Browse Tag

psychobilly - Page 13

Gazmen (the) – psychobilly band with Gaz Day

Published on
Gazmen

GazmenThe Gazmen

Country: England
Genre: Psychobilly

Gary Day: vocals / bass
Alain Whyte: guitar
Alan Wilson: guitar
Hodge: drums

Gary "Gaz" Day
Gary “Gaz” Day

The Gazmen were formed around the charismatic personnality of Gary “Gaz” Day, known for his collaboration with many influential bands, notably The Frantic Flintstones, The Sharks, The Nitros, The Caravans without forgetting his stint with popstar (and rockabilly afficionado) Morrissey.. The rest of the band was basically The Sharks with the addition of ex-Born Bad and Morrissey’s guitarist, Alain Whyte. They played a traditionnal psychobilly close to the Sharks (not very surprising) and the early Meteors, Day’s voice reminding the great Nigel Lewis, but with a fuller sound.
The Gazmen released one four-track ep on Vinyl Japan in 1996, later reissued in cd due to Day’s popularity in Morrissey’s band. The songs were Rigormortis Rock (previously recorded by Alan Wilson under the moniker of the Space Cadets for a Nervous compilation), Teenage Operation, Kid from Mars and Ace of Hearts (that has a strong Morrissey feel). Some of these songs were part of the Sharks set when Gary was in the band (see the compilation album Rare Psychobilly from the Vault of X-Ray Studio). More songs were recorded but never saw the light of day. The line-up later evolved, including Pug from the Frantic Flintstones and Stuart from the Guana Batz.
They appeared at different all dayers including one Big Rumble I guess.
The Gazmen were a very good band and one can only regret they never released a full album.

Rigormortis Rock – Vinyl Japan JRT9 [1996]
Reissue on CD on Rock-It Records [2000]

The Mysterons

Published on

Country: England
Genre: Psychobilly

Gary Day: double bass / vocals
Johnny “Pug” Peet: guitar / vocals
Mark Clements: drums

The Mysterons were a psychobilly band heavily influenced by the early Meteors that lasted from mid 1986 to mid 1987.
They recorded a four track demo tape with “No One Stays“, “House Of Rockin’ Bones“, “Crazy Blood” and “Highway To Hell“. The band wasn’t really going anywhere so they decided to split. Day joined the Frantic Flintstones and was joined by Pug on their second album Rockin’ Out (Link records) that features No One Stays and House Of Rockin’ Bones.
Mark Clements joined a ska band called the Riffs.

R.A.T.S

Published on
//
R.A.T.S - Always Alone
R.A.T.S – Always Alone

R.A.T.S – Always Alone

R.A.T.S. Records ‎– #1 [1986]
Always Alone – That’s Right

R.A.T.S are not very different from the plethora of neo-rockabilly bands that appeared in the eighties like mushrooms after the rain. Their songs are not exceptional, they are not amazing musicians, and their singer is even out of tune at places. Not good, not bad, just another neo-rockabilly single to your collection. They’ll do much better with their mini-lp.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Scam

Published on
///
Scam - Gamblin fever
Scam – Gamblin fever

Scam – Gamblin’ Fever

Count Orlock
Pirates And Thieves – Captain Caveman – Magic Bus – Searching -. Hangover – Nutcrackers – Island Of Rock -. Somebody Tell Me – Losing Touch – Gamblin’ Fever – Dr. No – Ready, Willing And Able
Scam released their debut album on Count Orlock in 1988, this first album is very representative of the sound of the day. Light drums, slap bass and a clean electric guitar, influenced by Restless and fellow Dutchmen Batmobile. The sound is good (Johnny Z. produces. Any link to Johnny Zuidhof from Batmobile?) but could be a bit “fuller”. They have good original songs (Hangover, Captain Caveman, Ready Willing & Able) but the long distance (12 songs) tends to disadvantage the band and the album sounds a bit repetitive, they could have reduced it to eight solid songs. They also cover the Who’s Magic Bus,a band previously covered on the Juvenile Delinquents album (My Generation). I’m not sure sure it’s been reissued on cd, so try to grab a vinyl copy on ebay.

Scam - Infant Years
Scam – Infant Years

Scam – Infant Years

Tombstone
Haunted House – Death Train – Can I Get A Witness – Cry Out – I Can’t See – The Eyes – Boogie Disease
Despite an ugly cover, this mini lp, recorded in 1989, shows an improvement from the first album. If there’s not a big departure in term of sound but the band is tighter and the songs less repetitive.

 

Scam - A million dollar scam
Scam – A million dollar scam

Scam – A Million Dollar Scam

Rockhouse
The getaway – Dead and gone – Cold as ice – Where did I go wrong – Stop bugging me – I’m going crazy – Hang ’em high – Stop that gorilla – You can’t trick me – Goodbye so long – Which way now – Devil’s music – It ain’t right – Bloodbrothers – Trouble tonight – Loved that woman – Drink that bottle down – Candy man
Released in 1991, this album (their third after Gamblin Fever and Infant Years) marks a new step for the band. To their usual brand of light psychobilly/neo-rockabilly, they add a good dose of rockin’ blues with blues harp, saxophone and slide guitar. The set is varied and the song inspired. A guest singer is present on a couple of songs and brings a bit of diversity. A good album that shows the evolution and the maturity of the band. Reissued on cd with four bonus tracks.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Jekills

Published on
//
The Jekills - The Jekills
The Jekills – The Jekills

The Jekills – s/t

Tombstone [1989]
Aston – Nobody In The Street – Marilyn Monroe – Gladiators – The Girl Is Mine – You’ll Be A Priest – Psycho Beat – Dr Jekills – Ballade Du Chomeur
A short lp that is the only testament of the short career of this Belgian psychobilly band that had a bright future in front of them. They started in the mid 80’s under the name of Riot Guns and evolved into The Jekills. They never ceased to progress until the death of Sergio their bass player that marked the end of the band. Released in the late 1989, this self titled album quickly sold out its initial pressing of 1000 copies and was re-released by Tombstone. The band is clearly influenced by Batmobile both for the music and the voice but with enough personnality. The album is not flawless far from it. The sound is a bit thin at places, it’s not always in tune and there’s a couple of filler, for example “Marilyn Monroe” x-rated tribute to the famous actress (“I’d like to f*** her” doesn’t represent what I consider to be great lyrics). But at least half of the songs are very goog uptempo psychobilly numbers with good slap-bass including Nobody’s in the street, Girl is Mine and la Ballade du Chomeur that reminds of Los Carayos.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Mad Sin

Published on
Mad Sin - Amphigory
Mad Sin - Break the Rules
Mad Sin – Break the Rules

Mad Sin – Break the Rules

Maybe Crazy Records MYCD009 [1992]
Intro – Deep Black zone – Where Will It Go (Dub version) – No More – Fight Back – Sick World – All Hell Breaks Loose – Run To Live – Dirty Lies – Killer – No Mercy – Born Bad – She’s The One – Time Warp – Steal Machine – Where Will It Go

With Break the Rules, Mad Sin return to Maybe Crazy but instead of returning to the sound of their first albums, they pursue in the way that was announced by Amphigory. A full drummer had been added to the trio and Koefte can now fully concentrates on the vocals. the sound is heavier, punkier (they cover the Ramones She’s the One) and they regularly flirt with bad taste, especially on Dirty Lies, a slow that even Scorpions wouldn’t want on their most obscure b-side.

Mad Sin - Amphigory
Mad Sin – Amphigory

Mad Sin – Amphigory

Fury F 3019 [1991]
Intro ~ Amphigory ~ Eat Yourself ~ Body Snatchers ~ Alien Bug ~ Buried Alive ~ Vampire Slut ~ 1999 ~ Paranoid Brains ~ Your Death Is My Delight ~ Tornado ~ You Better Run ~ Rockin’ Bones ~ Human Fly ~ You Better Run #2 ~ Mind Blow
Third album and last one featuring the original trio with Koefte on drums. They still play their own brand of fast psychobilly, but with a heavier and punkier sound than their first two releases. It could have worked well if the production hadn’t buried everything. One can barely distinguish the instruments from the voice. Too bad, cause some songs like Amphigory or Your Death Is My Delight are as good as anything you can find on Distorded Dimensions. The cd reissue contains bonus tracks that were not on the original vinyl release.
The Radioactive Kid

Mad Sin - Distorted Dimensions
Mad Sin – Distorted Dimensions

Mad Sin – Distorted Dimensions

Maybe Crazy Records MYCD006 [1990]
Wicked Witch – Indestructible man – The Walltown – It Bites – Petrol Lunatic – Hammer beatin’ Boogie – No escape – Moonlight shadows – Watch out – Mad Man rock – Chainsaw cannibals – Fashion train

More or less the same sound than their debut album but a little less percussive due to the songs. If there’s good tunes like Wicked Witch or Moonlight Shadows, none are as good as Straight to Hell, Planet Paradise or Brainstorm. Anyway it remains a good album that can buy with confidence.

 

Mad Sin - Chills and Thrills in a Drama of Mad Sin and Mystery
Mad Sin – Chills and Thrills in a Drama of Mad Sin and Mystery

Mad Sin – Chills and Thrills in a Drama of Mad Sin and Mystery

Maybe Crazy Records MYCD004 [1988]
Acid Train – Brainstorm – Buddy’s Riot – Straight to Hell – Planet Paradise – Mad Rumble – 2,3,4 – Shake the thing – Day of the Merge Souls – Gonna get her – Sell your soul – Whirl girl – Blind spot* (*cd only)

Essential debut album from this German trio (the singer sings and plays drums). They kept the rockabilly and early psychobilly influences (from the Sharks, the Deltas and the early Meteors) but bring something new to the mix with Koefte’s crazy and manic voice and original songs. This album is definitely one to have in any decent psychobilly collection.

 

 

1 … 11 12 13 14 15 16