Easterhouse (band)

Easterhouse was were a British rock group from the mid- to late-1980s known for jangly guitars and leftist political leanings.

Personnel

Original line-up

*Andy Perry - vocals, harmonica
*Ivor Perry - guitar
*Peter Vanden - bass guitar
*Gary Rostock - drums
*Mike Murray - rhythm guitar

Other members

*Dave Verner - drums
*Steve Lovell - guitar
*Lance Sabin - guitar
*Neil Taylor - guitar

History

Named after the Easterhouse area of Glasgow, the band was formed in Stretford, Manchester by brothers Andy and Ivor Perry, Peter Vanden, Gary Rostock and Michael Murray in the early 1980s. [http://www.music-dash.co.uk/news/yesterday.asp Tomorrow/Yesterday ] ] Andy Perry, intrigued by communism and inspired by Bob Marley's direct delivery of political content, was invited to join the band in order to improve its lyrical content. Easterhouse played their first gig on 30 August, 1983 at Dingwalls in London as the support band for The Smiths after Ivor Perry convinced Morrissey to let them have the opening spot. [ [http://passionsjustlikemine.com/smiths-g8308.htm] Dead link|date=March 2008] Their Rough Trade singles "Whistling In The Dark" and "Inspiration" were both Top 5 independent chart hits. Their energetic first album, "Contenders", has been compared to The Chameleons, New Model Army, and The Smiths. [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,80139,00.html Easterhouse : Contenders - Listen, Review and Buy at ARTISTdirect ] ] [ [http://www.leonardslair.co.uk/easterhouse.htm Easterhouse - Contenders ] ]

After "Contenders", Ivor Perry left the band over differences with his brother to form The Cradle with Rostock and Craig Gannon a musical contributor to The Smiths. [ [http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/c.htm Indie Hits "C" ] ] [ [http://www.mp3.com/easterhouse/artists/3522/biography.html Easterhouse MP3 Downloads - Easterhouse Music Downloads - Easterhouse Music Videos - Easterhouse Pictures - MP3.com ] ] By the time the over-produced "Waiting for the Redbird" was released in 1989, Andy Perry was the sole member of the original line-up. In 1987, Ivor Perry was briefly considered to replace Johnny Marr after Marr left The Smiths, [ [http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=1&csid1=1375 Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority ] ] [ [http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/quotes/mojo.htm Interview - Johnny Rogan, Mojo, August 1997 ] ] [http://www.newmusictelevision.com/NMTV.php?action=detail&target=artists_detail&id=124] [ [http://foreverill.com/interviews/post87/genius.htm Interview Archive - Nothing To Declare But Their Genius ] ] and has been reported having recorded an early version of "Bengali in Platforms" that later appeared on Morrissey's first album, "Viva Hate". [ [http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/02/12/02/0616224.shtml Morrissey-solo | "The Smiths - Songs That Saved Your Life" by Simon Goddard out now; BBC6 interview on Dec. 5 ] ]

In 2005 the band got back together for a one off gig. Andy Rourke (ex-bassist, The Smiths) played with them.

Discography

UKI=UK Indie Chart placing.cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980-1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ]

ingles

*"In Our Own Hands" EP (1985) Easterhouse (UKI #13)
*"Whistling In The Dark" (1986) Rough Trade/Columbia (UKI #2)
*"Inspiration" (1986) Rough Trade (UKI #5)
*"Come Out Fighting" (1989) Rough Trade/Columbia (UKI #18)(US #82)cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 ]
*"You're Gonna Miss It (When It's Gone)" (1989) Rough Trade

Albums

*"Contenders" (1986) Rough Trade (UKI #3)
*"Waiting for the Redbird" (1989) Rough Trade/Columbia (UKI #18)

References

External links

* [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=easterhouse TrouserPress.com]
* [http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/artists/easterhouse.htm Cherry Red Records]
* [http://www.djangomusic.com/artist_bio.asp?id=R+++++6524 Djangos.com]
* [http://www.myspace.com/easterhousefan]