Beginning of the End?

I am probably not the only Blogger who has noticed a downturn in traffic to their Blog ever since Google announced the coming end of their service Google+. 

I got a lot of people discovering the Blog via that service and now with that being discontinued it looks like the only means of promoting the blog is on Facebook via my own profile page and various groups that I belong to on it and I have noticed that even via that platform the numbers are down.

I had never been really interested in the numbers, as when I started this blog it was mainly for me but then there was what seemed like an explosion of interest from across the globe and it held out an opportunity of being able to share some of the music that I have been very passionate about down throught the years.

Choosing the title of the Blog as Soundtrack4Life was a big thing as I felt the things that I wanted to share would be those records, artists and bands who have made a distinct impression on my own life.

So it's a bit sad after all these years to be contemplating winding it all up and stopping posting anything new. I won't actually delete the blog as someone out there searching around the World Wide Web might stumble upon it and find something that will delight their heart.

In the next couple of weeks or so you will probably see the last bunch of posts from me. I will no doubt post each one with a very heavy heart because this blog has been something that has been a real labour of love over the years but the fact that it is getting read by fewer people on a daily, weekly and monthly basis seems to me to be a reason to say a final farewell.

I'll finish up this first one with a cracker of a song from a band who are also saying goodbye this year, they are currently on tour with Stiff Little Fingers and getting a great send off around the country. Here's Eddie and The Hot Rods peforming on The Old Grey Whistle Test back in 1978 a storming version of the final track on their 1977 album 'Life On The Line'...It's 'Beginning of the End'.

40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: Eddie and The Hot Rods Debut Peel Session

 

On this day in 1977 John Peel Broadcast the Debut Session of Eddie and THe Hot Rods.

 

They would actually record another session in 1977 that spotlighted a couple of songs from their Life On The Line Album and would feature Graeme Douglas on Guitar who had joined after being in The Kursaal Flyers.

 

 

 

 Recorded 15th February 1977
Broadcast 21st February 1977

 

Tracks
Teenage Depression
Keep On Keeping On
On The Run
Why Can't It Be

 

Production and Studio Engineering: Jeff Griffin and Mike Robinson

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 333 - Eddie And The Hot Rods

The Best of Eddie And The Hot Rods The End of the Beginning - Eddie And The Hot Rods

Island Records

Released 1993

Singles and EPs featured on The End of the Beginning

Live At The Marquee EP

Released July 1976

UK Chart #43

Tracklist

A-Side: 96 Tears / Get Out Of Denver*

B-Side: Gloria* / (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction*

Teenage Depression* / Shake

Released October 1976

UK Chart #35

At The Sound Of Speed EP
12" Version
Released June 1977
Tracklist 
A-Side: Hard Drivin' Man */ Horseplay / Double Checkin' Woman / All I Need Is Money
B-Side: On The Run*

Do Anything You Wanna Do* / Schoolgirl Love*
Credited as Rods
Released July 1977
UK Chart #9

 
Til The Night Is Gone (Let's Rock)* / Flipside Rock
Robin Tyner & The Hot Rods
Released November 1977
Did Not Chart

Quit This Town* / Distortion May Be Expected (Laughbagindub)
Released December 1977
UK Chart #36

Life On The Line* / Do Anything You Wanna Do (Live)
Released March 1978
Did Not Chart

The Power and The Glory* / Highlands One Hopefuls Two
Released March 1979
Did Not Chart

*All tracks on the album

********************

There are a few Compilations of Eddie And The Hot Rods that have come out over the years: Do Anything You Wanna Do...18 Hot Rods Rockers (Anagram 1996), Do Anything You Wanna Do (Spectrum 2000) and The Singles Collection (Captain Oi! 2009) but the one I go back to is the first major Best Of released by Island Records in 1993.

They pretty much got the balance of material right for this one spotlighting some of the Hit Singles, tracks from the live EPs recorded at The Marquee and The Rainbow, B-Sides and a few album tracks thrown in for good measure.

 (I Might Be Lying Picture Cover. The single was released in April 1977 and reached #44 in the UK Chart)

My one and only grumble with tracks that were left off the album was with regard to I Might Be Lying. Though only a minor hit (#44), it is I think one of the great Hot Rods songs. The B-Side Ignore Them (Always Crashing In the Same Bar) - again another classic flip side - was not quite missing as they used the album version from Life On The Line entitled Ignore Them (Still Life).

Though never really regarded as a Punk/New Wave band by many I've always felt that Eddie And The Hot Rods are part of its history and are (along with Dr. Feelgood) one of the cogs in the development of the whole scene. Many would disagree with that and say that they were "just a Pub Rock Band" - but think about it for a moment, there's not many bands that can say that they didn't begin their musical careers playing in Pubs and Working Mens Clubs! Plus, many of the early Punk bands owe a great debt to the many Pubs that opened their doors as music venues across the country and gave them opportunities to play live.

For me Eddie And The Hot Rods were the stepping stone into Punk. I have said that often to people and I'm not going to change my mind on it either.

This year is the 40th Anniversary of the release of their Debut Album Teenage Depression (released 22nd November 1976. #43 UK Chart) and that means that I have been listening to them for 40 years as well. They are, and will always be considered as one of my favourite bands and the above compilation offers a brilliant account as to the reasons why.

 

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

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 279 - Eddie and the Hot Rods

 Thriller - Eddie and the Hot Rods

Island

Produced by Peter Ker

Released March 1979

UK Chart #50

 

Thriller 

2002 CD Reissue (with Bonus Tracks)

Personnel
Barrie Masters - vocals
Graeme Douglas - guitar, backing vocals
Dave Higgs - guitar, backing vocals
Paul Gray - bass guitar, backing vocals
Steve Nicol - drums, backing vocals

Additional Musicians
Jools Holland - keyboards
Lee Brilleaux - Harmonica

Linda McCartney - Backing Vocals

Singles on Thriller

(Neither Charted)

Media Messiahs / Horror Through Straightness

The Power and The Glory / Highlands One Hopefuls Two

John Peel Session

Broadcast 5th March 1979

Strangers on the Payphone

The Power and The Glory

Breathless

Living Dangerously

********************

For an album that was largely ignored by the music press (and even to a degree by the buying public) the third Studio Album by Eddie and the Hot Rods is pretty much like an undiscovered gem. It didn't possess hit singles (like Life on the Line) as both 45's released failed to reach the charts yet there is some cracking tunes on it. The Power and The Glory written by Graeme Douglas is stand out as is Circles (Dave Higgs), Take It or Leave It (Graeme Douglas and Barrie Masters) and Living Dangerously (Dave Higgs).

The big shame of course was not long after the release of the album that the band were sacked from the label and forced to join EMI who didn't exactly stick their necks out for them once they had recorded a new album (their only one for the label. It was also to be their last album for 15 years!) in 1981 (Fish 'n' Chips).

Eddie and the Hot Rods are a band that when I think about my love for music play a vital part in my journey of discovery. Growing up I listened to all sorts of music and loved a lot of it but it wasn't until I first heard Teenage Depression that I felt here was a band who were writing something that actually made sense to me, a 13 year old kid!

Around that time was the rise of the Sex Pistols and for a lot of people I knew it was Rotten and Co. who turned their world upside down. Whilst I liked them it was the Canvey Island boys led by Barrie Masters that had my deeper affection.

This view was further solidified with the release of Do Anything You Wanna Do (penned by Graeme Douglas and Ed Hollis), Quit This Town (another Douglas/Hollis tune) and the album Life on the Line.

If this post today is really about anything it's really just to say a big thank you to Barrie Masters, Dave Higgs (RIP), Graeme Douglas, Paul Gray and Steve Nicol for providing some much needed assistance in getting through a tough teenage life!

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

Happy Birthday To...

Wish to extend some birthday love to two of my favourite rock stars.

Click on the various links for more information.

First up Segs Jennings of Ruts/Ruts DC. He's a sprightly 60 years old today! Besides making a new album with Ruts DC and a new single due for release 20th May 2016 (Psychic Attack), he is also going out on the road soon with Dave Ruffy (the wonderful stickman for Ruts DC), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) under the banner of Dead Men Walking. You can find out more about the tour here.

And second up is Barrie Masters, front man for Eddie & the Hot Rods. Trying to discover exactly how old Barrie is demands a skill set that is above my pay grade! Whatever, he is still rocking away and doing what he's loved doing since the early 1970s. Eddie & the Hot Rods have recently completed a UK Tour and just a few days ago completed a European jaunt playing before enthusiastic crowds wherever they go. To keep up to date with all things in Hot Rods world go to their FB Page.

 The Ruts (with Henry Rollins)

London 16th July 2007

Eddie & the Hot Rods

Live at The Astoria, London 2005

The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series: Eddie & the Hot Rods (1977)

 I stumbled on this earlier today and thought straightaway that this has to be part of The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series. I know they were featured back in January but I could pass by this without posting it.

Eddie and the Hot Rods playing to a packed Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London.

This is so brilliant I think.

They released it a couple of years back as a CD/DVD package.

-

The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series: Eddie & The Hot Rods

A bit of a Rock 'n' Roll Canvey Island style on this edition of the Concert Series. Three shows from Eddie & The Hot Rods. 

The second one is a real special as it features original members Paul Gray - bass, Steve Nicol - drums and also Graeme Douglas on guitar. Whilst not professionally shot and the sound not being perfect I think it really captured what looked like an amazing night in honour of recently departed Dave Higgs (his death was announced by the band on 21st December 2013).

Hope that you enjoy these shows.

Eddie & The Hot Rods

Live at The Astoria 2005

Eddie & The Hot Rods

Dave Higgs Memorial

27th February 2014

 "Well what a night that was, The Oysterfleet on Canvey Island rocked big time. All in memory of Dave Higgs RIP and raising money for McMillan nurses. The 45's opened proceedings and what a great start, they were fantastic. The present line up did what they had to do and hit people with some Rods classics and their own tunes, the original line up then turned in a brilliant performance that really turned back the clock, finaly all band members onstage for Gloria and Get out of Denver, it was a fantastic night, thanks to everybody for turning out." - Eddie and the Hot Rods FB Page

Eddie & The Hot Rods

Thee Parkside, San Francisco

11th October 2014

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 3

This year there's going to be a lot of talk about Punk Rock here in the UK as it's the 40th Anniversary. The latest Mojo magazine has a big feature on it with articles on The Damned, The Pistols, Buzzcocks, Sniffin' Glue Fanzine, Ramones first visit to the UK, The Roxy, the making of Anarchy in the UK, and The Mont De Marsan Punk Festival in France.

It's a bit funny I think to be spotlighting 1976, yes many of the bands formed (though some had actually been together as early as 1974!) but there were only two records released by UK Punk Bands (New Rose - The Damned and Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols). In my mind 1977 is actually the more vital year and I'm sure that next year there will be many more exciting anniversaries to celebrate.

As a teenager back then I remember the outrage that a band like the Pistols created, especially after their appearance on the Today Show and their infamous interview with Bill Grundy. As a result they got thrown off their label and were being banned everywhere. We began to read about them in the music press early in 1976 but it wouldn't be until much later in the year when we actually heard them on record for the first time.

One of the records that was precious to me at the time was the debut album, Teenage Depression by Eddie and the Hot Rods. They weren't really a punk band but somehow got thrown in with the whole Punk/New Wave scene especially after their 1977 hit Do Anything You Wanna Do (which was really talking about exactly the same things that Anarchy in the UK and it's B-Side I Wanna Be Me was).

This November is the 40th Anniversary of it's release.

The band had formed in 1975 and by October the same year they had been building a solid live reputation. After a joint residency with The 101er's (featuring a soon to be member of The Clash - Joe Strummer) they signed to Island Records. In the first week of February 1976 the Canvey Island band released their debut single 'Writing on the Wall'. There's a great clip of them on French TV performing the song.

By late summer they would have another single (a cover of Wooly Bully) and the most magnificent Live at The Marquee EP released. These three records would set the stage for the release in October of a single Teenage Depression and then the Debut Album in November. They also appeared at the 1st European Punk Festival in France that I mentioned above. Also on the bill were Pink Faries, Tyla Gang, Roogalator, Mirrors (featuring Richard Hell and Nick Lowe!) and Little Bob Story. Funny that none of those artists (with the exception of maybe Richard Hell)  would have been considered to be Punk! The 1977 Festival would have more Punk bands with the likes of The Clash, The Damned, and The Boys playing alongside others like The Jam, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Rich Kids, Little Bob Story, The Police, Tyla Gang and Dr Feelgood.

1976 was the start for many, a year of opportunity and a few of the bands that formed that year were Buzzcocks, The Adverts, Alternative TV, The Boys, Chelsea, The Damned, The Clash, Eater, Generation X, Penetration, The Rezillos, X-Ray Spex, The Slits, Subway Sect and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I wonder how many of them would think that by the following year they would be written about, have their music played on the radio and for some of them begin building a career that even forty years later is still on the go!

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

45RPM: #57 Teenage Depression - Eddie and the Hot Rods (1976)

After the first two singles flopped (Writing on the Wall and Wooly Bully) Eddie and the Hot Rods released their first classic record, the Live at The Marquee EP (UK Chart #43, they even got on Top of the Pops performing Get Out of Denver!) and followed it up with the single Teenage Depression (also the title to their debut album also on Island Records).

Eddie and the Hot Rods were not really a Punk/New Wave band but they did find their music resonated with many of the Young Punks. A year on from this Paul Weller would write that immortal line "You can't dismiss what is gone before/ But there's foundations for us to explore" and in many ways that kind of summed up what Eddie and the Hot Rods were all about. They wore their influences on their sleeves and blasted out their tunes from the stage showing that the music from previous times still mattered (songs by The Who, Sam Cooke, Joe Tex, Them, Bob Seger and many others were part and parcel of their live performances) and of course they were also a band that were pretty much about the present. Teenage Depression dealt with the issue of Teenage Angst, about how kids were bossed around by authorities (whether that be Parents, the Law, School Teachers, Employers and even the Politicians) and were seeking solace elsewhere in the seedy world of alcohol or drugs. The isolation, the preventing of a person being who they really are, all of this and more burst out of the song and in the space of  2mins 59secs our young lives were laid bare (Eddie and the Hot Rods would continue with such themes in future singles like Do Anything You Wanna Do and Quit This Town).

It's quite staggering to think that this Single is 39 years old today. Takes me right back to when I was 13 year old kid hearing it for the first time!

Teenage Depression / Shake

Island

Produced by Ed Hollis

Released 28th October 1976

UK Chart #35

A-Side: Teenage Depression

B-Side: Shake

Teenage Depression

40th Anniversary Show

18th June 2015

The August Album Challenge: 15. - Wildcard

A Wildcard Choice Today. Oh my that leaves me wondering "Shall I add this one? No, not that one, this one will do!...Oh so many to choose from!"

So, with album titles thrown into the proverbial hat and drawn randomly, today's choice goes way back some 38 years to 1977 and a brilliant band from Canvey Island!

 Life on the Line - Eddie and the Hot Rods

Island Records

Produced by Ed Hollis

Released 4th November 1977
UK Chart #27

A year after their groundbreaking Debut Album Teenage Depression, Eddie and the Hot Rods had expanded to a Five Piece with the addition of former guitarist of the Kursaal Flyers Graeme Douglas.They had been excellent with just Dave Higgs on guitar and now with the inclusion of Graeme they really stepped it up a notch and whilst moving away a bit from the rhythm and blues that they had been playing since their start in 1975 they continued to create their own sound.

Prior to the release of the album they had enjoyed their very first (and only) Top Ten hit when Do Anything You Wanna Do became a late Summer Smash as it peaked at #9. Whilst they were not really a Punk band they certainly gripped the mind of this young punk, and songs like Do Anything, Quit this Town, Ignore Them, Life on the Line and The Beginning of the End became part of my teenage soundtrack.

Life on the Line album deserved to go higher than #27 I think. Ever since its release it has been an album that is never too far out of reach for me. If you asked me how many times I've played it in 38 years I would honestly have to say that is easily more than 500 times!

Sadly Dave Higgs is no longer with us having passed away in December 2013. A couple of months ago Eddie and the Hot Rods gathered together the remains of the 1977 line up to perform a few shows and below I've included some footage from their set on the 19th June in London. I've also added some links for various TV performances between 1977-78 of the band. I do hope you take the time to enjoy all the music on today's post. 

Personnel
    Barrie Masters - Vocals
    Graeme Douglas - Guitar, Backing Vocals
    Dave Higgs - Guitar, backing vocals
    Paul Gray - Bass, Backing Vocals
    Steve Nicol - Drums, Backing Vocals

Original Tracklist

Side A

1. Do Anything You Wanna Do
2. Quit This Town
3. Telephone Girl
4. What's Really Going On
5. Ignore Them (Still Life)

Side B
1. Life On The Line
2. (And) Don't Believe Your Eyes
3. We Sing ... The Cross
4. Beginning Of the End
 

Singles on Life on the Line

Do Anything You Wanna Do / Schoolgirl Love

Released as The Rods

UK Chart #9

Quit This Town / Distortion May Be Expected

UK Chart #36

Life on the Line / Do Anything You Wanna Do (live) / (I Don't Know) What's Really Going On (live) / Why Can't It Be (live).

UK Did Not Chart

Eddie and the Hot Rods on TV

1977-78

I Might Be Lying (Top of the Pops)

Do Anything You Wanna Do (Marc Show)

Do Anything You Wanna Do (Top of the Pops)

Do Anything You Wanna Do (Disco - I think this might be a Dutch show, not totally sure)

Quit This Town (Top of the Pops)

The Beginning of the End (Old Grey Whistle Test)

John Peel Session 1977.

Live At The Rainbow 1977 (DVD Trailer)

1977 Line-Up Shows

18th June 2015

The Square Harlow

Teenage Depression.

Do Anything You Wanna Do.
 The Beginning of the End.

19th June 2015
229,London
Setlist

Get Across To You
Teenage Depression
Telephone Girl
 Quit This Town.
Wooly Bully
Writing on the Wall
 I Might Be Lying.
Horseplay.
 Life on the Line.

Why Can't It Be?
The Kids Are Alright.
You Better Run
 All I Need is Money.
96 Tears
 Ignore Them.
Circles
 The Power and the Glory.
Hard Driving Man.
 Do Anything You Wanna Do.

The Beginning of the End .
Get Out of Denver
Gloria

S4L Presents: The Best Debut Albums #12 - Eddie and the Hot Rods

In the long history of my love for music one band that's clearly not mentioned enough is Eddie and the Hot Rods. Hailing from Canvey Island (home also to another great band I love, Doctor Feelgood) they formed in 1975 and after building a solid live reputation they got a record deal in November 1975 with Island Records. They had been playing a joint residency at The Nashville with The 101ers (featuring a man who was soon to be the frontman of The Clash - Joe Strummer). The reports in the press had been overwhelmingly positive and this was what lead to their signing.

The first two singles ('Writing on the Wall' and 'Wolly Bully') failed to make a dent in the chart but their third release, an EP, 'Live at the Marquee' squeezed in getting to #43 (it did get them a spot on Top of the Pops performing 'Get Out of Denver') and the title track of their Debut Album  'Teenage Depression' was released as a single and broke the Top 40 (peaking at #35).

The album itself was pretty much like a typical live set of Eddie and the Hot Rods, lively rock 'n' roll and R 'n' B played at break-neck speed. Eleven tracks in a little under 32 minutes! Containing three cover versions and some fantastic tunes penned by Dave Higgs (RIP).

Whilst they were never a punk band they are a vital band in the chain that led to the explosion of Punk inbetween 1976-77 and their Debut Album I think fits perfectly alongside releases from the likes of The Damned, The Clash etc.

Listening to this as a 13 year old kid I thought for the first time that this was a band singing about my life! I know bizzare and all that! Whilst I didn't grasp a lot of what they were saying, I had never met a 'Double Checkin' Woman', there was enough in the title track alone to convince me that they were a band worth pursuing.

Thirty nine years on from it's release it's still an album I return to every once in a while. Barry Masters is still out there fronting the band as well, the players might have changed but the music is still as vital and frenetic as it was back then!

Teenage Depression

Released 1976

Island Records

UK Chart #43

All Songs by Dave Higgs unless otherwise noted 

Tracklist
    "Get Across To You" - 2:48
    "Why Can't It Be?" - 2:33
    "Show Me" (Joe Tex) - 2:03
    "All I Need Is Money" - 2:21
    "Double Checkin' Woman" - 2:29
    "The Kids Are Alright" (Pete Townshend) - 2:40
    "Teenage Depression" - 2:59
    "Horseplay (Wearier Of The Schmaltz)" - 2:22
    "Been So Long" - 3:22
    "Shake" (Sam Cooke) - 1:30
    "On The Run" - 6:26

Live in San Francisco 11th October 2014.

Alphabet Beats #031: E is for...Eddie and The Hot Rods

E is for...

Eddie and The Hot Rods

This year sees the 40th Anniversary of one of the finest bands to stem from Canvey Island - Eddie and The Hot Rods (Dr Feelgood are of course the other one).

Loads of Links so click to enjoy

Wikipedia Bio.

Official Facebook.

Official Website and Store.

Albums and Compilations

Teenage Depression (1976), Island – UK No. 43 

Life on the Line (1977), Island – UK No. 27 

Thriller (1979), Island – UK No. 50 

Fish 'N' Chips (1981), EMI

Curse of The Hot Rods (1992), Street Link.

The End of The Beginning (1994), Island.

Gasoline Days (1996), Creative Man.

Get Your Rocks Off (1992), Jungle.

Doing Anything They Wanna Do (1996), Anagram.

Better Late than Never (2005), Voiceprint 

Been There, Done That... (2006), Voiceprint

Do Anything You Wanna Do: The Best Of (2012), Spectrum Music. 

2 Sides (2014).

The Singles/EP's

Writing on the Wall / Crusin' (in the Lincoln), 1975.

Wooly Bully /  Horseplay (Weary of the Schmatlz), 1976.

Teenage Depression / Shake, 1976.

Live At The Marquee EP, 1976.

I Might Be Lying / Ignore Them, 1977.

Do Anything You Wanna Do / Schoolgirl Love, 1977.

'Til The Night is Gone / Flipside Rock, 1977 with Rob Tyner.

At The Speed of Sound EP, 1977 
Hard Drivin' Man / Horseplay / Double Checkin' Woman / All I Need is Money / On The Run (on 12-inch version only).
 
Quit This Town / Distortion May Be Expected, 1978.

Life On The Line / Do Anything You Wanna Do (live) / (I Don't Know) What's Really Going On (live) / Why Can't It Be (live), 1978.

Media Messiahs / Horror Through the Straightness, 1978.

Power and the Glory / Highlands One, Hopefuls Two, 1979.

At Night / You Better Run / Looking Around, 1980.

Wide Eyed Kids / Leave Us Alone, 1980.

Farther on Down the Road (You Will Accompany Me) / Fish 'n' Chips, 1981.

Fought For You / Hey Tonight, 1985.

Coming Soon

See Facebook Page For More Details

Live in San Francisco 2014

Eddie and The Hot Rods - Dave Higgs Celebration 27th Feb 2014

I had previously posted about the annoucement of the passing of Mr Dave Higgs (founding member of Eddie and the Hot Rods), and just wanted to add this little update.

Eddie and the Hot Rods posted this on their fb page today:

"Well what a night that was, The Oysterfleet on Canvey Island rocked big time. All in memory of Dave Higgs RIP and raising money for McMillan nurses. The 45's opened proceedings and what a great start, they were fantastic. The present line up did what they had to do and hit people with some Rods classics and their own tunes, the original line up then turned in a brilliant performance that really turned back the clock, finaly all band members onstage for Gloria and Get out of Denver, it was a fantastic night, thanks to everybody for turning out."

There's a few videos about, not necessarily great quality but I thought I'd stick the links up for them here.

 Do Anything You Wanna Do (Original Line Up).

Highlights Pt1.

Highlights Pt2: Life on the Line/Do Anything You Wanna Do.

Highlights Pt3: 96 Tears/Beginning of the End (snippet) + others.

Highlights Pt4: Beginning of the End/Gloria.

 

Get out of Denver.

 

Dave Higgs R.I.P.

Eddie and The Hot Rods posted this message on their Facebook earlier today:

"Sad news today folks,original guitarist and founder member Dave Higgs sadly passed away this morning after losing his fight with cancer, Dave was a huge influence on many people and regarded as one of the finest rythm players around. RIP"

Dave Higgs was a founding member of one of the really brilliant groups from Southend. Dr Feelgood of course were the known band from that area, but even they have a connection to Eddie and the Hot Rods (besides coming from the same neck of the woods) - Lee Brilleaux was once in a band with Dave Higgs called The Fix.

In 1975 Higgs joined together with Vocalist Barrie Masters, Bassist Rob Steel and Drummer Steve Nicol to form Eddie and the Hot Rods. Building a solid live reputation they were signed by Island Records in November that year. The first two singles ('Writing on the Wall' and 'Wolly Bully') failed to chart and it was not long before they began to see some small success coming their way.

Their third release was the magnificent 'Live at The Marquee EP'. It would reach #43 in the charts and even got them a Top of The Pops performing 'Get Out of Denver'.

Listen to the EP Here.

The debut album hit the charts but stalled at #43 whilst the title track was released as a single and would break into the top forty peaking at #34.

In 1977 they added former Kursaal Flyer Graeme Douglas on guitar and they somehow got caught up in the whole Punk/New Wave scene and released a few really classic (in my honest opinion) singles starting with 'I Might Be Lying', backed with one of the best B-sides ever in 'Ignore Them'. That failed to break into the Top Forty reaching only #44.

The big breakthrough was just around the corner:

  Do Anything You Wanna Do/Schoolgirl Love.

The single put out under the name The Rods would go all the way to #9 in the UK Singles Chart.

Listen to the album in full here.

The album would reach #27 and contain another two excellent singles (both released in 1978 - 'Quit This Town' and 'Life on the Line'). 'Quit This Town' would infact be their final chart single.

Dave would go on to record two more albums with the band ('Thriller' and 'Fish 'n' Chips') and departed in 1981. The classic line up - Higgs, Masters, Nicol and Gray -  would be revived in 1992 for a tour after which Higgs left the band again.

Reading about his passing led me to stick the 'Teenage Depression' album on for the first time in ages and it was great to be reminded what a great band they were and are, but also to be reminded of Dave's guitar work for the band.

It's a sad loss and we trust that his family and close friends will find much comfort in knowing how much Dave meant to a lot of others. Hope they find strength in this valley.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END