Born on August 13: Pete Astor (Weather Prophets), the journey of a low-key troubadour

He was born in 1960 in the Hammersmith neighborhood of London. Just a stone’s throw from historic concert venues such as the Odeon and the Palais.

As a co-founder of the band The Loft in 1983, he quickly signed with Creation Records and, alongside other artists on the label such as My Bloody Valentine and Primal Scream, helped shape the British “indie” sound. To say the least, label head Alan McGee had a knack for talent, as he also discovered Oasis.

After his first band broke up quickly—after only two years together—Astor went on to form The Weather Prophets, whose polished lyrics inevitably brought to mind Lloyd Cole’s Commotions. They released their debut album, "Mayflower", in 1987 on the Elevation label, then returned to Creation for "Judges, Juries And Horsemen" before breaking up in 1989. Three short tours, and then they were gone. In an interview, Pete Astor humorously reflected on the surprising sales of one of his band’s songs: “The first week, we sold more copies than Elton John, but that was as far as it went. A flash in the pan!” he says, referring to “She Comes From The Rain, ” their only notable hit, which didn’t even make it into the Top 40 on the UK charts.

In the early ’90s, the singer embarked on a solo career with four notable albums, “Submarine” (1990) and “Zoo” (1991)—both released on Creation—which garnered only critical acclaim in France. With occasional long periods of silence, he continues to record his poignant stories and also explores other musical horizons with The Wisdom Of Harry and Ellis Island Sound. His latest album of original songs, “You Made Me,” was released in 2020. But in recent years, like many artists of his generation, he has been reflecting on a career that now spans some forty years. Thus, “Tall Stories & New Religions” (2024) offers new interpretations of the songs from his repertoire that he cherishes most. Released in 2025, “Unsent Letters—Home Recordings 1984–2024,” meanwhile, brings together raw and intimate versions recorded at home over the years. It includes, for example, the touching “When Vincent Started To Play” with the line “Put on red shoes and dance the blues for me”—undoubtedly a nod to David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” ( 1982).

Photo 1: Pete Astor with The Weather Prophets on stage in Brussels (Belgium) in August 1987

Photo 2: The Weather Prophets backstage before their concert in Brussels (Belgium) in August 1987