The Tell-Tale Hearts

The Tell-Tale Hearts evolved from an earlier band called The Mystery Machine, featuring Mark Z (later of Manual Scan and The Shambles). Their first gig in September 1983, was also the first public show played by the Gravedigger V (though they were called The Shamen at the time). Having absorbed the sounds of such ’60s beat and punk innovators as The Animals, Georgie Fame, Them, The Yardbirds, Syndicate of Sound and a dozen others, they regurgitate carefully crafted originals that are hard to distinguish from the real thing. Singer Ray Brandes’ anguished passion, Bill Calhoun’s atmospheric organ and Eric Bacher’s spectacular raveup guitar work all make the debut album a genre classic. Bassist Mike Stax was a former member of The Crawdaddys. The band split in 1986. In late 2017, Munster Records released a seven-inch vinyl EP featuring the earliest recordings of The Tell-Tale Hearts, '517 Fourth Avenue', taped live in the studio on March 7, 1984, with a picture sleeve including liner notes by Greg Prevost. [SOURCE: SAN DIEGO READER]