Zones

Zones were a Scottish new wave band, an evolution of Slik / PVC2 minus Midge Ure that joined Rich Kids. Meanwhile, his erstwhile bandmates reinvented themselves as the Zones, adding Alex Harvey’s cousin, Willie Gardner, (formerly of Hot Valves) on vocals and lead guitar. Still on the independent Zoom label they issued a single, 'Stuck With You', which John Peel played a lot, garnering the attention of -surprise surprise!- their old major label chums, Arista Records. The band signed on the dotted line and studio time was booked at the Manor, with producer Tim Friese-Greene in charge of the sound. 

 

The first fruits of this was another 45, 'Sign Of The Times' (1978), an underrated pop song with raging guitars and passionate vocals which failed to bother any charts. The Zones album, 'Under Influence', was finally issued in the summer of 1979 after two John Peel sessions and some high profile live appearances. 'Under Influence' sold only moderately and after the 'Mourning Star' 7'', they split up. Willie Gardner went solo, releasing one amazing, rare single, 'Golden Youth', on Cuba-Libre Records (via Virgin) in 1981 before apparently vanishing. 

 

The rest of the Zones changed their name yet again, this time to Science, and issued a fine electro-pop single, 'Look Don’t Touch', on Rialto Records. They certainly believed in trying, trying, trying again. However, neither of these ventures resulted in anything positive and that was that. They called it a day in 1979. Webb and Hyslop joined the Skids within a year and Hyslop completed his tour of Scottish bands by joining Simple Minds. [SOURCE: PUNK77].