APB (band)
Encyclopedia
APB was a Scottish
post-punk
band, formed in 1979, that blended funk-rock, punk rock
and New Wave music
. The group had only modest success during its brief run, yet their influence can be heard in the sound of such current bands as Franz Ferdinand
, The Rapture
, and Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
, Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
, and consisted of singer/bassist Iain Slater, guitarist Glenn Roberts, and drummer George Cheyne.
Though living in a remote area, they took inspiration from the "DIY" spirit of the punk
scene, sounding like bands as Liquid Liquid, adopting a hard-working approach to writing, rehearsing and performing. Meanwhile in Aberdeen
, a small independent record company called Oily had started to release records and they were impressed enough by the band's live shows to release a single in 1981. The song was "Chain Reaction", which had long been a favourite at gigs. It was basically a two and a half minute punk/pop song with fuzzy distorted guitar and Scottish inflected vocals, but already the band was evolving with a sparser and more rhythmical sound. Bootsy, Clinton, GO4, ESG
, Buzzcocks
, and The Clash
were all filtered through three teenagers from Aberdeenshire to create a catchy, rhythmic sound.
A change in their sound first became evident with their second single for Oily, "I'd Like To Shoot You Down" (1981). The single did well and sold out its first pressing, with some copies finding their way to New York City
. Soon it was regularly played at most of NYC's underground dance clubs. Unaware of the popularity of 'Shoot You Down' in the USA the band and Oily were busy pushing their third seven-inch, "Palace Filled With Love" (1982). This is when the Radio 1
sessions began. Peel and Jensen (and lastly Peter Powel) were playing the tunes nightly and offering sessions despite the lack of a major record deal. After recording several BBC sessions, APB had some success in Europe.
Oily Records released the band's first singles "Chain Reaction" 1981, and the undeniably rambunctious "Shoot You Down" 1981 which made its way across the pond to New York City. This New York radio play proved to be their launching pad. The third single "Palace Filled With Love" came in 1982. Next came the anthemic "Rainy Day" in 1982. Around this time Nick Jones joined as percussionist. The last release with Oily Records was "One Day" came in 1983. Nick Jones left at this time and was replaced by Mickey Craighead.
to record their first BBC
session for John Peel
. He was full of enthusiasm for the band and gave their next single, "Rainy Day" (1982), loads of plays.
Nick Jones joined in 1982 playing percussion (Later to be replaced by Mikey Craighead), adding another dimension to the proceedings. The band then went to NYC to record another single at PlazaSound on the 7th floor of Radio City
.
The autumn of the same year Mark Beaven of AAM, New York City made contact with Oily to enquire about the availability of APB for a small tour of the East Coast
of America. When they arrived in New York they heard their tracks played on college radio and in clubs such as Danceteria
, Berlin and the Mudd Club
. This was encouraging, and the tour was a great success. With the backing of Mark Beaven, this turned out to be the first of 12 visits over the next seven years. The band's sixth single "What Kind of Girl" (1984) came out on Albion in the UK and "Sleeping Bag Records" in the USA. It was recorded at Unique in Manhattan, home of the electro/hip-hop producers Arthur Baker
and John Robie
, and attained the no. 1 position on the Billboard dance chart. The track got lots of radio play, especially on WLIR/WDRE on Long Island.
During this time US tours were becoming more extensive and audiences were increasing with the Ritz in Manhattan
being a regular high point in the proceedings. APB's seventh release was "Summer Love" (1985) on their own Red River Label, quickly followed by "Something to Believe In" (1985). By now, the band had released eight singles, many of which were hard to find and were only available on import in the USA. At this point Link (NYC) released the much sought after compilation of the singles as a first LP release simply called "Something to Believe In" (1985). After this, "Cure for the Blues" was released as the first full album Then, "Open your eyes," "When I feel this way" and "Funk invective" were all released as 12 inch singles. The final release on Link records was the CD version of "Something to believe in."
During the 1980s, APB was one of the most popular underground alternative bands in the New York Tri-State area. Thanks to constant radio play on WLIR
92.7 FM on Long Island and New York college radio, the Scottish band made its mark with funky bass.
In 1985, Something to Believe In, their first LP with Link Records, was released. They toured and opened for The Clash
and James Brown
and eventually headlined at various New York clubs including NYC's The Ritz and Long Island's now defunct Club Malibu. The following year in 1986 "Cure for the Blues", was released. A four-song EP, "Missing You Already", also came out that same year.
The group continued to play on and off during the mid 1980s and early 90s, releasing the anthemic '"Funk Invective and playing one of shows to fund a new edgier ensemble called "The Loveless" releasing the "Nappy" ep in 1993. Iain Slater went on to play in Poptones act Pablo whilst working as the live engineer for acts such as Space, Keane, Regular Fries and more recently Pete Doherty. The band reverted back to its original line up of Iain, Glenn,and George playing one off shows in NY and Aberdeen in 2006.
but no supply. Fans searched in vain for downloads or CDs of the band's music, but to no avail as they were out of print.
In February 2006, Young American Recordings made the decision to reissue APB's debut, Something to Believe In: 20th Anniversary Edition which includes a second CD with live and studio material that has never been available before. In March 2006, The Radio 1 Sessions, the complete BBC recordings was also reissued by Young American Recordings.
Jaguar.. ( Oatcake Records ) coming very soon.. September 2011 official release.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band, formed in 1979, that blended funk-rock, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
. The group had only modest success during its brief run, yet their influence can be heard in the sound of such current bands as Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, The Rapture
The Rapture (band)
The Rapture is an Indie rock band based in New York City. The band mixes influences from many genres including post-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock, pioneering the post-punk revival genre...
, and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
1979–1982
APB formed in the small rural town of EllonEllon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and consisted of singer/bassist Iain Slater, guitarist Glenn Roberts, and drummer George Cheyne.
Though living in a remote area, they took inspiration from the "DIY" spirit of the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene, sounding like bands as Liquid Liquid, adopting a hard-working approach to writing, rehearsing and performing. Meanwhile in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, a small independent record company called Oily had started to release records and they were impressed enough by the band's live shows to release a single in 1981. The song was "Chain Reaction", which had long been a favourite at gigs. It was basically a two and a half minute punk/pop song with fuzzy distorted guitar and Scottish inflected vocals, but already the band was evolving with a sparser and more rhythmical sound. Bootsy, Clinton, GO4, ESG
ESG
ESG may refer to:* Engineering Seismology Group, a microseismic monitoring and data analysis company from Canada.* Environmental Social and Corporate Governance, the commonly accepted factors involved in Responsible Investment assessments...
, Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
were all filtered through three teenagers from Aberdeenshire to create a catchy, rhythmic sound.
A change in their sound first became evident with their second single for Oily, "I'd Like To Shoot You Down" (1981). The single did well and sold out its first pressing, with some copies finding their way to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Soon it was regularly played at most of NYC's underground dance clubs. Unaware of the popularity of 'Shoot You Down' in the USA the band and Oily were busy pushing their third seven-inch, "Palace Filled With Love" (1982). This is when the Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
sessions began. Peel and Jensen (and lastly Peter Powel) were playing the tunes nightly and offering sessions despite the lack of a major record deal. After recording several BBC sessions, APB had some success in Europe.
Oily Records released the band's first singles "Chain Reaction" 1981, and the undeniably rambunctious "Shoot You Down" 1981 which made its way across the pond to New York City. This New York radio play proved to be their launching pad. The third single "Palace Filled With Love" came in 1982. Next came the anthemic "Rainy Day" in 1982. Around this time Nick Jones joined as percussionist. The last release with Oily Records was "One Day" came in 1983. Nick Jones left at this time and was replaced by Mickey Craighead.
1983–1991
The band did a small tour of the East Coast of America. "What Kind of Girl" followed up in 1984. The seventh and eighth singles "Summer Love" and "Something to Believe In" came out in 1985. In between USA trips, the band travelled to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to record their first BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. He was full of enthusiasm for the band and gave their next single, "Rainy Day" (1982), loads of plays.
Nick Jones joined in 1982 playing percussion (Later to be replaced by Mikey Craighead), adding another dimension to the proceedings. The band then went to NYC to record another single at PlazaSound on the 7th floor of Radio City
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
.
The autumn of the same year Mark Beaven of AAM, New York City made contact with Oily to enquire about the availability of APB for a small tour of the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
of America. When they arrived in New York they heard their tracks played on college radio and in clubs such as Danceteria
Danceteria
Danceteria was a well-known four-floor nightclub located in New York City which operated from 1980 until 1986 and in the Hamptons until 1995. Throughout its history, the club had seven different locations, three in NYC and four in the Hamptons...
, Berlin and the Mudd Club
Mudd Club
The Mudd Club was a TriBeCa nightclub that was opened in October 1978 by Steve Mass, art curator Diego Cortez and Anya Phillips, a figure in the downtown punk scene...
. This was encouraging, and the tour was a great success. With the backing of Mark Beaven, this turned out to be the first of 12 visits over the next seven years. The band's sixth single "What Kind of Girl" (1984) came out on Albion in the UK and "Sleeping Bag Records" in the USA. It was recorded at Unique in Manhattan, home of the electro/hip-hop producers Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
and John Robie
John Robie
John Robie is an American musician and record producer, widely credited as the driving force behind many of the most successful songs from the early 80's electro boom and is best known for his work with the New York record producer Arthur Baker.-Early years:...
, and attained the no. 1 position on the Billboard dance chart. The track got lots of radio play, especially on WLIR/WDRE on Long Island.
During this time US tours were becoming more extensive and audiences were increasing with the Ritz in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
being a regular high point in the proceedings. APB's seventh release was "Summer Love" (1985) on their own Red River Label, quickly followed by "Something to Believe In" (1985). By now, the band had released eight singles, many of which were hard to find and were only available on import in the USA. At this point Link (NYC) released the much sought after compilation of the singles as a first LP release simply called "Something to Believe In" (1985). After this, "Cure for the Blues" was released as the first full album Then, "Open your eyes," "When I feel this way" and "Funk invective" were all released as 12 inch singles. The final release on Link records was the CD version of "Something to believe in."
During the 1980s, APB was one of the most popular underground alternative bands in the New York Tri-State area. Thanks to constant radio play on WLIR
WLIR
WLIR-FM is a Christian radio station as part of the WLIX Voice of Hope Radio Network. WLIR-FM broadcasts in the Hamptons-Riverhead area. Its transmitter is currently located near East Quogue, New York....
92.7 FM on Long Island and New York college radio, the Scottish band made its mark with funky bass.
In 1985, Something to Believe In, their first LP with Link Records, was released. They toured and opened for The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
and eventually headlined at various New York clubs including NYC's The Ritz and Long Island's now defunct Club Malibu. The following year in 1986 "Cure for the Blues", was released. A four-song EP, "Missing You Already", also came out that same year.
The group continued to play on and off during the mid 1980s and early 90s, releasing the anthemic '"Funk Invective and playing one of shows to fund a new edgier ensemble called "The Loveless" releasing the "Nappy" ep in 1993. Iain Slater went on to play in Poptones act Pablo whilst working as the live engineer for acts such as Space, Keane, Regular Fries and more recently Pete Doherty. The band reverted back to its original line up of Iain, Glenn,and George playing one off shows in NY and Aberdeen in 2006.
1990–present
Not long after issuing the CDs, Link Records went out of business. There was a demand for APB's music in CD formatCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
but no supply. Fans searched in vain for downloads or CDs of the band's music, but to no avail as they were out of print.
In February 2006, Young American Recordings made the decision to reissue APB's debut, Something to Believe In: 20th Anniversary Edition which includes a second CD with live and studio material that has never been available before. In March 2006, The Radio 1 Sessions, the complete BBC recordings was also reissued by Young American Recordings.
Band members
- George Cheyne - drums
- Glenn Roberts - guitar
- Iain Slater - bass, vocals
- Nick Jones - percussionist (1982–1983)
- Mickey Craighead - percussionist
- Neil Innes - keyboard
- Bruce Clark - bass guitar
- Del Guapo - guitar/bass/percussion
Singles
- "Chain Reaction" 1981 Oily Records
- "I'd Like To Shoot You Down" 1981 Oily Records
[UK-Indie #6] - "Palace Filled With Love" 1982 Oily Records
- "Rainy Day" 1982 Oily Records
- "One Day" 1983 Oily Records
- "What Kind of Girl" 1984 Sleeping Bag Records
- "Summer Love" 1985 Red River Records
- "Something to Believe In" 1985 Red River Records
- "Open Your Eyes" 1986 Red River Records
EP releases
- Danceability (Albion Records 1984)
[UK-Indie #25] - Missing You Already (Red River 1986)
- When I feel this way (Link records 1987)
- Funk Invective (Link records 1988)
Major albums
- Something To Believe In (Link Records 1985)
- Cure For The Blues (Link Records 1986)
- Something To Believe In: 20th Anniversary Edition (Young American Recordings 2006)
- The Radio 1 Sessions (Young American Recordings 2006)
- Three (Red River Records 2007)
Jaguar.. ( Oatcake Records ) coming very soon.. September 2011 official release.