The Sting-Rays

The Sting-Rays were formed in North London in 1981. A year later they signed to Ace Records and in 1983 they released their first LP on Ace's subsidiary label Big Beat. Titled 'Dinosaurs', it was a savage record very influenced by The Cramps, Meteors, obscure '60s garage punk bands such as The Novas and The Emperors and by the garage psych sound of The Chocolate Watch Band, 13th Floor Elevators and The Count Five. Their broad musical knowledge, along with cover artwork that avoided horror movie imagery and surly humor, set them apart from the other bands in the psychobilly scene. During this first garage-billy period, the band was formed by Keith Cockburn on bass, Alec Palao on drums (future member of The Sneetches and renowned music compiler for Ace Records), Mark Hosking on guitar (later of The Earls Of Suave and The Flaming Stars) and Bal Croce as vocalist (also of The Earls Of Suave). 

 

After three singles on Big Beat and a live album for Media Burn Records, in 1987 they released 'Cryptic and Coffee Time'. It was a four-year gap since their debut, and during that time The Sting-Rays sound had made a pronounced turn towards pop, where their love for the '60s focused now on folk-pop and psychedelia, creating a new sound which linked them with contemporary British bands such as The Dentists or Television Personalities. It's precisely Joe Foster (a member of the latter) who released their second LP (and a four-track 12") on his Kaleidoscope Sound label. Three of the founding members remained in the line-up: Bal, Mark and Alec Palao. The new member was bass player Johnny Bridgewood (a member of Morrissey's band from 1991), who wrote one of the songs on the record. 'Cryptic and Coffee Time' completely abandon the escapist and caveman-like imagery of the psychobilly and garage genres and deals instead with more introspective and profound concerns. [SOURCE: FORCED EXPOSURE]