Tom Robinson Band

Tom Robinson Band
Background information
Also known as	TRB
Origin	London, England
Genres	Punk rock, New Wave
Years active	1976–1979
Labels	EMI
Associated acts	Sector 27
Past members
Mark Ambler Danny Kustow Tom Robinson Dolphin Taylor Preston Heyman Ian Parker Nick Plytas Charlie Morgan

Tom Robinson Band (TRB) were a British rock band, established in 1976 by singer, songwriter and bassist Tom Robinson (born on 1 June 1950, in Cambridge, England). Their third single, "Up Against the Wall", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single^[1][2] and their debut album, Power In The Darkness (1978), is still widely admired^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Biography

Tom Robinson began gigging in London in 1976. By the end of the year, he had decided to put together a permanent band. Robinson's old friend, guitarist Danny Kustow, was the first in the permanent lineup. They ran small ads in the music papers looking for a bass player and drummer. Robinson found drummer Brian "Dolphin" Taylor.

The search for a bass player continued, until Mark Ambler auditioned. Some days later, Ambler mentioned he also played keyboards; he had spent many years studying piano with veteran jazz musician, Stan Tracey. After listening to Ambler playing his Hammond organ Robinson realised he would have to be the bass player himself.

The band hit the club scene right in the middle of London's punk explosion. Their live shows got favourable reviews, and soon A&R men were attending many of their gigs.

EMI Records signed TRB. Robinson later described this period, saying "Within nine months we'd made the transition from signing on at Medina Road dole office to Top Of The Pops, Radio One, EMI Records and the giddy heights of the front cover of the New Musical Express".

TRB made leaflets and fliers about their political views and sent them to everyone who attended their gigs, they gave away badges and made up T shirts emblazoned with the band's logo and they appeared regularly at Rock Against Racism concerts. They were joined at these gigs by the likes of The Clash, Steel Pulse and X-Ray Spex.

"2-4-6-8 Motorway" was their first single, released in late 1977. It got into the top five of the UK singles charts, staying there for over a month. It was followed almost immediately by their next record, a four song EP called Rising Free which was recorded live at London's Lyceum Theatre in November 1977. It contained the songs "Don't Take No for an Answer", "Martin", "(Sing if you're) Glad to Be Gay" and "Right On Sister". The EP reached #18 in the UK singles charts.

In early 1978, TRB recorded their debut album, Power in the Darkness. The UK version of the LP contained all new songs, but in the US (on the Harvest label), the "2-4-6-8 Motorway" single and Rising Free record were combined for a six-track bonus EP that made the album almost a double.

Power in the Darkness reached number 4 in the UK album charts and won the band a gold record, and TRB were voted "Best New Band" and "Best London Band" for the year 1977 by listeners at the Capital Radio Music Awards. Mark Ambler left the band after recording the album. Session pianist Nick Plytas was drafted in as a temporary replacement, and played with TRB at a major Anti Nazi League rally in London's Victoria Park early that year.

Ian Parker joined as a permanent replacement for Ambler. TRB then went to Rockfield Studios in Wales to record their next album, TRB Two. Chris Thomas who had produced their first album, was also at the control deck for their second album, to start off with. Dolphin Taylor suggested Todd Rundgren should replace Thomas. After not being able to decide which tracks should appear on the LP, the band eventually agreed to let Rundgren choose. However, he picked two of the songs Dolphin particularly disliked, and Taylor decided that he would leave rather than play on the tracks. A day later he had calmed down somewhat and offered to return, but Robinson refused, and Preston Heyman was recruited as an emergency stand-in. His picture was included on the album cover, but there was never any intention for him to join the band permanently. Taylor's eventual replacement was Charlie Morgan who had played for Kate Bush, and went on to drum for Elton John for a further fifteen years.

To support the album's release, the band went on tour, but by this point the TRB's infighting had taken its toll. When Kustow decided to quit in 1979 that was the end of TRB.

In 1989, Robinson, Kustow and Ambler put together a reunion tour and played sold out shows at the Marquee in London and went on for the best part of a year before splitting one final time.

Discography

Albums Studio Year Album details Peak position UK US 1978 Power in the Darkness First studio album Release date: May 1978 Label: EMI Records 4[8] 144 1979 TRB Two Second studio album Release date: March 1979 Label: EMI Records 18 163 Live Year Album details Peak position UK Albums Chart 1982 Cabaret ‘79 First live album Release date: November 1982 Label: EMI Records – 1997 Glad To Be Gay (Cabaret ’79) Segundo álbum ao vivo Release date: August 1997 Label: EMI Records – Compilations Year Album details Peak position UK Albums Chart 1981 TRB 3 First compilation Release date: 1981 Label: EMI Records – 1987 The Collection 77-87 Second compilation1 Release date: September 1987 Label: EMI Records – 1996 The Gold Collection Third compilation Release date: March 1996 Label: EMI Records – 1997 Rising Free - The Very Best of TRB Fourth compilation1 Release date: June 1997 Label: EMI Records –

Singles and EPs Year Song (A side / B side) Peak position UK Singles Chart 1977 "2-4-6-8 Motorway" "I Shall Be Released" 5[8] 1978 Rising Free (EP) ("Don't Take No For An Answer" / "Martin" "Glad To Be Gay" / "Right On Sister") 18 1978 "Up Against The Wall" "I'm Alright Jack" 33 1978 "Too Good To Be True" "Power In The Darkness" – 1979 "Bully For You" "Our People" 68 1979 "Alright All Night" "Black Angel" – 1979 "Never Gonna Fall In Love (Again)" "Getting Tighter"2 – Notes: 1 Includes post-TRB material. 2 Released as "Tom Robinson & the Voice Squad".

See also

• List of British punk bands
• List of musicians in the first wave of punk music
• List of New Wave bands and artists
• List of Peel sessions
• Music of the United Kingdom (1970s)
• List of performers on Top of the Pops

References

1. ^ Mojo (October 2001) - 100 Punk Scorchers, Issue 95, London;
2. ^ Joynson, Vernon (2001). Up Yours! A Guide to UK Punk, New Wave & Early Post Punk. Wolverhampton: Borderline Publications. p. 310. ISBN 1-899855-13-0. "It typified their heartfelt passion and political anger, which is so prevalent on their superb debut album." ;
3. ^ Joynson, Vernon (2001). Up Yours! A Guide to UK Punk, New Wave & Early Post Punk. Wolverhampton: Borderline Publications. p. 310. ISBN 1-899855-13-0. "This was one of the definitive albums of the seventies and Up Against the Wall was its opening cut. The same fervently anti-racist and anti-establishment messages came across on other anthemic numbers fuelled on by Danny Kustow’s raging guitar." ;
4. ^ Thompson, Dave (2000). Punk. Ontario: Collector’s Guide Publication. p. 122. ISBN 1-896522-27-0. "A slavering slab of bitterness and anger, it was without doubt the most successful album of all the year’s ‘political offerings." ;
5. ^ Buckley & Ellingham (eds) (1996). Rock: The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides. p. 734. ISBN 1-85828-201-2. "An essential new wave album, and it duly reached the UK Top 5. Doubts arose about TRB’s punk credentials, but the mainstream media adopted him as the leftie, thinking man’s punk." ;
6. ^ Gardner, Steve (1996). "Hiljaiset Levyt: 100 Best Punk LP's". http://www.hiljaiset.sci.fi/punknet/top100lp.htm. "One of the greatest records that came out in the late 70s" ;
7. ^ Larkin, Colin (1994). All Time Top 1000 Albums. Enfield: Guinness Publishing. p. 247. "A great amalgam of punk / pop, ethics and all, translated as an exciting, visceral album in a style much imitated, but rarely bettered for fury and genuine loathing." ;
8. ^ ^{a b} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• http://www.tomrobinson.com/trb/