Haycock formed the Climax Blues Band in 1967 along with vocalist Colin Cooper. They’d previously worked together in The Gospel Truth. Cooper died in 2008.
The Climax Chicago Blues Band’s original line-up was Stafford-born Haycock (lead guitar), Derek Holt (piano/guitar), Cooper (vocals/harmonica), Richard Jones (bass) and George Newsome (drums).
They went on to score a Top 10 hit in 1976 with Couldn’t Get it Right.
The band split in 1988, although a new incarnation continues operating today, with no founding members on board. Haycock left the band three years earlier, in 1985, and moved to Germany where he established a career writing film scores including collaborations with Hans Zimmer, as well as playing live in a band called Pete Haycock’s True Blues. Haycock also enjoyed a stint in the Electric Light Orchestra Part 2 with drummer Bev Bevan.
This year Haycock formed a new band, Pete Haycock’s Climax Blues Band featuring Robin George. However, the project stuttered due to Haycock’s ill health and he sadly died on October 30.
