Beachbuggy
Encyclopedia
Beachbuggy were a rock
group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster
by Jack Straker
(guitar/vocals), Jim VeVee (drums) and A.D (bass). The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing
and Americana
. Musically, their earliest influences were UK indie bands such as The Wedding Present
and Cud
and American rock groups such as Buffalo Tom
and Sonic Youth
.
and occasionally further afield. One of their biggest early gigs was at a special one-off show in Doncaster where headliners, Leeds
band The Wedding Present, filmed a promo video for one of their 1992 'Hit parade' singles. This gig forged a link between the two bands which was to continue throughout the 1990s and beyond. Shortly after the release of their first demo tape A.D left to be replaced by Paul Maan - the first of many line-up changes.
The new line-up signalled a decisive change in musical policy - early songs are dropped and a more retro
, rock 'n' roll sound, highly influenced by American 1960s surf music
and garage rock
emerged. Jack formed the self-funded label Ostrich GT and released the debut 7" single "Can't Get Enough", which showcased the band's rapidly developing Hot Rod
aesthetic ("I've been around / The fuzz ran me downtown / They say I ran a red light / Oh well, I guess they were right"). The single sold well at early gigs and a follow-up was soon issued. "Chrysler 440" continued the street racing theme while B-side "Fuel Injection (it's better)" reflected Jack's knowledge of classic cars ("I got a big block Ford / It had a carburettor / Now I've got fuel injection / It's better"). Jack's occasional Ostrich Club nights held in various venues around Doncaster saw the band develop a loyal following and a growing reputation as they headlined their own gigs and supported some bigger names.
Between 1993 and 1995 gigs become more frequent and widespread and the initial local following grew as the band began to infiltrate the UK college circuit - often taking a group of loyal fans along to their gigs. In the process they played the first of the soon-to-be-infamous 'trailer' shows - turning up outside other bands' gigs and playing impromptu sets to the queuing crowds from the back of a truck or trailer. The trailer shows proved to be a great way of getting the band heard by larger crowds than would normally attend their gigs and soon the band were playing regular impromptu sets. A third single, "General Electric Pilot" saw another shift in emphasis with the production pre-empting the sound of their later two-drummer line-up and a the addition of backing vocalist 'Rocket' Ron Haslam adding an extra sonic dimension.
were one such label and they immediately issued "Firebird Special" as a 7" single in the USA and followed it up with a full-length CD album "Unsafe.. At Any Speed". The album brought together their last couple of singles with a batch of new recordings and was a hit on the US underground/college circuit. As a result of this modest success, the band played a handful of US gigs but with no UK distribution and an indifferent UK music press, "Unsafe" failed to make a dent in the domestic market. A further single "Ya Just A Little Punk" followed, this time on indie 555 label, but the lack of success and nominal interest from the UK press may have prompted Jack to accept an offer to join The Wedding Present, first on bass and later on guitar.
boss and current Poptones
impresario Alan McGee
. McGee offered to put out the band's first UK album, which they recorded at the Chicago
studio of celebrated producer Steve Albini
(Nirvana
, Pixies, Big Black
). The resultant album "Sport Fury" - the ultimate expression of the Beachbuggy ethos and the perfect balance between smart wit and cool attitude - was a critical success and exposed the band to a broader, national audience for the first time.
and NME
and played live on TV for the first time to promote one of their ever-more-frequent London gigs. "Kickin' Back" and "From The South" were issued as 7" singles and the 5-track "Kickin' Back ep" collected the lead track, a couple of B-sides and some new songs on one CD. A third album followed shortly. Recorded again at Albini's Chicago studio over ten days "Killer-B" honed the band's sound, attitude and aesthetic further. "Killer Bee" and "Dirty Mouth" were obvious singles whilst the whole album - artistically at least - was a well accomplished success.
However, press attention was muted as Poptones failed to adequately promote the album. The momentum established by "Sport Fury" began to wane, sales were ultimately disappointing and the band parted company Poptones. Various band members came and went but a handful of shows nevertheless followed with line-ups varying from show-to-show. Original bassist A.D briefly returned on drums and they recorded and released "Nineteen" as one side of a split single with Huddersfield band Scaramanga Six on Wrath Records
. But by this point Jack had already begun spending more time with his new band Walker (which included two former Beachbuggy members).
, and an explosive London show late in the year and a return to their roots playing the 'Pinstripes and Pistons' custom car show in April 2006. This however, was to prove to be the last ever Beachbuggy show as Jim left shortly after and Jack made the decision not to replace him and to concentrate full time on new band Walker.
Sport Fury (CD album on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5039CD) 2001
Killer-B (CD album on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5080CD) 2003
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
by Jack Straker
Darren Belk
Darren Belk is an English songwriter, bassist and guitarist best known for his tenures in the bands Beachbuggy and The Wedding Present.Belk was roadie for the bands Cud and The Wedding Present whilst playing guitar and writing songs for his own band Bungalow in the late 1980s/early 1990s...
(guitar/vocals), Jim VeVee (drums) and A.D (bass). The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
and Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
. Musically, their earliest influences were UK indie bands such as The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
and Cud
Cud (band)
Cud are a British indie rock band formed in Leeds, England in 1987, consisting of vocalist Carl Puttnam , guitarist/keyboardist Mike Dunphy , bassist William Potter , and drummer Steve Goodwin .Though an indie rock band, their music incorporated elements of funk...
and American rock groups such as Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom is an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. The band's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer.-Career:Dinosaur Jr...
and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
.
Early history
Beachbuggy's first recordings were released as a three-track demo tape within weeks of the band forming in mid-1992 and were sold at early gigs, which took place throughout South YorkshireSouth Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
and occasionally further afield. One of their biggest early gigs was at a special one-off show in Doncaster where headliners, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
band The Wedding Present, filmed a promo video for one of their 1992 'Hit parade' singles. This gig forged a link between the two bands which was to continue throughout the 1990s and beyond. Shortly after the release of their first demo tape A.D left to be replaced by Paul Maan - the first of many line-up changes.
The new line-up signalled a decisive change in musical policy - early songs are dropped and a more retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
, rock 'n' roll sound, highly influenced by American 1960s surf music
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
and garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
emerged. Jack formed the self-funded label Ostrich GT and released the debut 7" single "Can't Get Enough", which showcased the band's rapidly developing Hot Rod
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
aesthetic ("I've been around / The fuzz ran me downtown / They say I ran a red light / Oh well, I guess they were right"). The single sold well at early gigs and a follow-up was soon issued. "Chrysler 440" continued the street racing theme while B-side "Fuel Injection (it's better)" reflected Jack's knowledge of classic cars ("I got a big block Ford / It had a carburettor / Now I've got fuel injection / It's better"). Jack's occasional Ostrich Club nights held in various venues around Doncaster saw the band develop a loyal following and a growing reputation as they headlined their own gigs and supported some bigger names.
Between 1993 and 1995 gigs become more frequent and widespread and the initial local following grew as the band began to infiltrate the UK college circuit - often taking a group of loyal fans along to their gigs. In the process they played the first of the soon-to-be-infamous 'trailer' shows - turning up outside other bands' gigs and playing impromptu sets to the queuing crowds from the back of a truck or trailer. The trailer shows proved to be a great way of getting the band heard by larger crowds than would normally attend their gigs and soon the band were playing regular impromptu sets. A third single, "General Electric Pilot" saw another shift in emphasis with the production pre-empting the sound of their later two-drummer line-up and a the addition of backing vocalist 'Rocket' Ron Haslam adding an extra sonic dimension.
Unsafe.. At Any Speed
With little serious record company interest, the band took the initiative and made up a handful of demos of their latest recording "Firebird Special", sending them out to their favourite record labels. US company Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
were one such label and they immediately issued "Firebird Special" as a 7" single in the USA and followed it up with a full-length CD album "Unsafe.. At Any Speed". The album brought together their last couple of singles with a batch of new recordings and was a hit on the US underground/college circuit. As a result of this modest success, the band played a handful of US gigs but with no UK distribution and an indifferent UK music press, "Unsafe" failed to make a dent in the domestic market. A further single "Ya Just A Little Punk" followed, this time on indie 555 label, but the lack of success and nominal interest from the UK press may have prompted Jack to accept an offer to join The Wedding Present, first on bass and later on guitar.
Sport Fury
Jack spent much of the period 1993 to 1996 touring and recording with The Wedding Present to the detriment of Beachbuggy, although the band still continued to gig sporadically. Upon leaving The Wedding Present in 1996 Jack returned to Beachbuggy with a renewed vigour. By now the band boasted two drummers - 'little' Bill Vevee (Jim's brother) and Johnny Napolis. The band took to wearing matching racing overalls on stage and undertook a series of raucous shows, one of which was witnessed by former Creation RecordsCreation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
boss and current Poptones
Poptones
Poptones is a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. Named after a Public Image Limited song, it is seen as something of a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation...
impresario Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
. McGee offered to put out the band's first UK album, which they recorded at the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
studio of celebrated producer Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
(Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Pixies, Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
). The resultant album "Sport Fury" - the ultimate expression of the Beachbuggy ethos and the perfect balance between smart wit and cool attitude - was a critical success and exposed the band to a broader, national audience for the first time.
Killer B
More gigs and positive press attention followed as the band racked up positive reviews in Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
and NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and played live on TV for the first time to promote one of their ever-more-frequent London gigs. "Kickin' Back" and "From The South" were issued as 7" singles and the 5-track "Kickin' Back ep" collected the lead track, a couple of B-sides and some new songs on one CD. A third album followed shortly. Recorded again at Albini's Chicago studio over ten days "Killer-B" honed the band's sound, attitude and aesthetic further. "Killer Bee" and "Dirty Mouth" were obvious singles whilst the whole album - artistically at least - was a well accomplished success.
However, press attention was muted as Poptones failed to adequately promote the album. The momentum established by "Sport Fury" began to wane, sales were ultimately disappointing and the band parted company Poptones. Various band members came and went but a handful of shows nevertheless followed with line-ups varying from show-to-show. Original bassist A.D briefly returned on drums and they recorded and released "Nineteen" as one side of a split single with Huddersfield band Scaramanga Six on Wrath Records
Wrath Records
Wrath Records is a small independent record label based in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Unlike some 'indie labels', Wrath does not feature backing from any major record companies....
. But by this point Jack had already begun spending more time with his new band Walker (which included two former Beachbuggy members).
Final Breakup
By 2005 however, Jack was back writing and playing with original Beachbuggy drummer Jim Vevee. Jim and Jack rehearsed a new batch of Beachbuggy songs and resurrected a number of old favourites. With a new bassist on board they began a short series of gigs which took in shows in their (now) hometown of SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and an explosive London show late in the year and a return to their roots playing the 'Pinstripes and Pistons' custom car show in April 2006. This however, was to prove to be the last ever Beachbuggy show as Jim left shortly after and Jack made the decision not to replace him and to concentrate full time on new band Walker.
Personnel: Before and After Beachbuggy
- Jack StrakerDarren BelkDarren Belk is an English songwriter, bassist and guitarist best known for his tenures in the bands Beachbuggy and The Wedding Present.Belk was roadie for the bands Cud and The Wedding Present whilst playing guitar and writing songs for his own band Bungalow in the late 1980s/early 1990s...
(real name Darren Belk) played guitar in Bungalow prior to forming Beachbuggy. He played bass and guitar with The Wedding PresentThe Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
between 1993 and 1996 and currently (2007) plays bass and sings with Walker. - Jim VeVee (real name Hugh Kelly) played with Beachbuggy from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2005 to 2006. He played with Groop DogdrillGroop DogdrillGroop Dogdrill were a rock band formed in the early 1990s in the Northern English town of Doncaster, UK, by Damien "Damo" Fowkes , Pete Spiby and Hugh "Hug" Kelly...
from 1993 to 2000 and was an occasional member of The Wedding PresentThe Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
during 1996-97. - A.D (real name Adrian Smelt) was in Bungalow with Jack prior to Beachbuggy. He played bass with Beachbuggy 1991 to 1992 and drums from 2003-2004. He now plays drums with Mystery Meat.
- 'little' Bill Vevee (real name Darren Ferris) played with Beachbuggy from 1995 to 2003. He has since played with Future eX-Wife and currently plays with Walker.
- Paul DorringtonPaul DorringtonPaul Dorrington is an English guitarist and bassist best known for his 1991-1995 tenure in The Wedding Present.Dorrington joined Sheffield group AC Temple in 1985, and recorded Rorschach Blot Test, a live compilation album featuring The Dustdevils and Kilgore Trout...
played with bass Beachbuggy from 2003 to 2004. Paul played guitar with The Wedding PresentThe Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
from 1991 to 1995 and now plays guitar and sings with Walker. - 'Rocket' Ron Haslam (real name Pete Spiby) played with Groop DogdrillGroop DogdrillGroop Dogdrill were a rock band formed in the early 1990s in the Northern English town of Doncaster, UK, by Damien "Damo" Fowkes , Pete Spiby and Hugh "Hug" Kelly...
from 1993 to 2001 and with Beachbuggy from 1995 to 1999. After Groop Dogdrill Pete played with Future eX-Wife and is currently in The Black Spiders.
Albums
Unsafe.. At Any Speed (CD album on Sympathy for the Record Industry. Cat. No: SFTRI539) 1998- 1: Radio Ad
- 2: Kill Straker!
- 3: Heavy Hitter
- 4: General Electric Pilot
- 5: San Francisco
- 6: Hey! Jack
- 7: Firebird Special
- 8: Aluminum
- 9: Four Four O
- 10: Quarter Mile Machine
- 11: The Driver
Sport Fury (CD album on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5039CD) 2001
- 1: Kickin' Back
- 2: Bad Guys Wear Black
- 3: Touch My Stuff (You Can Die)
- 4: From The South
- 5: Science Fiction
- 6: Godspeed My Friend
- 7: It Might Be The Jets
- 8: The Fastest Time
- 9: Just A Little Punk
- 10: Cuba
- 11: Tom's Dead
- 12: Radio Ad (Italia)
Killer-B (CD album on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5080CD) 2003
- 1:
- 2: Killer Bee
- 3: Fire In My Eye
- 4: Oh Wow!
- 5: Strip City Heights
- 6: Strike!
- 7: Dirty Mouth
- 8: Easycome Easygo
- 9: Ah Oooh
- 10: The Hitt
- 11: Very Bad Thing
- 12: Deathray
- 13: Radio Ad (Japan)
Singles
- Can't Get Enough b/w There's A Place (In My Heart) / G.T.O. (7" single on Ostrich G.T. Cat. No: GT1) 1992
- Chrysler 440 b/w Fuel Injection (it's better) / DeTomaso (7" single on Ostrich G.T. Cat. No: GT2) 1993
- General Electric Pilot b/w Bonneville / (We don't have) A Machine (7" single on Ostrich G.T. Cat. No: GT4) 1995
- Firebird Special / Midwest (7" single on Sympathy for the Record Industry. Cat. No: SFTRI499) 1997
- Ya Just A Little Punk b/w The Chauffeur (7" single on 555 Recordings. Cat. No: 55518) 1998
- Kickin' Back b/w I Got Root Bee (7" single / Limited promotional CD on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5056S / MC5056SP) 2001
- From The South b/w (7" Single / Limited promotional CD on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5056S / MC5056SP) 2001
- Kickin' Back EP: Kickin' Back / Ha! Ha! / Take A Ride / I Got Root Beer / (CD Single on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5072SCD) 2002
- Killer Bee / So Wholesome / Sheriff Is Law (CD Single on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5080SCD) 2003
- Dirty Mouth / Each Dawn I Die / Oh My God Oh My God (CD Single on Poptones. Cat. No: MC5086SCD) 2003
- The Scaramanga Six - The Poison Pen b/w Beachbuggy - Nineteen (Split 7" single on Wrath Records. Cat. No: WRATH15) 2004
Other recordings
- I Can't Stand It / Inside Your head / You Look Dead Good (Demo tape: No label. No Cat. No.) 1992
- Firebird Special b/w Midwest (Demo tape on Ostrich G.T. Cat. No: GT5) 1996
Compilations
- Knowing We Was Right From The Start (CD album on 555 Recordings includes the track Ya Just a Little Punk)
- The New Rock 'n' Roll (CD album on 3D includes the tracks Bad Guys Wear Black and I Got Root Beer.)
- New Blood - The New Rock 'n' Roll Volume Two (CD album on Artrocker includes the track The Driver)
- Death Disco (CD album on Discothèque includes the track Killer Bee)
- Radio4 Volume Two (Japan-only CD album on Poptone includes the track Kickin' Back)
- Box of Odd (CD album on Thee Sheffield Phonographic CorporationThee Sheffield Phonographic CorporationThee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation, or Thee SPC, is an independent record label based in Sheffield, UK. It is one of the most influential labels in the Yorkshire area, having given early breaks and support to many bands in the so-called New Yorkshire scene. The label was formed by members of...
includes the tracks Death Ray & The Driver) - Silver Rocket SR50 (CD album on Stupid Cat includes the track Nineteen)
- Wrath SuperSevens (CD album on Wrath Records only available to Supersevens Singles Club subscribers includes the track Nineteen)