FU^K (pronounced “FUNK”) is comprised of A-list funk-fusion session musicians: band leader/ guitarist/ vocalist Pete Pidgeon (Blue Man Group, Sam Kininger Band), bassist Pete Griffin (Zappa Plays Zappa, Edgar Winter), tenor saxophonist Woody Mankowski (Aretha Franklin, Cheap Trick), drummer Cain Daniel (JMSN), and keyboardist Yakub Saputra. The band performs originals, celebrates deep-cut underground soul, and reinterprets songs to a funk/neo-soul vein. The intent is to challenge the audience's expectations while keeping them grooving. Betty Davis, The Nite-Liters, Howard Tate, Tom Browne, Stevie Wonder, The GAP Band, Curtis Mayfield, Wayne Krantz, Daft Punk, and Fred Wesley are just a sample of the band's varied influences.

FU^K was born at The Armoury in Denver, Colorado in 2015 as the torch bearers of the Wednesday night Hump Day Funk Jam handed down from the Hump Day All-Stars of which Pete was the guitarist. FU^K revolutionized the format to focus on a set of original compositions followed by a more-demanding repertoire that pushed the guest musicians to exceed their boundaries and give the crowd a higher-quality experience. Receiving major regional acclaim, the band became a touring unit and is currently in preparation for two debut albums in their new home of Los Angeles, California.

FU^K core and guest members have included Michael Jackson Co-Musical Director Joey Melotti, Mike Lent (Barry Manilow, Steve Miller), DJ Logic (The Roots, Mos Def), Ron Pedley (Air Supply), Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), Alvin Ford, Jr. (Dumpstaphunk), Allen Aucoin (The Disco Biscuits), Kim Dawson (Pimps of Joytime), Joey Porter (The Motet), Steveland Swatkins (Allen Stone), Leah Concialdi (Nathaniel Rateliff), John Grigsby (Gregory Alan Isakov), and Stephen Thurston (Casey Abrams).

Bandleader and Founder Pete Pidgeon has also recorded and performed with funk legends Kenwood Dennard (Miles Davis, Maceo Parker), Billy “Spaceman” Patterson (James Brown), Louis Cato (The Late Show, Stevie Wonder, Marcus Miller), Medeski Martin & Wood, Mark Kelley (The Roots), Stanley Banks (George Benson), Lew Soloff (Grant Green, Blood Sweat & Tears), Kai Eckhardt (John Mclaughlin), Rashawn Ross (Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band), Eric Kalb (John Scofield, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Charlie Hunter), and Gabe Wallace (Gorillaz).

FU^K headlined the Joyride Anniversary Block Party for three consecutive years –  increasing their draw from 1,000, to 2,000, to 4,000 people. Other performance highlights include headlining the 1000-capacity Summit Music Hall with guest DJ Logic, selling out the Local Product of Colorado Launch Party at Quixote's, directly supporting DRKWAV (John Medeski, Adam Deitch, Skerik) at The Aggie Theater, and headlining the after-party for Grammy Nominee Lettuce’s Fillmore Auditorium concert, presented by 105.5FM “The Colorado Sound”. FU^K’s 2017 Los Angeles debut was headlining the 600-capacity Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood – their most-frequented LA venue.

FU^K is led by Pete Pidgeon who appears on one Grammy Award-Nominated project and has landed 12 Grammy ballot appearances. Pete also fronts the Americana outfit Pete Pidgeon & Arcoda whose newest album All the Little Things was on the first-round Grammy Awards ballot in 7 categories and features one of Levon Helm’s (The Band, Bob Dylan) final studio recordings to be released. Pete co-wrote the song “Anthem” on the Sony BMG label with Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Dumpstaphunk, Nth Power) when they were both members of the Sam Kininger Band, and Pete’s song “Comeback” was sung by Epic Recording Artist/ Missy Elliot protégé Jessica Betts on BET’s number-one show 106 & Park for 10.3 million viewers.

LINEUP

Pete Pidgeon - guitar, vocals

Cain Daniel - drums

Pete Griffin - bass

Woody Mankowski - tenor sax

Yakub Saputra - keyboards

Scooter Vineburgh - percussion