We've all seen the TV show, so no points for this tune origin, but The Spys', "The Young Ones" is a great version. A rocked up, almost glam version (dig the Brian May guitar flourishes). This was this London band's only single. For years it was suggested by many that The Spys were actually the ever-struggling Swindon-based pop group XTC. Actually, the producer of this single was XTC producer John Leckie.
Graham Kin and John Williamson were playing local bars in Cork as a guitar duo called The Bandits. Howard Palmer and John Pike and a drummer named Andy were rehearsing Led Zeppelin covers in a band called The Rats. Before The Rats had managed a single gig, the drummer left for University and Graham Kin and John Williamson poached John Pike for The Bandits. They then asked Howard Palmer if he could play drums and thus The Banditz were born.
With three songwriters in the band (Kin, Williamson and Palmer) there was no shortage of original material and with good management behind them providing money for transport and a new PA, they became established very quickly. They were signed by Phaeton within a year of forming. Dave Fanning described them in In Dublin magazine as a "Cork based English band" because they were all English born but were all living in South West Cork when the band was formed.
The Banditz recorded three singles for Phaeton but only one was released: 'J.C.B' / 'Damage Your Health' became the second release on the Phaeton label in 1980. It was written by Graham Kin. It can be described as quirky, keyboards oriented angular new wave pop. Though it sold well, 'J.C.B' does not appear in the official charts of the time and there are no accurate sales figures. Howard Palmer recalls the charts being suspended due to corruption and manipulation at the time (there were five straight-to-number-1 entries in 1980, a suspiciously high number). John Pike left after 18 months. Howard Palmer switched to bass and Wayne Sheehy (then in Bantry band Exodus) became the drummer. This lineup toured solidly for 6 months and recorded the third single. On 18 March 1980 they played the Cork City Hall gig with a host of local bands which was recorded by Circa Records but unreleased. They also recorded a live album independently which was released on cassette. They played one of the last ever gigs at the Dandelion Market in Dublin on Saturday 22 March 1980. The bands lack of progress coupled with various setbacks -losing out on the support slot for The Police at Leixlip Castle on 27 July 1980 (it went to U2), Phaeton shelving the third single- took their toll. Their manager called it a day, taking back the van and P.A. back, and the band folded.
Howard Palmer moved back to England. John Williamson died of cancer five years after the band split. Graham Kin is believed to write film music but presumably under another name as there's no entry on IMDB. John Pike lives in Clonakilty. Wayne Sheehy was later in Driveshaft, 1990, Cactus World News and Hinterland. [SOURCE: IRISH ROCK DISCOGRAPHY]
The Lookalikes were undoubtedly one of the most popular Irish bands playing around Dublin and the rest of Ireland during the early 1980s. They had a massive loyal following, broke attendance records in every major music venue in Dublin and were one of the few bands that could tour the country playing original music. On the strength of some early demo recordings, written by lead singer Sean O’Connor, it wasn’t long before a steady stream of A&R personnel were making their way from London to Dublin to get The Lookalikes’ signature for their respective labels. In total the band were offered a staggering 13 recording contracts.
Eventually they signed to Riva Records, home to Rod Stewart and John Cougar, and the band were offered the opportunity to tour the UK with Thin Lizzy which they did with great success. The band released three singles on the Riva label, all of which were successful in the Irish charts, but due to “differences of musical opinion” they eventually parted ways with the label (One of those three singles is “Can I Take You Home Tonight?” which was an Irish No1 and still gets played on radio to this day).
They released the album “Daydreaming at Night” for Warner Music in Ireland, along with 3 more singles which were the final recordings by the band. After another successful tour with Thin Lizzy throughout Europe in 1982 the band eventually broke up shortly after their return to Ireland. [SOURCE: THE WORKMANS CLUB]
The Dazzlers was a four-piece power pop group from Cambridge in the U.K. They played in a very retro style deliberately reminiscent of British invasion groups such as The Who. The band released a lone LP in 1979. Charisma Records released three singles by them around the same time. [SOURCE: LAST.FM]
The Zeros were one of the early English punk groups. Originally a trio, they were led by Steve Godfrey (guitar/vocals, b.1959, Walthamstow, London), the cousin of Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie. The two other members were Phil Gaylor (drums/vocals) and Steve Cotton (bass/vocals). They released a single called "Hungry" in November 1977 on the Small Wonder Records label. "Hungry" was No 1 on the NME punk chart. That same month, they recorded four songs, including "Hungry", for BBC Radio 1 with John Peel. Paul Miller (guitar/vocals) joined in early 1978. The same year Hugh Stanley Clark became their manager and re-signed the band to "The Label". They released a second single a year later, "What's Wrong with Pop Group". Sometime in the 2000s, Steve Godfrey created a Myspace page, and posted the Zeros entire discography as well as a series of previously unheard recording sessions and demos. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
Protex are a Belfast punk band which formed in 1978. Their first records were issued on Good Vibrations records. They formed part of the first wave of Belfast punk bands along with label-mates The Undertones and Rudi. The original line-up was Paul Maxwell (bass/vocals), Owen McFadden (drums), David McMaster (guitar/vocals) and Aidan Murtagh (guitar/vocals).
Protex formed inspired by the band members experiencing first-hand The Clash’s landmark visit to Belfast in 1977, when their gig was cancelled at the last minute due to insurance problems. The Clash’s Belfast visit in 1977 is considered by many to be the catalyst for the punk movement in Northern Ireland. Protex was influenced by The Clash and took their original name, Protex Blue, from an album track on The Clash's eponymous debut album. The band did not realise The Clash song was about condoms.
Protex's debut live performance was in 1978 at Knock Methodist Church Hall in Belfast. Shortly after the show they shortened their name to Protex to avoid any confusion about being a blues band. They performed around Belfast and eventually secured a radio session with local station Downtown Radio. By regular gigging around the city the band soon came to the attention of Terri Hooley who they initially met at a gig at the Glenmachan Hotel in Belfast. Hooley prompted them to record a three track debut 45 which he released on his Good Vibrations record label in November 1978 as issue GOT6. The Belfast label had previously released singles by Rudi, Victim, The Outcasts and The Undertones. The single was later re-released on London-based Rough Trade Records.
Following good reviews from the NME writer Tony Parsons, and more radio air play the band secured a BBC Radio 1 session for the Kid Jensen show. This led to interest from Polydor Records who signed the band. The band were all still in sixth form at school when A&R men came over from London to see them play live at Chester’s in Portrush. At Easter 1979, Protex went to London to record their debut single for Polydor, "I Can't Cope".
Protex landed a UK support slot on an Adam and the Ants UK tour. The band members then moved to London and set up base at the Chessington house, once the residence of Genesis and The Boomtown Rats. "I Can Only Dream" was the next single released by Polydor. It was produced by Chas Chandler. Protex opened for The Boomtown Rats on their UK tour and on further tours in America and Canada in 1980. Three songs from the band's New York City concert at the Hurrah Club were filmed by John T Davis and made into a short film entitled "Shellshock Rock". Protex's final release for Polydor was the single "A Place In Your Heart", after which they were dropped by the label. The band did farewell shows at the Pound Club in Belfast before splitting in 1981.
In 2010, New York label Sing Sing Records unearthed unreleased Polydor recordings for an album that never happened, and released them on vinyl as 'Strange Obsessions'. This prompted renewed interest in the band. Original members Aidan Murtagh and David McMaster reformed the band with new members Norman Boyd on bass and Gordie Walker on drums. However, prior to Norman Boyd's addition in 2013, the reformed Protex played for a period of three years with the line up of Aidan Murtagh (vocals, guitar), David McMaster (guitar, vocals), Gordie Walker (drums) and Andrew Curliss (bass, vocals). This line completed two short tours in Spain and Japan in 2013. A live album was released following the latter Japan tour. Although having played on this album, for unknown reasons Andrew Curliss was never credited on the CD. In 2017, the band's current line-up was completed with the addition of Nine Lies bassist John Rossi. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
Originally known as The Dark, a band influenced by The Doors (covering "Maggie McGill" and "Peace Frog"
live), but also The Kinks, Dylan, Dr. Feelgood and B.B.King ("Four in the
Morning" was in their live set). They played Sundays at the Summit Inn
in Howth in September/October 1979. The band recorded a 4-song demo in
late '79 which led to an appearance on Our Times (RTE) in 1979 and
attracted record company interest, including Automatic Records in
London. At some point they changed their name to The Spies, and their
music became more consciously new wave.
The Spies were a great pop punk/new wave band whose sole single is one
of the essential Irish rock singles. Phaeton Records were keen to release a follow up single and
a contract was signed for SPIN 4, with "Saturdays" as the A-side and "King And I" as the B. Although it was mentioned in the local press
among forthcoming releases the single never materialised, and SPIN 4 does not exist
in any form. There are no test pressings, as far as we know. Both tracks
may have been recorded on the bands demo, which may also include "Let s
Go Insane". Needless to say, these unreleased tracks should be tracked
down and released.
Singer Joey Barry was later in Above The Thunderclouds and Thee
Amazing Colossal Men. Gerry Leonard (lead guitar) was later in Above The Thunderclouds,
Hinterland and has played guitar for David Bowie among others. Peter Leonard (rhythm guitar) lives in
Paris.
Drummer Gerry Daly's first band Cemetery achieved a degree of exposure through their appearace in
an episode of "Radharc" in the early 70s.
[SOURCE: IRISH ROCK]
When The Depressions (aka DP's) split, Dave Barnard (vocals, bass) formed The Vandells to coincide with the mod revival that happened along with the whole punk thing.
Marcus Thirtle (vocals) and Dave's authentic vocals and Tony Maybury's excellent guitar work combined to make a sound that really is very Brighton. Not so much punk as mod. They should have gone on to bigger and better things as a band.
Featured on 'Vaultage 79' with two tracks, "Bank Holiday" and "Another Girl". Dave continues to play locally and is one of Brighton's best known musicians. [SOURCE: PUNKBRIGHTON]
The Moondogs formed in September 1978 when drummer Austin Barrett and vocalist/guitarist Gerry McCandless approached young Jackie Hamilton from Ventura Highway (who happened to be going out with Gerry's sister Maria at the time), to replace Vinny O'Neill, brother of The Undertones' John and Damian, on bass, who had left the band they had recently formed. Austin Barrett was also a cousin of UndertoneBilly Doherty and this close association with The Undertones was to be of much benefit to the band in the coming years. Jackie couldn’t play bass, but it was the time of ‘three chords and you've got music’, so undeterred, Jackie purchased a second-hand bass and went to the first rehearsal above the Bogside Inn, where the backroom was an Undertakers! They got straight down to business, and soon had a few self-penned tunes -"You Said", "Hey Joanna", "She's 19" and "Ya Don't Do Ya".
It was around this time that fellow Derry contemporaries The Undertones signed to Sire Records, and they asked Jackie, Gerry and Austin to do the warm-up spot at their celebratory gig from the back of a coal lorry in Bull Park. The band still hadn't a name, so, as they were all Beatles fans, Gerry suggested The Moondogs, after an early incarnation of The Beatles, and they all agreed.
From there they went on to hone their skills playing around all the local haunts in their native Derry, often as support to The Undertones (earning them the description of 'Spiritual Sons of The Undertones'). New songs such as "Popstar" and "Two-Timed" were added to a set that included several covers such as the early Beatles rouser "Boys" and Showaddywaddy's "Hey Rock 'n 'Roll". In November 1978 the band cut their first demos at a two track studio at Magee University. The three tracks recorded were “My New Girl” “Jenny”, “Hey Joanna” and “Two Timed”. This was quickly followed by a session for Downtown Radio. The band also made their debut gig in England that year as part of the ‘A Sense Of Ireland Festival’ in London. After their gig the band all went out to a Slade gig in the capital. [SOURCE: SPIT RECORDS]
The Speedometors or Speed-O-Metors are a new wave/punk rock band from London. They were formed in 1976 in Shepherd's Bush by Martin Finlay, Robbie Watson and Lol Gellor (previously of the West London band Rough Diamonds) and joined shortly thereafter by Ian "Toose" Taylor, later of the Mike Batt-produced group Houdini.
The Speedometors attracted the attention of the independent record label Mascot Records, and the release of the single "Disgrace"/"Work" put the band on the UK Indie Chart.
Drummer Gellor decided to leave the band to become a record producer and commenced by working on Desmond Dekker's album 'Black and Dekker'. Steve Parry (ex-Radio Stars) replaced Gellor.
Meanwhile, the "Disgrace" single came to the attention of the producer Miki Dallon, who presented the disc to industry representatives at the Midem Song Festival, resulting in the band being signed by the Acrobat/Arista label. The signing resulted in the release of the 'Day in the Lights' album.
During the recording of the LP, Parry left the band, and was replaced by Paul Spencer (ex-Magazine).
As a result of the LP sessions, the band added Lee Dallon on keyboards and Chris Gent on saxophone for live appearances.
Their next single, "Tonight Tonight", received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and a BBC recording session followed. The band continued to tour the UK with Sham 69 and Ultravox (then featuring John Foxx as singer and frontman). Club shows included a residency at the Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London, coupled with two appearances at the Reading Festival. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
