Pete Williams

“SEE” - the debut solo album from PETE WILLIAMS - looks set to become a modern classic. Eleven songs of mystery, imagination, love, loss, joy and memory that come down on you like a ton of feathers.

Founding member of DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS, Pete, recorded the album with his band of merry Midlanders in the city of Sheffield, UK, where local hero, musician and friend RICHARD HAWLEY dropped by to add guitar to a tune or three.

Other musicians on 'SEE' include Al Gare (IMELDA MAY); Danny McCormack (ROY WOOD); Dean Beresford (RICHARD HAWLEY); Paul Taylor (SNOWBOY) and long-time musical collaborator Fred Skidmore.

“For me, it's all about recognising in another brother or sister that same appreciation, understanding and knowledge, backed-up by a feral fuckin' instinct, that another side to this life exists. A side other than the one we're shown by the greedheads and the business man and the meaningless, mindless pursuit of money. We can smell each other out. Pete smells good and is a damn fine man and musician”. RICHARD HAWLEY

“I’m a fan of the great Pete Williams. He’s a terrific storyteller set to beautiful melody and told with passion, charisma and heartfelt honesty. He draws me in every time”. IMELDA MAY

“Pete Williams has for many years been making music of real depth and weight. It deserves to be recognized. He sings from deep down in his soul and produces something that is unmistakably the truth. This is the real thing”. KEVIN ROWLAND

Born to Black Country parents just inside a new decade, Pete went to school, had a paper round, dreamed and played clarinet.

At age 14 he bought a bass guitar and was soon playing in various bands appearing in social clubs around the industrial West Midlands. Four years later he was invited by an old school friend to join a “new wave soul group” as yet unnamed, which later became DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS.

Their first single “Dance Stance” was released through Bernie Rhodes' Oddball label and they were invited to support THE SPECIALS on the first 2TONE tour. After recording “Searching For The Young Soul Rebels” (an album considered by many to be one of the best debut LPs by any UK band) and garnering a U.K. No1 single with “Geno”, extensive touring and many festival appearances followed.

Pete left DEXYS in Zurich at the end of an exhausting trans-European tour; returned to England and formed THE BUREAU. The band had top ten singles “Only For Sheep” and “Let Him Have It” in Australia and Canada, and toured Europe and the U.S. with The Pretenders. Their eponymous album was left inexplicably unreleased and overlooked in the U.K. They disbanded in 1983. (“The Bureau” finally saw the light of day with a release in 2005).

After a short siesta Pete, as vocalist, hoofer, raconteur and front-man, formed THESE TENDER VIRTUES with Fred Skidmore. Some called them “The Vicars of Vaudeville”, others “Dickensian nutters”. These boys, with hearts like the afternoon; completely and willfully out of step with the mid 80s trends, gigged extensively and toured Britain with the likes of THE POGUES and THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN .

The E.P. “The Continuing Saga” and a single “Waltz” were released through Cartel/Rough Trade, but after almost a decade of continual recording, rehearsing and touring, Pete called it a day for THESE TENDER VIRTUES.

2003 saw the reformation of DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS and Pete taking centre stage alongside KEVIN ROWLAND on the critically acclaimed tour of the UK “To Stop The Burning”. “Pete has a glorious voice” reported Dave Simpson for The Guardian.

After a short power nap a fortuitous meeting took place on a canal towpath with bassist Al Gare (IMELDA MAY) and drummer Dean Beresford (RICHARD HAWLEY). The seed was sown and BASEHART was formed. With the line up bolstered by pianist Danny McCormack (ROY WOOD); trombonist Paul Taylor (SNOWBOY) and Tender Virtue Fred Skidmore the band went from strength to strength, delivering blisteringly memorable live shows along the way.

2012 sees PETE WILLIAMS dropping any band name and releasing the long-awaited debut solo album “SEE”. Featuring all the aforementioned musicians the album also has a stunning guest appearance by RICHARD HAWLEY on guitar.