- Thamesbeat
"Thamesbeat" is the name given to a
music scene that was started inSouth West London by a group called The Pleasers.The name Thamesbeat was originally given out in a radio interview on BBC Radio 1 by The Pleasers in 1978, as a piss take to their being alined to The Beatles and Mersybeat. After which Thamesbeat stuck and was centred around them. (In 1996 they re-released their retrospective album entitled "Thamesbeat"). Both The Pleasers and the Boyfriends, heavily influenced the
mod revival andpower pop . Ed Ball would later satirise the movement in the Times' 1983 song "Whatever Happened to Thamesbeat?"The
Mystery Jets were the first major success of the current Thamesbeat scene, and the first to release an album, 2005's "Making Dens ". This band are based onEel Pie Island , a bohemian idyll steeped in history and musical heritage -The Rolling Stones , amongst others, used to perform here. The Mystery Jets have hosted gigs on the island, featuring many local bands.Another successful band were
Larrikin Love (now disbanded), who were fronted by Edward Larrikin. Influences includedIrish music and literature as well as the works of the French poetRimbaud ). Larrikin Love used to perform frequently at The Rifleman pub, inHounslow , along with other bands.Jamie T , from Wimbledon, was also an early member of this scene. Early followers would have seen him perform in such low-key venues as The Peel, Kingston.Other bands include
Them Nudes (fromNortholt ), Marner Brown, The Downbeats (from Twickenham), Good Shoes (fromMorden ),The Holloways , Acton-basedDustin's Bar Mitzvah and cross-over memberPatrick Wolf .The record label
Transgressive has played a key role in the scene, signing up many of the bands. Young and Lost Club have also played a part.Not all bands from this area are considered Thamesbeat, however.
Battlekat are from the Richmond and Hampton area but would not be held under this title due to their different style.External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/documentaries/060306_mystery.shtml BBC 1 report on The Mystery Jets & Thamesbeat]
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