Formed by vocalist Russell Street [Russell Diggins] in 1978 with Craig Russell (bass), Trevor Perrin (guitar) and Craig Presnell (drums). They were dubbed Z-Cars after the English television drama of the same name, by Rob Griffiths (The Fiction, Little Murders). The band played a mixture of original material ''Barbie Doll'', ''Jump In Line'', 'Bernhardts'', ''People Look At Me'', ''Seventies Survivor' and covers by bands such as The Saints.
Z-Cars played regularly on the same bill with the other 'Z' band Zorros and played 54 gigs, mainly at the Exford Hotel, 475 Club, Seaview Ballroom, the Champion Hotel, Hearts, Martinis, and the Duke of York Hotel. The band released one single in 1980 through Au Go Go Records called 'This is Z-Cars' which consisted of the tracks ''Is There Someone Out There?' / Girls Just Aren't Girls'' which was produced by Dave Douglas and Simon Smith. Reviews of the band were almost unanimously bad, a situation the Z-Cars reveled in: "Possibly the worst guitar sound ever put on record“ - (Juke magazine review of single).
After Craig Russell left to join the Zorros in 1980, Mick Mordaunt was recruited to play bass and Simon Smith (ex-Virgins) took over on the drums. Steve Fusezi (ex-Virgins) and Cal McAlpine (ex-Chosen Few) also had brief stints in the Z-Cars as did Mark Ivey (ex-Virgins) who briefly played drums with the band, and along with several members of Z-Cars as well as Virgins Manager Geoff Martyr, ended up being in a bad car accident in 1980. Z-Cars broke up in 1981 with Russell Street, Mick Mordaunt and Trevor Perrin all going on to play in Odious Comparison. Forty years later in 2020, the first-ever reissue of their classic single was released on Canadian label Mean Bean in a limited edition of 400 copies.
After Craig Russell left to join the Zorros in 1980, Mick Mordaunt was recruited to play bass and Simon Smith (ex-Virgins) took over on the drums. Steve Fusezi (ex-Virgins) and Cal McAlpine (ex-Chosen Few) also had brief stints in the Z-Cars as did Mark Ivey (ex-Virgins) who briefly played drums with the band, and along with several members of Z-Cars as well as Virgins Manager Geoff Martyr, ended up being in a bad car accident in 1980. Z-Cars broke up in 1981 with Russell Street, Mick Mordaunt and Trevor Perrin all going on to play in Odious Comparison. Forty years later in 2020, the first-ever reissue of their classic single was released on Canadian label Mean Bean in a limited edition of 400 copies.
Members
Russell Street [Russell Diggins] (vocals), Trevor Perrin (guitar), Craig Russell (bass), Craig Pressnell (drums),Simon Smith (drums), Mick Mordaunt (bass), Steve Fusezi (bass), Cal McAlpine (drums), Mark Ivey (drums).
Russell Street [Russell Diggins] (vocals), Trevor Perrin (guitar), Craig Russell (bass), Craig Pressnell (drums),Simon Smith (drums), Mick Mordaunt (bass), Steve Fusezi (bass), Cal McAlpine (drums), Mark Ivey (drums).
''Is There Someone Out There? / Girls Aren't Just Girls'' 1980 Au-go-go
References
http://www.punkjourney.com/z-cars.php
http://www.punkjourney.com/z-cars.php
No comments:
Post a Comment