Peter Watson (born 18 October 1941, Romford, Essex) was lead guitarist in the 1960s mod/soul band The Action.
Watson joined the band that would become The Action when they were still known as The Boys.[1] He had been working as a guitar demonstrator in Sound City in Shaftsbury Avenue, when he was scouted by the other band members looking to fill out their line up with another guitarist.[2]
Watson remained with the band until 1966, when he left over financial difficulties that Watson blamed on the band's then manager Rikki Farr.[3] Watson was replaced as lead guitarist by Martin Stone. On leaving the band, Watson largely left the music industry, until rejoining The Action when they reformed in 1998 for a number of reunion gigs and tours in the subsequent six years.[4]
Pete Watson played a Rickenbacker 12 string 1993 model. This was a special version of the famous Rickenbacker 360/12 model made for British distributor Rose Morris, also known to have been played by The Who's Pete Townshend.[5] Watson claims to have played this guitar for The Action on every recording he was on.[6]