The Soviet & USA nuclear arms escalation, conflict in the Middle East, the IRA bombing Britain, war in the Falklands, Dundee FC being relegated - yes there definitely was a lot of end of the world gloom & doom around at the start of the 80's!
Here's local band, Atomic Grape, singing about those troubled times and warning us that we're all gonna DIE!!!!
Ah well, at least some of us managed to survive to tell the tale - but hang on, there seems to be one obvious casualty - Atomic Grape themselves - what happened to them?
Whatever it was, this bunch managed to evade my music radar back then and so now I don't know anything about them.
The singer sounds very young, so much so that I guess they might be a school band, but the competent guitar playing may ruin my theory!
Anyway, the track called "Armageddon" is from around 1982 and is a melodic rock guitar tune, kind of in the Grateful Dead/Wishbone Ash territory.
If you have any details to pass on about the band, feel free to drop them into the comments so as those of us who made it and are grateful to still be alive, can read your reports.
I think the band was formed by some 4th years from the Johnies (St Johns)
ReplyDeleteDean lyon on guitar?Definately a St John`s school band.
ReplyDeleteWhat, Dean Lyon, formerly of Crawler, now regularly rockin' the 'Dee with Heathen?
ReplyDeletePleased to find out my hunch about the lads being a school band was accurate, and the biblical sounding lyrics would fit the St Johns curriculum too!
ReplyDeletePretty nifty guitar work for such young chaps!
it was a long time ago but i am sure it was Grant Mc somthing singing and John Henderson on Bass
ReplyDeleteWas Kev Skelly not in them at some point?
ReplyDeleteYeah same Deano,Crawler and Heathen
ReplyDeleteronnie chalmers from the grip was in crawler and heathen with dean lyon as well.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Poker Alice , we Doogiee McGurty, they were fab,
ReplyDeleteI think this demo was recorded in 1980 by 5 guys from the Johnnies and if my memory serves me correctly, the line up at this time was Drew McLean on vocals,Dean Lyon on lead guitar,Grant Laing on Rhythm guitar,John Henderson on bass and Malcolm Campbell on drums. Kev Skelly joined the band on bass about a year later. The band lasted about 2 years in total and Dean and Kev are still playing in bands around Dundee, but don't know the whereabouts of the rest of the band.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Kev Skelly at Timex when he was in Atomic Grape. He seemed to be embarrassed about the name of the band, and rightly so.
ReplyDeleteHi I'm Malcolm and I was the drummer. The name wasn't that bad - I chose it! It was a take on the electric prunes. I gaveup the drums quite a few years ago now but my son is learning. I live in Southampton now and have been on the south coast for 16 years. Last spoke to Drew McLean about 18 months ago. Would love to hear what the rest of the guys are up to now.
ReplyDeleteWas it not a take on Atomic Rooster and Moby Grape Malky ???? i think that would make more sense, unless yir haverin' p*sh, and if you read the comments you might find folk have said what some of them are still doing. BTW - who the f**k were the Electric Prunes?????
ReplyDeleteDont nornmally respond to arsey comments but will break a rule this time! The Electric Prunes were an American 60's band - Atomic = Electric and Grape = Prunes! I read what Kev and Dean were doing re: still gigging. I did actually mean jobs, family etc. Anyway, I wasn't talking pish! A mate told me about the track being posted on this site and it's just taken me back many years. I emailed Drew McLean tonight and heard back from him. Would be good to hear how Kev, Dean and Grant are doing.
ReplyDeleteHi, actually i think it is a pretty good name if im honest :)not the best but still good and father something or something how is it aload of pish and we should all be getting on much love drummer's son :)
ReplyDeletegreat seeing my grandpas old band from when he was young, john on the bass
ReplyDeleteDon't know if anyone still reads this but my Dad is the singer and songwriter (Drew McLean)!! I'm actually now studying music in London and have my own album coming out next year. I kept with the fruit theme, my album is named after Glace Cherries :)
ReplyDeletePeople will read this forever.
Delete