The “Golden Hits Of The 70s” 

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FRIJID PINK

THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

(Alan Price) Parrot 341

No.7 Apri/4, 1970

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When Motor City pop music is discussed, Berry Gordy’s Motown empire springs to mind quicker than a

hungry hound after a cheese-and-sausage pizza. “Detroit” might conjure thoughts of Bob Seger, self­

proclaimed “Motor City Madman” and ex-AMBOY DUKE TED NUGENT, John Sinclair’s MC5, and IGGY

Pew’s psychedelic Stooges. Somewhat of the latter ilk-though neither as gifted nor as well known-was

Frijid Pink (when the band members were asked what the name meant, they replied “cold excellence”).

Frijid Pink’s hopped-up and fuzzified cover version of the Animals’ 1964 classic was their brief magical

moment in pop music.

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Organized in Detroit in the late ’60s, the band ini­tially consisted of lead screamer Kelly Green and high

school buddies Gary Ray Thompson (lead guitar) and Thomas Beaudry (bass). Drummer Richard

Stevens and keyboardist Larry Zelanka were recruited from a pool of local talent. All too soon, these

Pinkmen were under contract with Parrot and ravaging the charts with their third single.”Sing a Song for

Freedom” (#55, 1971) and “Heartbreak Hotel” (#72, 1971) followed their smash, but the next three 45s

sold poorly.Whether the band might have developed into a top-flight act is unknown, for in 1972 most of

the group’s original core members departed.

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In 1972, with Stevens and Zelanka remaining, Pink reorganized, signed with MGM’s Lion subsidiary, and

issued the Earth Omen album and two singles, all to lit­ tle avail. In 1975, with only Stevens present,

another reorganization generated a final but pedestrian package for Fantasy, All Pink Inside.

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As the sun sets on the little house that Frijid Pink built, some remnants of the act have continued to tour

into the late ’90s.