Peter Charles Lewis (born July 15, 1945) is one of the founding members of the band Moby Grape. Three of his better known songs with Moby Grape are "Fall on You" and "Sitting by the Window" from the self-titled first Moby Grape album and "If You Can't Learn from My Mistakes" from Moby Grape '69.[1]
Peter is the younger of the two sons of actress Loretta Young (1913-2000)[2] and writer-producer Tom Lewis (d. 1988),[3] and accordingly spent much of his childhood in Hollywood. His older brother Christopher Lewis (1944–2021) was a writer and producer of films primarily for television. The Lewis brothers are nephews of Young's sisters, actresses Polly Ann Young and Sally Blane. They are also half-brothers of Judy Lewis (d.2011), daughter of Loretta Young and Clark Gable. Musician David Lindley is their cousin.[4]
As a youth, Lewis attended military school; after a stint in the Air Force, he became a commercial pilot, initially working for Shell Oil.[5] As for his musical career, Lewis cites Tim Hardin and Fred Neil as important influences, and credits Linda McCartney (née Eastman) with introducing him to their music.[6]
Moby Grape: Lewis’ Sensitivity to Mosley’s and Spence’s Challenges
Beyond his work as a musician, Lewis has been noted for his efforts in assisting fellow Moby Grape bandmates Bob Mosley and Skip Spence (d. 1999) in battling the challenges of schizophrenia.[7] Lewis has a personal sensitivity to psychiatric challenges. At age 11, while his parents were embroiled in an acrimonious divorce and custody dispute, he suffered a nervous breakdown in New York City and was involuntarily hospitalized for a period.[8] As of 1969, he recalls, "I was under the care of a psychiatrist, taking all this Librium so I could stay with the band."[9]
Mosley credits Lewis with helping him end approximately five years of homelessness in the 1990s. Mosley describes the circumstances as follows: "In 1996, Peter Lewis picked me up along the side of a San Diego freeway where I was living, to tell me a ruling by San Francisco Judge Garcia gave Moby Grape their name back. I was ready to go to work again."[10]
With respect to Spence, Lewis was skeptical about him being labeled a schizophrenic because recognized treatments were not resulting in any noticeable improvements. As a result, Lewis sought and participated in alternative healing therapies with Spence involving metaphysics. "Through my dad, who'd become a born-again Christian, I'd met these monks in Lucia above Big Sur, who were really serious about rational metaphysics. Their faith beyond reason overwhelms you every time.[11] Since the doctors couldn't help Skippy - they kept objectifying his problem: 'He's a paranoid schizophrenic' and were never going to heal him. All they were interested in was keeping him out of McDonald's with a machine gun, so it (the monastery) was the only place I could think of to take him."[9]
Recent career
In recent years, in addition to performing occasionally with Moby Grape, Lewis was a guitarist with the reformed Electric Prunes (2000–2003), contributing to their Artifact album.[12][13] He has also developed a career as a solo artist. He has released three albums on the Taxim label: Peter Lewis,Peter Lewis with David West Live in Bremen and Peter Lewis with David West Live at the Lobero Theatre.[14] Peter Lewis occasionally performs as a duo with David West, his collaborator on Live in Bremen and "Live at the Lobero Theatre."[15]
In 2010, Lewis appeared with Stu Cook at the SXSW festival, performing with The Explosives.[16][17][18]
As of 2011, Lewis has been writing songs and performing with poet M.L. Liebler.[19]
"Live at the Lobero Theatre" (2013, with David West)
Just Like Jack (2017)
The Road To Zion (2019)
References
^At their 2007 appearance at the 40th anniversary of the "Summer of Love" reunion, Moby Grape opened their set with Lewis' "Fall on You".
^Peter Lewis' tribute to his late mother is accessible here
^Primarily as a writer-producer of "The Loretta Young Show".
^David Lindley's father Jack Lindley was a sibling (one brother, two sisters) of Peter Lewis' mother Loretta Young. See Interview with Peter Lewis 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost, 1995; www.sundazed.com.
^Matthew Greenwald, Peter Lewis Biography; www.allmusic.com.
^"Interview with Peter Lewis". Archived from the original on March 1, 2002. Retrieved 2013-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), October, 2001.
^Images of Peter Lewis, Bob Mosley and Skip Spence playing music together in later years are accessible here. (Below the gallery)
^Interview with Peter Lewis 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost, 1995; www.sundazed.com.
^ abInterview with Peter Lewis 2007-09-04 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost, 1995; www.sundazed.com.
^Bob Mosley commentary in relation to the circumstances ultimately leading to his stabilization and the recording of his album True Blue Oddly though, bankrupt musicians rarely try to find other jobs. 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine (2005).
^Lewis is presumably referring to the Camaldolese Monks of Big Sur 2008-09-08 at the Wayback Machine; www.bigsurhermitage.com.
^See "interview with Peter Lewis at the Electric Prunes website". Archived from the original on March 1, 2002. Retrieved 2013-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), October, 2001.
^Lewis' connection to The Electric Prunes commenced in the 1960s, through the late guitarist Ron Morgan (1945-1989). Morgan, originally from Colby, Kansas, had relocated to Los Angeles and played with Lewis in one of Lewis' early bands, Peter and The Wolves. Morgan then went on to join The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, as well as an early version of Three Dog Night and, thereafter, a reformed version of The Electric Prunes, playing on the Just Good Old Rock and Roll album. See Interview with Bob Morgan 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine (brother of Ron Morgan), 1999; www.shadwell.tripod.com.
^Taxim is a German label which distributes its albums globally. Peter Lewis is quite popular in Germany. Bob Mosley also records for the same label. The label website is here 2008-09-15 at the Wayback Machine.
^See notice of Peter Lewis and David West performing in Chelsea, Michigan, June, 2008. For a series of pictures of Peter Lewis and David West, performing in 2003, see here.
^Raul Hernandez, Live Shots: SXSW Music 2010, Austin Chronicle, March 26, 2010
^The Explosives are a legendary Austin band, which Cook had produced. See SXSW Events: The Explosives with Peter Lewis and Stu Cook[permanent dead link]; SXSW. The Explosives are notable as assisting Roky Erickson in addressing psychiatric challenges relating to schizophrenia and in Erickson's return to recording and performing.
^Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson and Omar Spence, son of Skip Spence, also appeared at a different venue, but on the same day, at SXSW, performing as "New Wine". For reasons not publicly known, Lewis did not join his former bandmates in performance.
^News Release, Poet M.L. Lieber and Moby Grape’s Peter Lewis to Perform in Cheyenne, KOWB 1290, February 25, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
Electric Prunes, 2001; review by Keith Hannaleck, 2002.
February 19, 2023
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For the composer of classical music see Peter Scott Lewis For the 1950s R amp B guitarist see Pete Guitar Lewis Peter Charles Lewis born July 15 1945 is one of the founding members of the band Moby Grape Three of his better known songs with Moby Grape are Fall on You and Sitting by the Window from the self titled first Moby Grape album and If You Can t Learn from My Mistakes from Moby Grape 69 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Moby Grape Lewis Sensitivity to Mosley s and Spence s Challenges 3 Recent career 4 Solo discography 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditPeter is the younger of the two sons of actress Loretta Young 1913 2000 2 and writer producer Tom Lewis d 1988 3 and accordingly spent much of his childhood in Hollywood His older brother Christopher Lewis 1944 2021 was a writer and producer of films primarily for television The Lewis brothers are nephews of Young s sisters actresses Polly Ann Young and Sally Blane They are also half brothers of Judy Lewis d 2011 daughter of Loretta Young and Clark Gable Musician David Lindley is their cousin 4 As a youth Lewis attended military school after a stint in the Air Force he became a commercial pilot initially working for Shell Oil 5 As for his musical career Lewis cites Tim Hardin and Fred Neil as important influences and credits Linda McCartney nee Eastman with introducing him to their music 6 Moby Grape Lewis Sensitivity to Mosley s and Spence s Challenges EditBeyond his work as a musician Lewis has been noted for his efforts in assisting fellow Moby Grape bandmates Bob Mosley and Skip Spence d 1999 in battling the challenges of schizophrenia 7 Lewis has a personal sensitivity to psychiatric challenges At age 11 while his parents were embroiled in an acrimonious divorce and custody dispute he suffered a nervous breakdown in New York City and was involuntarily hospitalized for a period 8 As of 1969 he recalls I was under the care of a psychiatrist taking all this Librium so I could stay with the band 9 Mosley credits Lewis with helping him end approximately five years of homelessness in the 1990s Mosley describes the circumstances as follows In 1996 Peter Lewis picked me up along the side of a San Diego freeway where I was living to tell me a ruling by San Francisco Judge Garcia gave Moby Grape their name back I was ready to go to work again 10 With respect to Spence Lewis was skeptical about him being labeled a schizophrenic because recognized treatments were not resulting in any noticeable improvements As a result Lewis sought and participated in alternative healing therapies with Spence involving metaphysics Through my dad who d become a born again Christian I d met these monks in Lucia above Big Sur who were really serious about rational metaphysics Their faith beyond reason overwhelms you every time 11 Since the doctors couldn t help Skippy they kept objectifying his problem He s a paranoid schizophrenic and were never going to heal him All they were interested in was keeping him out of McDonald s with a machine gun so it the monastery was the only place I could think of to take him 9 Recent career EditIn recent years in addition to performing occasionally with Moby Grape Lewis was a guitarist with the reformed Electric Prunes 2000 2003 contributing to their Artifact album 12 13 He has also developed a career as a solo artist He has released three albums on the Taxim label Peter Lewis Peter Lewis with David West Live in Bremen and Peter Lewis with David West Live at the Lobero Theatre 14 Peter Lewis occasionally performs as a duo with David West his collaborator on Live in Bremen and Live at the Lobero Theatre 15 In 2010 Lewis appeared with Stu Cook at the SXSW festival performing with The Explosives 16 17 18 As of 2011 Lewis has been writing songs and performing with poet M L Liebler 19 Solo discography EditPeter Lewis 1995 20 Live in Bremen 2003 with David West Live at the Lobero Theatre 2013 with David West Just Like Jack 2017 The Road To Zion 2019 References Edit At their 2007 appearance at the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love reunion Moby Grape opened their set with Lewis Fall on You Peter Lewis tribute to his late mother is accessible here Primarily as a writer producer of The Loretta Young Show David Lindley s father Jack Lindley was a sibling one brother two sisters of Peter Lewis mother Loretta Young See Interview with Peter Lewis Archived 2008 09 06 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost 1995 www sundazed com Matthew Greenwald Peter Lewis Biography www allmusic com Interview with Peter Lewis Archived from the original on March 1 2002 Retrieved 2013 08 18 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link October 2001 Images of Peter Lewis Bob Mosley and Skip Spence playing music together in later years are accessible here Below the gallery Interview with Peter Lewis Archived 2008 09 06 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost 1995 www sundazed com a b Interview with Peter Lewis Archived 2007 09 04 at the Wayback Machine by Jud Cost 1995 www sundazed com Bob Mosley commentary in relation to the circumstances ultimately leading to his stabilization and the recording of his album True Blue Oddly though bankrupt musicians rarely try to find other jobs Archived 2009 01 06 at the Wayback Machine 2005 Lewis is presumably referring to the Camaldolese Monks of Big Sur Archived 2008 09 08 at the Wayback Machine www bigsurhermitage com See interview with Peter Lewis at the Electric Prunes website Archived from the original on March 1 2002 Retrieved 2013 08 18 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link October 2001 Lewis connection to The Electric Prunes commenced in the 1960s through the late guitarist Ron Morgan 1945 1989 Morgan originally from Colby Kansas had relocated to Los Angeles and played with Lewis in one of Lewis early bands Peter and The Wolves Morgan then went on to join The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band as well as an early version of Three Dog Night and thereafter a reformed version of The Electric Prunes playing on the Just Good Old Rock and Roll album See Interview with Bob Morgan Archived 2011 02 08 at the Wayback Machine brother of Ron Morgan 1999 www shadwell tripod com Taxim is a German label which distributes its albums globally Peter Lewis is quite popular in Germany Bob Mosley also records for the same label The label website is here Archived 2008 09 15 at the Wayback Machine See notice of Peter Lewis and David West performing in Chelsea Michigan June 2008 For a series of pictures of Peter Lewis and David West performing in 2003 see here Raul Hernandez Live Shots SXSW Music 2010 Austin Chronicle March 26 2010 The Explosives are a legendary Austin band which Cook had produced See SXSW Events The Explosives with Peter Lewis and Stu Cook permanent dead link SXSW The Explosives are notable as assisting Roky Erickson in addressing psychiatric challenges relating to schizophrenia and in Erickson s return to recording and performing Jerry Miller Don Stevenson and Omar Spence son of Skip Spence also appeared at a different venue but on the same day at SXSW performing as New Wine For reasons not publicly known Lewis did not join his former bandmates in performance News Release Poet M L Lieber and Moby Grape s Peter Lewis to Perform in Cheyenne KOWB 1290 February 25 2011 Retrieved April 21 2016 Produced by John McFee of the Doobie Brothers and featuring contributions from Keith Knudsen Doobie Brothers and Stu Cook Creedence Clearwater Revival all of whom at the time were in country rock band Southern Pacific Multi instrumentalist McFee a well known contributor to the works of others such as Van Morrison s Saint Dominic s Preview and Elvis Costello s My Aim Is True considers this Peter Lewis album to be among the better he has worked See Biography of John McFee www doobiebros com External links EditPeter Lewis unofficial MySpace page Play Ball Musical Services David West Artifact Electric Prunes 2001 review by Keith Hannaleck 2002 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter Lewis musician amp oldid 1135511638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
