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{{Short description|English musician and producer}}
De Freitas was a strikingly handsome young man, with the face of a model. Born in Trinidad and educated at a Benedictine school, he passed through a relatively untroubled youth, having several musically talented sisters and a brother, and became a drummer in his late teens. The other 3 original members of the group had recorded some demos of their songs using a drum machine, and had some success getting a contract. In 1979 they went looking for a drummer, de Freitas came to their attention, and was immediately hired. They recorded their first album entitled Crocodiles and released it in 1980.

Over the course of the next few years, the group with de Freitas in the drummer’s chair recorded the 5 most well-known Echo and the Bunnymen albums, today regarded as classics of the post-punk era. His drumming with the group was always praised for its power, simplicity and taste, even while the entire albums often received mixed reviews.

His only substantial break from the band followed an incident in the US in 1985. He reportedly joined the band’s road crew in New Orleans and decided to go on a bender with alcohol and drugs. He left the band after an unfriendly argument and stayed in the states for a few months. In the meantime the group had started recording a new album without him, but were unhappy with the results using a different drummer. Upon his return to the UK he expressed a desire to come back to the band, and at that point they were happy to have him, while noting his fragile mental state.

Unfortunately, big changes were in store after their 5th record was released and supported. Ian McCulloch left in 1988, and the group effectively quit as a unit. Pete de Freitas was riding his high-powered motorcycle on a stretch of English road when he collided with a vehicle and died on the scene. It is not known if drugs and/or alcohol played a part in his death, but his mental health had not been good for some time, so it may have been a contributing factor.

At the time of his death at 27 he had a daughter, and she survives, living in the UK. His remains are reportedly interred in a site in Goring-on-Thames cemetery. Echo and the Bunnymen reunited in the 90s and have continued recording and touring using the group name, even though only 2 original members remain.
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians --> {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Pete de Freitas | name = Pete de Freitas
| image = | image = Pete_de_Freitas.png
| caption = | caption = De Freitas in 1985
| image_size = | image_size =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas | birth_name = Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas
| alias = | alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1961|08|02|df=y}} | birth_date = {{Birth date|1961|08|02|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], Trinidad and Tobago | birth_place = ], Trinidad and Tobago
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|06|14|1961|08|02|df=y}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|06|14|1961|08|02|df=y}}
| death_place = ], England | death_place = ], England
| origin = | origin =
| instrument = ], ] | instrument = ], ]
| genre = ], ] | genre = ], ]
| occupation = Musician | occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1979–1989 | years_active = 1979–1989
| label = | label =
| associated_acts = ], ], The Sex Gods | past_member_of = ], ], The Sex Gods
| website = | website =
| notable_instruments =
}} }}


'''Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas''' (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) was a musician and producer. He was the drummer in ], and performed on their first five albums. '''Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas''' (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) was an English musician and producer. He was the drummer in ], and performed on their first five albums.


== Career ==
⚫ De Freitas was born in ], Trinidad and Tobago, and educated by the ] at ] in ], south-west England. His father, Denis, was a copyright lawyer.<ref>{{cite web|author=Maureen Duffy |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jan/24/guardianobituaries |title=Obituary: Denis de Freitas |publisher=The Guardian |date=}}</ref> He joined the Bunnymen in 1979, replacing a drum machine.
De Freitas joined the Bunnymen in 1979, replacing a drum machine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/12-things-you-didnt-know-10456671|title=12 Things you didn't know about Echo & the Bunnymen|first=Fionnuala|last=Bourke|date=17 November 2015|website=birminghammail}}</ref> Bunnymen's singer ] said they told him "to get stuck into the toms. ], of the musical group ], was the only other drummer doing that stuff at the time and Pete loved his drumming".<ref>{{cite book|last=Adams|first=Chris|title=Turquoise Days: The Weird World of Echo & the Bunnymen|publisher=NY: Soft Skull Press|year=2002|isbn=1887128891|page=61|quote=we banned hi-hats and anything else that 'tsss.' We told him to get stuck into the toms. Budgie was the only other drumming doing that stuff at the time and Pete loved his drumming. - Ian McCulloch, 1995}}</ref>


He funded, produced, and played drums under the name Louis Vincent on the first single of ], "The Revolutionary Spirit", in 1982, for the ] label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c86show.org/e/the-wild-swans-with-paul-simpson-in-conversation/|title=The Wild Swans with Paul Simpson in conversation|website=C86show.org|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
⚫ In 1985, de Freitas temporarily absconded from the band. He spent several months drinking in ], while attempting to form a new group, ]. By 1987 he returned to the Bunnymen to record their fifth album, though only as a part-time member.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pauldunoyer.com/pages/journalism/journalism_item.asp?journalismID=280 |title=Paul Du Noyer interviews Echo & The Bunnymen |publisher=Pauldunoyer.com |date=}}</ref>


⚫ In 1985, de Freitas temporarily left the band. He spent several months drinking in ], while attempting to form a new group, the Sex Gods. By 1987, he returned to the Bunnymen to record their fifth album, though only as a part-time member.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pauldunoyer.com/pages/journalism/journalism_item.asp?journalismID=280 |title=Paul Du Noyer interviews Echo & The Bunnymen |publisher=Pauldunoyer.com |access-date=24 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527233845/http://www.pauldunoyer.com/pages/journalism/journalism_item.asp?journalismID=280 |archive-date=27 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was married in the same year and his daughter Lucie Marie was born in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/14865/echo-bunnymen-pete-de-freitas-remembered|title=Echo & The Bunnymen's 'Bright And Beautiful' Pete De Freitas Remembered|website=Mojo|year=2014 }}</ref>
⚫ He died in a motorcycle accident in 1989 at the ], on his way to Liverpool from London. He was riding a 900cc Ducati motorcycle on the A51 road in Longdon Green, Staffordshire and was in collision with a motor vehicle at approximately 16:00. His ashes are buried in ].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_1IsKvqj5tcC&pg=PA248&lpg=PA248&dq=%22pete+de+freitas%22+goring+on+thames&source=bl&ots=yfVc_ZXUaA&sig=d8Eoje7Wkc_1u5RknLfubX3yyWg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=r6x_UoKEHcfP0QXkuYDQDQ&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22pete%20de%20freitas%22%20goring%20on%20thames&f=false |title=The Day the Music Died – Les MacDonald – Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.uk |date=}}</ref>


== Death ==
His sisters Rose and Rachel were founding members of the band ]. His brother Frank is the bass player of ].
⚫ De Freitas died in a motorcycle accident in 1989 at the ], on his way to Liverpool from London. He was riding a 900cc ] motorcycle on the ] in ], Staffordshire when he collided with a motor vehicle at approximately 16:00. His ashes are buried at Whitehill Burial Ground in ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1IsKvqj5tcC&q=%22pete+de+freitas%22+goring+on+thames&pg=PA248 |title=The Day the Music Died – Les MacDonald – Google Books |date=July 2010|isbn=9781453522677 |last1=MacDonald |first1=Les |publisher=Xlibris Corporation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Is-7woojs8 |title=The Graves of the 27 Club |author=Hollywood Graveyard |date=November 27, 2022 |via=YouTube |time=20:30}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
⚫ De Freitas was born in ], Trinidad and Tobago, and educated by the ] at ] in ], south-west England. His father, Denis, was a copyright lawyer.<ref>{{cite web |author=Maureen Duffy |date=24 January 2004 |title=Obituary: Denis de Freitas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jan/24/guardianobituaries |work=The Guardian}}</ref> His sisters Rose and Rachel were founding members of the band ]. His brother Frank is the bass player of ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarkson |first=John |title=Woodentops - Interviews |url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?id=15126 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Pennyblackmusic.co.uk}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]


==References== ==References==
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{{Echo & the Bunnymen}} {{Echo & the Bunnymen}}


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{{Persondata
|NAME= de Freitas, Pete Louis Vincent {{DEFAULTSORT:De Freitas, Pete}}
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Vincent, Louis
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= Drummer and producer
|DATE OF BIRTH= 2 August 1961
|PLACE OF BIRTH= Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
|DATE OF DEATH= 14 June 1989
|PLACE OF DEATH= England
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Defreitas, Pete}}
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] ]
] ]
] ]
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]
] ]
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{{Trinidad-musician-stub}} {{Trinidad-musician-stub}}
{{drummer-stub}} {{drummer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:26, 9 December 2024

English musician and producer

Pete de Freitas
De Freitas in 1985De Freitas in 1985
Background information
Birth namePeter Louis Vincent de Freitas
Born(1961-08-02)2 August 1961
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Died14 June 1989(1989-06-14) (aged 27)
Longdon Green, England
GenresPost-punk, alternative rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1979–1989
Formerly ofEcho & the Bunnymen, The Wild Swans, The Sex Gods
Musical artist

Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) was an English musician and producer. He was the drummer in Echo & the Bunnymen, and performed on their first five albums.

Career

De Freitas joined the Bunnymen in 1979, replacing a drum machine. Bunnymen's singer Ian McCulloch said they told him "to get stuck into the toms. Budgie, of the musical group the Banshees, was the only other drummer doing that stuff at the time and Pete loved his drumming".

He funded, produced, and played drums under the name Louis Vincent on the first single of the Wild Swans, "The Revolutionary Spirit", in 1982, for the Zoo Records label.

In 1985, de Freitas temporarily left the band. He spent several months drinking in New Orleans, while attempting to form a new group, the Sex Gods. By 1987, he returned to the Bunnymen to record their fifth album, though only as a part-time member. He was married in the same year and his daughter Lucie Marie was born in 1988.

Death

De Freitas died in a motorcycle accident in 1989 at the age of 27, on his way to Liverpool from London. He was riding a 900cc Ducati motorcycle on the A51 road in Longdon Green, Staffordshire when he collided with a motor vehicle at approximately 16:00. His ashes are buried at Whitehill Burial Ground in Goring-on-Thames.

Personal life

De Freitas was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and educated by the Benedictines at Downside School in Somerset, south-west England. His father, Denis, was a copyright lawyer. His sisters Rose and Rachel were founding members of the band The Heart Throbs. His brother Frank is the bass player of the Woodentops.

See also

References

  1. Bourke, Fionnuala (17 November 2015). "12 Things you didn't know about Echo & the Bunnymen". birminghammail.
  2. Adams, Chris (2002). Turquoise Days: The Weird World of Echo & the Bunnymen. NY: Soft Skull Press. p. 61. ISBN 1887128891. we banned hi-hats and anything else that 'tsss.' We told him to get stuck into the toms. Budgie was the only other drumming doing that stuff at the time and Pete loved his drumming. - Ian McCulloch, 1995
  3. "The Wild Swans with Paul Simpson in conversation". C86show.org. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. "Paul Du Noyer interviews Echo & The Bunnymen". Pauldunoyer.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  5. "Echo & The Bunnymen's 'Bright And Beautiful' Pete De Freitas Remembered". Mojo. 2014.
  6. MacDonald, Les (July 2010). The Day the Music Died – Les MacDonald – Google Books. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781453522677.
  7. Hollywood Graveyard (27 November 2022). "The Graves of the 27 Club". Event occurs at 20:30 – via YouTube.
  8. Maureen Duffy (24 January 2004). "Obituary: Denis de Freitas". The Guardian.
  9. Clarkson, John. "Woodentops - Interviews". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2023.

External links

Echo & the Bunnymen
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Extended plays
Singles
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