Motivation (band)

Last updated

Motivation
Origin Greater Manchester, England
Genres Rock
Years active1981–1985
Past members Steve Garvey
Dave Price
Dave Rowbotham
Snuff

Motivation was a short-lived band formed in Manchester, England by bassist and probably leader [1] Steve Garvey, guitarist Dave Rowbotham, drummer Snuff and vocalist Dave Price. [2] Garvey was a former Buzzcocks, Teardrops and Bok Bok member, while Rowbotham was previously in The Durutti Column and then in The Mothmen.

Contents

History

The band was formed by Steve Garvey, Dave Rowbotham, Snuff and Dave Price by 1980. The first two had some trajectory in the Manchester musical scene at the time: Garvey was famous for being the bassist of the punk band Buzzcocks, although he was involved in two new wave groups at the time, The Teardrops and Bok Bok, and Rowbotham was in the early line-up of post-punk band The Durutti Column, sharing the guitarist role with Vini Reilly, and after departing, he alongside other ex-members of the band formed The Mothmen, in which he was still involved at the time Motivation formed.

The band were managed by former Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon. Boon claimed in an interview at the time that Motivation sounded like 1976 bands, which indicated the group sounded like pre-punk formations or the first punk bands. [3] Andy Hieke and Colin Robinson from Night Visitors were their sound engineers. [4]

By 1983, Garvey (who was playing with Blue Orchids, in parallel with Motivation) and Price moved to New York, [4] but the band continued, with Garvey as the only known remaining member. [5]

The band was forced to change its name to Shy Talk and was signed to Columbia records in the U.S., releasing one album, Shy Talk, in 1985. The album was produced by Procol Harum's Pete Solley. At this time the line-up consisted of Dave Price (vocals), Michael Nehra (guitars), Phil Garmyn (bass), David Bravo (keyboards) [6] and John Morelli (drums). [7] [8] Steve Garvey is thanked in the album credits but did not perform on the album.

Snuff joined Distant Cousins in the late 1980s. [4] Garvey reformed Buzzcocks in 1989 but quit in 1992 due to health problems. In 1991, Rowbotham, who passed in the 1980s as a session musician for Factory Records, was killed by an axe murderer in his flat.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzzcocks</span> British punk rock band

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as a seminal influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. They achieved commercial success with singles that fused pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album described by music journalist and critic, Ned Raggett, as a "punk masterpiece".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Factory Records</span> British record label

Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Durutti Column</span> English post-punk band

The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is a project of guitarist and occasional pianist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by Bruce Mitchell on drums and Keir Stewart on bass, keyboards and harmonica. They were among the first acts signed to Factory Records by label founder Tony Wilson.

<i>24 Hour Party People</i> 2002 film by Michael Winterbottom

24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British biographical comedy drama film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film was entered into the 2002 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Devoto</span> Musical artist

Howard Devoto is an English singer and songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for punk rock band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine, an early post-punk band. After Magazine, he went solo and later formed indie band Luxuria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penetration (band)</span> Punk rock band from County Durham, England

Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members. Their debut single, "Don't Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets (1978), is still widely admired.

Blue Orchids are an English post-punk band formed in Manchester in 1979, when Martin Bramah left the Fall, after playing on the band's debut album Live at the Witch Trials. Christened by Salford-based punk poet John Cooper Clarke the band recorded for Rough Trade and acted as backing band for the Velvet Underground's Nico before a 25-year period of intermittent activity and fluctuating line-ups.

The Mothmen were a short-lived post-punk band from England, formed around 1979 by Dave Rowbotham, Chris Joyce and Tony Bowers, shortly after they left The Durutti Column, including ex-Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias singer Bob Harding.

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

The Invisible Girls were a British rock band, formed in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1978, to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke. The band's nucleus was Joy Division and New Order producer Martin Hannett and keyboardist Steve Hopkins, with contributions from, amongst others, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks and Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe. The band also played on the first solo album by Pauline Murray, the eponymous Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls and some singles, and later with Nico for the single "Procession".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Diggle</span> English rock guitarist

Stephen E Diggle is an English guitarist and vocalist in the punk band Buzzcocks.

<i>Spiral Scratch</i> 1977 EP by Buzzcocks

Spiral Scratch is an EP and the first release by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released on 29 January 1977. It is one of the earliest releases by a British punk band. The EP is the only Buzzcocks studio release with original singer Howard Devoto, who left shortly after its release to form one of the first post-punk bands, Magazine.

Stephen Garvey is a musician who is known for being the bass guitarist of the punk band Buzzcocks, forming part of the classic line-up of the group, from 1977 to 1981, and, again, from 1989 to 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Teardrops (UK band)</span>

The Teardrops were an English punk/new wave band formed in Manchester, England, in 1978. The founders and always the core of this band were Trevor Wain, John Key and Jimmy Donnelly with various good friends from the Prestwich music scene:- Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey, members of The Fall; Martin Bramah, Karl Burns and Tony Friel and former member of V2 Ian Nance, as well as occasional contributions from Dave Brisbane, Helen Harbrook, Dave Price and Rick Goldstraw.

Dave Rowbotham was an English rock musician who played guitar and bass with various Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as a studio musician.

<i>In and Out of Fashion</i> 1978 EP by The Teardrops

In and Out of Fashion is the debut recording and the first EP and 12" single of new wave band the Teardrops, released by Bent Records, in 1978. The band was formed by then Buzzcocks bass guitarist Steve Garvey, among others. Shortly after the release of the EP, Karl Burns and Tony Friel, both from the Fall joined the band, until their disbanding in 1981.

<i>Final Vinyl</i> (The Teardrops album) 1980 studio album by The Teardrops

Final Vinyl is the only album released by English new wave band the Teardrops. It was released in January 1980, shortly before the band dissolved.

<i>Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls

Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band. It was released in September 1980 on the RSO label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Bowers</span> Musical artist

Tony Bowers is a musician based in Italy and Ireland who has worked with many bands, including Simply Red in the 1980s.

Chris Joyce is known for being drummer with various groups, and with Simply Red in the 1980s.

"Does It Matter Irene?" is the first disc released by post-punk group The Mothmen, on Absurd Records, in 1979. Shortly before, the band members were involved with two known Manchester bands, guitarist/bassist Dave Rowbotham, bassist/guitarist Tony Bowers and drummer Chris Joyce with The Durutti Column and vocalist Bob Harding with Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias. Bowers also was member of Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias before The Durutti Column.

References

  1. "Garvey.jpg (image)". Bp2.blogger.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. "Post punk Diary: 1980-1982", George Gimarc, page 137. St. Martin's Press, 1997, ISBN   0-312-16968-X, 9780312169688
  3. "Garvey.jpg (image)". Bp2.blogger.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Manchester District Music Archive - Foreign Press, Motivation, Section 25, Dr Filth press article, Beach Club at Oozit's - 27.06.1981". Mdmarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  5. Allmusic.com - Buzzcocks Steve Garvey moved to New York, where he played with Motivation for a few years.
  6. "Bio". David Bravo Entertainment. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  7. "Jenny Morellis: John Morelli bloggen". Morellisdagliga.blogspot.com. 13 February 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  8. "Shy Talk by Shy Talk @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.

Bibliography