Born on August 13: Pete Astor (Weather Prophets), the journey of a discreet troubadour

It was founded in 1960 in the Hammersmith district of London. A stone's throw from historic concert halls such as the Odeon and the Palais…

Co-founder of the band The Loft in 1983, he quickly signed to Creation Records and, along with other artists on the label such as My Bloody Valentine and Primal Scream, participated in the birth of the British indie sound. The least we can say is that label boss Alan McGee had flair, as he also discovered Oasis.

After the rapid dissolution of his first band after only two years of existence, Astor founded The Weather Prophets, whose polished lyrics inevitably evoke Lloyd Cole's Commotions. They released their debut album, "Mayflower," in 1987 on the Elevation label, then returned to Creation for "Judges, Juries And Horsemen," before disbanding in 1989. Three short tours, and then they were gone. In an interview, Pete Astor humorously reflects on the surprising sales of one of his band's tracks: "The first week, we sold more copies than Elton John, but it was nothing more than that. A flash in the pan!" he says, referring to "She Comes From the Rain," their only notable hit, which didn't even reach the UK Top 40.

In the early 1990s, the singer embarked on a solo career with four notable albums, "Submarine" (1990) and "Zoo" (1991), both on Creation, which achieved only limited success in France. With occasional long periods of silence, he continued to record his touching stories and also explored other shores with The Wisdom of Harry and Ellis Island Sound. His latest album of original songs, "You Made Me," was released in 2020. But in recent years, like many artists of his generation, he's been reflecting on a career now spanning forty years. "Tall Stories & New Religions" (2024) features new interpretations of the songs from his repertoire that he most appreciates. Released in 2025, "Unsent Letters - Home Recordings 1984-2024" brings together raw and intimate versions recorded at home over the years. For example, it features the touching "When Vincent Started To Play" with the line "Put on red shoes and dance the blues for me," undoubtedly a nod to David Bowie's "Let's Dance" (1982).

It's high time to (re)discover all the musical facets of Pete Astor...

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo : © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Pete Astor with The Weather Proprets on stage in Brussels, Belgium, in August 1987