R.I.P. Peter Solley, Producer for Black Sorrows, Peter Frampton, The Sports, Aged 75 - Noise11.com
Joe Camilleri and Pete Solley (photo from The Black Sorrows Facebook page)

Joe Camilleri and Pete Solley (photo from The Black Sorrows Facebook page)

R.I.P. Peter Solley, Producer for Black Sorrows, Peter Frampton, The Sports, Aged 75

by Paul Cashmere on November 19, 2023

in News

Peter Solley, the UK producer and musician who worked with Australia’s Joe Camilleri for both Jo Jo Zep and The Black Sorrows, Stephen Cummings with Sports, as well as The Romantics, Peter Frampton, Motörhead, Ted Nugent and Oingo Boingo, has died at age 75.

One of Peter’s last recordings was as producer for The Black Sorrows most recent album ‘Saint Georges Road’ (2021).

In a post to The Black Sorrows socials Joe Camilleri said”

R.I.P. Peter Solley 1948-2023

At 7pm 16 Nov USA and 11am 17 Nov Aust…Peter chose to leave his mortal coil…I was prepared with a half glass of whiskey and Lee Morgan on the turntable…tears…all the buttons were pushed as the bells rang out…sail on sweet prince sail on..
Got to spend a little time with Peter in his hometown of Brattleboro Vermont just two weeks ago…we didn’t have to talk much and we didn’t…I did mention how inconvenient this was…he was meant to come back to the land of Oz and produce the next Black Sorrows’ album…so now I find myself asking what would Peter do? I’m lost with a sadness…I got to hold my friend and say my goodbyes

When I first met Peter I didn’t wanna like him…he was all business while I was all elastic. That dance lasted about a day and that was that. Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons was a great live band and Peter was able to capture that energy on record.
We found something else…a friendship…a brotherhood that can’t be broken by distance or time…we could pick up where we left off…all that had to be said was…are you up for one more dance?

Saint Georges Road…an album that really benefitted from Pete’s guiding hand…he made the hard calls that I wouldn’t. Best part…driving up and down the freeway…we were brothers doing dumb stuff…every day had its challenges…there was wisdom in the whiskey glasses and jazz was always on the turntable.
So there’s more stories to keep on telling

Peter’s wife Susan Tondreau is one hell of a gal…every day was a gift of love to him.

Pal Joey

Peter Solley first worked with Joe for Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons ‘Screaming Targets’ album. The album produced the hit songs ‘Hit and Run’ and ‘Shape I’m In’.

He worked with Joe and Jo Jo Zep through to the last album ‘Cha’ (1982). That produced the hit song ‘Taxi Mary’ with Jane Clifton.

Peter’s most famous international production was for The Romantics ‘What I Like About You’.

In his early days Peter was the touring organist for The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown’. He was a member of Fox who had the hit song ‘S-S-S-Single Bed’ in 1976.

Peter was also an early member of Whitesnake playing on the debut album ‘Snakebite’.

Peter Solley produced the second and third albums for The Sports ‘Don’t Throw Stones’ (1979) and ‘Suddenly’ (1980). Those recordings produced the hits ‘Who Listens To The Radio’, ‘Don’t Throw Stones’ and ‘Strangers on a Train’.

Peter was a one time member of Procol Harum, Ted Nugent producer for ‘Little Miss Dangerous’, Peter Frampton for ‘Premonition’, Motörhead ‘1916’ and ‘March or Die’ and Oingo Boingo ‘Only A Lad’ and string arranger for The Jam on ‘Setting Sons’.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Jeff Lynne photo from Jefflynneselo website
Jeff Lynne Abruptly Cancels UK Show

Jeff Lynne's ELO abruptly cancelled one of their final shows, after fans had already packed the arena.

46 minutes ago
Cat Stevens On The Road To Find Out
Cat Stevens To Release Definitive Greatest Hits

Yusuf / Cat Stevens is set to captivate fans once more with the release of 'On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits' on September 5th, 2025, via Cat-O-Log Records in partnership with Universal Music Recordings. This will be the first-ever career-spanning collection of his profoundly emotive and moving songs from his nearly 60-year recording career.

14 hours ago
Ian Moss Says He Chose His Cold Chisel ‘Big Five-O’ Songs Just Before Going On Stage

If you saw the Cold Chisel ‘The Big Five-O’ tour multiple times you may have noticed a random rotation of Ian Moss songs from concert to concert.

21 hours ago
Alice Cooper Band
Alice Cooper Group Recorded The Revenge of Alice Cooper “Old School”

The original Alice Cooper Group will release their first album in 52 years on 25 July. ‘The Revenge of Alice Cooper’ is the first group album since 1972’s ‘Muscle of Love’ and the founding members of the Alice Cooper band tell Nosie11 that the process now is the same as then.

22 hours ago
David Bowie I Cant Give Everything Away
David Bowie’s Next and Final Box Set is ‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’

‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’ is the sixth and final box set in the David Bowie series covering his entire career.

1 day ago
Jeff Lynne photo from Jefflynneselo website
Dhani Harrison Joins Jeff Lynne For Traveling Wilburys At ELO Concert Birmingham

While Black Sabbath was doing their final ever Back To The Beginning show in Villa Park, in their hometown Birmingham on Saturday night, across town four kilometres away Jeff Lynne was also performing at Utilita Arena in his hometown, Birmingham as well as Dhani Harrison joined Jeff.

5 days ago
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath photo by Ros OGorman
Black Sabbath Return Back To The Beginning In Birmingham For The End

Black Sabbath played their final show in hometown Birmingham, UK on Saturday (5 July 2025) with a massive all-day festival featuring the world’s biggest rock acts.

5 days ago