The Tom Robinson Band

The Tom Robinson Band (aka TRB) are a British rock band, established in 1976 by singer, songwriter and bassist Tom Robinson. The band's debut single "2-4-6-8 Motorway" was a popular anthem and top five hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1977, and their third single, "Up Against the Wall", is one of the great singles of the period.

They released their debut album, 'Power in the Darkness' in 1978, a gain a classic album of the period.

The band began gigging in London in 1976 with Robinson on vocals and Bass, guitarist Danny Kustow, drummer Brian "Dolphin" Taylor and keyboards Mark Ambler.

The band hit the club scene right in the middle of London's punk explosion. TRB made leaflets and fliers about their political views and sent them to everyone who attended their gigs. They gave away badges and made up T-shirts emblazoned with the band's logo and they appeared regularly at Rock Against Racism concerts. They were joined at these gigs by the likes of The Clash, Steel Pulse and X-Ray Spex.

Another arly release was a four-song EP called Rising Free, which was recorded live at London's Lyceum Theatre in November 1977. It included the songs "Don't Take No for an Answer", "Martin", "(Sing if You're) Glad to Be Gay".

After this time the band splintered and the members went their own ways. Again another band that I saw live in reading whilst at Uni, a great live set and very entertaining.

Dexy's Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners were an English pop band with soul influences from Birmingham, who achieved major commercial success in the early to mid-1980s. They are best known in the UK for their songs " Come On Eileen " and " Geno ", both of which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as six other top-20 singles. The original Dexys Midnight Runners were founded in 1978 in Birmingham, England by Kevin Rowland (vocals, guitar) and Kevin "Al" Archer (vocals, guitar). Both had been in the short-lived punk band the Killjoys. Rowland had previously written a Northern soul-style song that the two of them sang, " Tell Me When My Light Turns Green ", which became the first Dexys "song". The band's members were "Big" Jim Paterson (trombone), Geoff "JB" Blythe (saxophone, previously of Geno Washington's Ram Jam Band), Steve "Babyface" Spooner (alto saxophone), Pete Saunders (keyboard), Pete Williams (ba...

The Rezillos

The Rezillos were a punk/new wave band formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in th emid 1970s. Although they emerged at the same time as other bands in the punk rock movement, the Rezillos took a more light-hearted approach to their songs. Their songs were heavily influenced by 1950s rock and roll, 1960s English beat music and garage rock, early 1970s glam rock, and recurring lyrical themes of science fiction and B movies; their influences mirrored those of US bands the Cramps and the B-52s, who were starting out at the same time. The Rezillos' biggest hit in their home country was the UK Top 20 single " Top of the Pops " in 1978, but they are best known outside the UK for their cover version of " Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight ". Released in July 1978, the Rezillos' first studio album " Can't Stand the Rezillos " (and one of my favourite albums) is considered a classic of the first wave of British punk, but the group split up...

The Tourists

The Tourists were a British rock and pop band. They achieved brief success in the late 1970s before the band split in 1980. Two of its members, singer Annie Lennox and guitarist Dave Stewart, went on to international success as Eurythmics. As the Tourists they released a number of track as singles and had quite some success, I saw the band at Reading Uni, and they were a firm favourite at the time. The tracks I want to list here are a cross section of their output... ' The Loneliest man in the World ' and the Dusty Springfield cover " I Only Want to Be with You " both from 1979. And from 1980 " So Good to Be Back Home Again "

Muzical Mystery Tour

Search This Blog