Abrasive Wheels
Encyclopedia
Abrasive Wheels were a punk rock
band of the late 1970s/early 1980s. They hailed from Leeds
, England and were seldom out of the Independent charts between 1980 and 1984 when the band split. The band were Shonna Rzonca - vocals, Dave Ryan - guitar, Harry Harrison - bass, Nev Nevison - drums. In 2002 the singer Rzonca reformed the band with new members.
, Dave Ryan on guitar
, Daves cousin Robert Welch on bass guitar
, and Phils brother Adam Rzonca on drums
. The name Abrasive Wheels was inspired by Rzonca's engineering apprentice
ship, where signs stating "Danger! Abrasive Wheels!" were regularly seen. They made their first public appearance at a friend's party in 1977, which was followed by a Rock Against Racism
gig at Leeds Polytechnic. They were given a support slot opening for the UK Subs
in Bradford, after which Adam and Rob left the band, they made contact with Leeds-born drummer Martin Taylor who began to play drums with the band and went on to record a demo tape at September Sound studios in Huddersfield. Martin left the band after several appearances on the Slaughter and the Dogs tour support to pursue his own musical projects. At this time they employed the services of a mutual friend on Bass, eventually both were replaced by Mark Holmes and Dave Hawkridge. With this line-up the band recorded their first demo, and toured with Slaughter & the Dogs
. After losing money trying to get a record released by a London label Dave and Rzonca financed their own EP
, releasing it on their Abrasive Records label. Hawkridge and Holmes then left, to be replaced by "Harry" Harrison on bass and "Nev" Nevison on drums, both previously of The Urban Zones, this is considered by Rzonca to be the band's first "proper" line-up. The EP was picked up by Red Rhino distribution and soon sold out of its 3000 pressing, reaching number 35 on the UK Indie Chart
. The band then signed to Riot City Records
and issued the Vicious Circle EP, which was followed by a re-release of their debut EP, both again indie hits. Their debut album, When the Punks Go Marching In, was released later in 1982. They then signed to Clay Records
, and released a cover version
of Elvis Presley
's "Jailhouse Rock". Their second album,> Black Leather Girl was released in March 1984, displaying a much slicker and glossier sound with vocal harmonies, but after a further single, the band split later that year after a lengthy international tour.
Rzonca worked as a taxi driver before opening pizza parlours in Leeds, and working on the local market.
Rzonca formed a new version of the band in 2002, with Dave, Harry and Nev, and Steve Popplewell on second guitar. Dave, Harry and Nev left after several gigs. A new album was written and recorded during this brief time but has never been released. Rzonca and Popplewell continued, recruiting Eden, Chris, and Skruff. A new album, SKuM, was released in 2009.
Recent line up changes: Skruff left the band in 2010 and was replaced by Mickey Waddington taking up drumming duties. And following their European tour, Eden left the band in 2011 and has been replaced by Don Wilson, formerly of Yorkshire Rats.
The band is currently writing a new album, scheduled for 2012, but expect to have a new single available for Christmas 2011. The Wheels for Christmas Number 1?!
New band recordings
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...
band of the late 1970s/early 1980s. They hailed from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England and were seldom out of the Independent charts between 1980 and 1984 when the band split. The band were Shonna Rzonca - vocals, Dave Ryan - guitar, Harry Harrison - bass, Nev Nevison - drums. In 2002 the singer Rzonca reformed the band with new members.
History
The band formed in 1976 and initially consisted of Phil "Shonna" Rzonca on vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, Dave Ryan on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Daves cousin Robert Welch on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Phils brother Adam Rzonca on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. The name Abrasive Wheels was inspired by Rzonca's engineering apprentice
Engineering apprentice
An engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
ship, where signs stating "Danger! Abrasive Wheels!" were regularly seen. They made their first public appearance at a friend's party in 1977, which was followed by a Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom in 1976 as a response to an increase in racial conflict and the growth of white nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved pop, rock and reggae musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme, in order...
gig at Leeds Polytechnic. They were given a support slot opening for the UK Subs
UK Subs
The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
in Bradford, after which Adam and Rob left the band, they made contact with Leeds-born drummer Martin Taylor who began to play drums with the band and went on to record a demo tape at September Sound studios in Huddersfield. Martin left the band after several appearances on the Slaughter and the Dogs tour support to pursue his own musical projects. At this time they employed the services of a mutual friend on Bass, eventually both were replaced by Mark Holmes and Dave Hawkridge. With this line-up the band recorded their first demo, and toured with Slaughter & the Dogs
Slaughter & The Dogs
Slaughter & The Dogs is an English punk rock band that formed in the late 1970s in Manchester, England. They were one of the first UK punk bands to sign for a major label, Decca Records.-Career:...
. After losing money trying to get a record released by a London label Dave and Rzonca financed their own EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, releasing it on their Abrasive Records label. Hawkridge and Holmes then left, to be replaced by "Harry" Harrison on bass and "Nev" Nevison on drums, both previously of The Urban Zones, this is considered by Rzonca to be the band's first "proper" line-up. The EP was picked up by Red Rhino distribution and soon sold out of its 3000 pressing, reaching number 35 on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. The band then signed to Riot City Records
Riot City Records
Riot City was a British record label based in Bristol, active between 1980 and 1988, and run by Heartbeat Records boss Simon Edwards along with Dave Bateman and Shane Baldwin from the band Vice Squad...
and issued the Vicious Circle EP, which was followed by a re-release of their debut EP, both again indie hits. Their debut album, When the Punks Go Marching In, was released later in 1982. They then signed to Clay Records
Clay Records
Clay Records was an independent record label founded by Mike Stone in 1980 out of a record shop in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent.-History:...
, and released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's "Jailhouse Rock". Their second album,> Black Leather Girl was released in March 1984, displaying a much slicker and glossier sound with vocal harmonies, but after a further single, the band split later that year after a lengthy international tour.
Rzonca worked as a taxi driver before opening pizza parlours in Leeds, and working on the local market.
Rzonca formed a new version of the band in 2002, with Dave, Harry and Nev, and Steve Popplewell on second guitar. Dave, Harry and Nev left after several gigs. A new album was written and recorded during this brief time but has never been released. Rzonca and Popplewell continued, recruiting Eden, Chris, and Skruff. A new album, SKuM, was released in 2009.
Recent line up changes: Skruff left the band in 2010 and was replaced by Mickey Waddington taking up drumming duties. And following their European tour, Eden left the band in 2011 and has been replaced by Don Wilson, formerly of Yorkshire Rats.
The band is currently writing a new album, scheduled for 2012, but expect to have a new single available for Christmas 2011. The Wheels for Christmas Number 1?!
Albums
- When the Punks Go Marching In (Riot City RecordsRiot City RecordsRiot City was a British record label based in Bristol, active between 1980 and 1988, and run by Heartbeat Records boss Simon Edwards along with Dave Bateman and Shane Baldwin from the band Vice Squad...
- 1982) #3 - Black Leather Girl (Clay RecordsClay RecordsClay Records was an independent record label founded by Mike Stone in 1980 out of a record shop in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent.-History:...
- 1984) #8 - Skum (Crashed Out Recordings - 2009)
Singles
- The ABW EP (1981) Abrasive #35
- "Vicious Circle" EP (1981) Riot City #12
- "Army Song" EP (1982) Riot City #24
- "Burn 'em Down/Urban Rebel" (1982) Riot City #14
- "Jailhouse Rock"/"Sonic Omen" (1983) Clay #13
- "Banner of Hope"/"Law of the Jungle" (1983) Clay #10
- "The Prisoner"/"Christianne"/"Black Leather Girl" 12" EP (1984) Clay #27
New band recordings
- "Nothing to Prove" EP (SOS Records) (2005–2007)
- "Maybe Tomorrow" (re-recording of originaltrack from Black Leather Girl) download only single (2007)
- "Skum" Title track Pre Release from new album in the making streamlined on myspace (2008–2009)
- "Fight the Enemy" Pre Release from new album in the making streamlined on myspace (2008–2009)
Retrospective releases (CDs)
- The Riot City Years 1981 - 1982 (2003) Anagram Records
- When the Punks Go Marching In (inc. additional singles tracks) (2006) Captain Oi!
- Black Leather Girl (inc. bonus singles tracks) Captain Oi!
- The Singles Collection Captain Oi!
Compilation appearances
- "Criminal Youth" appears on Riotous Assembly (Riot City - 1982)
- "Army Song" and "Shout it Out" appear on 100% British Punk
- "Banner of Hope", "Jailhouse Rock", and "Prisoner" appear on Clay Records Punk Singles Collection
- "Army Song" appears on Punk and Disorderly, Vol. 1
- "Vicious Circle" appears on Punk and Disorderly, Vol. 2: Further Changes
- "Burn 'em Down" appears on Punk and Disorderly, Vol. 3: The Final Solution
- "Vicious Circle", "Army Song", and "Burn 'em Down" appear on Riot City Punk Singles Collection (Vol.1)
- "Juvenile",and "Urban Rebel" appear on Riot City Punk Singles Collection (Vol.2)
- "Sonic Omen" appears on If The Kids Are United- The Punk Box Set