THE URBAN JELLYFISH
Good evening.
My apologies for the tardy start to 2011's posting, but i've been busy busy busy and suffering from the ole post holiday lazy malaise, so it took me a bit longer than i reckoned to get this shit done.
Oh, and lest i forget, a happy new year to all of you.
Here's hoping that 2011 is a great one for us all.
Right, enough of the yap, on with the music.
"Maple Metal" was a 1985 compilation album released by Viper Records to showcase Canadian Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands.
Although none of the bands became household names, a few, such as JADE & TZAR are held in high regard by connoisseurs.
The album was also notable for featuring the first vinyl appearance of a pre-SKID ROW Sebastian Bach fronting KID WIKKID.
Here's a brief, (and slightly harsh) track by track dissection of the album by DaN from www.thecorroseum.com
APPLE VIPER - Get Up
'80's party/stadium Hard Rock.
GALLEON - What D'ya Want?
Melodic Metal with a NWOBHM-feel to it.
HARLOTT - Angel In The Dark
A nice, chugging midpacer which ends up more lightweight than needed thanx to the FM-Rock production.
HAVOC - The Warning
Great, catchy & upbeat Metal the American way, like a poor man's GLACIER.
JADE - Legends Of A Time
Pretty forgettable melodic Metal/Hard Rock with female vox, i.e. exactly like their albums.
KID WIKKID - Take A Look At Me
Slick, mainstream Hard Rock. For FM radio only.
TITAN - Burnt By The Flame
A rock-solid Metal lead that's hard not to like despite its lack of originality, especially in this environment.
And REAL Metal lyrics too - thank you.
TZAR - One Ticket To Paradise
Nice rugged vocals to a mean, Heavy Hard Rocker. Not sure if it's the same version as on their LP or not.
RUE MORGUE - Goin' Down' Rockin'
"Cruizin' down the highway doin' 105, got my baby beside me, she's coming alive.." <--that kind of Hard Rock.
VIGILANTS - Run For Cover
Radio Hard Rock.
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maple Metal (1985) Canada
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JOUG75LS
In 1977, 4 teenagers aged between 15 and 16 formed one of the first Heavy Metal bands in Spain in Mislata, Valencia which they called WOLFRAM.
In late 1977 new drummer Javier Hervías joined, and after changing their name to ZARPA (which translates as "Claw"), in early 1978 they recorded their first LP, "Los 4 Jinetes Del Apocalypsis" ("The 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse").
By late 1979, the members of the band were obligated to undertake military service, and so released a demo entitled "Adictos Al Crimen" ("Addicted To Crime"), to keep the band's name alive whilst they served.
In 1981 the band returned to action, focusing initially on live work by touring all over Spain.
1982 saw the release of a new LP called "¿Ángeles O Demonios?" ("Angels And Demons"), on Xirivella Records label, a self-funded work recorded in just 24 hours.
In 1984 the band released their next LP, "Herederos De Un Imperio" ("Heirs Of Empire"), on the larger Twins Records label.
The album reached the national top 40 and Zarpa toured extensively and played several major festivals.
In 1985 the group recorded a demo which was never released called "Progress".
Zarpa toured Switzerland and France in 1987, and recorded their next LP in Geneva after recording a further demo, "En Ruta Hacia Europa" ("En Route To Europe").
On completion of the recordings however, the band are so unhappy with the album that the recordings are discarded.
In 1988, with the popularity of Heavy Metal on the wane in Spain, the group disbanded and the members went their separate ways.
In 1992 Zarpa reconvened, recording the 5 song "Like A Locomotive" demo, but this is as far as their tentative reunion gets.
In 2002 a new line up of Zarpa recorded another album called "Luchadores De La Paz" ("Fighters For Peace"), reintroducing the band to old and new fans alike.
To celebrate the band's 25th anniversary, the following year saw the release of three (yes, three!) live albums, "En Vivo En Grilly", "En Vivo Sala Canaan" and "En Vivo Sala Garage".
With the release finally of the previously abandoned 1987 "En Ruta Hacia Europa", album (albeit in remixed and partially re-recorded form), coming in 2004, Zarpa signed with the German Karthago Records label and then released a brand new album called "Infierno" ("Hell").
This was the best time for Zarpa since the golden age of the group, with main man Vicente having finally found the ideal band members to realize his ever evolving musical vision.
Inspired by the resurgence of interest in Zarpa, 2007 brings a great new album called "El Yunque Contra El Martillo" ("The Anvil Against The Hammer").
In 2009 the band released their latest work, the "Iberia" album, which garnered Zarpa some of the best reviews of their career.
Here's hoping that the renewed interest in the band translates into sales and some respect for one of Spain's pioneering Heavy bands, as they're in great form just now, and it's long overdue.
ZARPA - Los Cuatro Jinetes Del Apocalypsis (1978) Spain
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z4KEMQDL
WILD HORSES were formed by veteran ex-RAINBOW, STREET NOISE and HARLOT bassist Jimmy Bain and ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist Brian Robertson.
An early line up included former WINGS and SMALL FACES guitarist Jimmy McCullouch in the ranks and SMALL FACES drummer Kenny Jones.
McCullouch would soon be supplanted by guitarist/keyboard player Neil Carter (previously earning a wage with GILBERT O'SULLIVAN) and as Jones joined THE WHO erstwhile LONE STAR drummer Dixie Lee stepped into the vacant slot.
Lee's tenure was brief too though and PAT TRAVERS band drummer Clive Edwards eventually filled the gap.
Lee would join Canadian band STARCHILD.
The Rock public eagerly awaited the first WILD HORSES album as Robertson and Bain both had colourful pasts and were often in the media as a result of their well documented wild ways.
The first album was produced by South African guitarist TREVOR RABIN prior to his joining the reformed YES.
Carter soon quit however to join UFO (later enjoying a stint with GARY MOORE).
After the promise of their 1st LP, much was expected of their sophomore effort, but the bands party hardy lifestyle was taking it's toll behind the scenes, resulting in a harder darker album than it's predecessor.
The band were dropped by EMI as the tour to promote album no. 2, 'Stand Your Ground' fell apart after a few dates.
Robertson departed for an ill fated union with MOTÖRHEAD whilst simultaneously Edwards jumped ship to Bernie Marsden's S.O.S. (and later UFO) leaving only Bain and guitarist John Lockton.
With Robertson gone Bain recruited ex LAUTREC members vocalist Rueben Archer, guitarist Laurence Archer and ex DEF LEPPARD drummer Frank Noon.
Noon and the Archers went onto create STAMPEDE, and much later Lawrence Archer continued the trend of ex-WILD HORSES members by joining UFO.
Noon, while not managing to actually join UFO did the next best thing and joined WAYSTED, an anarchic outfit founded by UFO bassist PETE WAY.
Lockton joined the international act VICTORY based in Germany for their first line up.
Bain, after behind the scenes moves with the SCORPIONS, later teamed up with former RAINBOW colleague Ronnie James Dio to form DIO.
WILD HORSES - I'll Give You Love EP (1981) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5ISI44TX
Cleveland Ohio quintet THE DEAD BOYS evolved out of the band ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS, and were originally called FRANKENSTEIN.
When the band members relocated to New York City in July 1976, they adopted the Dead Boys moniker which came from the RFTT song "Down In Flames".
Moving to New York City at the encouragement of Joey Ramone, the RAMONES' lead singer, the Dead Boys quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances.
They frequently played at the legendary Punk Rock club CBGB, and in 1977 they released their classic debut album, "Young, Loud and Snotty", on Sire Records.
Their single, "Sonic Reducer" is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre.
Sire Records pressured the group to change their look and sound to appeal more to the U.S. mainstream, and this contributed to Dead Boys breaking up in 1979 following the release of the "We Have Come For Your Children" LP.
Several 1979 performances were featured in the 1980 Punk Rock film, D.O.A..
A few months after the breakup the band had to reunite to record a live album and thus fulfill their contractual obligations, however, to exact revenge on the label, Bators purposely sang off mic and the resulting recording was unusable.
When the material eventually surfaced as the "Night Of The Living Dead Boys" LP on Bomp! Records, Bators had re-recorded his missing vocals in the studio.
Cheetah Chrome went on to record solo records, as well as playing on albums by RONNIE SPECTOR and JEFF DAHL.
Post-Dead Boys, Bators recorded the solo LP, "Disconnected", before forming THE WANDERERS, who released a lone LP, "Only Lovers Left Alive", in 1981.
The same year Bators co-starred in the satirical John Waters film, Polyester.
Bators then formed LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH with Brian James from THE DAMNED and Dave Tregunna from SHAM 69.
They released three studio albums on IRS Records, and had a few minor hit singles.
The Dead Boys reformed for several gigs in 1987, and recorded a new single, the 2 song 12" "All The Way Down", on Relativity Records.
A live album from the reunion shows was released in 1988, called "The Return of the Living Dead Boys", in mainland Europe, it was retitled "Liver Than You'll Ever Be", everywhere else.
Bators made a memorable cameo appearance in 1988 as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of "The Blender Children", in the offbeat comedy movie, Tapeheads.
In 1990, due to injuries sustained after having been hit by a taxi, Stiv Bators sadly died in Paris, France, aged just 40.
Dave Tregunna said that Bators, a fan of THE DOORS' Jim Morrison, had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's Paris grave and that his girlfriend complied.
However, director John Waters denies this, saying that Bator's girlfriend snorted his ashes!
The Dead Boys re-released their first album in 1997 as "Younger, Louder & Snottier", mastered from a tape of the original rough mixes.
In 1999, the original rough mixes for the second album were also released as the "3rd Generation Nation" album.
In 2003, after the release of archive "The Day The Earth Met The Rocket From The Tombs", Cheetah Chrome reformed ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS.
The reincarnation of the group toured, and in 2004 entered the studio to record some of the band's old material for the first time.
These recordings were released as "Rocket Redux".
In September 2004, the remaining members of the DEAD BOYS re-formed for a one-off gig in Cleveland.
In 2005, they played a benefit show for CBGBs and then played a final reunion show on Halloween.
Chrome now plays with NEW YORK DOLLS guitarist and long time friend, Sylvain Sylvain in a band called BATUSIS, who are due to release a debut album in 2011.
Dead Boys are now rightly recognized as one of the Punk era's most influential bands, and their songs have been covered by bands as diverse as GUNS'n'ROSES, PEARL JAM and THE HELLACOPTERS.
FRANKENSTEIN - Eve Of The Dead Boys EP (1975) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UFK0MCOM
The guiding fire behind the latter-day PINK FAIRIES, a founding member of MOTöRHEAD, and a house producer during Stiff Records' first flash of maverick brilliance, Larry Wallis is one of the legends of the British rock underground, an astonishing guitarist, and author of one of the classic singles of the era, "Police Car."
He blazed across MICK FARREN AND THE DEVIANTS seminal "Screwed Up" EP in an age when Angry Young Man-style guitar was valued above any other musical attribute.
Larry played angrier (and younger) than virtually anyone you could name.
Wallis' pedigree reaches back to the early '70s, and a roll call of his bands includes the ENTIRE SIOUX NATION, SHAGRAT, BLODWYN PIG and Hard Rock heroes UFO, before he joined the PINK FAIRIES in time for their third (and finest) album, "Kings Of Oblivion".
The band broke up following its release and, in 1975, Wallis reappeared in MOTöRHEAD, a move that the guitarist unhesitatingly describes as preordained: "It was just as if the serendipity fairy had arrived, Lemmy had been imprisoned in HAWKWIND and was now flexing his leathern wings.... It just had to be."
Together, Wallis and Lemmy alchemized one of the hardest-hitting bands of the entire pre-punk era, and the handful of shows that the group played during this period was nothing short of the absolute revision of all that had taken place before.
Certainly their label of the time, UA, was absolutely baffled by the band, sending them into the studio, before deciding that nothing the band did was actually marketable.
The band was dropped from the label and the tapes were buried in a lead-lined box, figuratively if not literally.
And they remained there until MOTöRHEAD became late-'70s superstars, and suddenly anything with their name attached seemed eminently saleable indeed.
"On Parole", titled after one of Wallis' compositions, was finally released in 1978 and has been available ever since.
Wallis departed MOTöRHEAD around the same time as they were dropped and, through early 1976, he led a revitalized PINK FAIRIES lineup around the London club scene as it lurched from pub rock to punk.
By late summer, the FAIRIES had signed with Stiff Records and released the single "Between The Lines," the label's second-ever release, but with a sense of timing that they had long since perfected, the group announced that this moment of triumph was the ideal time to break up.
Wallis remained with Stiff, recording the "Police Car" 7" with HOT RODS/future UFO bassist Paul Gray and drummer Steve Nicol for release in spring 1977.
He also produced the first two singles by THE ADVERTS, including the Top 20 hit "Gary Gilmore's Eyes," and became a star turn on the autumn 1977 LIVE STIFFS tour of Britain.
Billed alongside IAN DURY, NICK LOWE, ELVIS COSTELLO, and WRECKLESS ERIC, he took the stage with an all-star band dubbed the PSYCHEDELIC ROWDIES, the "Live Stiffs" album includes an absolutely incendiary "Police Car".
Wallis began work on a solo album in early 1978, recording with Deke Leonard, Big George Webley, and Pete Thomas, but record company politics saw the record shelved and Wallis moved on.
Further stints alongside MICK FARREN were interspersed by gigs with the MC5's Wayne Kramer.
A mid-'80s PINK FAIRIES reunion was bookended by Wallis' own bands, THE DEATH COMMANDOS OF LOVE and THE REDBYRDS, with the solo "Leather Forever" 7" surfacing in 1986.
Wallis finally released a solo album, "Death In The Guitarafternoon" in 2001.
LARRY WALLIS - Leather Forever 7" (1986) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GUNTWP72
Leamington Spa's CHEVY were a five piece NWOBHM band best known for appearing on the "Metal For Muthas II", compilation album.
Founded in 1979, this is not the same CHEVY that released the obscure 'Out On The Street' single the same year, even though for many years some publications led everyone to believe it was.
As they demonstrated on their lone album, 1980's "The Taker", Chevy were a little older, wiser and classier than many of the bands lumped in with the NWOBHM.
More of a Hard Rock band with Metallic leanings, they proved to be a formidable live proposition, touring hard in 1980 and '81 with the likes of WILD HORSES and HAWKWIND.
Their label, Avatar Records, released 3 Chevy singles during these years, and the band were also broadcast live on BBC Radio 1's "In Concert" programme.
In September 1981 both Steve Walwyn and Andy Chaplin quit, to be replaced by guitarist Barry Eardley and drummer Ted Duggan.
A projected second album was recorded, but the tapes were never finished and the band split.
In 1987 Poole, Cure, Walywn, Shanahan and Duggan re-emerged to form RED ON RED with ex-BADFINGER guitarist Bob Jackson and keyboard player Mark Stead.
Whereas Walywn went on to become a member of perennial R&B rockers DR. FEELGOOD.
CHEVY - Too Much Loving 7" (1980) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9JQEHP89
A Matlock, Derbyshire band heavily influenced by the Rock classics, SARACEN's roots stretch back into the mid 1970's.
Created in 1976 and initially named LAMMERGYER, the original line-up featured vocalist/keyboard player Richard Lowe, guitarist Rob Bendelow, bassist Barry Yates and drummer Titch.
Changes were made in 1980 when a band line-up change prompted the band opting for a new name of SARACEN whilst adding former WILD WOLVES vocalist Steve Betteney and drummer John Thorne.
Their debut album, 1982's "Heroes, Saints & Fools", although on a minor label Nucleus Records initially, proved such a great success that Polygram licensed the album.
Yates was replaced in 1982 by Jason Gardener and Bendelow departed to be replaced by guitarist Haydn Conway.
Thorne quit in 1984 shortly after recording the "Change Of Heart" album with the group.
This offering, produced by Keith Nichol, was issued through Wallsend's Neat Records.
Later that year only Lowe and Betteney remained of the original group, which eventually dissolved in 1985.
Gardener formed covers band USA whilst Betteney formed MONTERREY.
During 1996 Haydn Conway resurfaced, performing second guitar duties for SON OF A BITCH's South American dates.
Quite incredibly, after a 15 year lull, SARACEN, with original members Steve Betteney, Rob Bendelow, Jason Gardener and Richard Lowe, returned to action in 2001 announcing a record deal with Now And Then Records.
This reunion was pre-empted by Bendelow's TEMPLAR solo album 'Come To The Light'.
SARACEN's third opus, 2003's "Red Sky", featured Jamie Little of the BOB CATLEY band on drums.
2006 saw the release of Saracen's fourth album, "Vox In Excelso", through Escape Music, and an appearance by the band at the Firefest Festival.
SARACEN - We Have Arrived 7" (1983) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SPRLX3M2
So there you have it, that's tonight's premier post of 2011, hope there's something amongst that little lot to put a smile on your faces, and maybe shine a little (much missed) sunshine into your lives in the midst of the bleak mid-winter.
Thanks to all who took the time to leave their thoughts and comment on the last post, and also to those who contributed to my little "Xmas gift" experiment.
Frankly the response was a little underwhelming on that front, but we were fortunately blessed with quality over quantity.
Looking forward to hearing what you think of tonight's assortment, just use the "comments" button below.
So endeth the communication.
Over an' out!
My apologies for the tardy start to 2011's posting, but i've been busy busy busy and suffering from the ole post holiday lazy malaise, so it took me a bit longer than i reckoned to get this shit done.
Oh, and lest i forget, a happy new year to all of you.
Here's hoping that 2011 is a great one for us all.
Right, enough of the yap, on with the music.
"Maple Metal" was a 1985 compilation album released by Viper Records to showcase Canadian Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands.
Although none of the bands became household names, a few, such as JADE & TZAR are held in high regard by connoisseurs.
The album was also notable for featuring the first vinyl appearance of a pre-SKID ROW Sebastian Bach fronting KID WIKKID.
Here's a brief, (and slightly harsh) track by track dissection of the album by DaN from www.thecorroseum.com
APPLE VIPER - Get Up
'80's party/stadium Hard Rock.
GALLEON - What D'ya Want?
Melodic Metal with a NWOBHM-feel to it.
HARLOTT - Angel In The Dark
A nice, chugging midpacer which ends up more lightweight than needed thanx to the FM-Rock production.
HAVOC - The Warning
Great, catchy & upbeat Metal the American way, like a poor man's GLACIER.
JADE - Legends Of A Time
Pretty forgettable melodic Metal/Hard Rock with female vox, i.e. exactly like their albums.
KID WIKKID - Take A Look At Me
Slick, mainstream Hard Rock. For FM radio only.
TITAN - Burnt By The Flame
A rock-solid Metal lead that's hard not to like despite its lack of originality, especially in this environment.
And REAL Metal lyrics too - thank you.
TZAR - One Ticket To Paradise
Nice rugged vocals to a mean, Heavy Hard Rocker. Not sure if it's the same version as on their LP or not.
RUE MORGUE - Goin' Down' Rockin'
"Cruizin' down the highway doin' 105, got my baby beside me, she's coming alive.." <--that kind of Hard Rock.
VIGILANTS - Run For Cover
Radio Hard Rock.
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maple Metal (1985) Canada
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JOUG75LSIn 1977, 4 teenagers aged between 15 and 16 formed one of the first Heavy Metal bands in Spain in Mislata, Valencia which they called WOLFRAM.
In late 1977 new drummer Javier Hervías joined, and after changing their name to ZARPA (which translates as "Claw"), in early 1978 they recorded their first LP, "Los 4 Jinetes Del Apocalypsis" ("The 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse").
By late 1979, the members of the band were obligated to undertake military service, and so released a demo entitled "Adictos Al Crimen" ("Addicted To Crime"), to keep the band's name alive whilst they served.
In 1981 the band returned to action, focusing initially on live work by touring all over Spain.
1982 saw the release of a new LP called "¿Ángeles O Demonios?" ("Angels And Demons"), on Xirivella Records label, a self-funded work recorded in just 24 hours.
In 1984 the band released their next LP, "Herederos De Un Imperio" ("Heirs Of Empire"), on the larger Twins Records label.
The album reached the national top 40 and Zarpa toured extensively and played several major festivals.
In 1985 the group recorded a demo which was never released called "Progress".
Zarpa toured Switzerland and France in 1987, and recorded their next LP in Geneva after recording a further demo, "En Ruta Hacia Europa" ("En Route To Europe").
On completion of the recordings however, the band are so unhappy with the album that the recordings are discarded.
In 1988, with the popularity of Heavy Metal on the wane in Spain, the group disbanded and the members went their separate ways.
In 1992 Zarpa reconvened, recording the 5 song "Like A Locomotive" demo, but this is as far as their tentative reunion gets.
In 2002 a new line up of Zarpa recorded another album called "Luchadores De La Paz" ("Fighters For Peace"), reintroducing the band to old and new fans alike.
To celebrate the band's 25th anniversary, the following year saw the release of three (yes, three!) live albums, "En Vivo En Grilly", "En Vivo Sala Canaan" and "En Vivo Sala Garage".
With the release finally of the previously abandoned 1987 "En Ruta Hacia Europa", album (albeit in remixed and partially re-recorded form), coming in 2004, Zarpa signed with the German Karthago Records label and then released a brand new album called "Infierno" ("Hell").
This was the best time for Zarpa since the golden age of the group, with main man Vicente having finally found the ideal band members to realize his ever evolving musical vision.
Inspired by the resurgence of interest in Zarpa, 2007 brings a great new album called "El Yunque Contra El Martillo" ("The Anvil Against The Hammer").
In 2009 the band released their latest work, the "Iberia" album, which garnered Zarpa some of the best reviews of their career.
Here's hoping that the renewed interest in the band translates into sales and some respect for one of Spain's pioneering Heavy bands, as they're in great form just now, and it's long overdue.
ZARPA - Los Cuatro Jinetes Del Apocalypsis (1978) Spain
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z4KEMQDLWILD HORSES were formed by veteran ex-RAINBOW, STREET NOISE and HARLOT bassist Jimmy Bain and ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist Brian Robertson.
An early line up included former WINGS and SMALL FACES guitarist Jimmy McCullouch in the ranks and SMALL FACES drummer Kenny Jones.
McCullouch would soon be supplanted by guitarist/keyboard player Neil Carter (previously earning a wage with GILBERT O'SULLIVAN) and as Jones joined THE WHO erstwhile LONE STAR drummer Dixie Lee stepped into the vacant slot.
Lee's tenure was brief too though and PAT TRAVERS band drummer Clive Edwards eventually filled the gap.
Lee would join Canadian band STARCHILD.
The Rock public eagerly awaited the first WILD HORSES album as Robertson and Bain both had colourful pasts and were often in the media as a result of their well documented wild ways.
The first album was produced by South African guitarist TREVOR RABIN prior to his joining the reformed YES.
Carter soon quit however to join UFO (later enjoying a stint with GARY MOORE).
After the promise of their 1st LP, much was expected of their sophomore effort, but the bands party hardy lifestyle was taking it's toll behind the scenes, resulting in a harder darker album than it's predecessor.
The band were dropped by EMI as the tour to promote album no. 2, 'Stand Your Ground' fell apart after a few dates.
Robertson departed for an ill fated union with MOTÖRHEAD whilst simultaneously Edwards jumped ship to Bernie Marsden's S.O.S. (and later UFO) leaving only Bain and guitarist John Lockton.
With Robertson gone Bain recruited ex LAUTREC members vocalist Rueben Archer, guitarist Laurence Archer and ex DEF LEPPARD drummer Frank Noon.
Noon and the Archers went onto create STAMPEDE, and much later Lawrence Archer continued the trend of ex-WILD HORSES members by joining UFO.
Noon, while not managing to actually join UFO did the next best thing and joined WAYSTED, an anarchic outfit founded by UFO bassist PETE WAY.
Lockton joined the international act VICTORY based in Germany for their first line up.
Bain, after behind the scenes moves with the SCORPIONS, later teamed up with former RAINBOW colleague Ronnie James Dio to form DIO.
WILD HORSES - I'll Give You Love EP (1981) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5ISI44TXCleveland Ohio quintet THE DEAD BOYS evolved out of the band ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS, and were originally called FRANKENSTEIN.
When the band members relocated to New York City in July 1976, they adopted the Dead Boys moniker which came from the RFTT song "Down In Flames".
Moving to New York City at the encouragement of Joey Ramone, the RAMONES' lead singer, the Dead Boys quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances.
They frequently played at the legendary Punk Rock club CBGB, and in 1977 they released their classic debut album, "Young, Loud and Snotty", on Sire Records.
Their single, "Sonic Reducer" is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre.
Sire Records pressured the group to change their look and sound to appeal more to the U.S. mainstream, and this contributed to Dead Boys breaking up in 1979 following the release of the "We Have Come For Your Children" LP.
Several 1979 performances were featured in the 1980 Punk Rock film, D.O.A..
A few months after the breakup the band had to reunite to record a live album and thus fulfill their contractual obligations, however, to exact revenge on the label, Bators purposely sang off mic and the resulting recording was unusable.
When the material eventually surfaced as the "Night Of The Living Dead Boys" LP on Bomp! Records, Bators had re-recorded his missing vocals in the studio.
Cheetah Chrome went on to record solo records, as well as playing on albums by RONNIE SPECTOR and JEFF DAHL.
Post-Dead Boys, Bators recorded the solo LP, "Disconnected", before forming THE WANDERERS, who released a lone LP, "Only Lovers Left Alive", in 1981.
The same year Bators co-starred in the satirical John Waters film, Polyester.
Bators then formed LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH with Brian James from THE DAMNED and Dave Tregunna from SHAM 69.
They released three studio albums on IRS Records, and had a few minor hit singles.
The Dead Boys reformed for several gigs in 1987, and recorded a new single, the 2 song 12" "All The Way Down", on Relativity Records.
A live album from the reunion shows was released in 1988, called "The Return of the Living Dead Boys", in mainland Europe, it was retitled "Liver Than You'll Ever Be", everywhere else.
Bators made a memorable cameo appearance in 1988 as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of "The Blender Children", in the offbeat comedy movie, Tapeheads.
In 1990, due to injuries sustained after having been hit by a taxi, Stiv Bators sadly died in Paris, France, aged just 40.
Dave Tregunna said that Bators, a fan of THE DOORS' Jim Morrison, had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's Paris grave and that his girlfriend complied.
However, director John Waters denies this, saying that Bator's girlfriend snorted his ashes!
The Dead Boys re-released their first album in 1997 as "Younger, Louder & Snottier", mastered from a tape of the original rough mixes.
In 1999, the original rough mixes for the second album were also released as the "3rd Generation Nation" album.
In 2003, after the release of archive "The Day The Earth Met The Rocket From The Tombs", Cheetah Chrome reformed ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS.
The reincarnation of the group toured, and in 2004 entered the studio to record some of the band's old material for the first time.
These recordings were released as "Rocket Redux".
In September 2004, the remaining members of the DEAD BOYS re-formed for a one-off gig in Cleveland.
In 2005, they played a benefit show for CBGBs and then played a final reunion show on Halloween.
Chrome now plays with NEW YORK DOLLS guitarist and long time friend, Sylvain Sylvain in a band called BATUSIS, who are due to release a debut album in 2011.
Dead Boys are now rightly recognized as one of the Punk era's most influential bands, and their songs have been covered by bands as diverse as GUNS'n'ROSES, PEARL JAM and THE HELLACOPTERS.
FRANKENSTEIN - Eve Of The Dead Boys EP (1975) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UFK0MCOMThe guiding fire behind the latter-day PINK FAIRIES, a founding member of MOTöRHEAD, and a house producer during Stiff Records' first flash of maverick brilliance, Larry Wallis is one of the legends of the British rock underground, an astonishing guitarist, and author of one of the classic singles of the era, "Police Car."
He blazed across MICK FARREN AND THE DEVIANTS seminal "Screwed Up" EP in an age when Angry Young Man-style guitar was valued above any other musical attribute.
Larry played angrier (and younger) than virtually anyone you could name.
Wallis' pedigree reaches back to the early '70s, and a roll call of his bands includes the ENTIRE SIOUX NATION, SHAGRAT, BLODWYN PIG and Hard Rock heroes UFO, before he joined the PINK FAIRIES in time for their third (and finest) album, "Kings Of Oblivion".
The band broke up following its release and, in 1975, Wallis reappeared in MOTöRHEAD, a move that the guitarist unhesitatingly describes as preordained: "It was just as if the serendipity fairy had arrived, Lemmy had been imprisoned in HAWKWIND and was now flexing his leathern wings.... It just had to be."
Together, Wallis and Lemmy alchemized one of the hardest-hitting bands of the entire pre-punk era, and the handful of shows that the group played during this period was nothing short of the absolute revision of all that had taken place before.
Certainly their label of the time, UA, was absolutely baffled by the band, sending them into the studio, before deciding that nothing the band did was actually marketable.
The band was dropped from the label and the tapes were buried in a lead-lined box, figuratively if not literally.
And they remained there until MOTöRHEAD became late-'70s superstars, and suddenly anything with their name attached seemed eminently saleable indeed.
"On Parole", titled after one of Wallis' compositions, was finally released in 1978 and has been available ever since.
Wallis departed MOTöRHEAD around the same time as they were dropped and, through early 1976, he led a revitalized PINK FAIRIES lineup around the London club scene as it lurched from pub rock to punk.
By late summer, the FAIRIES had signed with Stiff Records and released the single "Between The Lines," the label's second-ever release, but with a sense of timing that they had long since perfected, the group announced that this moment of triumph was the ideal time to break up.
Wallis remained with Stiff, recording the "Police Car" 7" with HOT RODS/future UFO bassist Paul Gray and drummer Steve Nicol for release in spring 1977.
He also produced the first two singles by THE ADVERTS, including the Top 20 hit "Gary Gilmore's Eyes," and became a star turn on the autumn 1977 LIVE STIFFS tour of Britain.
Billed alongside IAN DURY, NICK LOWE, ELVIS COSTELLO, and WRECKLESS ERIC, he took the stage with an all-star band dubbed the PSYCHEDELIC ROWDIES, the "Live Stiffs" album includes an absolutely incendiary "Police Car".
Wallis began work on a solo album in early 1978, recording with Deke Leonard, Big George Webley, and Pete Thomas, but record company politics saw the record shelved and Wallis moved on.
Further stints alongside MICK FARREN were interspersed by gigs with the MC5's Wayne Kramer.
A mid-'80s PINK FAIRIES reunion was bookended by Wallis' own bands, THE DEATH COMMANDOS OF LOVE and THE REDBYRDS, with the solo "Leather Forever" 7" surfacing in 1986.
Wallis finally released a solo album, "Death In The Guitarafternoon" in 2001.
LARRY WALLIS - Leather Forever 7" (1986) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GUNTWP72Leamington Spa's CHEVY were a five piece NWOBHM band best known for appearing on the "Metal For Muthas II", compilation album.
Founded in 1979, this is not the same CHEVY that released the obscure 'Out On The Street' single the same year, even though for many years some publications led everyone to believe it was.
As they demonstrated on their lone album, 1980's "The Taker", Chevy were a little older, wiser and classier than many of the bands lumped in with the NWOBHM.
More of a Hard Rock band with Metallic leanings, they proved to be a formidable live proposition, touring hard in 1980 and '81 with the likes of WILD HORSES and HAWKWIND.
Their label, Avatar Records, released 3 Chevy singles during these years, and the band were also broadcast live on BBC Radio 1's "In Concert" programme.
In September 1981 both Steve Walwyn and Andy Chaplin quit, to be replaced by guitarist Barry Eardley and drummer Ted Duggan.
A projected second album was recorded, but the tapes were never finished and the band split.
In 1987 Poole, Cure, Walywn, Shanahan and Duggan re-emerged to form RED ON RED with ex-BADFINGER guitarist Bob Jackson and keyboard player Mark Stead.
Whereas Walywn went on to become a member of perennial R&B rockers DR. FEELGOOD.
CHEVY - Too Much Loving 7" (1980) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9JQEHP89A Matlock, Derbyshire band heavily influenced by the Rock classics, SARACEN's roots stretch back into the mid 1970's.
Created in 1976 and initially named LAMMERGYER, the original line-up featured vocalist/keyboard player Richard Lowe, guitarist Rob Bendelow, bassist Barry Yates and drummer Titch.
Changes were made in 1980 when a band line-up change prompted the band opting for a new name of SARACEN whilst adding former WILD WOLVES vocalist Steve Betteney and drummer John Thorne.
Their debut album, 1982's "Heroes, Saints & Fools", although on a minor label Nucleus Records initially, proved such a great success that Polygram licensed the album.
Yates was replaced in 1982 by Jason Gardener and Bendelow departed to be replaced by guitarist Haydn Conway.
Thorne quit in 1984 shortly after recording the "Change Of Heart" album with the group.
This offering, produced by Keith Nichol, was issued through Wallsend's Neat Records.
Later that year only Lowe and Betteney remained of the original group, which eventually dissolved in 1985.
Gardener formed covers band USA whilst Betteney formed MONTERREY.
During 1996 Haydn Conway resurfaced, performing second guitar duties for SON OF A BITCH's South American dates.
Quite incredibly, after a 15 year lull, SARACEN, with original members Steve Betteney, Rob Bendelow, Jason Gardener and Richard Lowe, returned to action in 2001 announcing a record deal with Now And Then Records.
This reunion was pre-empted by Bendelow's TEMPLAR solo album 'Come To The Light'.
SARACEN's third opus, 2003's "Red Sky", featured Jamie Little of the BOB CATLEY band on drums.
2006 saw the release of Saracen's fourth album, "Vox In Excelso", through Escape Music, and an appearance by the band at the Firefest Festival.
SARACEN - We Have Arrived 7" (1983) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SPRLX3M2
So there you have it, that's tonight's premier post of 2011, hope there's something amongst that little lot to put a smile on your faces, and maybe shine a little (much missed) sunshine into your lives in the midst of the bleak mid-winter.
Thanks to all who took the time to leave their thoughts and comment on the last post, and also to those who contributed to my little "Xmas gift" experiment.
Frankly the response was a little underwhelming on that front, but we were fortunately blessed with quality over quantity.
Looking forward to hearing what you think of tonight's assortment, just use the "comments" button below.
So endeth the communication.
Over an' out!
posted by bigfootkit at 12:11 PM
8 Comments:
Cheers Kit and a happy new year to you. I have knackered my laptop by leaving a pen on the keyboard when I closed it up. Screen has had it - doh! Can't download as I'm using the wife's laptop and she's not impressed! The Wallis and Wild Horses singles are an excellent addition and I will look forward to listening to them when I get my laptop repaired. On a different tack - anyone been watching Sons of Anarchy? Great series. Take care, Blofeld.
Happy '11 'kit! Year's off to a wacky start; I have been snowed in TWICE within the past ~ 2 weeks- aarrgg! My corner of the southern US doesn't get snow very often, which is fine by me (I'm a warm weather fellow), so it's strange times. And of course all the local yokels panic and go nuts at the sight of snow flurries, so you can image how they've handled 2 events with 3-6 inches of snow each time- 'Road Warrior' anyone?
Been meaning to look more into DEAD BOYS; I hard one of their albums once upon a time but it didn't leave much of an impression; I do like OVERKILL's cover of 'Sonic Reducer' and Victor Griffin's excellent cover of 'Ain't It Fun', so I'll give 'em another chance.
CHEVY's a decent band, not bad stuff though never a personal favorite.
SARACEN were always kinda cool, evne on this later, more mainstream material; 'Heroes Saints and Fools' is a personal fave among NWOBHM LPs, though one can only ponder the eternal mystery of what was going through the lads' collective noggins when they conceived a song called 'Dolphin Ride' for inclusion on a hard rock-metal album; let's face it- dolphins are NOT Metal! Of course those pesky porpoise poseurs re-appeared years later, purposefully placed on a Stratovarius LP picture, probably proving my pernacious point pertaining to their pitiful place within the Metal-plated pantheon; perhaps Saracen portented that pathetic power metal piece of poop?
Molten Metal Mooses (or was it Meese? I never did find out) work just fine as cover mascots; dolphins go over worse than a train full of squealing baby zoo animals catching on fire and plunging off a bridge. And with that horrifically depressing image I shall take my leave of you for the evening.
Thanks for the comments guys, a belated Happy New Year to you too.
Sorry to hear about the laptop Blofeld, i'm guessing your swear jar was full to bulging when you realized your error.
On the subject of Sons Of Anarchy, i very much enjoyed the first series, (i refuse to call them "seasons"), and i believe series two is due any day now on Five USA.
Ron Perlman's just a class act, i'll watch him in anything. :)
The fact that the show's from the team behind The Shield was enough reason to tune in, i loved that show, but the SAMCRO show stands on it's own merits.
Nightsblood, glad to hear you made it through "the big white" unscathed.
Whereabouts in the South are you based? I've got some friends in North Carolina who were amazed to see a state of emergency called thanks to a record snowfall there. The winter's been pretty severe here too, (-17 on a couple of occassions!), but it's turned much milder at the moment.
As for The Dead Boys, the recent items i've posted by them probably aren't a good starting place if you're unfamiliar with their canon.
I'd recommend their debut album, "Young, Loud & Snotty", or it's rough mix counterpart, the cunningly titled "Younger, Louder & Snottier", as a starting point.
It seems like everyone's had a go at covering one of their songs, Pearl Jam did "Sonic Reducer" too, and of course Guns'n'Roses also did "Ain't it Fun", but my personal favourite Dead Boys cover is "Ain't Nothin' To Do" (tsk tsk, a double negative!), by The Hellacopters with Blag Dhalia of The Dwarves on lead vocals, it's fuckin' furious!
I'm sure there's a Poison Idea Dead Boys cover version out there somewhere too, but i'm drawing a blank on the title and release at the mo'.
As to whether dolphins are Metal or not, you certainly make a strong case, but i feel i have to defend Flipper & co. just for the sake of balance.
Which isn't easy unless you're prepared to suspend belief a little and consider the murderous dolphins from one of the Simpsons halloween specials as representative of dolphinkind.
Snorky & co. were very Metal!
Aye, okay, on balance you win this one Nightsblood, but i'll be back!!!
Take care,
Bigfootkit
LOL I hadn't thought of Snorky in years! Dolphins can actually be rather sadistic, or so says my marine scientist better half, so maybe if we combine the Startovarius dolphin with the abundant S&M imagery that dominates (ha!) the Metal landscape we can contrive some sort of leather-clad dolphin mascot- Mistress Snorky Spanks Alot anyone? Bonus points to anyone who can come up with a useable "lick my dorsal fin you worm" joke. Hmmm, this is suddenly triggering memories that a really cute former co-worker once shared with me regarding a dream she had involving Slappy, the Penis-Shaped Dolphin, which she rode around the lab we worked in. You can imagine she rued the day she shared that tidbit with her lab mates :-)
Back to metalizing dolphins, if we want to go in an extreme metal direction, we could invoke imagery of the dolphin massacre that occurs in Japan every year where about 20,000+ dolphins are killed, largely to be sold as whale meat (not making that bit up, see the documentary 'The Cove', though it's a bit disturbing). Thus, I can see an eco-friendly death-black band like Cattle Decapitation coming up with cover art and an album title along the lines of 'Dolphin Bay Blood Bath'. Stranger things have happened.
I'm in SC, actually just a couple of hours from the redoubtable Glockose. We're known for beaches and beloved backwoods bumpkins, not blizzards & black ice
Quick update: went back and checked out 'Younger Louder Snottier' from Dead Boys; eh, don't think it's quite my thing- too much punk, too little rock. Oh well, didn't hurt to give it another try. Straight-up punk rarely works out for me
Thanks for the Saracen single, it took me way back! I remember buying the Heroes Saints & Fools LP years ago after hearing it descrbed as Styx meets Balck Sabbath. Whilst I couldn't hear quite that comparison I did love the album immediately.
Rob Bendelow is one of the most underated song writers in rock music and the comeback albums are both great too.
I searched em all out after this post so thanks again for all the great work.
fantastic site.gonna bookmark this one.have you heard of MAINLINE-"Our Home And Native Land"Michael Mckenna and Joe Mendelson, from Toronto 1971.thanks.
I want to get "Maple Metal" because I love the metal power and I've had excellent commentaries about this album I hope to get it as soon as possible .
Post a Comment
<< Home