Zones (band)

Last updated

Zones
Origin Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Punk rock, post-punk, power pop, new wave
Years active1977–1979
Labels Zoom Records, Arista Records
Spinoffs Rich Kids, Endgames, Ultravox, The Skids, Set the Tone
Spinoff of Slik, PVC2
Members Billy McIsaac
Kenny Hyslop
Russell Webb
Willie Gardner

Zones were a Scottish power pop and new wave band founded in late 1977, [1] following the demise of PVC2 (formerly the bubbleglam and soft rock band Slik).

Contents

Career

PVC2 consisted of Midge Ure (future Ultravox frontman) on guitar and vocals, Russell Webb on bass, Billy McIsaac on keyboards and Kenny Hyslop on drums. In late 1977, Ure left PVC2 to join Rich Kids with Glen Matlock. Then, Webb, Hyslop and McIsaac called in Alex Harvey's cousin Willie Gardner to replace Ure on guitar and vocals, and Zones was formed.

In February 1978, Zones released a single "Stuck with You", [2] which attracted the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, leading to the band recording a session for his show. [3] It also drew the attention of Arista Records, who signed them and would release the rest of their discography.

Their next single, "Sign of the Times", released in July. [4] Zones also toured with Magazine and recorded a further session for John Peel. [5] On 1 June 1979, Zones released Under Influence , [6] [7] [8] an album of post-punk power pop.

Shortly afterwards, they released a 7" single called "Mourning Star", [9] [8] whose eponymous song (a shorter version of the album song) was backed with "Under Influence" (which did not appear on the album, despite the name being the same). They also had a song that was featured in the movie That Summer! entitled "New Life." Shortly afterwards, the band decided to split up, as the album did not reach expectations.

Gardner joined Endgames, with Simple Minds' original drummer Brian McGee. McIsaac and Hyslop continued with a project called Science, a band considered as a continuation of Zones, but only McIsaac was the supposedly remaining member. [10] [11] Webb and Hyslop joined Skids.

In 1990, McIsaac moved to study piano performance college at the Royal Academy of Music in Glasgow, and later formed a self-titled wedding band, which he played in until retiring in 2012. [12] [13]

Webb collaborated with Richard Jobson (Skids singer) until 1988, and Hyslop, after collaborating with Skids album, Joy , moved to Simple Minds (1981–1982) and later Set the Tone (1982–1983).

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation appearances

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. Formed at the height of punk rock in 1977 the band gradually changed to an electronic sound. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midge Ure</span> Scottish musician (born 1953)

James "Midge" Ure is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim. Ure enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids, Visage, and as the second frontman of Ultravox. In 1984, he co-wrote and produced the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which has sold 3.7 million copies in the UK. The song is the second-highest-selling single in UK chart history. Ure co-organised Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. He acts as a trustee for the charity and also serves as an ambassador for Save the Children.

<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 teenage guitarist Steve New, former Slik and 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">Skids (band)</span> British punk rock band

Skids are a Scottish punk rock and new wave band, formed in Dunfermline in 1977 by Stuart Adamson, William Simpson, Thomas Kellichan (drums) and Richard Jobson. Their biggest successes were the 1979 single "Into the Valley" and the 1980 album The Absolute Game. In 2016, the band announced a 40th-anniversary tour of the UK with their original singer Richard Jobson.

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

The Professionals were an English punk rock band active from 1979 to early 1982 and again from 2015 to 2024. They were formed by ex-Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook after that band's demise. The Professionals split in 1982, before reforming in 2015 under the leadership of Cook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slik</span> Scottish pop group

Slik were a Scottish pop group of the mid-1970s, most notable for their UK number 1 hit "Forever and Ever" in 1976. Initially glam rock, the band later changed their style to soft rock/bubblegum. It was the first band with whom singer and guitarist Midge Ure began to experience musical success, before joining new wave band Ultravox.

<i>Joy</i> (Skids album) 1981 studio album by Skids

Joy is the fourth studio album by Scottish punk rock and new wave band Skids. It was their first album after the departure of signature guitarist Stuart Adamson who went on to found Big Country. It represented a change of direction from rock towards folk music—amplifying the traditional Scottish element already hinted at in previous releases. This would be their last album until the release of Burning Cities over 36 years later.

Kenneth John Hyslop was a Scottish drummer.

<i>The Korgis</i> (album) 1979 studio album by The Korgis

The Korgis is the debut studio album by English pop band, the Korgis. It was released in 1979 on Rialto Records in the UK, and on Warner Bros. Records in the US.

Set the Tone were a Scottish electronic music group, formed by Kenny Hyslop, Bobby Paterson, Chris Morgan and Evelyn Asiedu.

Russell Webb is a Scottish new wave bass guitarist who was member of bands such as Slik, PVC2, Zones, Skids, The Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd and collaborated with Richard Jobson, Virginia Astley and The Who.

James Anthony McGinlay is a Scottish bass guitarist who formed along his elder brother Kevin a hard-rock band called Salvation, in Glasgow, which after numerous line-up changes included Midge Ure, future Ultravox frontman and Live 8 contributor, Billy McIsaac and Kenny Hyslop.

<i>Slik</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Slik

Slik is the only studio album of 1970s Scottish teenybop band Slik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck with You (Zones song)</span> 1978 single by Zones

"Stuck with You" is the debut single by punk band Zones, released by Zoom Records on February 17, 1978.

Zoom Records was a short-lived record label established in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded and funded by the successful music shop owner Bruce Findlay in the summer of 1977. After the first four single releases it secured a licensing deal with Arista Records. Findlay closed the label in 1980, to dedicate his time to managing one of the most successful bands who began there, Simple Minds.

"Boogiest Band in Town" is the debut single by Scottish glam rock band Slik. This was the first single and recording released by Midge Ure, singer and guitarist of the band, formed also by drummer Kenny Hyslop, bassist Jim McGinlay and keyboardist Billy McIsaac. The single was released in the first months of 1975, being released by Polydor. However the song did not chart, but the band was featured playing the song in the glam rock movie Never Too Young To Rock, the same year.

Willie Gardner is a Scottish musician, who formed part of various pop and rock bands in the 1970s and 1980s, playing guitar. He was a cousin of Alex Harvey.

<i>Put You in the Picture</i> 1977 EP by PVC2

"Put You in the Picture" is a song written by Russell Webb, and performed by his group PVC2. The song was released on 30 August 1977 by Zoom Records, in an EP which was the last recording of Midge Ure with the remaining members of Slik, who later resurged as Zones, with another singer and guitarist, Willie Gardner.

<i>Under Influence</i> 1979 studio album by Zones

Under Influence is the only album of new wave band Zones, released by Arista Records on June 1, 1979. The album contains songs of multiple genres, being very far from the early punkier stuff, like in the case of 7" single "Stuck with You". Jim Green of Trousser Press distinguished or tried to define it as "pop? Hard stuff? Commercial new wave? Reggae-pop?".

Billy McIsaac is a musician, who played mainly keyboards since his early days with different pop bands.

References

  1. ↑ "All The Acts / Bands Who Played The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline - 'Z'". Kinemagigz.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Zones - Stuck With You / No Angels - Zoom - UK - ZUM 4". 45cat.com. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 17/05/1978 Zones". BBC . Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Zones - Sign Of The Times / Away From It All - Arista - UK - ARIST 205". 45cat.com. 4 August 1978. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 13/09/1978 Zones". BBC . Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Zones (2) - Under Influence". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Dave Thompson. "Under Influence - Zones | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  8. 1 2 George Gimarc (2005). Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. Front cover. ISBN   9780879308483 . Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Zones - Mourning Star / Under Influence - Arista - UK - ARIST 286". 45cat.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Science (5) Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "ZONES - under influence" . Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  12. ↑ "Band Directory". Band Directory. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Home Page - Billy McIsaac Band - Scotland's No.1 Wedding Band". 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "The Post Punk Progressive Pop Party: The Zones - Stuck With You". Thep5.blogspot.com. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Post Punk Progressive Pop Party: The Zones - Mourning Star". Thep5.blogspot.com. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Science - Look Don't Touch / Scalectrik - Rialto - UK - TREB 117". 45cat.com. 27 June 1980. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Science - Tokyo / Tokyo (instrumental) - Rialto - UK - TREB 124". 45cat.com. 30 January 1981. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
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.