Humble Pie is an English hard rock band from Moreton, Essex. Formed in January 1969, the group originally included vocalist and guitarist Steve Marriott, guitarist and vocalist Peter Frampton, bassist and vocalist Greg Ridley, and drummer Jerry Shirley. The band currently consists of Shirley (who does not tour with the band) alongside guitarist Dave Colwell (since 2001), bassist Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley and drummer Bobby Marks (both since 2018), and vocalist, guitarist and organist Jim Stapley (since 2023).

History 1969–1983 Humble Pie were formed as a supergroup in January 1969 by Steve Marriott of Small Faces, Peter Frampton of the Herd, Greg Ridley of Spooky Tooth and Jerry Shirley of the Apostolic Intervention. Frampton remained until September 1971, when he left to start a solo career. The band's manager Dee Anthony explained that Frampton's departure was due to a lack of chemistry between him and Marriott, and suggested that the group would continue as a trio. However, he was replaced later in the year by former Colosseum guitarist David "Clem" Clempson. Humble Pie broke up in 1975 after the release of Street Rats, due to touring fatigue and personal conflicts.

Marriott and Shirley reformed Humble Pie in January 1980, adding guitarist Bobby Tench and bassist Anthony "Sooty" Jones. Both new members left in the summer of 1981 after a period of heavy touring. Marriott returned early the following year with bassist Jim Leverton, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Fallon Williams III, often billing themselves as "Steve Marriott and the Pie". McJohn was soon fired and Leverton later left, with guitarist Tommy Johnson and bassist Keith Christopher joining in early 1983; Johnson was subsequently dismissed and replaced by Phil Dix, and later by Rick Richards, who was fired alongside Christopher later in the year. Following a brief period as a trio with Williams and bassist Dave Hewitt, Marriott disbanded Humble Pie for a second time in late 1983.

1989–present In 1989, Shirley obtained the rights to the name Humble Pie and reformed the band in Cleveland, Ohio as "Humble Pie featuring Jerry Shirley", adding lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie Huhn, lead guitarist Wally Stocker and returning bassist Jones. In the early 1990s, Marriott and Frampton worked together again and a return of the original Humble Pie lineup was rumoured Marriott died in a house fire on 20 April 1991 ending this speculation. Shirley continued performing under the Humble Pie name with various musicians until August 1999, when he was forced to retire after suffering injuries in a car accident. Huhn completed a string of shows with guitarist Rick Craig (later replaced by Patrick Thomas), bassists Ean Evans and Kent Gascoyne and drummer Jamie Darnell. Huhn went on to join Foghat later on in 2000.

Shirley then reformed Humble Pie again in 2001 to mark the tenth anniversary of Marriott's death adding original bassist Ridley, former guitarist Tench and rhythm guitarist Dave Colwell all of whom recorded the album Back on Track, the band's first since 1981. Keyboardist Dean Rees and Johnny Warman on vocals also guitar completed the lineup for a short European tour during 2002. This tour was cut short when Ridley became ill due to pneumonia which led to his death on 19 November 2003.

Ridley and Colwell reformed the band with American singer Jimmy Kunes (Cactus, Savoy Brown), co-lead guitarist James Volpe Rotondi (Mr. Bungle, AIR), R&B bassist Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley (Sam Moore, The Shirelles), and drummer Bobby Marks (Dokken, Joe Lynn Turner), for tours of the US in 2018 and 2019. The band returned in 2022 with Jim Stapley replacing Kunes and Rotondi.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJerry Shirleyall Humble Pie releasesDave ColwellBack on Track (2002)Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley2018–presentbassnone to dateBobby MarksdrumsJim Stapley2023–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsSteve Marriottall Humble Pie releases except Live at the Cleveland Agora Theatre (1990) and Back on Track (2002)Greg Ridleyall Humble Pie releases from As Safe as Yesterday Is (1969) to Street Rats (1975), and from Natural Born Boogie (1995) to Live in New York 1971 (2012)Peter FramptonDavid "Clem" Clempson1971–1975Anthony "Sooty" JonesBobby Tench Tim Hinkley Fallon Williams III1982–1983drumsnoneJim LevertonGoldy McJohn1982 keyboardsKeith Christopher1983bassTommy JohnsonguitarPhil DixRick RichardsDave HewittbassCharlie Huhn1989–2000Live at the Cleveland Agora Theatre (1990)Wally Stocker1989–1990Sean BeavanbassScott Allen1990–1992noneAlan Greene1990–1999guitarSam Nemon1992–1996bassBrad Johnson1996–1999Ean Evans2000 Kent Gascoyne2000Jamie DarnelldrumsRick CraigguitarPatrick ThomasZoot Money2001–2002Back on Track (2002)Dean Rees2002keyboardsnoneJohnny WarmanJimmy Kunes2018–2022vocalsJames Volpe Rotondi

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersReleasesJanuary 1969 – September 1971Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar, keyboards Peter Frampton – guitar, keyboards, vocals Greg Ridley – bass, guitar, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussionAs Safe as Yesterday Is (1969) Town and Country (1969) Humble Pie (1970) Rock On (1971) Performance Rockin' the Fillmore (1971) Natural Born Boogie (1995) Live at the Whisky A-Go-Go '69 (2001)November 1971 – early 1975Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar, keyboards Greg Ridley – bass, guitar, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Clem Clempson – guitar, keyboards, vocalsSmokin' (1972) Eat It (1973) Thunderbox (1974) Street Rats (1975) Natural Born Boogie (1995) In Concert (1996) Running with the Pack (1999) From the Front Row... Live! (2003) Live in New York 1971 (2012) Joint Effort (2019)Band inactive early 1975 – January 1980January 1980 – summer 1981Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar, keyboards Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Bobby Tench – guitar, keyboards, vocals Sooty Jones – bass, vocalsOn to Victory (1980) Go for the Throat (1981) California '81 (2012)Early – mid-1982Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Jim Leverton – bass, vocals Fallon Williams III – drums Goldy McJohn – keyboardsnoneMid-1982 – early 1983Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Jim Leverton – bass, vocals Fallon Williams III – drums1983Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Fallon Williams III – drums Tommy Johnson – guitar Keith Christopher – bass1983Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Keith Christopher – bass Fallon Williams III – drums Phil Dix – guitar1983Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Keith Christopher – bass Fallon Williams III – drums Rick Richards – guitarLate 1983Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar Fallon Williams III – drums Dave Hewitt – bassBand inactive 1984–19891989Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Wally Stocker – guitar, vocals Sooty Jones – bass, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussionnone1989–1990Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Wally Stocker – guitar, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Sean Beavan – bassLive at the Cleveland Agora Theatre (1990)1990–1992Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Alan Greene – guitar Scott Allen – bassnone1992–1996Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Alan Greene – guitar Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Sam Nemon – bass1996–1999Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Alan Greene – guitar Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Brad Johnson – bass1999–2000Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Rick Craig – guitar Ean Evans – bass Kent Gascoyne – bass Jamie Darnell – drums2000Charlie Huhn – vocals, guitar Ean Evans – bass Kent Gascoyne – bass Jamie Darnell – drums Patrick Thomas – guitarBand inactive 2000–20012001–2002Bobby Tench – vocals, guitar Dave Colwell – guitar, mandolin Greg Ridley – bass, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Zoot Money - keyboards, vocalsBack on Track (2002)2002Dave Colwell – guitar, mandolin, vocals Greg Ridley – bass, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Johnny Warman – vocals, guitar Dean Rees – keyboardsnoneBand inactive 2002–20182018–2019Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion Dave Colwell – guitar Jimmy Kunes – vocals James Volpe Rotondi – guitar, vocals, keyboards Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley – bass Bobby Marks – drumsnone2022–presentJerry Shirley – drums, percussion Dave Colwell – guitar Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley – bass Bobby Marks – drums Jim Stapley – vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica

References