Zerra 1

Last updated

Zerra 1
OriginIreland
Years active1982–1987
LabelsTop Hole Records, Second Vision, Mercury

Zerra 1 (also known as Zerra One) were an Irish new wave band formed in Ireland in 1982. They recorded two albums but split up in 1987 due to a lack of commercial success. [1]

Contents

History

Zerra 1 were formed in 1982 by vocalist and keyboardist Paul Bell, guitarist Andreas Grimminger, bassist Adrian Wyatt and drummer Mike Mesbur. [2] [1] That year, the band supported The Cure on their UK and European tour in April–June, [3] and released "Let's Go Home" as their debut single. It was released by Top Hole Records in the Netherlands only. [4] Later in December, the band supported U2 for five dates. [5] Two singles were released in the UK during 1983 on the Second Vision label. Although "The West's Awake" and "The Banner of Love (How I Run to You)" did not generate any major commercial success, the latter single reached No. 33 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. [1] [6] [7]

In February–March 1984, the band toured as a support act of The Boomtown Rats. [8] The same year saw the band signing to Mercury. Their first single for the label was "Ten Thousand Voices, Message from the Peoples". [9] That year, their self-titled debut album was also released, which spawned the singles "Tumbling Down" and "Mountains and Water". [10] [11] Released across Europe, the album was produced by Todd Rundgren, but failed to give the band their commercial breakthrough. [12] A revised version of the album was released in Canada in 1985 on the Vertigo label. It was re-titled Mountains and Water. [13] A remix of "Rain", taken from the debut album, was released in the UK in 1985. [14]

Mesbur was replaced by Korda Marshall during 1984. Recording sessions for the band's second album spanned from May 1985 to April 1986, however by this time both Marshall and Wyatt had left the band, with Marshall going on to launch independent record label Infectious Music. Wyatt was replaced by Eamo Doyle, making the band a trio. On the album, drums were mostly provided by Pete Thomas and Gavin Harrison. [15] "Rescue Me", the first single from the album, was released in October 1985 and reached No. 82 in the UK in early 1986. [16] [17] However, the band were unable to capitalise on the chart entry. The album, The Domino Effect, was not a commercial success, along with two further singles "Forever and Ever" and "Domino Effect". [18] [19] In late 1986, the band supported Ultravox. They focused on trying to break the American market in 1987, but disbanded later that year. [20] [21] [22]

Members

Discography

Albums
Singles

Related Research Articles

Stephen Anthony James Duffy is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He was a founding member, vocalist, bassist, and then drummer of Duran Duran. He went on to record as a solo performer under several different names, and is the singer and songwriter for The Lilac Time with his older brother Nick. He has also co-written with Robbie Williams and Steven Page.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Wyatt</span> English musician

Robert Wyatt is a retired English musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming paraplegic following an accidental fall from a window in 1973, which led him to abandon band work, explore other instruments, and begin a forty-year solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Professionals (band)</span> English punk rock band

The Professionals are an English punk rock band active from 1979 to early 1982 and again from 2015. They were formed by ex-Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook after that band's demise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lover Speaks</span>

The Lover Speaks were an English new wave duo consisting of David Freeman (vocals) and Joseph Hughes. They wrote and sang the original version of the song "No More "I Love You's"", covered by Annie Lennox in 1995 on her Medusa album, which she took to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song published in 1930. It was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. The original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mama Weer All Crazee Now</span> 1972 single by Slade

"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as the lead single from their third studio album Slayed?. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK, giving the band their third number one single, and remained in the charts for ten weeks. In the United States, the song reached No. 76.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coz I Luv You</span> 1971 single by Slade

"Coz I Luv You" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1971 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their first number one single, and remained in the top 50 for fifteen weeks.

Working Week were a British jazz-dance band active in the 1980s and 1990s.

Maximum Joy are an English post-punk band from Bristol, England, formed in 1981 and reunited in 2015.

This article is a discography of American rock musician Todd Rundgren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Join Hands</span> 1984 single by Slade

"All Join Hands" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1984 as the lead single from the band's twelfth studio album Rogues Gallery. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by John Punter. It reached No. 15 in the UK, remaining in the chart for ten weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight I Could Fall in Love</span> 1985 single by Suzi Quatro

"Tonight I Could Fall in Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro, released by RAK Records as a non-album single in 1985. The song was written by Richard Gower and produced by Mickie Most. The song reached number 140 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Need (Dan Hartman song)</span> 1981 single by Dan Hartman

"All I Need" is a song by the American musician Dan Hartman, released in 1981 as the third and final single from his fourth studio album It Hurts to Be in Love. It was written and produced by Hartman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Maidman</span> British musician, singer, producer, songwriter, actor, and author

Jennifer Maidman is a British musician, singer, producer, songwriter, actor and author who has collaborated extensively with many internationally well known groups and artists. Her work appears on hundreds of recordings from 1976 onwards and she has received numerous awards, including a platinum award from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for the album 'Hormonally Yours', on which she worked as part of the band Shakespears Sister. She was a core member of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra from 1984 until 2007. She is best known as a bass guitarist but also sings and plays guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, ukulele, cuatro and Chapman Stick. In June 2016, her website announced that she was working on a solo album in Woodstock, New York featuring amongst others, Jerry Marotta, Annie Whitehead, and David Torn. The album, entitled 'Dreamland' was released on 1 August 2017 and features Marotta, Torn and Whitehead, with guest contributions from Paul Brady and Robert Wyatt amongst others. Since 2017, she has also been collaborating frequently with New York-based arts cooperative The Secret City. In 2021, she reunited with Joan Armatrading for a live stream concert at the Asylum Chapel in London. In 2022, the concert was broadcast in the UK by the BBC and released as a double album on CD and streaming services.

Antoine "Fats" Domino Jr. was an American pianist and singer-songwriter. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, More than 65 million records were sold by Domino. He had eleven Top 10 hits between 1955 and 1960. His humility and shyness may be one reason his contribution to the genre has been overlooked.

"House of Cards" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue and is one of their most covered songs. It was first released as a single by Chris Kelly on the CBS label on 7 April 1972, credited as being written by Rubin and Green (Blue). The song was a radio hit in Italy, receiving multiple plays on national radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sign of the Times (Slade song)</span> 1979 single by Slade

"Sign of the Times" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1979 as the second single from the band's eighth studio album Return to Base. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Slade.

The Dummies was a musical project formed by Slade bassist Jim Lea and his brother Frank Lea in 1979. Between 1979 and 1981, they released three singles and recorded a number of original and Slade songs, which were collected on the 1992 album A Day in the Life of the Dummies.

<i>A Day in the Life of the Dummies</i> 1992 studio album by The Dummies

A Day in the Life of the Dummies is a compilation album by The Dummies, which was a musical project of Jim Lea of Slade and his brother Frank. The album was released in March 1992 and gathers all of the 1979-80 recordings produced by the pair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private Lives (band)</span> British pop-music group

Private Lives were a British new wave band, active in the early to mid-1980s, who are best known for their 1984 charting single, "Living in a World ".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Biography by Michael Sutton. "Zerra I | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Irish Rock Discography: Zerra 1". Irishrock.org. 14 November 1983. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "1980-1982 THREE... (FOREVER) - THE CURE - THE MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE" . Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Zerra I - Let's Go Home (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "U2 Concerts with Opening Act: Zerra 1". Tours.atu2.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "Zerra I - The West's Awake at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Zerra I - The Banner Of Love (How I Run To You) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Images for Zerra I - Zerra I". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Zerra I - Ten Thousand Voices, Message From The Peoples at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Zerra I - Tumbling Down at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Zerra I - Mountains And Water at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Zerra I - Zerra I (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Zerra One* - Mountains And Water (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "Zerra I - Rain (Remix) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Zerra One* - The Domino Effect (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "ZERRA ONE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Zerra One - Rescue Me / No Longer - Mercury - UK - MER 205". 45cat. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  18. ↑ "Zerra One - Domino Effect / Stronger Tonight - Mercury - UK - MER 239". 45cat. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  19. ↑ "Zerra One - Forever And Ever / You Are My Friend - Mercury - UK - MER 220". 45cat. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "Zerra One* - Forever And Ever (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "The Cure on Press (1987) | The Cure | Flowers Of Love". Thecure.cz. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "Zerra One Biography". Irishmusicdb.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
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.