What happened to Pete Brown?

Pete Brown died on May 19, 2023, after suffering from several forms of cancer. He was 82 years old at the time of death.

He began his career when he was just 14 years old. His first poem was published in the U.S. magazine Evergreen Review. During the 1960s, he became part of the poetry scene in Liverpool and was the first poet to perform at Morden Tower in Newcastle in 1964.

Brown formed Pete Brown and His Battered Ornaments in 1968, and the following year, the band recorded two albums dubbed A Meal You Can Shake Hands With in the Dark and Mantlepiece.

He started working with Graham Bond in the early ’70s, and with input from Jack Bruce and Bond’s wife, Diane Stewart, the recorded an album titled Two Heads Are Better Than One. He went on to form Brown and Friends, and Flying Tigers, though neither group beyond producing demos.

“We are extremely saddened to learn of the death of Jack’s long-term friend and writing partner, Pete Brown who passed away last night. We extend our sincere condolences to Pete’s wife Sheridan and Pete’s children as well as all his family and friends. Love from the Bruce family,” Jack Bruce’s family announced in a written statement.