The Bomb Party
Encyclopedia
The Bomb Party were an English
rock band from Leicester
. They have been described as "The Godfathers of Grebo".
); A second single on Dan Treacy's Whaam! label was withdrawn. In 1984 Farmlife split up, and Andy "Jesus" Mosquera (vocals), Steve Gerrard (guitar), Mark Thompson (drums) formed The Bomb Party, with Sarah Corina
(bass). They took their name from a Graham Greene
novel
, debuting in 1985 with the Ray Gun EP on the Abstract label, the new sound described as "a Molotov cocktail
of hardcore grebo goth
ability lying somewhere between The Cramps
and Bauhaus
". The bandmembers themselves rejected the "grebo" tag, Mosquera stating "We're not grebos and we're not bikers or any of that shit. We're experimental. We are experimentalists but we don't have to say we're political and we credit our audience with enough intelligence to suss it out for themselves". The debut album Drugs appeared in 1986. Signing to the Workers Playtime label, they released a second album, 1987's Liberace Rising, now featuring Leszek Rataj on guitar, preceded by a compilation of their early Abstract singles, The Last Supper. A year later they signed to Normal records, releasing their most commercial record, a cover of The Archies
' "Sugar Sugar" (featuring Voice Of The Beehive
on backing vocals) followed in 1989 by the album, Fish. A final album, Nativity #3 appeared on Artlos in 1990, the band split up immediately after it was recorded. The band played their final gig at The Powerhaus in London
on December 17, 1989.
Thompson subsequently joined members of Gaye Bykers on Acid
and The Janitors
in the band G.R.O.W.T.H.., who released the album For Lack Of Horses They Straddle Dogs. Mosquera reverted to a career in fine art. Corina joined The Mekons and, later, Striplight (with Alex Mitchell of Curve
). She has also recorded with Bill Carter of Screaming Blue Messiahs.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock band from Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. They have been described as "The Godfathers of Grebo".
History
The band formed in the early 1980s, initially as Farmlife by Milo Walsh (vocals), Andy Mosquera (vocals), Steve Gerrard (bass), Dave Mitcheson (guitar), Simon Crane (saxophone) and Mark Thompson (drums), who met on a fine art course at Leicester Polytechnic. They released one single under this name in 1982, "Susie's Party", written by Walsh, (later covered by Yeah Yeah NohYeah Yeah Noh
Yeah Yeah Noh were a post-punk group formed in Leicester, England in 1984. They released two albums and five singles while still together, and have had two compilation albums issued since they split in 1986.-Biography:...
); A second single on Dan Treacy's Whaam! label was withdrawn. In 1984 Farmlife split up, and Andy "Jesus" Mosquera (vocals), Steve Gerrard (guitar), Mark Thompson (drums) formed The Bomb Party, with Sarah Corina
Sarah Corina
Sarah Corina is a bass guitarist and founder member of bands The Bomb Party, Die Cheerleader and .She is currently the bassist for The Mekons and is writing and recording a solo album under the name .-References:...
(bass). They took their name from a Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
novel
Doctor Fischer of Geneva
Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The bomb party , is a novel by the English novelist Graham Greene.-Plot summary:The story is narrated by Alfred Jones, a translator for a large chocolate company in Switzerland. Jones, in his 50s, lost his left hand while working as a fireman during The Blitz. Jones is a...
, debuting in 1985 with the Ray Gun EP on the Abstract label, the new sound described as "a Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
of hardcore grebo goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
ability lying somewhere between The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
and Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
". The bandmembers themselves rejected the "grebo" tag, Mosquera stating "We're not grebos and we're not bikers or any of that shit. We're experimental. We are experimentalists but we don't have to say we're political and we credit our audience with enough intelligence to suss it out for themselves". The debut album Drugs appeared in 1986. Signing to the Workers Playtime label, they released a second album, 1987's Liberace Rising, now featuring Leszek Rataj on guitar, preceded by a compilation of their early Abstract singles, The Last Supper. A year later they signed to Normal records, releasing their most commercial record, a cover of The Archies
The Archies
The Archies are a garage band founded by Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, and Jughead Jones, a group of adolescent fictional characters of the Archie universe, in the context of the animated TV series, The Archie Show...
' "Sugar Sugar" (featuring Voice Of The Beehive
Voice of the Beehive
Voice of the Beehive is an Anglo-American alternative pop rock band formed in London in 1986 by Californian sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland, daughters of The Four Preps singer, Bruce Belland.- Career :...
on backing vocals) followed in 1989 by the album, Fish. A final album, Nativity #3 appeared on Artlos in 1990, the band split up immediately after it was recorded. The band played their final gig at The Powerhaus in London
London
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...
on December 17, 1989.
Thompson subsequently joined members of Gaye Bykers on Acid
Gaye Bykers on Acid
Gaye Bykers On Acid were an English psychedelic rock band from Leicester, and one of the founder members of the Grebo music scene. They later released both thrash punk and dance music albums under various aliases.-Personnel:...
and The Janitors
The Janitors
The Janitors were an alternative rock band from Sunderland & Newcastle, formed in 1984.-History:They were led by singer Andrew Denton, who was backed by Craig Hope , Simon Warnes , and Tim Stirland...
in the band G.R.O.W.T.H.., who released the album For Lack Of Horses They Straddle Dogs. Mosquera reverted to a career in fine art. Corina joined The Mekons and, later, Striplight (with Alex Mitchell of Curve
Curve (band)
Curve was an English music group formed in 1990 chiefly around the collaboration of singer/songwriter Toni Halliday and bassist/guitarist/programmer Dean Garcia.-History:...
). She has also recorded with Bill Carter of Screaming Blue Messiahs.
Singles
- "Susie's Party" (1982, 7", Dining Out) (as Farmlife)
- "Big Country" (1983, 7", Whaam!) (as Farmlife) (withdrawn)
- "Ray Gun EP" (1985, 12" EP, Abstract Records, 12 ABS 032) #32
- "The New Messiah" (1985, 12" EP, Abstract Records, 12 ABS 035) #30
- "Life's a Bitch" (1985, 7", Abstract Records, ABS 038)
- "Pretty Face" (1987, 7", Workers Playtime, WP CS 001)
- "Sugar Sugar" (1988, 7", Normal Records, NORMAL 93 T)
- "Why Don't You Behave" (1989, 7", Normal Records, NORMAL 103 S)
Albums
- Drugs (1986, Abstract Records, ABT 014) #18
- Liberace Rising (1987, Workers Playtime, Play LP2)
- Fish (1988, Normal Records, NORMAL 103)
- Nativity #3 (1990, Artlos Recs, ARTLOS/EFA LP 01819)