2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter

Subject: Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 01:19 AM

I don't have confirmation, but it appears that Peter Krug has died.

Here's his biography from allmusic.com:

Peter Krug would be totally forgotten today had he not, by circumstance, ended up on the very collectable first release by a major California psychedelic group. In late 1965, Country Joe & the Fish -- still a folk jugband for the most part -- put out their first two tracks, early versions of "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" and "Superbird," on a four-song EP accompanying the magazine Rag Baby. Country Joe & the Fish were only on the A-side, however; the B-side was devoted to two solo acoustic performances by Krug, a San Francisco Bay Area folk singer/songwriter. The two songs were mediocre mid-'60s topical folk tunes, not helped by the drab melodies and Krug's unsteady, inexpressive vocals. "Fire in the City" mixes a Dylanesque delivery with a vague lyrical sense of apocalypse, and "Johnny's Gone to the War" was an anti-war statement. Although the original EP release on which these tracks appeared is quite rare, the Krug songs (as well as the Country Joe & the Fish ones) were reissued on Country Joe & the Fish's Collectors Items: The First Three EP's collection.

That may be all that allmusic can say about him, but we in Northern California were rather fond of him. His 1964 "Migrant Song" was published in Sing Out! Magazine and in Rise Up Singing, and Faith Petric recorded his "Geritol Gypsy." I think his most-requested song was "Woman With a Chainsaw." Here's a video of Peter singing the song. The recording quality is poor, but it may give you an idea how fun it was to listen to Peter sing his "hit":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Brv0HmOD-A

His use of the term "thunderfuck" in the song served to increase sales considerably.

Here's a better-quality recording by Remy Rodden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05xccLOY3_k

Peter, rest in peace. It was nice to know you.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 01:14 AM

Here's the obituary for Peter Krug from the Folknik newsletter of the San Francisco Folk Music Club: http://www.sffmc.org/archives/folknik_Jan-Feb_2017.pdf

Peter Krug —Oct. 11, 1942–Nov. 23, 2016
by Ken Hayes

Long-time SFFMC member, musician, and popular songwriter Peter Krug died on November 23 at his home in Guerneville. Peter was born and raised in the Bay Area. He embraced the folk music scene at an early age, first appearing on the KPFA show, "The Midnight Special". He went on to record an album with Country Joe Macdonald. He lived in the Haight-Ashbury in its heyday, opening a store, "Wild Colors", and worked with the diggers, giving out free food.
He was a social activist, working and performing for civil rights and labor causes. He lived and worked with the migrant workers, writing "The Migrant Song" about his experiences. That song was published in Broadside, and is now in the Smithsonian. It can also be found in Rise Up Singing. He went on to write many more great songs, that were recorded by many other musicians and translated into other languages.
He eventually settled in Sonoma County. He had two sons and a daughter. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, and a greatgrandchild.
In later years, he performed with Happenstance. Peter will be sorely missed, but his songs will be heard around campfires and musical gatherings for many years to come.
There will be a memorial on Sunday, January 29, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., at the Muir Woods Park Community Clubhouse, at 40 Ridge Ave, Mill Valley.
His family is struggling to cover the expenses, so if anyone is able to help out, or wants more information, contact his daughter (address available from Joe Offer).

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: GUEST,Joe Como and Carol Ginsburg
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 11:18 PM

Rip Peter: we spent many good times with you in Lagunitas in the 70's. You will be missed.

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: GUEST,Kathleen Donnelly
Date: 26 Mar 20 - 11:48 PM

I'm sorry to hear of Peter's death. I knew him in Berkeley in the early 60s, and I remember his joy at the birth of his son Matthew. He was thrilled in the late 60s when Ravi Shankar, visiting SF, stopped by the shop Peter and his wife ran on Haight Street. Shankar listened to Peter play his guitar and paid him a polite compliment. Who could ask for anything more?
We left the SF area and lost touch with Peter in 1971. I hope he had a happy life. He was a nice man.

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Oct 20 - 02:56 AM

very fond of Peter's work, and lost the cassette tape I had bought for him for seven big bucks. Wonder if his daughter is reachable? I 'd sure like to get that cassette again.
ALice B. Toeclips

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Peter Krug, SF Songwriter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Oct 20 - 03:15 AM

Alice, email me and I can give you the contact information I have.
Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor
[e-mail]

I posted three YouTube videos above:

• "Looking' For A Woman With A Chainsaw"
  
• Fire In the City
  
• Johnny's Gone in the War
  

Subject: ADD: Fire in the City (Peter Krug)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Aug 22 - 08:11 PM

Jim Burrill reminds me that Peter Krug wrote "Fire in the City" and the Grateful Dead recorded it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkdWOeieSrM

Lyrics from https://whitegum.com/introjs.htm?/songfile/FIRECITY.HTM

Fire In The City

Lyrics: Peter Krug
Music: Peter Krug

Recorded by the Dead as a backing band for Jon Hendricks in 1966. It was recorded for a documentary "Sons And Daughters" - and the title track Sons And Daughters, also by the Dead with Jon Hendricks, was the B side.

Pause for a minute and ask yourself why
[There's fire in the city]
The red glow of fire lights up the sky
[There's fire in the city]
And the sound of the siren screams through the [black]
[There's fire in the city]
And the streets re-echo with the rifle's crack
[There's fire in the city]

Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that's gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

Come on with me let me take you down there
[There's fire in the city]
To the hate-haunted canyon of human despair
[There's fire in the city]
Over the dark invisible wall
[There's fire in the city]
Through the sickening stench of the tenament hall
[There's fire in the city]

Oh how can I tell in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight

Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that's gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

I know by your face that you don't know the sound
[There's fire in the city]
Of a club that's beaten a man to the ground
[There's fire in the city]
Where your home is your prison, your skin a disgrace
[There's fire in the city]
And the gates of your nation swing shut in your face
[There's fire in the city]

Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight

Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that's gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

Oh pause for a minute and ask yourself why
[There's fire in the city]
The red glow of fire lights up the sky
[There's fire in the city]
And at the sound of the siren you really know
[There's fire in the city]
That you truly do reap just what you sow
[There's fire in the city]

Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight
Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight
Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight

The song was written by Peter Krug, a San Francisco Bay Area singer/songwriter. It was issued on the B side of the first EP by Country Joe & The Fish - though there is no other connection between the two.

The original Peter Krug version has lots of verses that were omitted by Jon Hendricks - in red below. Thanks to Matt Schofield for the transcription.

Sit at your window, ask yourself why
The red glow of fire lights up the night sky
Far below where the sirens scream through the black
[Cloud] streets re-echo with a sharp rifle's crack
Down there where the screaming mob surge like the sea
In broken glass, gasoline, flying debris
The troopers press forwards with bayonets fixed
Into the shower of bottles and bricks

What are the confused thoughts that race through your brain
At the sight of a city gone completely insane

Oh how can I tell you in terms black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight

I can't talk to you, you've never been down there
In the hate haunted canyons of human despair
You've never been back of the invisible wall
Through the sickening stench of a tenement hall
You've never walked down the trash littered streets
Seen fear and suspicion on the faces you meet
Where your presence brings silence to the children at play
Angry eyes watch from a dark passageway
The women fall silent and stare as you pass
On a street without trees, without flowers or grass

Where the volcano slumbers and the dark eyes indict
There's fire in the city tonight

In your chrome plated, air conditioned, white universe
In your own hand-made heaven you're free from the curse
I know by your face that you don't know the sound
Of a club that is beating a man to the ground
As his friends stand by helpless, their fists clenched tight
And they wait through the years for a night like tonight
You've never known the hunger, you've never known the fear
Like running for cover when the police are near
Be part of a world that wants no part of you
Where the laws are deceitful and justice untrue
Where your home is a prison, your skin your disgrace
And the gates of a nation swing shut in your face

Condemned unto darkness, forbidden the light
There's fire in the city tonight

And this is the price of the wrong that's been done
A [?] that rages on past the sun
Like the roar of a river that's been too long held back
Striking out blindly in wanton attack
Smashing and burning the whole city wide
Onward and onward in mad suicide
Reaping the seeds that for years have been sown
Striking out blind in a world not their own
A mad twirling cyclone of hate against hate
In this hour of darkness, friends, pray it's not too late

For as long as the wall stands between black and white
There'll be fire in the city all night