Stampede (band)
Encyclopedia
Stampede are a British melodic hard rock band formed in 1981 by songwriting partnership Reuben Archer and Laurence Archer
. The band signed to Polydor Records, emerging as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
scene. Stampede disbanded in 1983, and guitarist Laurence Archer went on to play with UFO
, Phil Lynott
's Grand Slam
amongst other projects. The band reformed 26 years later in 2009, and a new studio album titled 'A Sudden Impulse' was released on May 9, 2011 on the Grind That Axe label, a subsidiary of Rock Candy Records.
Stampede today consists of original founding members Reuben and Laurence Archer and Colin Bond, along with new additions Chris Clowsley (guitar) and drummer Stevie G (Steve Graystone). In 2010, during the recording of new studio album A Sudden Impulse, Laurence became unavailable for recording for a period of time due to work commitments. As a result the band brought in guitarist Rob Wolverson for outstanding writing and recording duties.
(guitarist, songwriter). Their first major project being the 1977 hard rock band Lautrec for which they recruited Steve Holbrook of Frome, Somerset on keyboards, and Simon Riddler of Shepton Mallet, Somerset on bass. The drummer was Clive Deamer of Frome in Somerset, who later played in Portishead and Robert Plant
's Strange Sensation, as well as session work for many other important projects.
Prior to a Saxon
support tour Deamer left to finish an apprenticeship and was replaced by Steve Jones of Bristol. The band completed two support tours with Saxon
and released a Single on the Street Tunes Label: 'Shoot Out The Lights'/'Mean Gasoline', now reputed to be one of the rarest 45s of the NWOBHM era auctioning on eBay for £1800.
In 1980 With no major deal in place, Reuben joined Lionheart
a new supergroup headed by ex-Iron Maiden
guitarist Dennis Stratton
. Within 4 months with no record deal in the offing Reuben took the offer to join Wild Horses
with Jimmy Bain
late of Rainbow
. The band required a guitarist to partner John Lockton and a new drummer, so Reuben suggested Laurence Archer on guitar and Frank Noon
of Lionheart on drums. This completed the final line up of Wild Horses. However the project never took off and a disillusioned Reuben, Laurence and Frank left to form Stampede. They recruited Alan Nelson (ex-Wildfire) on keyboards and Bristol based bass player Colin Bond (formerly of Stormtrooper) to complete the original Stampede lineup.
, Stampede went into Cave Studios in Bristol to record 6 tracks. The tracks were taken up by Polydor Records who consequently signed the band in 1981 for a major deal, immediately releasing four of the new tracks on an EP called Days Of Wine And Roses.
The band continued to play residencies at the London Marquee Club
and various other venues in and around London, and were booked for the Mildenhall and Reading Festivals of 1982. Before these festival dates, drummer Frank Noon left Stampede to join Bernie Tormé
, and was replaced by Bristol-based Eddie Parsons who stayed with the band until the end. Prior to the Festivals, Reuben broke his hip and left thigh running to catch a bus with Iron Maiden
's Bruce Dickinson
, and only just made it out of hospital to appear onstage at the festivals on crutches. Prior to the Mildenhall Festival Stampede decided to remain a four piece when keyboardist Alan Nelson left to pursue other things. It was felt that Bond’s bass style and Taurus pedals more than filled out the sound, and that’s how the band remained until their demise.
Polydor recorded the Mildenhall and Reading Festival sets of 1982 putting the live album out as Stampede: The Official Bootleg.
Between 1982 and 1983 Stampede also recorded a BBC show for Tommy Vance
, a Capital Radio show with 4 tracks for Fluff Freeman
's Rock Show, and a BBC In Concert show at the Paris Theatre with contemporaries Girlschool
.
's Mark Stanway
for keyboard duties. At this time Poydor also released a 7" single called The Other Side.
Hurricane Town was promoted by a support tour with Gary Moore
, before which the band went off to Portugal to play a week’s residency as warm up for the tour, which was extended after the Christmas of 1983.
Reuben formed his own design company and Colin Bond went off to work with Meat Loaf
, while Laurence Joined Phil Lynott and Mark Stanway in Grand Slam. When Phil died Laurence joined Brit rockers UFO
, before retiring from music to work in the film industry.
, Dante Bonutto and Derek Oliver, along with a foreword by Reuben Archer.
On the 2nd of January 2009, Reuben called Colin Bond and Laurence Archer with a view to reunite Stampede, and the first gig was staged at London's Embassy Club in Mayfair on 25 May 2009. After several gigs they made the unanimous decision to commence recording a new album.
This was easier said than done as it soon transpired that the availability of each band member was impossible to schedule, and when Laurence became unavailable during a period in the recording schedule due to work commitments, Reuben brought in guitarists Rob Wolverson and Chris Clowsley to finish the job. Laurence and Reuben had written and recorded 5 tracks and Reuben with Rob and Chris along with original bassist Colin Bond and new drummer Steve Graystone completed the album. The album, entitled A Sudden Impulse was recorded at Track 21 Studios in Weston-super-Mare, Dartington Hall Studios in Devon, and Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton.
With the new album nearly completed Stampede's first live appearance was in 2010 at Birmingham's Meltdown Festival where they were main support to headliner Blaze Bayley.
The new album was released on Rock Candy Records on 9 May 2011 to much critical acclaim, the single 'Having Fun' being released a month prior to the album.
Stampede have since been announced for more live dates throughout 2011, including Festival appearances at Devon Rox in Exeter and Hard Rock Hell V in Prestatyn, and are currently scheduled to record the second comeback album for release in 2012.
1. Days of Wine and Roses
2. Moving On
3. Photographs
4. Missing You
The Official Bootleg - Live album (Polydor Records, 1982)
1. Missing You
2. Moving On
3. Days of Wine and Roses
4. Hurricane Town
5. Shadows of the Night
6. Baby Driver
7. The Runner
8. There And Back
Hurricane Town (Polydor Records, 1983)
1. I've Been Told
2. Love Letters
3. Casino Junkie
4. The Other Side
5. Turning In Circles
6. Hurricane Town
7. Girl
8. The Runner
9. Mexico
The Other Side 7" Single (Polydor Records, 1983)
1. The Other Side
2. The Runner
Hurricane Town - Re-mastered & Re-released (Rock Candy Records, 2006)
1. I've Been Told
2. Love Letters
3. Casino Junkie
4. The Other Side
5. Turning In Circles
6. Hurricane Town
7. Girl
8. The Runner
9. Mexico
10. Midnight At The Moulin Rouge (Lautrec - bonus track)
11. Red Light Ruby (Lautrec - bonus track)
12. Mean Gasoline (Lautrec - bonus track)
13. Shoot Out The Lights (Lautrec - bonus track)
A Sudden Impulse (Grind That Axe/Rock Candy Records, 2011)
1. Send Me Down An Angel
2. Jessie
3. Having Fun
4. Make A Change
5. Hard Rock Hell
6. This Road
7. Homeward Bound
8. Shame On You
9. Natural Disaster
10. Humble Pie
11. Flaming Gold
12. Recharged (bonus track)
13. Flaming Gold - Acoustic Version (bonus track)
Laurence Archer
Laurence Archer is a guitarist. He is notable for his work with British rock bands, UFO and Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He was also a member of Wild Horses, Medicine Head and Rhode Island Red with Gary Leiderman Bass , Manolo Antonana Drums and frontman/actor/writer Mike Dyer before temporarily...
. The band signed to Polydor Records, emerging as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
scene. Stampede disbanded in 1983, and guitarist Laurence Archer went on to play with UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
's Grand Slam
Grand Slam (band)
Grand Slam or Phil Lynott's Grand Slam were a rock band, formed in 1984 as the brainchild of ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott.The name 'Grand Slam' was invented after a plethora of other band names had been considered, including 'Reactor Factor', 'Catastrophe', 'Hell Bent On Havoc', 'Slam Anthem'...
amongst other projects. The band reformed 26 years later in 2009, and a new studio album titled 'A Sudden Impulse' was released on May 9, 2011 on the Grind That Axe label, a subsidiary of Rock Candy Records.
Current members
- Reuben Archer (vocals)
- Laurence ArcherLaurence ArcherLaurence Archer is a guitarist. He is notable for his work with British rock bands, UFO and Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He was also a member of Wild Horses, Medicine Head and Rhode Island Red with Gary Leiderman Bass , Manolo Antonana Drums and frontman/actor/writer Mike Dyer before temporarily...
(lead guitar) - Chris Clowsley (guitar)
- Rob Wolverson (guitar)
- Colin Bond (bass)
- Steve Graystone (Drums)
Stampede today consists of original founding members Reuben and Laurence Archer and Colin Bond, along with new additions Chris Clowsley (guitar) and drummer Stevie G (Steve Graystone). In 2010, during the recording of new studio album A Sudden Impulse, Laurence became unavailable for recording for a period of time due to work commitments. As a result the band brought in guitarist Rob Wolverson for outstanding writing and recording duties.
Pre-Stampede (Lautrec, Lionheart & Wild Horses)
Stampede emerged from the partnership of Reuben Archer (vocalist, songwriter) and stepson Laurence ArcherLaurence Archer
Laurence Archer is a guitarist. He is notable for his work with British rock bands, UFO and Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He was also a member of Wild Horses, Medicine Head and Rhode Island Red with Gary Leiderman Bass , Manolo Antonana Drums and frontman/actor/writer Mike Dyer before temporarily...
(guitarist, songwriter). Their first major project being the 1977 hard rock band Lautrec for which they recruited Steve Holbrook of Frome, Somerset on keyboards, and Simon Riddler of Shepton Mallet, Somerset on bass. The drummer was Clive Deamer of Frome in Somerset, who later played in Portishead and Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
's Strange Sensation, as well as session work for many other important projects.
Prior to a Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
support tour Deamer left to finish an apprenticeship and was replaced by Steve Jones of Bristol. The band completed two support tours with Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
and released a Single on the Street Tunes Label: 'Shoot Out The Lights'/'Mean Gasoline', now reputed to be one of the rarest 45s of the NWOBHM era auctioning on eBay for £1800.
In 1980 With no major deal in place, Reuben joined Lionheart
Lionheart (band)
-History:Lionheart was a British hard rock band formed in late 1980, originally featuring singer Jess Cox , guitarist Dennis Stratton , guitarist Steve Mann , bassist/vocalist Rocky Newton , and drummer Frank Noon .They made their debut one Saturday night at the Marquee Club in...
a new supergroup headed by ex-Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
guitarist Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton is a guitar player who is best known as a former member of the British band Iron Maiden from October 1979 to October 1980.-Biography:...
. Within 4 months with no record deal in the offing Reuben took the offer to join Wild Horses
Wild Horses (British band)
Wild Horses were a British rock band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Wild Horses was formed in the summer of 1978 by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain...
with Jimmy Bain
Jimmy Bain
James Stewart 'Jimmy' Bain is a Scottish bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Ronnie James Dio. He has worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums....
late of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
. The band required a guitarist to partner John Lockton and a new drummer, so Reuben suggested Laurence Archer on guitar and Frank Noon
Frank Noon
Frank Noon is a drummer who played in the bands Def Leppard and Roadhouse with guitarist Pete Willis.He was preceded in Def Leppard by original Def Leppard drummer Tony Kenning and succeeded in Def Leppard by current Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen....
of Lionheart on drums. This completed the final line up of Wild Horses. However the project never took off and a disillusioned Reuben, Laurence and Frank left to form Stampede. They recruited Alan Nelson (ex-Wildfire) on keyboards and Bristol based bass player Colin Bond (formerly of Stormtrooper) to complete the original Stampede lineup.
Days of Wine & Roses EP and The Official Bootleg (1981-1982)
Under management from Roulette Music and with an advance from Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, Stampede went into Cave Studios in Bristol to record 6 tracks. The tracks were taken up by Polydor Records who consequently signed the band in 1981 for a major deal, immediately releasing four of the new tracks on an EP called Days Of Wine And Roses.
The band continued to play residencies at the London Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
and various other venues in and around London, and were booked for the Mildenhall and Reading Festivals of 1982. Before these festival dates, drummer Frank Noon left Stampede to join Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé is a rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner.-Early career:...
, and was replaced by Bristol-based Eddie Parsons who stayed with the band until the end. Prior to the Festivals, Reuben broke his hip and left thigh running to catch a bus with Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, and only just made it out of hospital to appear onstage at the festivals on crutches. Prior to the Mildenhall Festival Stampede decided to remain a four piece when keyboardist Alan Nelson left to pursue other things. It was felt that Bond’s bass style and Taurus pedals more than filled out the sound, and that’s how the band remained until their demise.
Polydor recorded the Mildenhall and Reading Festival sets of 1982 putting the live album out as Stampede: The Official Bootleg.
Between 1982 and 1983 Stampede also recorded a BBC show for Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
, a Capital Radio show with 4 tracks for Fluff Freeman
Alan Freeman
Alan Leslie "Fluff" Freeman, MBE was a British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years.-Career:...
's Rock Show, and a BBC In Concert show at the Paris Theatre with contemporaries Girlschool
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
.
Hurricane Town and The Other Side (1983)
In 1983, Stampede followed up the Official Bootleg with a studio album, entitled Hurricane Town, recruiting MagnumMagnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
's Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway is a keyboardist. He is famous for his work with British rock band Magnum, and also with Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He also plays with M3 Classic Whitesnake, featuring ex-Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Mick Moody....
for keyboard duties. At this time Poydor also released a 7" single called The Other Side.
Hurricane Town was promoted by a support tour with Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
, before which the band went off to Portugal to play a week’s residency as warm up for the tour, which was extended after the Christmas of 1983.
Disbandment
After Hurricane Town a second studio album was scheduled and Stampede commenced writing material, however when singer Reuben returned to hospital to have all the metalwork removed from his hip and thigh he caught a virus during the op and became seriously ill. Due to this and the fact that rock and metal was having a hard time due to the onslaught of Punk and New Wave, plus with little support from Polydor, Stampede decided to split.Reuben formed his own design company and Colin Bond went off to work with Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, while Laurence Joined Phil Lynott and Mark Stanway in Grand Slam. When Phil died Laurence joined Brit rockers UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, before retiring from music to work in the film industry.
Reunion
In 2006 Rock Candy Records re-released Stampede's last studio offering Hurricane Town (originally released by Polydor Records in 1983). The album consisted of all the original tracks re-mastered, and four bonus tracks from the Lautec catalogue, and featured a 16 page colour booklet with sleevenotes by journalists Malcolm DomeMalcolm Dome
Malcolm Dome has been an English writer and journalist about metal since 1979. In addition to writing books, he has been a journalist for Record Mirror, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Classic Rock among others. He also co-runs and DJs on the online radio station TotalRock.-Selected books:*Dome, Malcolm...
, Dante Bonutto and Derek Oliver, along with a foreword by Reuben Archer.
On the 2nd of January 2009, Reuben called Colin Bond and Laurence Archer with a view to reunite Stampede, and the first gig was staged at London's Embassy Club in Mayfair on 25 May 2009. After several gigs they made the unanimous decision to commence recording a new album.
This was easier said than done as it soon transpired that the availability of each band member was impossible to schedule, and when Laurence became unavailable during a period in the recording schedule due to work commitments, Reuben brought in guitarists Rob Wolverson and Chris Clowsley to finish the job. Laurence and Reuben had written and recorded 5 tracks and Reuben with Rob and Chris along with original bassist Colin Bond and new drummer Steve Graystone completed the album. The album, entitled A Sudden Impulse was recorded at Track 21 Studios in Weston-super-Mare, Dartington Hall Studios in Devon, and Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton.
With the new album nearly completed Stampede's first live appearance was in 2010 at Birmingham's Meltdown Festival where they were main support to headliner Blaze Bayley.
The new album was released on Rock Candy Records on 9 May 2011 to much critical acclaim, the single 'Having Fun' being released a month prior to the album.
Stampede have since been announced for more live dates throughout 2011, including Festival appearances at Devon Rox in Exeter and Hard Rock Hell V in Prestatyn, and are currently scheduled to record the second comeback album for release in 2012.
Discography
Days of Wine and Roses EP (Polydor Records 1982)1. Days of Wine and Roses
2. Moving On
3. Photographs
4. Missing You
The Official Bootleg - Live album (Polydor Records, 1982)
1. Missing You
2. Moving On
3. Days of Wine and Roses
4. Hurricane Town
5. Shadows of the Night
6. Baby Driver
7. The Runner
8. There And Back
Hurricane Town (Polydor Records, 1983)
1. I've Been Told
2. Love Letters
3. Casino Junkie
4. The Other Side
5. Turning In Circles
6. Hurricane Town
7. Girl
8. The Runner
9. Mexico
The Other Side 7" Single (Polydor Records, 1983)
1. The Other Side
2. The Runner
Hurricane Town - Re-mastered & Re-released (Rock Candy Records, 2006)
1. I've Been Told
2. Love Letters
3. Casino Junkie
4. The Other Side
5. Turning In Circles
6. Hurricane Town
7. Girl
8. The Runner
9. Mexico
10. Midnight At The Moulin Rouge (Lautrec - bonus track)
11. Red Light Ruby (Lautrec - bonus track)
12. Mean Gasoline (Lautrec - bonus track)
13. Shoot Out The Lights (Lautrec - bonus track)
A Sudden Impulse (Grind That Axe/Rock Candy Records, 2011)
1. Send Me Down An Angel
2. Jessie
3. Having Fun
4. Make A Change
5. Hard Rock Hell
6. This Road
7. Homeward Bound
8. Shame On You
9. Natural Disaster
10. Humble Pie
11. Flaming Gold
12. Recharged (bonus track)
13. Flaming Gold - Acoustic Version (bonus track)