Pete Berwick

Growing up in the Chicago area, Peter Berwick grew up influenced by George Jones and Johnny Cash. His first musical band was the Generics in 1978. Performing around the Chicago bar circuit, the group's power pop melodies earned excellent reviews. But two of the Generics songs were banned from radio airplay, including "There She Goes Again." The band stopped in 1983 and Berwick latched on to the End in 1984 as a guitarist. The End released one album and opened up for groups such as Hüsker Dü and the Minutemen. In 1985, the End ended prior to touring the West Coast. In 1986, Berwick formed a cowpunk group called Peter Berwick & Interstate. He also released two albums during this period, Decisions in 1987 and Six Pack Town. In 1990, Berwick headed to Nashville's Music Row and became a staff writer for Bitter Creek Records. One of his songs, "The Thing Called Love," appeared in a River Phoenix motion picture. During this time, Berwick recorded an album, but Rebels and Cadillacs was never released. From there, he assembled another cowpunk group, the Nashville Underground, which scored an opening slot for the Charlie Daniels Band. But the Nashville Underground broke up after touring. In 1996, Berwick released Hell to Pay, a roots rock album in the vein of Steve Earle. In 1999, after returning to Chicago, he released a children's album. In 2002, Berwick released his second roots rock record, Only Bleeding. He has been described as being "too raw, too rough-edged, and too damn talented." He has also shared the stage with Doug Kershaw and Joe Sun.