The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1960s / 1970s > The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

Legends Of South African Rock & Soul Music

Sometimes styled as Peanut Butter Conspiracy and Die Peanut Butter Conspiracy

“Die” (pronounced “dee”) is Afrikaans for “the”.

Biography

Musicians

Discography

Biography

Introduction

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (also known as “Die Peanut Butter Conspiracy,” with “die” being the Afrikaans word for “the,” pronounced “dee”) was a pioneering South African soul and psychedelic rock band that emerged during the late 1960s. Not to be confused with their American contemporaries of the same name, this South African group became one of the most successful local acts of the early 1970s, earning recognition as “South Africa’s soul super group.”

Formation and Early Years (1968-1970)

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy evolved through multiple iterations before finding their signature sound. John Lindemann created the earliest formation, dubbed “Mark I”, which featured Ron Schiff on keyboards, Henry Harris on drums, and an unknown rhythm guitarist. According to drummer Henry Harris, another early line-up consisted of John Lindemann (lead guitar), Ronnie Schiff (organ), George Hill (drums), and Jill Murray Brown (bass). Brown (née Pollard) was a former member of The Amazons.

In 1968, the band demonstrated their collaborative spirit and musical prowess by serving as the backing group on six tracks for vocalist Una Valli‘s album “Soul Meeting!!“. The Flames provided backing for the remaining tracks on the album. The following year, in 1969, the band recorded three instrumental albums: two SABC transcription discs and “Deuntjies Vir Dansdag” for the UNIKA label.

The band then underwent what music collector Tertius Louw describes as “a complete reshuffling of style and members”, transitioning from their instrumental phase to a soul-rock sound. This transformation saw the addition of Brian Mulder as lead vocalist, whose distinctive gravelly voice would become central to the band’s identity. Mulder brought considerable experience to the group, having previously been a member of Group 66 alongside Lou “Moose” Forer and having performed with cabaret artist Johnny Collini.

By 1971, the band had found their breakthrough success with a line-up that represented their peak commercial period: Brian Mulder (lead vocals), Eddie Payne (trumpet), Peter Lynch (saxophone), Mick Spooner (keyboards), Stuart Preston (drums), and Herbert Simon (drums). This formation established their reputation as “South Africa’s soul super group”.

Peanut Butter Conspiracy Mark I was formed by John Lindemann with Ron Schiff on keyboards, Henry Harris on drums and an unknown rhythm guitarist. After recording 3 instrumental albums (2 SABC transcriptions discs and “Deuntjies Vir Dansdag” for the UNIKA label) they added a bass guitarist and vocalist. A complete reshuffling of style and members resulted in a soul-rock sound with Brian Mulder as lead vocalist.
Tertius Louw, 2020, Facebook

The early Peanut Butter Conspiracy line-up was: John Lindemann (lead guitar), Ronnie Schiff (organ), George Hill (drums), and Jill Murry Brown (bass).
Henry Harris, 2013, Facebook

The line-up responsible for the band’s recording and chart successes comprised: Brian Mulder, lead vocals / Eddie Payne, trumpet / Peter Lynch, sax / Mick Spooner, keys / Stuart Preston, drums / Herbert Simon, guitar
Tertius Louw, 2020, Facebook

Chart Success and Musical Style (1971)

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy achieved remarkable commercial success during 1971, becoming one of South Africa’s most celebrated local acts. Their three major hits dominated the Springbok Radio charts:

Understanding (March 1971)

Peak position: #2
Chart duration: 17 weeks
This breakthrough cover of the Ray Charles song (from 1968) established their signature style of combining Brian Mulder’s spoken-word vocals over angelic harmonies

Hold On (To What You’ve Got) (July 1971)

Peak position: #4
Chart duration: 14 weeks
A silky smooth cover version that showcased the band’s ability to transform existing material into something uniquely their own

The song was a cover of a 1971 track by a UK duo called Bill & Buster who consisted of Bill Moeller & David Meikle. This was a different song to the similarly titled ‘Hold On To What You’ve Got’ [a Joe Tex song], which was a South African hit in 1969 for The Staccatos.
John Samson

Amen (November 1971)

Peak position: #2
Chart duration: 17 weeks
A powerful interpretation that slowed down The Impressions’ 1964 original, creating a more contemplative, crowd-dancing atmosphere

Musical Innovation and Style

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy’s distinctive sound was characterized by several innovative elements:

Dual vocal approach: Brian Mulder’s gravelly, spoken-word style contrasted beautifully with the band’s angelic harmonies
Genre fusion: They successfully blended soul, psychedelic rock, and local South African influences
Cover song mastery: Rather than simply reproducing hits, they reimagined them with their own creative interpretations. A great example of this is their 1972 single “Part Of Someone”, a cover of “Church (Pt. Of Someone)” by Stephen Stills.
Sophisticated arrangements: The band’s multi-instrumental setup allowed for complex, layered compositions

Connection to the Broader South African Music Scene

The band’s members had deep connections throughout the South African music industry:

Brian Mulder and Lou Forer’s previous work with Group 66 had yielded two chart hits: “One By One” (#11, 1966) and “Endless Sleep” (#8, 1966)
Mick Spooner’s tenure with The Dominos produced the hit “Tabatha Twitchet” (#3, 1967)

Enduring Influence

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy remains an important chapter in South African music history, representing the creativity and resilience of local artists during a turbulent period. Their ability to achieve sustained commercial success while maintaining artistic integrity made them pioneers in the South African soul and psychedelic rock movement.

Their music continues to be celebrated by collectors and enthusiasts of South African music, with their recordings serving as time capsules of an era when local artists could compete successfully against international competition through sheer talent and innovation.

Sleeve Notes from Peanut Butter Conspiracy LP in 1971

Peanut Butter Conspiracy…Chart Busters…Soulmates

Take six musicians: Patent Brian Mulder’s gravel-voice delivery. Add brass. Peter Lynch, Mike Spooner and Eddie Payne. Blend in Stuart Preston’s drumming and Herbert Simon’s guitar riffs. Now you have it – the PBC sound. Here’s their debut album to confirm your suspicions. This is South Africa’s pop discovery of the 70s.

Message Music:

A combination of soul and up-tempo excitement. Your involvement is involuntary, reactionary. An empathy that develops between group and audience. PBC makes music for this country. They’ve got together in the studio and recorded what they’re playing live. This is PBC. No hype, no hustle. Just plain talent combined with ambition and gutsy professionalism. Listen to the LP…. you’ll see what I’m getting at.
sources: Soul Safari and Part Of Someone video on YouTube