Rock Musician Behind Cult-Favorite 70s Band Backed by Led Zeppelin Has Died
Bobby Pickett, bassist and vocalist for the 1970s band Detective, died on 24 October, the band announced. His former bandmates remembered him for his musicianship and for his kindness and integrity, saying the music they made together would remain part of his legacy.
Detective formed in 1976 and signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label that year. Pickett joined drummer John Hyde, vocalist Michael Des Barres and guitarist Michael Monarch on the band’s self-titled 1977 debut and its follow-up, *It Takes One to Know One*. The group split in 1979 before completing a third album; Hyde later said Swan Song’s lack of promotional support had hindered the band.
In short
- Bobby Pickett has died, his bandmates announced.
- He played bass and sang with Detective.
- The band split in 1979 before finishing a third album.
Explained simply
Detective were an American rock band formed in 1976, during a decade when hard rock acts often built their sound around electric guitar, bass and drums. Bobby Pickett played bass and sang alongside vocalist Michael Des Barres, guitarist Michael Monarch and drummer John Hyde.
The band joined Swan Song, the record label founded by Led Zeppelin, and released two albums before breaking up in 1979. Their short career, and the unfinished third album, form the background to accounts of Detective’s place in 1970s rock.