Tory Voodoo

Biography

Though their name has self-evident references to the British party political system, roots band Tory Voodoo in fact formed in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. In actuality, the Tory prefix refers to a stretch of cliff off the coast of Ireland known as Torai Rock. A duo of Arvid Smith (guitars) and Lee Hunter (vocals, percussion, rhythm guitar), they formed in 1992 after both had been occupied in sound designs for local community theatres. Initially they worked together as part of a six-piece rock band, but soon found that the group limited them in their songwriting ambitions. They formed Tory Voodoo with the initial intention of becoming a ‘two person Pentangle’. Previously Hunter had studied orchestral percussion (specialising in the African marimba) and played classical piano. Smith’s primary influences had been virtuoso guitarists such as Robert Fripp and Fred Frith. They made their debut with a self-titled cassette release before recording a CD, Roll...

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