The Blimp
Encyclopedia
The Blimp were a rock
band formed in Glasgow
, Scotland
in 1998. The group comprised William Rogue
(vocals
, lead guitar
, harmonica
), Ray Alexander (Hammond organ
), George Berry (vocals
, drums
, percussion
), Gary Craig (bass guitar
) and JD Allan
(vocals
, rhythm guitar
). The Blimp released two studio albums, one live album and three singles before disbanding in July 2007.
and JD Allan
, who had been in several bands together since the early 1990s, first recruited keyboard player Ray Alexander. Alexander was an old school friend and had been in the brother’s previous band, the Caffeine Cake Orchestra. Drummer Mark Brown was next on board. Brown had attended college with Rogue and was a former member of the brother’s first band, The Bodies. Bass player Gary Craig joined at the invitation of Brown soon after. Finally saxophonist Carol McBay, completed the line up.
Taking their name from a Captain Beefheart
song, The Blimp performed their first gig at Strawberry Fields in Glasgow
on 18 January 1999.
In the spring of 2000 Mark Brown left the band to join the Cosmic Rough Riders
. Shortly after, George Berry, a former band mate of Craig, was brought in to replace Brown on drums.
At the beginning of 2001 Carol McBay relocated to London and left the band.
based independent label Stuntman Recordings later that summer. Despite positive press, including The Big Issue
(London edition) Single of the Week, the record was banned from radio airplay across the capital. The reason stated was the repeated use of the word 'bitch' in the lyrics.
In early 2002 The Blimp released their debut album, Square Go, after further sessions with Cameron.
, The Blimp hosted a counter event in Glasgow, J in the Dark, on 13 July 2002. The band were criticised, for the apparent reference to drug use that the event's title implied.
In the summer of 2007 the band released what would be their last album, Easy Listening with the High Commissioner. The album's closing track, "Plastic Fuck Machine", was denied airplay by most of Scotland’s
local and national radio stations. The song’s duration (over eight minutes) and content (an extended drum solo), rather than its title, were cited as the reason for lack of airplay.
. The decision to break-up had been made several months previous after Rogue had decided to relocate to San Francisco.
. The comparison, however, has more to do with Rogue’s use of Glaswegian vernacular
and spoken word
than any similarity in musical style. The group’s sound is primarily informed by punk
, blues
and funk
.
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...
band formed in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1998. The group comprised William Rogue
William Rogue
Stewart William Allan , more familiar by his stage name, William Rogue, is a Scottish musician and actor most widely known as the principal songwriter, lead guitarist and lead vocalist with the rock band The Blimp.- Early life :...
(vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), Ray Alexander (Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
), George Berry (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
), Gary Craig (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and JD Allan
JD Allan
David John Allan , or as he is more commonly known, JD Allan, is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and web developer. Allan is the older brother of musician and actor, William Rogue, and a former member of the rock band The Blimp.-External links:*...
(vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
). The Blimp released two studio albums, one live album and three singles before disbanding in July 2007.
Formation
The original line up of the band that would become The Blimp came together for the first time in late 1998. Brothers William RogueWilliam Rogue
Stewart William Allan , more familiar by his stage name, William Rogue, is a Scottish musician and actor most widely known as the principal songwriter, lead guitarist and lead vocalist with the rock band The Blimp.- Early life :...
and JD Allan
JD Allan
David John Allan , or as he is more commonly known, JD Allan, is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and web developer. Allan is the older brother of musician and actor, William Rogue, and a former member of the rock band The Blimp.-External links:*...
, who had been in several bands together since the early 1990s, first recruited keyboard player Ray Alexander. Alexander was an old school friend and had been in the brother’s previous band, the Caffeine Cake Orchestra. Drummer Mark Brown was next on board. Brown had attended college with Rogue and was a former member of the brother’s first band, The Bodies. Bass player Gary Craig joined at the invitation of Brown soon after. Finally saxophonist Carol McBay, completed the line up.
Taking their name from a Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
song, The Blimp performed their first gig at Strawberry Fields in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 18 January 1999.
In the spring of 2000 Mark Brown left the band to join the Cosmic Rough Riders
Cosmic Rough Riders
The Cosmic Rough Riders are a pop/rock band from Glasgow, United Kingdom. They were originally formed in 1998 by Daniel Wylie and Stephen Fleming, and later they were joined by Mark Brown and James Clifford...
. Shortly after, George Berry, a former band mate of Craig, was brought in to replace Brown on drums.
At the beginning of 2001 Carol McBay relocated to London and left the band.
Controversy
In the spring of 2001, now with a settled line up, The Blimp began working with engineer and producer Duncan Cameron. Pleased with the result of the initial recording sessions the band released their first single, Bad Bitch Dog Don’t Bite on LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based independent label Stuntman Recordings later that summer. Despite positive press, including The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a street newspaper published in eight countries; it is written by professional journalists and sold by homeless individuals. It was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991...
(London edition) Single of the Week, the record was banned from radio airplay across the capital. The reason stated was the repeated use of the word 'bitch' in the lyrics.
In early 2002 The Blimp released their debut album, Square Go, after further sessions with Cameron.
Further controversy
Disillusioned with the perceived commercialism of Scotland's biggest summer music festival, T in the ParkT in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, The Blimp hosted a counter event in Glasgow, J in the Dark, on 13 July 2002. The band were criticised, for the apparent reference to drug use that the event's title implied.
In the summer of 2007 the band released what would be their last album, Easy Listening with the High Commissioner. The album's closing track, "Plastic Fuck Machine", was denied airplay by most of Scotland’s
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
local and national radio stations. The song’s duration (over eight minutes) and content (an extended drum solo), rather than its title, were cited as the reason for lack of airplay.
Break-up
On 14 July 2007 The Blimp made their final live appearance at Nice N Sleazy in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The decision to break-up had been made several months previous after Rogue had decided to relocate to San Francisco.
Style
The Blimp have much been likened to fellow compatriots The Sensational Alex Harvey BandAlex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
. The comparison, however, has more to do with Rogue’s use of Glaswegian vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
and spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
than any similarity in musical style. The group’s sound is primarily informed by 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...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
.
Albums
- Square Go – (2002)
- The Core Session – (2004)
- Easy Listening with the High Commissioner – (2007)
Singles
- "Bad Bitch Dog Don’t Bite" – (2001)
- "A Thousand Bares Between Us" – (2001)
- "Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place" – (2006)