THE BROTHERLAND - Nightmares & dreams

THE BROTHERLAND Nightmares and dreams cd 1992 King Size records 320 kbps
Every inch of me / Nobody's fault / Nightmares and dreams / No more / Saudade / Jesus city / Only you .
Produced by the Brotherland & Harold Burgon.
The Brotherland : Kris Dollimore : guitars & vocals / Steve "Vom" Ritchie : drums , tuned percussion & vocals / Nick Chown : bass & vocals .

After honing his skills with various local Kent groups, in 1985 at the tender age of 19 Kris Dollimore (here on guitar & vocals with The Brotherland) became a founder member and lead guitarist with the legendary English rock’n’roll group The Godfathers. The Godfathers enjoyed a fanatical cult audience worldwide and Kris Dollimore’s ferocious guitar sound and wild stage performances enhanced their reputation as a must see live act. Kris recorded three classic albums with The Godfathers ("Hit By Hit","Birth, School, Work, Death","More Songs About Love And Hate") and was co-author of such rocking gems as "Birth, School, Work,Death","Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues" and "This Damn Nation".
Kriss left the Godfathers in 1990 to become a much sought after session guitar for hire . In 1992 he formed The Brotherland , a short lived group who recorded this seven songs mini album .

After that he played on former Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators solo album ("Last Race") along with Johnny Thunders and Dee Dee Ramone and toured the globe with 80’s idol Adam Ant. He then joined punk rock pioneers The Damned and alongside original members Dave Vanian and Rat Scabies recorded their "I’m Alight Jack And The Beanstalk" album, as well as performing several world tours. After teaming up with Scots rockers Del Amitri for the top 30 album "Can You Do Me Good", Kris also produced and played lead guitar on several tracks for American country-rock singer Eileen Rose.

In 2004 Kris abandoned his session guitarist persona to concentrate on writing, performing and singing his ever-growing repertoire of original material. Directly inspired by his love for his favourite blues artists (John Lee Hooker, Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson) , his first solo album "02/01/1978" perfectly captures Kris Dollimore’s highly individual take on the blues.

CHRIS SPEDDING - Chris Spedding

CHRIS SPEDDING Chris Spedding cd 1975/76 Rak records 320 kbps

New girl in the neighborhood / School days / Sweet disposition / Bedsit girl / Guitar jamboree / Jump in my car / Hungry man / Motor bikin'° / Catch that train / Nervous / Boogie city / Working for the union* / Running round* / Truck drivin' man* (*bonus tracks) .

Produced by Mickie Most.

Chris Spedding : guitar & vocals / Les Hurdle : bass / Brian Bennett : drums / Tony Carr : drums / Tony Burrows, Chas Mills & Neil Lancaster : backing vocals .

except ° : Dave Cochran: bass / Barry Morgan : drums / Sue & Sunny : backing vocals.

One of Britain's top session guitarists of the '70s (even participating in records by the furry Wombles!), Chris Spedding has had a truly aberrant solo career. A veteran of numerous outfits starting in the '60s, Spedding made several LPs under his own name before joining Andy Fraser's post-Free band, Sharks, who made two hard-rocking LPs in 1973 and '74. (Spedding also played on one of Sharks vocalist Snips' subsequent solo outings.) After that band split, Spedding released a succession of LPs that combine exquisite rock guitar with lackluster vocals and songs so vapid as to be virtually nonexistent. (On a 1970 Japanese release, he dispensed with vocals entirely.) The highlight of Chris Spedding is a novelty item called "Guitar Jamboree" which features Spedding aping various guitar heroes in a show of chameleonlike virtuosity.

TrouserPress.

Though this eponymous masterpiece was not Chris Spedding's first solo album, it was the first to impact on the record buying public at large. Spiralling out of his so-memorable hit "Motorbiking," it established the leather-clad, quiff-topped Spedding as the first guitar-hero pin-up of the punk era, a full year before even punk's progenitors had heard of the term. Certainly great swathes of what eventually emerged amid the British new wave was bodily borrowed from Spedding, both visually and, with a few fashionable refinements, visually. Chris Spedding sounds like its maker looked: tight, mean, and taking no trash from no-one. The future anthem "Guitar Jamboree" could easily have been replayed with switchblades, while his take on CHUCK BERRY's "School Days" has a lot more in mind than class work and gym. Electrifying, too, are "Jump in My Car" and "Bedsit Girl." Economically riff-driven guitar pop was nothing new, of course, but rarely had it been executed with such a glowering swagger. Short, sharp and never less than brittle, Chris Spedding has few of the frills that Spedding so adeptly draped over other people's records, few of the twists and turns that distinguished his work with Sharks or later, alone. But, if ever anyone figures out how to fit a CD player into a motorcycle helmet, this should be the first album anybody buys to play on it. Dave Thompson on Allmusic

ELECTRIC ANGELS - Electric Angels

ELECTRIC ANGELS Electric Angels lp 1990 Atlantic 320 kbps
I believe / Live in the city / Rattlesnake kisses / Head above water / Dangerous drug / True love and other fairy tales/ Last girl on earth / Home sweet homicide / Cars crash / All the money / Whiplash / The drinking song .
Produced by Tony Visconti .
ELECTRIC ANGELS : Shane : vocals / Ryan Roxie : guitar / Jonathan Daniel : bass / John Shubert : drums .
Electric Angels was a Los Angeles-based band that formed from the ashes of the now-defunct Candy featuring new singer Shane, guitarist Ryan Roxie, and original Candy members bassist/songwriter Jonathan Daniel, and drummer John Schubert. After one year, the band relocated to New York City and were signed to Atlantic Records within five months. One of their first New York shows was opening up for the British band Dogs D'Amour and Mother Love Bone, which soon became Pearl Jam. Their self-titled debut was recorded in London in the autumn of 1989 by David Bowie and T.Rex producer Tony Visconti and released in February 1990. They were reviewed favorably as a cross between The Replacements and Hanoi Rocks. The band let their contract with Atlantic expire in 1991 due to poor promotion on the part of the label. Home demos were made for early song ideas, though a second album was only in the infancy stages. These demoes have erroneously turned up as the never-released second album, which was to be called New York Times, though against the band's wishes or approval. The band split in April 1992 when Roxie returned to Los Angeles to become the guitarist for Alice Cooper. Shane, Jonathan, and John returned a few years later, sans guitarist Ryan Roxie but with the addition of John Ceparano, as The Loveless, releasing "A tale of gin and salvation" in 1995, an album that is well loved among fans of the power pop music genre.
The Electric Angels, again without Roxie, reunited in early 2000 for a one-off radio appearance on WDHA's The Tour Bus.

Thanks to Marc for music & scans !

Thanks to MAX for the wonderful artwork !

THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH - Anthology

THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH Anthology 2000 I.R.S. 320 kbps
Russian roulette / New church / Black girl white girl / Dance with me / Method to my madness / When blood runs cold / Portobello / Question of temperature / Johnny too bad / Apocalypso / Holy war / Pretty baby scream / I never believed / L'il boys play with Dolls / Eat your heart out / Girls girls girls / I'm not runnin' hard enuff / Gun called justice / Sorry for the man / Like a virgin .
Production : see the booklet.
THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH : Steve Bators : vocals / Brian James : guitar & backing vocals / Dave Tregunna : bass & backing vocals / Nicky Turner : drums & backing vocals .

THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH

SINGLES LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH Real bad time /Things go home Bondage International wav
Produced by Vic Maile .
LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH : Brian James : guitars / Nick Turner : drums / Grant Flemming : bass / Steve Bators : vocals .

HOLIDAYS

I have to go on holidays until the end of august ... posts will be more sporadic ... See you soon... KEEP ON ROCKIN' !!!
The Midnight Rambler

THE BITTERSWEETS - Lesson one

THE BITTERSWEETS Lesson One 1996 That's entertainment records 320 kbps

Love can't buy me / Good looks / All set to go / Out of here / I surrender / Story of love / I'm gonna miss the Ramones / Hear what I say / Anything from you / Love it to death / Colour of day / My baby is cool .

Produced by The Bittersweets & Kay Andersen.

The Bittersweets : Thomas Dahl : drums , guitar & vocals / Lars Dehli Jensrud : organ , piano & vocals / Bjorn Haukaas : bass & vocals / Mads Husvik : guitar /John Martinsen : guitar & vocals / Arne Thelin : lead vocals & harp.

Norwegian vocalist, songwriter and producer. An important figure in the garage rock revival of the late '80s and early '90s, Arne Thelin was a founding member of the bands The Joyful Tears (1985-1987), The Cosmic Dropouts (1987-1989), The Lust-O-Rama (1989-1993), The Kwyet Kings (1993-2001) and The Bittersweets (1995-1996). He also ran the now defunct That's Entertainment Records . Arne Thelin currently lives in Thailand and records solo as Bithammer!

Thanks to GoodGuy666 for music & scans !

THE VIBRATORS 3 - Meltdown

THE VIBRATORS Meltdown cd 1988 Revolver records 320 kbps

Office girls / Dont'cha lean on me / So young / Speedtrap / The otherside of midnight / Cruel to you / U238 / Dynamite / Letting to you / Danger street / Let's go / Baby / The Sally gardens / Wasted life (cd bonus) / Don't trust anyone (cd bonus) / Rock the kids (SOTD bonus)* / Shake some action (SOTD bonus track)* / Slow death (SOTD bonus track)*.

Produced by the Vibrators & Steve Nunn .

THE VIBRATORS 1988 : same personnal .

"Rock the kids "& "Shake some action" : Knox : vocal , guitar / Robbie Tart : bass , backin' vocals / Eddie : drums & backin' vocals .

"Slow death" : Knox / M. Duncan / Eddie / Nigel Bennett : guitar , backing vocals + Tony Oliver : guitar.

THE VIBRATORS 2 - Recharged

THE VIBRATORS Recharged cd 1988 Kampa/Accord 320 kbps

String him along / Hey little Doll /I don't trust you / Go go go / Hey nonny no / Picture of you / Every day I die a little / Too dumb / Rip it up , tear it up / Someone stole my heart / Electricity / Tight black jeans / Reach for that star / Blown away by love */ Wipe away* / Too late for love* .
Produced by The Vibrators & Steve Nunn.

* bonus cd tracks , produced by Noel Thompson & the Vibrators .

THE VIBRATORS 1988 : guitar, vocals , keyboards / Eddie : drums , percussion , vocals / Marc Duncan : bass , guitar, vocals / Mickie Owen : guitars , vocals .

Personnal for the bonus tracks : Knox / Eddie / John Ellis : guitar , harmonica , keyboards , vocals / Pat Collier : bass , vocals .

The band was founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his record label RAK. Most produced their first single, "We Vibrate". The band also backed Spedding on his single, "Pogo Dancing".The Vibrators recorded sessions at for John Peel at BBC Radio 1 in October 1976, June 1977, and February 1978. They were one of the pioneering punk bands that played live in the first few months of London's Roxy Club. They headlined in January 1977, supported by The Drones, and in February they played twice at the venue. In March 1977 the band supported Iggy Pop on his British tour. Later that year they backed ex-Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter.The band signed to Epic Records in early 1977. Their debut album, Pure Mania, reached the Top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. The album is well regarded by some music critics, and 17 years after its release, The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music named Pure Mania one of the best 50 punk albums of all-time.
The follow-up album, V2, narrowly missed the UK Top 30. The only single to be taken from that album, "Automatic Lover", was also the only Vibrators’ single to reach the UK Top 40. It earned the band a TV appearance on the prime-time music show Top of the Pops. The Vibrators’ final single on Epic, "Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)", was released in June 1978. Years later it was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.The band's song "Troops Of Tomorrow", also covered by The Exploited, has become a punk anthem.During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded and toured frequently with Peter Hammill, and subsequently The Stranglers, eventually joining the latter full-time during the 1990s. Pat Collier went on to work closely with Robyn Hitchcock, producing and/or mixing a number of his albums (to which Knox also sometimes contributed). Despite numerous line-up changes, The Vibrators are still touring to this date as a three-piece; Carnochan and "Eddie" being the only original members.The band's discography is notable for many live albums, outtakes, round-ups and best-ofs. One of the more recent is Live Near The Seedy Mill Golf Course, released in the UK by Invisible Hands Music in 2003.The Belfast punk group Stiff Little Fingers took its name from a Vibrators song.

THE REDUCERS 5 - Cruise to nowhere

THE REDUCERS Cruise to nowhere Lp 1985 Rave On records 320 kbps

Runaway home / Screaming too / Fistfight at the beach / Jackpot fever / Pub rockin' / Cruise to nowhere / Little punky hood / Somedays gonna come / Spaghetti western N° 6 / Sound of breaking down / Boys will be boys .

Produced by Ron Bacchiocchi .

The Reducers : see Reducers 2

Cruise To Nowhere was the result of two weeks in the studio with a handful of songs, some finished, most unfinished and some unwritten. The resulting LP was surprisingly consistent given the haphazard nature of the recording, and college radio once again picked up on the album's standout track "Fistfight at the Beach." Another regional tour followed, and the wear and tear of the road soon shown its strain on the boys from New London. It would be another 3 years until The Reducer's next release...

Reducers biography here :

http://www.thereducers.com/bio/

Thanks to Fabien for music & scans !

Artwork by Max !

...and don't forget to buy the new Reducer's cd here :

http://www.rave-on-records.com/store.php

THE REDUCERS 4

SINGLES THE REDUCERS / ROGER C. REALE Wake the neighbors 1987 Rave on records wav

Rock it to the Kremlin / I can't take it anymore / Didn't we have a time / Hurt (bonus track) *.

Produced by Jon Tiven except *.

The Reducers : Hugh Birdsall : guitar , vocals / Peter Detmold : guitar , vocals / Steve Kaika : bass , vocals / Tom Trombley : drums , vocals + Roger C. Reale : vocals except *

Thanks to Fabien for music & scans !

Artwork by Max !

THE REDUCERS 3

SINGLES THE REDUCERS SEASON'S GREETINGS 1988 Rave on records wav

Nothing For Christmas / Auld Lang Syne

Thanks to Fabien for music & scans !

Artwork by Max !

THE VIBRATORS 1 - 1976/1977 The Demos

THE VIBRATORS 1976-1977 The Demos 1994 Dojo records 320 kbps

1- We wibrate /2- Say mama /3- Dance to the music /4- Young lust /5- She's bringing you down /6- Interstellar overdrive-Day tripper /7- Andy Warhol /8- Ready steady go /9- I can see it in your eyes /10- I love her /11- He's a psycho /12- Feel alright /13- But I do /14 Flying duck theory /15- Stitch you up /16- Dong /17- Front line Europe /18- Sometimes I want it so bad /19- City of mirrors /20- Public ennemy N°1 /21- 24 hour people /22- Eye witness .

The Vibrators : Eddie : drums on all tracks , lead vocals on tracks 4 / Knox : guitars on all tracks , lead vocals on tracks 2 , 3 , 5-7 , 11-12 , 15 , 17-22 / John Ellis : guitars on tracks 1-21 , lead vocals on tracks 8 , 14 , 16 / Pat Collier : bass on tracks 1-14 , lead vocals on tracks 1 , 10 , 13 / Gary Tibbs : bass on tracks 15-22 / Dave Birch : guitar on track 22 / Don Snow : keyboards on track 22 .

One of punk rock's longest running bands, the Vibrators emerged from the UK punk scene in 1976 and quickly found themselves sharing the stage with such notable acts as the Sex Pistols. Their initial releases were minor hits in England, and the band was able to weather frequent lineup changes, which started with bassist Pat Collier's exit in 1977, until 1980 when the band called it quits after two superb lp's "Pure mania" & "V2" . But, as with most UK punk acts, reformation was in the cards. The original lineup came back together in 1982 and released the LPs "Guilty" and "Alaska 127". This original lineup of Ian Conochan, Pat Collier, John Ellis, and Eddie the Drummer was hit again with more turnover during the 1980s and 1990s. By the time of the band's 20th anniversary, Mikcie Owen (guitar), Mark Duncan (bass), Nigel Bennet (guitar), Darrell Bath (guitar), and Nick Peckham (bass) had all been associated with the Vibrators. In 1999, the more stable three-piece lineup of the band made their way across America . While most of their albums in the 1980s and 1990s were overlooked, the early catalog was enough to keep them fueled for more than 20 years. The last Vibrators albums are : "Buzzin","Energizze" & "Punk : the early years" .

If you are a fan of the early Vibrators or the punk/pup rock connection then this is the CD for you. The first 22 tracks are the infamous '76/'77 Demos. The Chris Spedding/pub rock influnce is apparent in tracks like "We Vibrate", while tunes like "Stich You Up" are performed in classic punk/Vibrators style. My only gripe with this CD is that the vocals are a little low, but the energy and passion is stellar. This CD containes classic songs as well as very rare never heard before song .

Thanks to Manu for music & scans !

THE HUMPERS - High & Mighty Suicide Kings

THE HUMPERS (The Suicide Kings) High & Mighty Suicide Kings 1996 Sonic Records 320 kbps

Take yer medecine / Slut / Switchblade / Cadillac boogie / Faster than the speed of love / Better go now / Digging a ditch / Suicide king / Bad blood / Back sass baby / Bad love / Bummer bitch / You're so inconvenient / Smash & grab / 96 years° / Take yer medecine (alt)°/ Love it° / Dumb & stupid° / Bad boy° / Fist fight° .

Bonus tracks °

The Humpers : Scott "Deluxe" Drake : vocals, guitar / Jeff Fieldhouse : guitars, vocals / Pinky Flamingo : vocals / Bill Warman : bass / Jeff Spring : drums .

Excerpt of a Scott "Deluxe" Drake interview in "Life in a bungalo" :

The liner notes of the Suicide Kings "Teenage Disaster" (Sympathy for the Record Industry) album make you guys seem like seedy characters; any truth to those rumors? Do you still have your old manager’s watch? I’ve never been convicted of anything. Speaking of the Suicide Kings, I bought this CD (maybe mid-1997?) called "The Humpers : High and Mighty Suicide Kings" (on a label I hadn’t heard of before and haven’t since Sonic Records). I’m pretty sure it’s a bootleg, but the sound quality is very good (better the stuff on the SFTRI album). It’s got all the songs off of the Suicide Kings actual LP plus some bonus stuff. The liner notes say it should be considered the first Humpers album. Have you seen this particular release? Who is “Pinky Flamingo?

Scott : - That is a bootleg and should NOT be considered a Humpers’ album, it’s a Suicide Kings album. The two were very different bands. The liner notes on that thing are complete nonsense. Pinky Flamingo was the singer of the Suicide Kings; he hasn’t played in any bands recently.

Thanks to Francisco for music & scans !

THE REDUCERS 2 - Let's go !

THE REDUCERS Let's go 1984 Rave On records 320 kbps

Let's go / Bums (I used to know) /Fashion of the times / Your mother / Hippy hippy shake / Closing time / Maximum depression / Take it away / (That'll be) Just fine / Big man / Rocks .

Produced by Ron Bacchiocchi.

The Reducers : Hugh Birdsall : guitar, vocals / Peter Detmold : guitar, vocals / Steve Kaika : bass vocals / Tom Trombley : drums , vocals .

A longtime fixture in New London, Connecticut, the Reducers (whose existence caused a California punk group to dub itself Reducers SF) soak up influences — Chuck Berry, Anglo-pop, pub rock, glam, punk and more — and reconfigure them into punchy, catchy tunes. On the politely energetic debut, the everyone-sings-everyone-writes quartet offers social critique and consumer culture in the worshipful "Black Plastic Shoes," the bitter "Life in the Neighborhood" and the politically paranoid "Scared of Cops." The title track of the better-produced "Let's Go!" is a great traveling number with a catchy, urgent chorus; the rest of the LP is enthusiastic and lyrically acute. Over a churning R&B vamp on "Bums I Used to Know," the band chides itself for "this honky imitation of the blues." Trouser Press

Artwork by Max !

THE REDUCERS 1 - The Reducers

THE REDUCERS The Reducers 1984 Rave On records 320 kbps

Out of step / Small talk from a big mouth / Life in the neighborhood / Better homes & gardens / Scared of cops / No ambition / Black plastic shoes / Information overload / All about you / So civilized / Company man .

Produced by Ron Bacciocchi .

The Reducers : Hugh Birdsall : guitars , vocals / Tom Tromblev : drums , vocals / Steve Kaika : bass , vocals / Peter Detmold : guitar , vocals .

Roaring their way out of the boring landscape that is New London, CT, the Reducers were one of the great underrated bands of the '80s. The band recorded, in just under two years, three albums of punk- and pub rock-inspired rowdy rock & roll, chock-full of wiseass ruminations on life and love. The Reducers were post-punks with a formalist approach to rock & roll: two guitars, bass, and drums that echoed mid-'60s British Invasion and American garage rock. What made them different from the average retro-rock bar band was being hip, funny, and smarter-than-most; plus having two ace songwriters in Hugh Birdsall and Peter Detmold, who wrote wry and comically desperate songs like "Let's Go" ("Let's go to London/where all the music's good/Let's go to Paris/they've got a lot of nice food"), "Rocks" (as in "New London hardly ever"), and the brilliant "Maximum Depression." Ultimately, what may have sunk the Reducers, or at the very least limited the breadth of their audience, was their almost willful lack of pretension. There were absolutely no gimmicks, false pretenses towards stardom, or slick attitude; they were the real deal, working-class guys who played rock & roll because it meant the hope of a better life and (maybe) a ticket out of New London. This fire and determination, while not making them stars, made even their weakest songs still sound like they meant it. The title of their third album, "Cruise to Nowhere", was unintentionally prophetic, as the band slipped into a crack in the earth by the end of 1986. A CD compilation of their "greatest hits" was released in the early '90s, but all three Reducers albums belong in the home of any self-respecting rock fan who shares an affinity for Dr. Feelgood, the Sex Pistols, and ? and the Mysterians, and lives in a place like New London. ~ John Dougan in "All Music"

This one is the first Reducers lp but you can buy their new one "Guitar, bass & drums" here :

http://www.rave-on-records.com/

Thanks to Fabien for scans & music !

Artwork by Max !

BUBBLE Rock 'n' Roll Hell

BUBBLE Rock 'n' Roll Hell 2004 Basementboy records 320 kbps

Big top / Deadender / Kiss or kill /Break me / Lovestains / Down n out in Hollywood / Headcase / Mistake / I hurt myself / I'm alright Jack / Outro .

Produced by The Glammer Twins .

BUBBLE : Share : lead vox , guitar / Bam : drums , vox / Brian : bass , vox .

Bubble exploded on the Hollywood scene in '97 when leaders, Bam (drums) and Share (guitars, vocals) started out with guts and a vision as just a two piece band of drums and guitar! The idea? To have a blast on stage, lose the pretence and get their rocks off musically! It must've worked because they were offered the band residency on "glitter/punk night" at Hollywood's Goldfinger's. Combining disgustingly hooky melodies, raspy vocals, loud guitars and punk attitudes, Bubble went from being an exciting unpredictable group to becoming brash, alterna/pop/punk leaders at the forefront of the new "glitter" scene. Their totally DIY self-produced 15 song album "how 'bout this?" is a shining example of great songs, spectacular hooks and is definitely a "classic-to-be". With the right Bubble blaster Brian Wong (bass), this band is charged with electricity and excitement!

Bubble has already done a very successful tour of Japan (April 2000) and returned there in December 2000 after hitting the UK with their high energy brand of rock n roll/pop/punk/sleaze. This group has no shortage of credits, but that ain't what they're about! Delivering an unforgettable live set, this band is ready for world takeover. This group has no shortage of credits, but that ain't what they're about! Delivering an unforgettable live set, this band is ready for world takeover.

Bubble's "SparkleStar" will be in the upcoming movie - "Dancing At the Blue Iguana" starring Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Tilly. Bam used to bash skins for The Wildhearts - Five Miles High

AIR MAIL RECORDINGS

BASH & POP Friday Night Is Killing Me

BASH & POP Friday Night Is Killing Me 1993 Sire 320 kbps

Never aim to please / Hang Ups / Loose ends / One more time / Tickled to tears / Nothing / Fast & hard / Friday night ( is killing me) / He means it / 10 tiny pieces / First steps .

Produced by Don Smith .

Bash & Pop : Tommy Stinson : vocals , guitar / Steve Foley : drums / Kevin Foley : bass , background vocals / Steve Brantseg : guitar / Don Smith : knobs and bulbs .

Tommy Stinson's first attempt at a post-Replacements band of his own, the short-lived Bash & Pop, never quite lived up to their promise. Formed by Stinson (who switched from bass to guitar and took over lead vocal and songwriting duties) and drummer Steve Foley, who had briefly replaced Chris Mars in the waning days of the Replacements, the group added Foley's bassist brother Kevin Foley and guitarist Steve Brantseg and recorded 1993's "Friday Night Is Killing Me" with Minneapolis producer Don Smith. By all accounts, the group never jelled into a cohesive unit and rumor has it that Stinson recorded most of the album playing most of the instruments by himself with various guest musicians, including half of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and Wire Train's Jeff Trott. Indeed, by the time the album was finally released, Stinson had already fired both Brantseg and Kevin Foley. The band limped through an aborted tour and unceremoniously broke up after the album sold little and garnered mixed reviews. Tommy Stinson went on to form the equally short-lived Perfect and then joined Guns N' Roses at some point in their "yes, we're really working on another album, honest" phase in the late '90s. Steve Foley formed the group Wheelo.