Electric Guitars
Encyclopedia
Electric Guitars were formed early in 1980 by Neil Davenport (vocals, lyrics) and Richard Hall (bass, vocals) who were both studying English at Bristol University. The band soon increased to a five-man line-up, with Andy Saunders (guitar, vocals), Matt Salt (drums) and Dick Truscott (keyboards), they also later added two backing singers: Sara and Wendy. Their first single "Health" / "Continental Shelf" was released on local label Fried Egg Records in 1980.
They contributed four live tracks to the first edition of the The Bristol Recorder in 1980, and in 1981 released their second single "Work" / "Don’t Wake the Baby" on Recreational Records
, which reached #45 on the UK Indie Chart
. They toured as support to The Thompson Twins, which brought them to the attention of Stiff Records
, who promptly signed them up. The band's first single for Stiff was "Language Problems" in 1982, and this was followed by an EP in the same year, from which Toni Basil recorded "Beat Me Hollow" for her TV special. Bert Muirhead in his 1982 book about Stiff Records, said about the band, “The combination of Stiff, Martin Rushent
and Worldchief Management (OMITD
etc) seems unstoppable. They will undoubtedly be very big in the mid 1980’s.” However, after the "Wolfman Tap" single on Naive Records, they disbanded in August 1983.
Sarah and Wendy Partridge went on to sing with Shriekback
.
They contributed four live tracks to the first edition of the The Bristol Recorder in 1980, and in 1981 released their second single "Work" / "Don’t Wake the Baby" on Recreational Records
Recreational Records
Recreational Records was a British record label set up in 1981 by the Bristol record shop and distributor Revolver Records. Originally formed as an independent record label with its own distribution as part of the Cartel.-Revolver Records and the Cartel:...
, which reached #45 on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. They toured as support to The Thompson Twins, which brought them to the attention of Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
, who promptly signed them up. The band's first single for Stiff was "Language Problems" in 1982, and this was followed by an EP in the same year, from which Toni Basil recorded "Beat Me Hollow" for her TV special. Bert Muirhead in his 1982 book about Stiff Records, said about the band, “The combination of Stiff, Martin Rushent
Martin Rushent
Martin Rushent was an English record producer, best known for his work with The Human League, The Stranglers and The Buzzcocks.- Early life :Rushent was born on 11 July 1948 in Enfield, Middlesex. His father was a car salesman...
and Worldchief Management (OMITD
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
etc) seems unstoppable. They will undoubtedly be very big in the mid 1980’s.” However, after the "Wolfman Tap" single on Naive Records, they disbanded in August 1983.
Sarah and Wendy Partridge went on to sing with Shriekback
Shriekback
Shriekback are an English rock band, formed in 1981 in Kentish Town by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen , and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four , with Carl Marsh, formerly of Out On Blue Six soon added to the line-up. They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983...
.
Singles
- "Health" / "Continental Shelf" (1980, Fried Egg, UK, 7”, EGG 012)
- "Work" / "Don't Wake the Baby" (1981, Recreational, UK, 7”, SPORT 4)
- "Language Problems" / "Night Bears" (1982, Stiff, UK, 7” BUY 148)
- "Language Problems" / "Night Bears" / "Ex-US Presidents" (1982, Stiff, UK, 12” BUYIT 148)
- "Language Problems" / "Night Bears" / "Ex-US Presidents" (1982, Victoria, Spain, 12”, VIC-052)
- "Beat Me Hollow" / "Genghis Khan" / "My Big Surprise" / "The Cupboard" EP (1982, Stiff, UK, 12”, BUYIT 161)
- "Wolfman Tap" / "Stamp Out The Termites" (1983, Naive Records, UK, 7”, NAV 5)
- "Wolfman Tap" / "Stamp Out The Termites" (1983, Naive Records, UK, 12”, 12 NAV 5)
Albums
- Jolts (2008, Bristol Archive Records, UK, Download, ARC026)
- Electric Guitars - The Stiff Recordings (?, Stiff, UK, Download)
Tracks appear on
- Fried Alive 1980 World Tour EP (1980, Fried Egg, EP)
- The Bristol Recorder (1980, Wavelength, UK, LP/Magazine, BR001)
- E(gg)clectic 1 (1980, Fried Egg, UK, LP, FRY 002)
- Volume 6 Program 2 (1983, Disconet Program Service, USA, 12’’x2, MWDN 602)
- The Stiff Records Box Set (1992, Demon Records, UK, CDx4, STIFF BOX 1)
- Western Stars - The Bands That Built Bristol Vol. 1 (2001, Bristol Archive Records, UK, CD, ARC 001)
- The Big Stiff Box Set (2007, Salvo, UK, CDx4, SALVOBX402)
- E(gg)clectic 1 [Reissue] (2008, Bristol Archive Records, UK, Download, ARC 006)
See also
- List of Bands from Bristol
- Culture of BristolCulture of BristolBristol is a city in South West England. As the largest city in the region it is a centre for the arts and sport. The region has a distinct West Country dialect.-Events:...
- List of Record Labels from Bristol