Masterswitch
Encyclopedia
Masterswitch was a British rock band
in the late 1970s.
The Band consisted of five members:
in an attempt to recruit bandmates at an open audition. An astounding number of enthusiastic musicians queued patiently waiting their turn to prove their worth, ultimately Jimmy's natural vocal flair, Steve's 'Wilkey Fingers' and, after Dave Sumeray decided to quit the band and the music business, Mark's conquering Bass prevailed to form Masterswitch.
following playing regularly at the famous Marquee Club
in Fulham
. With legendary band The Clash
grabbing all attention of Epic
marketing combined with poor management and 'getting screwed over' Masterswitch split in 1978.
Jimmy Edwards and Mark Steed went to record as Jimmy and The Profiles and later Jimmy and Ray Simone went on to form Time UK
with former The Jam
drummer Rick Buckler
. After three singles they split, although Jimmy and Buckler formed the short-lived Sharp
with Buckler's ex-Jam bandmate Bruce Foxton.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
in the late 1970s.
The Band consisted of five members:
- Jimmy Edwards (vocalsSingingSinging 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...
) - Ray Simone (guitarGuitarThe 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...
) - Steve Wilkes (guitar)
- Mark Steed (Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Martin Lee (drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
)
Formation (1976)
Lifelong friends Ray and Martin and Dave Sumeray (who was the bass player with Ray & Martin in a band called Woodfog) placed an advert in the well circulated music magazine Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
in an attempt to recruit bandmates at an open audition. An astounding number of enthusiastic musicians queued patiently waiting their turn to prove their worth, ultimately Jimmy's natural vocal flair, Steve's 'Wilkey Fingers' and, after Dave Sumeray decided to quit the band and the music business, Mark's conquering Bass prevailed to form Masterswitch.
1976–1978
In 1976 the band signed to 'Epic' record company and in the following year released their only professional release Action Replay/Mass Media Meditation. Despite obvious talent and the intelligent social commentary (notably 'That's Light Entertainment') Masterswitch only picked up a small cultCult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
following playing regularly at the famous Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
. With legendary band 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...
grabbing all attention of Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
marketing combined with poor management and 'getting screwed over' Masterswitch split in 1978.
Jimmy Edwards and Mark Steed went to record as Jimmy and The Profiles and later Jimmy and Ray Simone went on to form Time UK
Time UK (band)
Time UK were a mid 1980s English rock band, featuring former Jam drummer Rick Buckler. They released three singles.-Personnel:*Rick Buckler *Jimmy Edwards *Danny Kustow *Ray Simone...
with former The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
drummer Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler , is the former drummer of The Jam, an English rock band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982...
. After three singles they split, although Jimmy and Buckler formed the short-lived Sharp
Sharp (band)
Sharp were a mid 1980s English rock band, featuring former Jam members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. They released one single.-Career:After The Jam split, Foxton pursued a solo career and Buckler formed Time UK, featuring Jimmy Edwards on vocals...
with Buckler's ex-Jam bandmate Bruce Foxton.