Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 179 - The Motors

1 - The Motors

Virgin

Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Released October 1977

UK Chart #46

The Motors were a band formed in London in 1977 by former Ducks Deluxe members Nick Garvey and Andy McMaster together with guitarist Rob Hendry (who was replaced in May 1977 by Bram Tchaikovsky) and drummer Ricky Slaughter (cousin of Knox from The Vibrators). Their biggest success was with the McMaster penned song Airport, a #4 UK hit single in 1978. Forget About You had reached #13 whilst their debut single Dancing the Night Away (which I think was their best) only got to #42.

Prior to the formation of The Motors Nick Garvey had been in a band called The Snakes with Robert Gotobed who would go on to form Wire after the band broke up after releasing one single.

Obviously due to the connections that Garvey and McMaster had from their days in Ducks Deluxe they were able to go from writing and recording demos in January 1977 to playing their debut show in March 1977 at The Marquee and followed that a few days later with their debut John Peel Session. By May 1977 they had signed with Virgin Records.

Between 1977 -1980 they released three albums (though the third album, Tenement Steps, was really just Garvey and McMaster backed by various session musicians). Bram Tchaikovsky left the band in 1978 following their show at Reading Festival and went solo.

The Third album did not chart in the UK but in the US crept into the lower reaches of the Billboard Chart (#174). After a series of singles from the album all failed to chart The Motors finally disbanded in 1982.

 Approved By The Motors - The Motors
Virgin
Produced by Andy McMaster, Nick Garvey, Peter Ker
Released May 1978
UK Chart #60

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!