PragVEC

Last updated

PragVEC
Origin London, England
Genres Post-punk
Years active1978–1981
Past membersSusan Gogan
John Studholme
David Boyd
Nicholas Cash

PragVEC was a post-punk band from London [1] formed in 1978. The band name was a contraction of the two words "pragmatism" and "vector", chosen at random. [1] [2]

Contents

History

PragVEC were formed in February 1978 by ex-Derelicts members Susan Gogan (vocals, synthesizer) and John Studholme guitar, synthesizer, along with David Boyd (bass) and Nicholas Cash (drums). [3] [4] [5]

On 16 October 1978, they released their debut EP, the four-song 7-inch Bits, on their own Spec Records label. [2] It was followed on 10 July 1979 by the "Expert" single. [2] Both records were compiled on an eponymous 12-inch EP issued on the French label Celluloid Records. [6]

PragVEC played concerts during 1978 and 1979, opening for bands such as Cabaret Voltaire, Scritti Politti, the Psychedelic Furs, the Monochrome Set, Au Pairs, Magazine, Chelsea, Stiff Little Fingers and the Teardrop Explodes. [7] [8]

During their short existence, they also recorded a total of three sessions for the John Peel programme. [9] The last of these showed them moving away from the guitar-based sound of the first EP towards the use of the Wasp, a battery-powered portable synthesizer with a built-in speaker. Two of the songs, "Rural Erotic" and "Third Person", were re-recorded for the No-Cowboys album, released in December 1980. [10] Packaged in a polythene bag, the record was presented as a compilation by various bands, although all of the material was recorded by PragVEC. [2]

The band split in 1981, with Cash joining Fad Gadget and the Lines. [11] Gogan joined the Atoms. Jim Thirlwell, who had contributed Wasp synth to No-Cowboys, went on to form Foetus. [4]

Studholme, who had co-written many of the band's songs with Gogan, died in November 2005 after a long illness. Around the time of his death, he, Gogan and Cash had been working with Mute Records to compile a reissue of PragVEC material.

Half Man Half Biscuit recorded a song "Prag VEC at the Melkweg", on their 1991 album McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt . [12]

Personnel

Former members
Guest studio members

Discography

Studio albums

Singles and EPs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars (band)</span> American rock band

Mars were an American, New York City-based no wave experimental noise rock band, formed in 1975 when China Burg and artist Nancy Arlen (drums) brought Mark Cunningham (bass) and vocalist Sumner Crane together to talk about music. They were joined briefly by guitarist Rudolph Grey. The band played one live gig under the name China before changing it to Mars. They played a mixture of angular compositions and freeform noise music jams, featuring surrealist lyrics and non-standard drumming. All the members were said to be completely untrained in music before forming the band.

<i>Fixed</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Nine Inch Nails

Fixed is the second extended play (EP) by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. It was released on December 7, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. It serves as a companion release to Broken (1992), and includes remixes by Coil, Danny Hyde, JG Thirlwell, and Butch Vig, as well as then-live band member Chris Vrenna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Units (band)</span> American synthpunk band

Units were an American synthpunk band that was founded in San Francisco in 1978. It was active until 1984. They were one of America's earliest electronic new wave bands, and have been cited as pioneers of synthpunk, also retrospectively known as "electropunk". The Units were notable for their use of synthesizers in place of guitars, and multimedia performances featuring multiple projections of satirical, instructional films critical of conformity and consumerism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JG Thirlwell</span> Australian composer, producer and musician

James George Thirlwell, also known as Clint Ruin, Frank Want, and Foetus, among other names, is an Australian musician, composer, and record producer. He is known for juxtaposing a variety of different musical styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baker Street (song)</span> 1978 single by Gerry Rafferty

"Baker Street" is a song written and performed by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. It won the 1978 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and achieved high chart positions in the UK, US and elsewhere. The arrangement is known for its saxophone riff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wish (Nine Inch Nails song)</span> Nine Inch Nails song

"Wish" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from their debut EP Broken (1992). It was released in 1992 as a promotional single from the EP. The drumming on the track was performed by Martin Atkins.

The Passions were a British post-punk/new wave band which formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1983. The Passions' music was grounded mainly in Barbara Gogan's voice and Clive Timperley's delicate Echoplex guitar work. They were considered a one-hit wonder due to their early 1981 single "I'm in Love with a German Film Star".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What a Fool Believes</span> 1978 song by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald,later recorded by The Doobie Brothers

"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by the Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album Minute by Minute. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

<i>Slow Death EP</i> 1979 EP by The Leather Nun

Slow Death, an EP, is the debut release by Swedish rockers The Leather Nun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky Number (song)</span> 1979 single by Lene Lovich

"Lucky Number" is a song by English-American recording artist Lene Lovich. Originally released as a B-side for Lovich's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now", the song was re-released in 1979 by Stiff Records as an A-side and became the lead single of her debut studio album Stateless (1978). The song was written by Lovich and Les Chappell, who produced the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storm Bugs</span>

Storm Bugs are an English post punk band formed in 1978 in Deptford, London, England, by Philip Sanderson and Steven Ball who had met in the Medway Towns, England. The band have been linked to a number of genres including: cassette culture, industrial music and DIY. Storm Bugs were initially active between 1978 and 1982 and reformed in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Stann</span> Musical artist

Joey Stann is an accomplished saxophonist who has worked as a sideman and has recorded with a long list of rock and roll luminaries. Stann performs primarily on the tenor, Alto saxophone and baritone saxophone and has contributed vocals and has played and recorded the Hammond organ and piano on stage and in studios. A New York native, he is recognized for his lifelong association with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. Stann originally joined the band in 1980. He left to play with Gary U.S. Bonds from 1981 to 1985 before rejoining Southside Johnny. He currently freelances with other bands.

<i>Live</i> (Return to Forever album) 1978 live album by Return to Forever

Live is the final album by fusion band Return to Forever. It was recorded live at the Palladium in New York City on May 20 and 21 1977 as part of the Musicmagic tour to support the album of the same name. This was the only tour to feature the Musicmagic (1977) lineup, which included original members Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Joe Farrell, along with newly added member, Chick Corea's wife, Gayle Moran on vocals, piano and organ, and a six-piece horn section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Belong to Me (Carly Simon song)</span> 1978 song by Carly Simon

"You Belong to Me" is a song written by American singer-songwriters Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. Originally recorded by McDonald's rock group The Doobie Brothers for their seventh studio album, Livin' on the Fault Line (1977), the song was made famous by Simon when she recorded it for her seventh studio album, Boys in the Trees (1978). A live version of the song from The Doobie Brothers' 1983 album Farewell Tour would later chart on the Pop Singles chart at No. 79 in August 1983.

<i>Turn to Red</i> 1979 EP by Killing Joke

Turn to Red is an EP and the debut release by English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was released as a 7-inch EP on 26 October 1979 by Malicious Damage and re-released as a 12-inch EP on 14 December by Island Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vice Versa (band)</span> English electronic band

Vice Versa is an electronic band that formed in Sheffield, England, in 1977. Vice Versa originally consisted of Stephen Singleton, Mark White, Ian Garth, and David Sydenham, the former two of whom would go on to later found the successful 1980s pop band ABC. The band was active from 1977 to 1980 with the aforementioned line-up, and reformed in 2015 without Garth and Sydenham. Vice Versa are considered one of the "Big Four" late-1970s minimalistic electronic/synth-based bands from Sheffield. They share this title with Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA and the Human League.

<i>Temporary Music</i> 1981 studio album by Material

Temporary Music is the 1979 debut EP and 1981 debut album by the New York based no wave music group Material.

"Heart of the Night" is a song on the 1978 album release by the country-rock group Poco entitled Legend; the 1979 hit single is also featured on the group retrospective 20th Century Masters, as well as The Essential Poco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Val Haller</span> English musician

Val Haller was a British musician. Primarily a bass guitarist, he was also a vocalist, keyboardist, and composer. Haller played with Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, The Flying Lizards, The Lords of the New Church, Paint and Savage Republic. He was half of the duo Autumnfair.

Celebration was a 1970s American rock band, fronted by Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love as well as members of the band King Harvest. Celebration released three albums before they broke up in 1979.

References

  1. 1 2 "Perfect Sound Forever: Prag Vec interview". Furious.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "prag VEC". Users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Gimarc, George (1994) Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982, Vintage, ISBN   978-0-09-952211-9, p. 113
  4. 1 2 Strong, Martin C.: The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, 1999, Canongate, ISBN   0-86241-913-1
  5. ↑ "prag VEC". Users.globalnet.co.uk. 21 October 1978. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "pragVEC - pragVEC (1979, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  7. ↑ Neil Taylor, ed. (22 July 2010). Document and Eyewitness. ISBN   978-1-4091-1221-1.
  8. ↑ "prag VEC". Users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Pragvec", Keeping It Peel, BBC, retrieved 2011-12-19
  10. ↑ "No-Cowboys (1980, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "Nick Cash Musician". Jccarroll.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Half Man Half Biscuit | Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.