The Vipers

The Vipers were an Irish new wave group of the late 1970s. A live act fronted by Paul Boyle and guitarist George Sweeney, they toured with Thin Lizzy, The Clash and The Jam. The group was formed as part of a growing punk scene in Dublin the late 1970s. The Vipers played in what was reported to be Ireland's first punk festival in June 1977, along with The Undertones. During the event, a member of the crowd was stabbed and killed, and the Irish punk music scene was subsequently blacklisted. In 1978, The Vipers headlined a series of live gigs at McGonagles in Dublin, which featured the Dublin-based rock band U2 as the supporting act.

 

Their debut single "I've Got You"/"No Such Thing" (Mulligan - LUNS 718) was released in late 1978. This was heard by the BBC's John Peel who invited them to the UK to do a session for his radio programme. A permanent move to London led to UK tours with The Boomtown Rats and Thin Lizzy, as well as performances including at the Marquee, Music Machine and Fulham Greyhound. A further single, "Take Me" was released in 1980. The group included Boyle (lead vocals/guitar), Sweeney (lead guitar), Brian Foley (bass), and Dave Moloney (drums). Bernie Smirnoff (ex-Hollywood Killers) took over from Moloney, as drummer, in September 1979. The Vipers disbanded in December 1980. Boyle subsequently changed his career to acting, whilst other members of the group remained musicians. Foley went on to join The Blades, Moloney to The Cajun Kings and Sweeney to The Fat Lady Sings. Bernie Smirnoff later played for Kingbathmat. Paul Boyle died in London in 2019. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA] 

The Stilettos

A driving horn refrain as well as rolling bass highlight The Stilettos' lone single, "This Is The Way" (composed by John D. Hastings) and released in 1979 by Ariola. This is a dynamic track with the line "scooters and parkas run with the pack" 

The Gangsters

The Gangsters -Richard Holgarth (guitar, vocals), Bill Meadows (guitar, vocals), Terry Hands (drums), Martin Holden (bass) and Steve Horton (keyboards)- formed in 1979 in Essex and disbanded in 1980. They released two singles, of which the buzz saw guitar blast of "Best Friend" is the second. They also released a self-titled LP. 

Route 28

Route 28 featured noted music archivist Erik Lindgren (keyboards, synthesizers, lead vocals). The group also included Peter Goff (guitar), Paul Carter (bass), Bobby Bear (drums) and vocalists Barry Marshall, Ellie Marshall, Beth Harrington and Eddie Lester (vocals). They only released the 7" single 'Another Cape Cod Summer (This Year)' (1982, Arf! Arf!). "Another Cape Cod Summer (This Year)" features Billy West ("Ren & Stimpy", "Futurama", "The Howard Stern Show") on vocals. "American Kids (Still Wanna Rock)" have a Ramones sample. 

Screen Test

In 1980 The Flashcubes -hitless, unsigned, unsuccessful- were history, not likely to be remembered as “legendary,” probably not likely to be remembered by many people at all. Still, the demise of The Flashcubes gave us two new, cool bands to replace the departed ‘Cubes. Former Flashcubes guitarist Paul Armstrong formed a spunky rock ‘n’ roll trio called 1.4.5., and the remaining original ‘Cubes -guitarist Arty Lenin, bassist Gary Frenay and drummer Tommy Allen- became Screen Test. 

 

The Reruns

Ken Kondrat, Al Phife and Dave Uchalik all attended school together at St. Florian High in Hamtramck. While there, Al and Dave formed a band that didn't last long. After graduation they decided to give it another go. Following several line-up changes, Ken joined the ranks and they became The Reruns in August 1977. 

 
They went on to share bills with heavy drawers like The Romantics and Mutants. In 1978, they released their first single featuring the power pop classic "So So Alone" and a punker called "Since You Gotta Cheat." It was put out on Spider Records, a label that released the first Romantics single shortly before this one. The single was accompanied with a mock TV Guide lyric insert. Though the record received little distribution, it still managed to sell extremely well locally. 

 
As The Romantics started to receive national success, their managers (who also ran the Spider label) were out of town more and more. So when it came time to put out another record, the band went with FTM, which was run by their friends in the Mutants. "Bored To Death" is a solid pop tune while the flip, "She Hates Me Now," is in a class that stands right up there with anything The Romantics ever did. Unfortunately, major labels never took notice. 

 
Ken, Al and Dave still play together to this day. They have a parody/cover band called The Polish Muslims as well as an original band called The Earworms who still perform "So So Alone" and "Since You Gotta Cheat." [SOURCE: CHEAP REWARDS]

 

The Taxi Boys

The Taxi Boys were the successor and predecessor of The Real Kids. When the original band split up in 1980, a couple of them (including, songwriter/singer John Felice) moved on to form The Taxi Boys (named after a Real Kids' song). Some time later, a new Real Kids were born, although with a different lineup than the original. The only two involved with the 2nd incarnation were John Felice and bassist Alan "Alpo" Paulino. [SOURCE: LAST.FM]

 

The Neighborhoods

Led by singer and guitarist David Minehan, The Neighborhoods were a Boston-based rock band whose sound and approach found them residing in several camps at once, fusing the tuneful approach of a power pop group, the rebellious attitude of a punk band, and the big sound and swagger of a traditional hard rock act. The Neighborhoods were formed in 1977, with Minehan joined by Jim Bowman on bass and "Careful" Mike Quaglia on drums, and the band soon made a name for itself playing at local clubs such as Cantone's and The Rat. In 1979, John Hartcorn replaced Bowman on bass and The Neighborhoods got an important break when they won the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble, a "Battle of the Bands" sponsored by Boston's most influential rock radio station (they came in first over a field of competitors that included local legends Mission of Burma, The Lyres, and Unnatural Axe). 

 

In 1980, The Neighborhoods struck a deal with the respected local independent label Ace of Hearts Records, and their debut single, "Prettiest Girl" b/w "No Place Like Home," became a massive local hit, selling over ten thousand copies, a remarkable achievement for a small-label "new wave" single at the time. The Neighborhoods became a potent draw in New England and several important East Coast markets, but in 1981 the band lost valuable momentum when they split for a spell. By 1984, Minehan formed a new Neighborhoods lineup with Quaglia on drums and Lee Harrington on bass, and the group released a 12" EP, 'Fire Is Coming'. In 1986, The Neighborhoods signed with Restless Records, and released their first full-length album, 'The High Hard One'. A second album, 'Reptile Men', followed in 1987; it was released on Roadrunner Records' new wave imprint Emergo Records. 

 

In 1988, the group set out on tour opening for the Ramones, and in 1990 they released 'Hoodwinked', which was produced by Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, a longtime fan of the group. A year later, The Neighborhoods were signed to the Atlantic-distributed Third Stone, and their self-titled effort for the label would be their first and only major-label release. Also produced by Whitford, the album debuted a new Neighborhoods lineup: Quaglia left the band, and Carl Coletti took over the drum kit, while a second guitarist, Dan Batel, briefly stepped in. The Atlantic-distributed album was a commercial disappointment, and in the fall of 1992, after a farewell show at The Rat, The Neighborhoods called it a day; Batel was already gone, and in addition to a performance by the Minehan/Harrington/Coletti lineup, Quaglia and Hartcorn sat in for a short set of early Neighborhoods favorites. 

 

By this point, Minehan had launched a successful second career as a recording engineer and producer, and he later opened his own studio, Woolly Mammoth Sound Studio, while continuing to perform as a solo act; he also sat in for Whitford on a 1994 Aerosmith tour when a family emergency forced Whitford to head home for a few days. Following the band's breakup, Harrington enrolled in law school and became a successful attorney. In the 21st century, Minehan re-formed The Neighborhoods with Harrington and drummer Johnny "Rock" Lynch, performing periodic shows in New England and the East Coast. The 1992 farewell show was belatedly released in 2011 as a two-CD set, 'The Last Rat'. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

Puppet Rulers

Puppet Rulers were an US powerpop trio formed in 1981, in Watertown, MA, United States by Dave Cook (vocals, bass), Mark Amberg (guitar, backing vocals) and Scott Williams (drums, backing vocals). They released one single, 'Complicated Girl b/w Outta My Mind' on Ray "Paul" Kilmek's Permanenet Press label. This is classic mod-pop, from the crashing power chords the frantic drumming, the influence of Mr. Townsend, Weller and Shelley is all over. Consider it music to jump around to, or at the very least play loud while driving with the top down.

 

The Boys

Emerging from Lincoln, Nebraska, The Boys formed in 1974 by Danny Shonerd on vocals and lead guitar, Allen Havlicek on vocals and rhythm guitar, Terry Pieper on bass and vocals, and Steven Light on drums. The Boys were an outgrowth of a previous musical project called Grundy Gilpin, who played small venues largely as a cover band during the early seventies. Grundy Gilpin involved Danny Shonerd, Allen Havlicek, Steve Koontz, and Rich Christie. After two years together, the band grew and started to perform original material. Consequently, their lead guitarist Rich left the band. The band’s roadie, Terry Pieper was enlisted, and the band turned into The Boys. 

In Lincoln, Nebraska, The Boys started a campaign in order to achieve an influence on people by way of music. To do that, they developed their own high-powered original sound. An unique sound that can enjoyed on the band’s fabulous singles. “(She's My Girl) She's All Mine” backed with “I'm Not Satisfied,” was The Boys’ 1975 debut. It was released on Outrage Records, label owned by the band’s manager, David Hibbler. The art for the record and the flyers for promoting concerts were created by Don Vogel. It was about imagery of war, planes, and tanks. Drummer Steven Light quit the band following the release of “(She's My Girl) She's All Mine.” His place was taken by Phil Shoemaker, drummer for another local band called The Tories. 

The Boys' second single,"You Make Me Shake" was backed with “We're Too Young,” and was also released by Outrage Records in 1977. By this time, the band had gained control of the label. The Boys went on to sign with Kansas City's Titan! Records. Some of the most beautiful songs were written by The Boys during this period, but only two of them were selected to be released as the band's third and last single, “(Baby) It's You” b/w “Bad Little Girl.” It was issued by Titan! in 1979. 

In 1980, the band break up. The Boys came to an end as a band, however no time was wasted, and the three main members, Danny Shonerd, Allen Havlicek, and Terry Pieper, started in 1981, another cool project called The Eyes. In 1984, they changed the band's name to Movie Eyes. [SOURCE: LOUSY ROCK N ROLL]