Rod Price was the lead guitarist and “Magician of Slide” for the indefatigable blues rock group Foghat. His death on March 24, 2005, was and remains reported as due to head trauma sustained in a fall down stairs at his home in Wilton, NH. However, autopsy results revealed that Price had a heart attack about a week before his death, and a fatal one that caused his fall. He was just 57 years old.
Roderick Michael Price was born near London, England, just after WWII. He got into music at age 7 or 8, being captivated by the blues of Big Bill Broonzy on the radio. He took up the guitar, inspired by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Davey Graham and Broonzy. Johnson’s slide playing was “an awakening,” and Earl Hooker and Elmore James were “the kick in the ass . . . They shook me, moved me, and pointed me in the direction of my future.”
By the time he was 18, Rod was playing in blues clubs around London. Another blues traveler in those parts was “Lonesome” Dave Peverett.
“Dave and I had met each other two or three years before forming Foghat. We were both playing around the blues clubs in London, me with Shaky Vick’s Big City Blues Band, Dynaflow Blues and Black Cat Bones. Dave was playing with Cross-Ties Blues Band and of course Savoy Brown. I answered an ad in a local music paper, not knowing it was Dave.... obviously when we got together it clicked, and the rest is...”
Lonesome Dave Peverett – Roger Earl – Rod Price – Tony Stevens
Foghat was formed by Dave, rhythm guitar/vocals, and Rod, with Roger Earl on drums and Tony Stevens on bass. The year was 1971. Foghat made plenty of records, but they are best know for their live performances and radio singles like “Slow Ride” “Fool for the City” “I Just Wanna Make Love to You” and “Drivin’ Wheel.”
If you attended only a few rock concerts in the 1970s, the odds are good that you saw Foghat perform. The straight ahead blues rock band from England never seemed to stop touring. They frequently played on tour with Humble Pie, J. Geils, and Montrose, and then as headliners.
The relentless touring took a toll on Rod and he left the band at the end of 1980, burned out and needing to re-charge his batteries. He stayed away for 10 years, and then played a few dates with Lonesome Dave, who had also left Foghat. In 1993, all four original members reunited. They began touring again, and recorded Return of the Boogie Men.
By 2000, Rod had his fill of the rock lifestyle, and returned home for good. He produced a couple of solo blued albums, and gave guitar lessons in his home. Mostly, he helped raise his 5 children and coached his youngest son’s baseball team.
