with the group he recorded one album, Something Magic, and toured extensively to promote the album. Shortly afterwards the group broke up. In 1978 he joined the newly founded Whitesnake recording their debut EP Snakebite. On the sleeve, he was credited as a special guest, but he continued touring with the band until July 1978. …