Cowboys International
Encyclopedia
Cowboys International were a New Wave
and synthpop
band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie
that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin
, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980. The band can be considered as supergroup
because they comprised many musicians with some trajectory in the punk
and/or new wave scenes.
and Keith Levene
were in a band called The Quick Spurts. Changing their name to Cowboys International, the members were Lockie on lead vocals, Rick Jacks on guitar, Jimmy Hughes
(formerly of The Banned
) on bass, Evan Charles on piano, and ex-Clash
Terry Chimes
on drums. This line-up, with a little help of Levene (who was in Public Image Ltd.
) recorded and released The Original Sin
album in 1979.
After the releasing of the album and a tour, the band suffered important line-up changes: Chimes (who joined Billy Idol
's Generation X
) was replaced by Paul Simon
(previously in Neo
, Radio Stars
and The Civilians); Jacks by Allan Rawlings and Marco Pirroni
(Adam and the Ants
member), who recorded some material in 1980 with the band, but they were replaced by ex-Ultravox! Steve Shears; and Hughes (who joined Ian Broudie
's Original Mirrors) by Lee Robinson of Boney M
fame but later replaced by Pete Jones shortly afterwards; the last band alineation (Lockie, Charles, Jones, Simon and Shears) did the last band tour, which ended in Kantkino Theatre in Berlin. The band split up in late 1980.
After dissolving the band, Lockie pursued a solo career, with collaborations of also former members Simon and Shears, and another then other musicians who played in different bands with trajectory; and also by the time, and along Pete Jones, he joined Public Image Ltd.
, reuniting with Keith Levene, but his membership was brief, dedicating to producing music, but retired in mid-1980s. Simon formed The Fallout Club
, worked with John Foxx
and Glen Matlock
, and he now works with his brother Robin
in AjantaMusic. Shears formed Faith Global
, and later retired from music business. Charles' whereabouts are unknown.
In 2003, Ken Lockie reissued his masterpiece of days gone by along with non-album material and alternate mixes as Revisited and, by the time, he revived Cowboys International, beginning to work on more original material to be released on "The Backwards Life of Romeo", released in 2004.
was an inspiration for the song "You ain't got me" by french cyberpunk Punish Yourself as stated on the sleeve notes of their "Pink Panther Party" album.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie
Ken Lockie
Ken Lockie born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England is a singer/songwriter and keyboard player, singer of New Wave band Cowboys International.-Cowboys International:...
that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin
The Original Sin (album)
The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980. The band can be considered as supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
because they comprised many musicians with some trajectory in the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and/or new wave scenes.
History
In the late 1970s, Ken LockieKen Lockie
Ken Lockie born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England is a singer/songwriter and keyboard player, singer of New Wave band Cowboys International.-Cowboys International:...
and Keith Levene
Keith Levene
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was an early member of The Clash, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon....
were in a band called The Quick Spurts. Changing their name to Cowboys International, the members were Lockie on lead vocals, Rick Jacks on guitar, Jimmy Hughes
Jimmy Hughes (musician)
James Hughes is an English bassist who has played with many punk rock and New Wave bands, and whose career as a rock musician and writer continues to this day....
(formerly of The Banned
The Banned
The Banned are a fictional band in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The storyline aired in 1986 and although it was considered to be a failure on-screen, it nevertheless became a successful part of the serial's extensive merchandising industry that year, as it spawned two Hit singles in the UK Music...
) on bass, Evan Charles on piano, and ex-Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. He originally played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from May 1982 to February 1983. He was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks in 1985, before the band broke-up that same year...
on drums. This line-up, with a little help of Levene (who was in Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
) recorded and released The Original Sin
The Original Sin (album)
The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
album in 1979.
After the releasing of the album and a tour, the band suffered important line-up changes: Chimes (who joined Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
's Generation X
Generation X (band)
Generation X was a British punk rock band, formed on 21 November 1976 by Billy Idol, Tony James and John Towe.-History:...
) was replaced by Paul Simon
Paul Simon (UK musician)
Paul Simon is a British drummer born in Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, who played with different punk and New Wave artists, like Ian North, Radio Stars, John Foxx and Glen Matlock...
(previously in Neo
Neo (UK band)
Neo was an early New Wave band which was part of the Engish musical scene originated by punk in the 1970s. The group was formed by the American-born singer Ian North, who was the frontman and the only continuous member from the band formation in 1977 to the end in 1979.-Early days: Radio:In 1976,...
, Radio Stars
Radio Stars
Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving...
and The Civilians); Jacks by Allan Rawlings and Marco Pirroni
Marco Pirroni
Marco Francesco Andrea Pirroni is an English guitarist, songwriter and record producer...
(Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
member), who recorded some material in 1980 with the band, but they were replaced by ex-Ultravox! Steve Shears; and Hughes (who joined Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
's Original Mirrors) by Lee Robinson of Boney M
Boney M
Boney M. is a Eurodisco group created by German record producer Frank Farian. Originally based in Germany, the four original members of the group's official line-up were Jamaicans Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams from Montserrat and Bobby Farrell from Aruba...
fame but later replaced by Pete Jones shortly afterwards; the last band alineation (Lockie, Charles, Jones, Simon and Shears) did the last band tour, which ended in Kantkino Theatre in Berlin. The band split up in late 1980.
After dissolving the band, Lockie pursued a solo career, with collaborations of also former members Simon and Shears, and another then other musicians who played in different bands with trajectory; and also by the time, and along Pete Jones, he joined Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
, reuniting with Keith Levene, but his membership was brief, dedicating to producing music, but retired in mid-1980s. Simon formed The Fallout Club
The Fallout Club
The Fallout Club was a British synthpop and New Wave band formed by Irish singer Trevor Herion, the experimental drummer Paul Simon, future successful Thomas Dolby on keyboards, and bassist Matthew Seligman in 1981...
, worked with John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
and Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
, and he now works with his brother Robin
Robin Simon
For the art historian and critic Robin Simon, editor of , see Robin JH SimonRobin Simon For the art historian and critic Robin Simon, editor of , see Robin JH SimonRobin Simon For the art historian and critic Robin Simon, editor of , see Robin JH SimonRobin Simon (born Robert Simon 12 July 1956,...
in AjantaMusic. Shears formed Faith Global
Faith Global
Faith Global was a synthpop and New Wave band composed by Stevie Shears , original Ultravox! guitarist and Jason Guy ....
, and later retired from music business. Charles' whereabouts are unknown.
In 2003, Ken Lockie reissued his masterpiece of days gone by along with non-album material and alternate mixes as Revisited and, by the time, he revived Cowboys International, beginning to work on more original material to be released on "The Backwards Life of Romeo", released in 2004.
Major albums
- The Original SinThe Original Sin (album)The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
(1979) - The Original Sin Revisited (2003)
- The Backwards Life of Romeo (2004)
Singles
- Thrash (b/w "Many Times (Revised)")
- Aftermath (b/w "Future Noise")
- Nothing Doing (b/w "2 Millions") (Virgin, 1979)
- Today Today (b/w "Fixation") (February 1980)
Legacy and influence
the song "Wish" from The Original SinThe Original Sin (album)
The Original Sin is an album by Cowboys International, from the British post-punk New Wave era. The band's lone album made Melody Maker's Top 20 poll in 1979 and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine.-Description:...
was an inspiration for the song "You ain't got me" by french cyberpunk Punish Yourself as stated on the sleeve notes of their "Pink Panther Party" album.