Eddie and the Hot Rods

Last updated

Eddie and the Hot Rods
Eddie and the Hot Rods 2021.jpg
Eddie & the Hot Rods 2021
Background information
Also known asThe Rods
Origin Canvey Island, Essex, England
Genres Pub rock, punk rock, hard rock, power pop
Years active1975–1985, 1996–present
Labels Island, EMI, Voiceprint, Wienerworld, RodHot Records
MembersSimon Bowley
Ian "Dipster" Dean
Richard Holgarth
Mic Stoner
Past membersBarrie Masters
Graeme Douglas
Paul Gray
Lew Lewis
Paul Curtis
Steve Nicol
Tony Cranney
Dave Higgs
Gary Loker
Gordon Russell
Chris Taylor
Pete Wall
Ian Nix
Rob Steele
Russ Strutter
Warren Kennedy
Tony Cranney
Tex Axile
Steve Walwyn
Mick Rogers
Madman Keyo
Jess Phillips/Steve Kehoe
Website eddieandthehotrods.com

Eddie and the Hot Rods are a pub rock band from Essex founded in 1975. They are best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit "Do Anything You Wanna Do", released under the shortened name Rods. The group broke up in 1985, but reformed in 1996. Singer Barrie Masters was the only constant member until his death in 2019. The band continued to tour, fronted by their former bassist, Ian 'Dipster' Dean.

Contents

History

Formation

The band was formed in Medway, Kent, England, during 1975 by guitarist Dave Higgs (who had previously played in the Fix with Lee Brilleaux), with drummer Steve Nicol, bassist Rob Steele, and singer Barrie Masters (born in Rochford, Essex; 4 May 1956 – 2 October 2019). [1] [2]

Before rising to semi-stardom in 1977, the Hot Rods underwent several changes in personnel: one of the first members to leave the band was "Eddie" himself, which was a dummy that featured prominently in the Hot Rods' early gigs and was discarded as the joke had worn thin. [3] [4] Otherwise, the band consisted of Barrie Masters on vocals, Pete Wall and Dave Higgs on guitar, Rob Steele on bass and Steve Nicol on drums. [5] Ed Hollis (brother of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis) became their manager. [6]

In May 1975, after building a live reputation, they secured a Saturday-night residency at The Kensington in London. [7] This was followed in October by a joint residency with the 101ers at The Nashville, playing alternate headline sets. [8] In November, after positive press reviews of their live shows, they were signed by Island Records. [9]

Commercial success

By 1976, Lew Lewis (harmonica) and Paul Gray (bass) had replaced Wall and Steele. [5] Lewis's tenure in the group lasted for the release of their first two singles before he too left. [5] With this new line-up, the Hot Rods played a set at London's famous Marquee Club – their opening act was the Sex Pistols which descended into chaos with the Pistols smashing the Hot Rods' gear; [5] [10] The Pistols' support slot earned them their first music press review, in the NME, with no mention of the headlining Hot Rods at all. [11] By way of revenge, the Hot Rods claimed in the next week's edition of the NME to have "sacked" the Pistols from an upcoming tour, which the NME pithily described as "what you get for mixin(g) with real punks." [11] During a residency at the club in the summer of 1976 they duelled for alternate weeks with AC/DC, to see who could cram more bodies into the Marquee during one of the hottest summers on record. [12] They first appeared in the UK Singles Chart the end of that year with the Live at the Marquee EP and the single "Teenage Depression", an energetic rock and roll song. [5]

After the release of the Teenage Depression album, which gave them their first appearance in the UK Albums Chart, they recorded another EP called Live – At the Sound of Speed. [5] During the gig from which this EP was recorded, Graeme Douglas (formerly of the Kursaal Flyers) joined the band onstage and jammed along adding extra lead lines. Afterwards his membership of the band was made permanent, [5] and they set about writing and recording for their second album. The live recording of the Sound of Speed EP featured Douglas on only one track, he therefore set about recording additional lead guitar overdubs in the studio, though to keep in with the essence of a live release, he was only given one attempt at recording each song.

With the addition of Douglas, the band was moved in a more radio-friendly direction. Their biggest hit came with the Douglas/Hollis collaboration "Do Anything You Wanna Do" in the summer of 1977, under their shorter, snappier name, the Rods. [5] This single made the British Top 10 (number 9 in August 1977) and also proved popular with the then predominant punk audience, as did that year's album Life on the Line. They appeared at the Reading Festival held in August 1977 and also in that year the Hot Rods toured the United States with the Ramones and Talking Heads. [13] In late 1977 they released a one-off collaboration with MC5 singer Rob Tyner as 'Rob Tyner & the Hot Rods'. [5] When it came to recording a follow-up album, the band tried to recapture the success of "Do Anything You Wanna Do", but to no avail. The album, Life on the Line , hit further problems with CBS Records still having contractual claim over Douglas, leading to his picture being removed from the LP sleeve for some releases. [14] In 1978 the band toured in Canada. [15]

In early 1979, they released a further album with Douglas, entitled Thriller , recorded at Abbey Road Studio, which featured a fuller studio sound and used more studio effects. Due to disappointing sales, they found themselves dropped by Island in 1979, and in May that year were rumoured to be on the verge of splitting, with Gray touring with the Members and Masters and Nicol playing in the band Plus Support. [16] They signed to EMI in August 1979, releasing a further album in 1981, Fish'n'Chips with new bass player T.C. (Tony Cranney), but disbanded in 1981. [5]

Reformations

At this point, Gray and Douglas had already left the band, the former joining the Damned. [5] Masters teamed up with the Inmates. [5] Ed Hollis went on to work with some of the best known acts of the punk era including the Damned, Elvis Costello, and Stiff Little Fingers. Nicol joined One the Juggler. [4]

Masters and Nicol re-formed the Hot Rods in 1984, with T.C. (Tony Cranney) bassplayer from the "Fish and Chips" album and new guitarist Warren Kennedy. [5] This line-up recorded the single "Fought for You". Tony Cranney was later replaced By Russ Strutter for the live mini-LP One Story Town, [17] before the band split again in 1985. [5] Tex Axile, who had briefly been a member in this era, went on to join Transvision Vamp. [5]

In 1992 the 'classic' line-up (Masters, Nicol, Higgs, and Gray) re-grouped for a European tour. Higgs left after the tour, but the band carried on with Steve Walwyn of Dr. Feelgood replacing him. Another Feelgood member, Gordon Russell was briefly a member, soon replaced by Mick Rodgers, a former member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band. In 1994 they recorded the album Gasoline Days, released in 1996 by Japanese label Creative Man. [4] [5] Several line-up changes followed, with members including Madman Keyo and Jess Phillips. [4]

The new millennium saw a new line-up, still led by Masters but now comprising Simon Bowley on drums (nephew of original drummer Steve Nicol), Dipster Dean on bass and Gary Loker on guitar. In 2001, after an 80 date UK 'Naughty Rhythms' Tour (with Dr Feelgood, the Hamsters and John Otway) [18] they were joined by Richard Holgarth (Otway) on guitar and shortly afterwards, Loker left the band.[ citation needed ]

In 2005, they recorded Better Late than Never in preparation for a 30th anniversary tour and then expanded to a five piece band again with the addition of Chris Taylor in 2006 for the recording of the album Been There, Done That. This is the line-up that has since performed as Eddie and the Hot Rods.

Dave Higgs died in December 2013. [19]

In early 2018, the band announced they would soon retire from headline tours. [20] The band toured the UK in March 2019 opening for Stiff Little Fingers. Touring bass player for the March 2019 tour was Adam Smith of Newtown Neurotics.

A one-off celebration gig 'Done Everything We Wanna Do' took place at o2 Academy, Islington on 13 April 2019. [21] which featured appearances from past members (Lew Lewis, Paul Gray, Steve Nicol, Graeme Douglas, Warren Kennedy, Chris Taylor, Tony Cranney), current members (Richard Holgarth, Simon Bowley, Dipster) and special guests Captain Sensible (The Damned), Leigh Heggarty (Ruts DC), Duncan Reid (The Boys), Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham (Nine Below Zero) and JC Carroll (The Members) all joining frontman Barrie Masters.

Masters died suddenly on 2 October 2019 at the age of 63. [22] A later inquest determined that his death was drug-related. [23]

Having already announced that Barrie would be retiring at the end of the year due to health concerns and, after an enforced Covid pandemic break throughout 2020, the band decided to return to the stage in 2021 with long time bassist Ian 'Dipster' Dean taking over the vocal duties. Mic Stoner (Chords UK) replaced him on bass guitar and they undertook on a UK tour alongside Nine Below Zero.

Guardians of the Legacy

On 27 March 2022, they could be seen performing their new single "Guardians of the Legacy" [24] [25] on the Talking Pictures TV broadcast of The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read. [26] [27] [28] [29] "Guardians of the Legacy" is the title track from an album issued on the anniversary of Masters' death in October 2022.

Musical style

The band's early repertoire consisted of covers of 1960s R&B songs and original songs inspired by the likes of Dr. Feelgood. [2] Known for their energy on stage, they attracted a younger audience than many pub rock bands. [2] Although often categorised as one of the founding fathers of the punk era, they were simply interested in playing loud, fast, in-your-face rock and roll. The energy and attitude certainly endeared them to punks and Joe Strummer stated that when he read about the band in a listings magazine it was the first time he had seen the word 'punk' used to describe a band. [30] Their 1977 tour of the US with the Ramones and Talking Heads was billed as a punk rock tour, [13] and their 1977 concert in Windsor, Ontario, was billed as "Windsor's First Punk Rock Concert". [31] They were overtaken by punk rock bands, however, and were soon considered to be outside the genre. [32]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum UK Albums Chart Record label
1976 Teenage Depression 43 Island Records
1977 Life on the Line 27
1979 Thriller 50
1981 Fish 'n' Chips EMI Records
1996 Gasoline Days Creative Man Records
2005 Better Late than Never Voiceprint Records
2006 Been There, Done That...
201135 Years of Teenage Depression
2022Guardians of the LegacyOutro Records (Vinyl)

Renaissance Records (CD)

Live albums

Compilations and sessions

EPs

  1. "96 Tears"
  2. "Get Out of Denver"
  3. "Medley: GloriaSatisfaction"
  1. "Hard Drivin' Man"
  2. "Horseplay"
  3. "Double Checkin' Woman"
  4. "All I Need is Money"
  5. "On the Run" (on 12-inch version only)

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart
positions
Record Label B-side Album
UK
1976"Writing on the Wall" Island Records "Cruisin' (In the Lincoln)"
"Wooly Bully""Horseplay (Weary of the Schmaltz)"
"Teenage Depression"35"Shake" Teenage Depression
1977"I Might Be Lying"44"Ignore Them (Always Crashing in the Same Bar)"
"Do Anything You Wanna Do"9"Schoolgirl Love" Life on the Line
"Till the Night Is Gone (Let's Rock)""Flipside Rock"
"Quit This Town"36"Distortion May Be Expected (laughbagindub)"Life on the Line
1978"Life on the Line"55 [upper-alpha 1] "Do Anything You Wanna Do" (Live)
1979"Media Messiahs""Horror Through Straightness" Thriller
"The Power and the Glory""Highlands One, Hopefuls Two"
1980"Wide Eyed Kids" EMI Records "Leave Us Alone" Fish 'n' Chips
1981"Farther on Down the Road
(You Will Accompany Me)"
"Fish 'n' Chips Part 2"
1985"Fought for You" Waterfront Records "Hey, Tonight"

DVDs

Notes

  1. 1 2 Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  1. "Barrie Masters: Singer with Eddie and the Hot Rods who fired up late-Seventies UK rock". The Independent. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Buckley
  3. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave, Virgin Books, ISBN   0-7535-0231-3, p. 146
  4. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Strong
  6. Ankeny, Jason "Mark Hollis Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 30 December 2010
  7. Gimarc, p. 18
  8. Gimarc, p. 21
  9. Gimarc, p. 23
  10. Gimarc, p. 26
  11. 1 2 "'Don't look over your shoulder, but the Sex Pistols are coming': 40th anniversary of their first review « Paul Gorman is…". Paulgormanis.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  12. Engleheart, Murray & Durieux, Arnaud (2009) AC/DC: Maximum Rock and Roll, Aurum Press, ISBN   978-1-84513-496-9, p. 171
  13. 1 2 Billboard, 26 November 1977, p. 44
  14. Gimarc, p. 99
  15. David Farrell (14 January 1978). "Canada learns to Pogo". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 57–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  16. Gimarc, p. 211
  17. sleeve notes Live & Rare CD
  18. "DR FEELGOOD - Naughty Rhythms 2000". Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  19. Barnett, Helen (2014) "Dog's goodbye to her master before funeral of Canvey band Eddie and the Hot Rods's guitarist Dave Higgs", Echo News, 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015
  20. "Eddie & The Hot Rods - The beginning of the end..." Eddie & The Hot Rods.
  21. "Eddie & The Hot Rods - Done Everything We Wanna Reviews..." Eddie & The Hot Rods.
  22. "Eddie and the Hot Rods singer dies aged 63". Bbc.co.uk. 2 October 2019.
  23. "Eddie and the Hot Rods: Barrie Masters' death drug-related". Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2020.
  24. "Eddie & The Hot Rods - News". Eddieandthehotrods.coms. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  25. "Eddie & the Hot Rods - NEW Single - Guardians of the Legacy ***FREE DOWNLOAD**". Eddieandthehotrods.com.
  26. "Heritage Chart". Heritagechart.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  27. "The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read Season 1". Radiotimes.com.
  28. "Video". Tptvencore.co.uk.
  29. Talking Pictures TV schedules for 27 March 2022 page 56, Radio Times 26 March - 1 April 2022
  30. Flockhart, Gary (2010) "Gig preview: Eddie and the Hot Rods, Citrus Club", The Scotsman , 3 September 2010, retrieved 30 December 2010
  31. The Windsor Star, 29 October 1977, p. 49, retrieved 30 December 2010
  32. Belcher, David (2001) "Who wants to buy a little anarchy?; It is the ultimate irony that the Sex Pistols were the public enemies vilified by the same Establishment that now wants to purchase their cast-offs, laments David Belcher", Glasgow Herald , 20 September 2001, p. 17

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex Pistols</span> English punk rock band

The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became one of the most culturally influential acts in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspired many later punk, post-punk and alternative rock musicians, while their clothing and hairstyles were a significant influence on the early punk image.

Pub rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the early to mid-1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, which incorporated roots rock, pub rock was a reaction against the expensively-recorded and produced progressive rock and flashy glam rock scenes at the time. Although short-lived, pub rock was played live in small traditional venues like pubs and clubs. Since major labels showed no interest in pub rock groups, pub bands sought out independent record labels such as Stiff Records. Indie labels used relatively inexpensive recording processes, so they had a much lower break-even point for a record than a major label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plasmatics</span> American punk rock band

The Plasmatics were an American punk rock, hardcore punk and heavy metal band formed by Rod Swenson and Wendy O. Williams in New York City in 1977. They were a controversial group known for chaotic, destructive live shows and outrageous theatrics. These included chainsawing guitars, destroying speaker cabinets, sledgehammering television sets and blowing up automobiles live on stage. Williams was arrested in Milwaukee by the Milwaukee Police before being charged with public indecency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Kids</span> English new wave band

Rich Kids were a short-lived new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from the Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure and Rusty Egan, who both later founded Visage together. They released one album and three singles during their existence, from March 1977 to December 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Wallis</span> British rock musician (1949–2019)

Larry Wallis was a British rock guitarist, songwriter and producer. He was best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hollis</span> English musician and singer-songwriter (1955–2019)

Mark David Hollis was an English musician and singer-songwriter. He achieved commercial success and critical acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s as the co-founder, lead singer and principal songwriter of the band Talk Talk. Hollis wrote or co-wrote most of Talk Talk's music—including hits like "It's My Life" and "Life's What You Make It"—and in later works developed an experimental, contemplative style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Gray (English musician)</span> British bassist (born 1958)

Paul Murray Granville Gray is an English bassist notable for playing with the rock bands Eddie and the Hot Rods and The Damned.

The Inmates are a British pub rock band, which formed after the split of The Flying Tigers in 1977. In 1982, they had a medium-sized international hit with a cover of The Standells' "Dirty Water", and a UK Top 40 hit with their cover of Jimmy McCracklin's track, "The Walk". "Dirty Water" reached number 51 in the United States in January 1980. The song led directly to them recording their debut album, First Offence, produced by Vic Maile for Radar Records. Two further albums were quickly recorded; Shot in the Dark again produced by Vic Maile, and Heatwave in Alaska produced by Stuart Coleman.

Rubber City Rebels are an American punk band from Akron, Ohio that formed in 1976.

The Kursaal Flyers were a British pop band, formed in Southend-on-Sea in 1973. They are most famous for their 1976 single "Little Does She Know" and were the subject of a BBC documentary following them on tour in 1975.

<i>The Nightmare Continues E.P.</i> 1991 EP by Die Toten Hosen

The Nightmare Continues E.P. is a promotional EP by the German punk band Die Toten Hosen for the cover album Learning English, Lesson One. It includes four songs from the album.

<i>Crank</i> (The Almighty album) 1994 studio album by the Almighty

Crank is the fourth studio album released by Scottish rock band the Almighty. Two singles, "Jonestown Mind" and "Wrench", were released from the album in multiple parts in the United Kingdom. Music videos were made for both singles. Crank peaked at #15 in the UK albums chart. The cover artwork, showing an angel throwing a Molotov cocktail at a planet (earth) made out of money was created by noted British artist and anarchist Jamie Reid, who also designed the famous ransom note cover for the Sex Pistols album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols.

<i>Teenage Depression</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Eddie and the Hot Rods

Teenage Depression is the debut studio album by English rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods. The album was mixed by Jonz:A and R Howard Thomson and produced by Ed Hollis and Vic Maile. It reached number 43 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Life on the Line</i> 1977 studio album by Eddie and the Hot Rods

Life on the Line is the second studio album by English rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods. The album was mixed by Ed Hollis and Steve Nicol, produced by Ed Hollis, and engineered by Steve Lillywhite. This release is considered a step in the Punk direction for The Rods sound.

<i>Thriller</i> (Eddie and the Hot Rods album) 1979 studio album by Eddie and the Hot Rods

Thriller is the third studio album by pub rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods, reaching No. 50 on the UK Albums Chart. Released in 1979, it was produced by Peter Ker. Shortly after the release of Thriller, the band was sacked by their record company and forced to join EMI Records. The album was reissued in 2002 with two bonus tracks: "Horror Through Straightness" and "Highlands 1 Hopefuls 2". These songs had been the B-sides to the singles released on the LP.

Keith "Lew" Lewis was an English harmonica player and vocalist, who was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods before forming his own bands. Influenced in style by Little Walter, he also guested on albums by The Stranglers, The Clash and others.

<i>Fish n Chips</i> 1980 studio album by Eddie and the Hot Rods

Fish 'n' Chips is the fourth studio album released by pub rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods. It was produced and mixed by Al Kooper, engineered by Bob Edwards and assistant Stuart Henderson, and mastered by Mike Reese. The LP was the first album for EMI Records who they signed to in 1979. According to Barrie Masters, the record company "just let it slip out" and it wasn't very successful, subsequently resulting in the dissolution of The Hot Rods in late 1981. The band reformed for a year from 1984 to 1985 but it wouldn't be until 1996 that they completed another studio album. This release also sees the departure of Paul Gray with him being replaced by T.C..

<i>Gasoline Days</i> Album by Eddie and the Hot Rods

Gasoline Days is the fifth studio album released by Pub Rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods. It is produced and mixed by the Hot Rods themselves and Simon Milton. In 1992 the 'classic' line-up re-grouped for a European tour. Higgs left after the tour, but the band carried on with Steve Walwyn of Dr. Feelgood replacing him. Another Feelgood member, Gordon Russell, was also briefly a member, however, was soon replaced by Mick Rodgers, a former member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band. In 1994 they recorded the album Gasoline Days, released in 1996 by the Japanese label Creative Man. The band has been active intermittently since as the album didn't enjoy much success coupled with relatively poor reviews with one claiming "From teenage depression to mid-life crisis".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Count Bishops</span> British rock band

The Count Bishops were a British rock band, formed in 1975 in London and which broke up in 1980. The Count Bishops had limited commercial success, but forged an important stylistic and chronological link between the root rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood and the proto punk sound of Eddie and the Hot Rods; together forming the foundation of the pub-rock scene, which influenced the emergence of punk rock. The group made history in England by releasing the first record from independent label Chiswick Records. They splintered following the death of guitarist Zenon DeFleur on 18 March 1979.

"Do Anything You Wanna Do" is a song written by Eddie and the Hot Rods' manager Ed Hollis and guitarist Graeme Douglas and recorded by the band, although the actual record label credited Rods as the artist. It reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart in 1977. The song was produced by Ed Hollis and arranged by the band. It was featured on their 1977 album, Life on the Line.

References

Further reading