Richard Searle
Encyclopedia
Richard Searle is a 1960s influenced musician best known for reaching number one in the pop charts, in the psychedelic glam band Doctor And The Medics
in 1986.
They released no further records until 1985, although a four track EP recorded live at Alice In Wonderland, a Soho nightclub where the band were regulars.
In 1985 they signed to IRS Records and released 'Happy but Twisted' a five track 12" EP including a cover of Hawkwind
's "Silver Machine" which reached number 2 on the indie charts.
This was followed by 'The Miracle of the Age' produced by Andy Partridge
of XTC
.
Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse, London which was recorded for television broadcast, although it was not shown at the time. At this concert the line up featured Roman Jugg of The Damned on keyboards and second guitar.
They scored a massive international hit in 1986 with their next single, a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky". The single reached number one in thirty-two countries. They fared less well with subsequent singles. Also in 1986, "Burn" and "Waterloo" (the latter of which was a cover of the ABBA
hit, with Roy Wood from Wizard and The Move on saxophone, backing vocals and in the video). 'Burn' reached No 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo No 45.
In addition to their musical career, the group were closely associated with the Alice in Wonderland nightclub.
The club ran the "Mystery trips" taking unsuspecting clubbers to gigs and venues across the country on coach trips. One such venue was Lowestoft Pier in 1986 featuring performances by: Zodiac Mindwarp: Another Green World: Daisy Chainsaw and The Cult. These trips are now widely regarded, as quoted by Rave magazine, to be the precursor of the beginning of the rave scene in the UK, which mirrored the use of secret locations, out of town venues and famous DJ's.
in the late eighties.
Co-founder of Acid Jazz band Corduroy
in 1991, giving the band its name, Richard's fast and fluid bass playing style was fore-front in the funky punky sound of the new mod outfit.
Corduroy were a four-piece based in South East London, formed with twins Ben and Scott Addison, formerly of Boys Wonder. Based heavily around the style of a local instrumental jazz band, led by guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith, who completed the Corduroy line-up.
Releasing three albums on Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records
: Dad Man Cat
, High Havoc
and Out of Here
. They proved a popular live attraction. They gained a healthy following in Japan, making the first of several trips to the country in 1993, and the following year they recorded a live album, 'Quattro - Live In Japan'.
After leaving Acid Jazz Records they signed to Big Cat Records/V2, releasing two further albums, The New You!
and the Rob Playford-produced Clik!.
Clik! failed to chart and Corduroy were dropped in 1999 and the band split.
Richard played in a session-man capacity with various bands throughout the early noughties, such as The Freestylers, Soul Hooligan and Mother Earth. Produced others including Smashing Time and recorded with Australian grunge band The Standing Eight Counts and Lord Large. The Paul Weller penned northern soul record 'Left Right and Centre' by Lord Large and Dean Parrish features Richard's distinctively flamboyant style. More recently appearing on stage at The 100 Club with sixties mod legend's Sharon Tandy and The Fleur De Lys.
Richard is now writing books. His first novel The Absurdist is described as 'A light-hearted, science-fictional tale about the illusionary nature of reality, lethal cocktails, hairy heroes, unrequited love and wasp hammers. Rude and irreverent, this funny philosophical caper about two young scam-artists caught up in unusual events, features the prettiest of girls, silliest of toys, quantum physics and giant space propellers in an adventure of absurd proportions.,
. Wet Dog is an international group featuring Stephen 'Vom' Ritchie from renowned German rockers Die Toten Hosen. Ritchie played with Searle in Doctor and the Medics. Wet Dog also features Anna Donarski, who has played for Damo Suzuki from Can and German punk rock outfit Fehlfarben.
'Fancy You', the first release by Wet Dog, appeared on an Acid Jazz Records compilation called 'Old School New Cool 2' in 2005.
The band's debut album 'Perfect Crime' was released through Drumming Monkey Records / Rough Trade in August 2007 in Germany. It featured 14 tracks, covering such styles as funk, punk, pop, rock and soul. A single 'Heart' was taken from the album.
Wet Dog are members of the mysterious Bohemian Underground Movement
.(B.U.M.)
The Bohemian Underground Movement (B.U.M) is the umbrella name used by Richard Searle for his various and mischievous pop art projects.
The name came from writing BUM in the sand for purile and mischievous effect.
The first B.U.M track 'I'm Afraid Of The Man In The Pasty Shop' was recorded entirely over the phone from Cornwall, then mixed in the B.U.M studio weeks later. It features on Acid Jazz Record compilation 'The New Testament Of Folk'.
There have been several Bohemian Underground Movement releases, mostly through Acid Jazz Records.
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
& Totally Rewired. AJX180D download only.
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
Much of Richard's work features with advert sync agencies such as Sync Master and Ricall.
Richard Searle is also publishing books.
Doctor and the Medics
Doctor and the Medics are a London based psychedelic rock band which enjoyed greatest success in the 1980s and are best known for their UK No. 1 song, "Spirit in the Sky"...
in 1986.
Doctor And The Medics
Doctor and the Medics first single was 'The Druids are Here' c/w 'The Goats are Trying to Kill Me' released on Dan Trecy's cult label Whaam Records in 1982. Richard played Bass.They released no further records until 1985, although a four track EP recorded live at Alice In Wonderland, a Soho nightclub where the band were regulars.
In 1985 they signed to IRS Records and released 'Happy but Twisted' a five track 12" EP including a cover of Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
's "Silver Machine" which reached number 2 on the indie charts.
This was followed by 'The Miracle of the Age' produced by Andy Partridge
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
of XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
.
Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse, London which was recorded for television broadcast, although it was not shown at the time. At this concert the line up featured Roman Jugg of The Damned on keyboards and second guitar.
They scored a massive international hit in 1986 with their next single, a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky". The single reached number one in thirty-two countries. They fared less well with subsequent singles. Also in 1986, "Burn" and "Waterloo" (the latter of which was a cover of the ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
hit, with Roy Wood from Wizard and The Move on saxophone, backing vocals and in the video). 'Burn' reached No 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo No 45.
In addition to their musical career, the group were closely associated with the Alice in Wonderland nightclub.
The club ran the "Mystery trips" taking unsuspecting clubbers to gigs and venues across the country on coach trips. One such venue was Lowestoft Pier in 1986 featuring performances by: Zodiac Mindwarp: Another Green World: Daisy Chainsaw and The Cult. These trips are now widely regarded, as quoted by Rave magazine, to be the precursor of the beginning of the rave scene in the UK, which mirrored the use of secret locations, out of town venues and famous DJ's.
After Doctor And The Medics
Richard Searle left Doctor and the Medics in 1990. He appeared in two different line-ups of brit- pop stealers Boys Wonder', both before and after they were dropped by Sire RecordsSire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in the late eighties.
Co-founder of Acid Jazz band Corduroy
Corduroy
Corduroy is a textile composed of twisted fibers that, when woven, lie parallel to one another to form the cloth's distinct pattern, a "cord." Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel between the tufts...
in 1991, giving the band its name, Richard's fast and fluid bass playing style was fore-front in the funky punky sound of the new mod outfit.
Corduroy were a four-piece based in South East London, formed with twins Ben and Scott Addison, formerly of Boys Wonder. Based heavily around the style of a local instrumental jazz band, led by guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith, who completed the Corduroy line-up.
Releasing three albums on Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records
Acid Jazz Records
Acid Jazz is a record label based in east London. It takes its name from acid jazz, a genre of jazz music. Alternative version states that the genre itself was named after the record label...
: Dad Man Cat
Dad Man Cat
Dad Man Cat was the first LP to be released by Corduroy. It is primarily an instrumental album, full of what has become the classic Corduroy sound.-Track listing:# "Chowdown" # "Long Cool & Bubbly"...
, High Havoc
High Havoc
High Havoc is the second LP offering from Corduroy. Billed as a concept album, it features several top ten singles - and many favourite Corduroy tunes.-Track listing:# "High Havoc" – 4:10# "London England" – 3:22# "The Corduroy Orgasm Club" – 1:46...
and Out of Here
Out of Here (Corduroy album)
-Personnel:*Ben Addison - Vocals, drums*Scott Addison - Vocals, keyboards*Simon Nelson-Smith - Guitars*Richard Searle - Bass...
. They proved a popular live attraction. They gained a healthy following in Japan, making the first of several trips to the country in 1993, and the following year they recorded a live album, 'Quattro - Live In Japan'.
After leaving Acid Jazz Records they signed to Big Cat Records/V2, releasing two further albums, The New You!
The New You!
* Ben Addison - Vocals, drums* Scott Addison - Vocals, keyboards* Simon Nelson-Smith - Guitars* Richard Searle - Bass* Donald Gamble - Percussion* Sid Singh - Percussion* Mike Smith - Saxophone* Dennis Rollins - Trombone* Sid Gauld - Trumpet...
and the Rob Playford-produced Clik!.
Clik! failed to chart and Corduroy were dropped in 1999 and the band split.
Richard played in a session-man capacity with various bands throughout the early noughties, such as The Freestylers, Soul Hooligan and Mother Earth. Produced others including Smashing Time and recorded with Australian grunge band The Standing Eight Counts and Lord Large. The Paul Weller penned northern soul record 'Left Right and Centre' by Lord Large and Dean Parrish features Richard's distinctively flamboyant style. More recently appearing on stage at The 100 Club with sixties mod legend's Sharon Tandy and The Fleur De Lys.
Richard is now writing books. His first novel The Absurdist is described as 'A light-hearted, science-fictional tale about the illusionary nature of reality, lethal cocktails, hairy heroes, unrequited love and wasp hammers. Rude and irreverent, this funny philosophical caper about two young scam-artists caught up in unusual events, features the prettiest of girls, silliest of toys, quantum physics and giant space propellers in an adventure of absurd proportions.,
Wet Dog
In 2005 Richard co-formed the band Wet DogWet Dog
Wet Dog is an international group featuring Stephen 'Vom' Ritchie from German rockers Die Toten Hosen and Richard Searle from Acid jazz band Corduroy and the Bohemian Underground Movement. Both Ritchie and Searle were original members of British chart-toppers Doctor and the Medics...
. Wet Dog is an international group featuring Stephen 'Vom' Ritchie from renowned German rockers Die Toten Hosen. Ritchie played with Searle in Doctor and the Medics. Wet Dog also features Anna Donarski, who has played for Damo Suzuki from Can and German punk rock outfit Fehlfarben.
'Fancy You', the first release by Wet Dog, appeared on an Acid Jazz Records compilation called 'Old School New Cool 2' in 2005.
The band's debut album 'Perfect Crime' was released through Drumming Monkey Records / Rough Trade in August 2007 in Germany. It featured 14 tracks, covering such styles as funk, punk, pop, rock and soul. A single 'Heart' was taken from the album.
Wet Dog are members of the mysterious Bohemian Underground Movement
Bohemian Underground Movement
The Bohemian Underground Movement is an umbrella organisation of music production by Richard Searle, bass player from Doctor and the Medics, Corduroy and Wet Dog....
.(B.U.M.)
The Bohemian Underground Movement (B.U.M) is the umbrella name used by Richard Searle for his various and mischievous pop art projects.
The name came from writing BUM in the sand for purile and mischievous effect.
The first B.U.M track 'I'm Afraid Of The Man In The Pasty Shop' was recorded entirely over the phone from Cornwall, then mixed in the B.U.M studio weeks later. It features on Acid Jazz Record compilation 'The New Testament Of Folk'.
There have been several Bohemian Underground Movement releases, mostly through Acid Jazz Records.
Discography
- Jazzlolly - 'Jazzlolly'. Exile On Hammond St.Acid Jazz Records AJXCD158.And The Best Of Hammond Street. AJX203.
- Plumpadellic - 'Plump Funk'. Totally Wired Vol3.Old School New Cool. AJXCD/LP152.And Totallt Rewired 2. AJX205D.
- Groovy Ruben - 'The Woeful Tale Of Shakes Magoo'. Sugarlumps. AJXCD/LP161.
- Templar - 'Quarter To Now.Sugarlumps'. AJXCD/LP161.
- Wicca's World - 'Psycles'. The New Testament Of Folk.AJXCD163
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
- The Jugs - 'I'm Afraid Of The Man In The Pasty Shop'.
- The New Testament Of Folk. AJXCD163.
- Naked Cake - 'Nightclub Libel'. Old School New Cool 2. AJXCD175.
- Wet Dog - 'Fancy You'. Old School New Cool 2. AJXCD175
& Totally Rewired. AJX180D download only.
- WET DOG - 'Perfect Crime'. Drumming Monkey Records DRUM02.
- The James Coburn Cool - 'Juicer'. Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187.
- Flying Pudding - 'Watching The Machine'. Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187.
- nut - 'The Beetle Makes Noise On Wet Grass'. Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187.
- The Mauve(featuring Monique Maasen)- 'Safety Lite'. Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
- Jenson Interceptor - 'Fetch The Stick'. Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187.
- Kitchener - 'The Magic Loungabout'.Sugarlumps 2. AJXCD/LP187. And Totally Rewired 2. AJX205D.
- Soldiers Of Soul - 'Raw'. Hammond Street 3. AJXCD/LP195. And The Best Of Hammond Street. AJX203D.
- The Pyes - 'Toss & Pot'. Hammond Street 3. AJXCD/LP195. The Best Of Hammond Street. AJX205D. And Totally Rewired 2. AJX205D.
- Danger Mod - Theodalight 9. Hammond Street 4.Acid Jazz Records AJXCD217.
- Illusion Of Groove - 'Ghost Trip'. Hammond Street 4. Acid Jazz Records AJXCD217.
- The JugZ - 'Got Gas'. Sugarlumps 3. Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD/LP214.
- Thrush - 'London Zen'. Sugarlumps 3. Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD/LP214.
- Action Band - 'White Elephant'. Sugarlumps 3. Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD/LP214.
- The Runcible Spoon - 'Hallucination Train'. Sugarlumps 3.Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD/LP214.
- The Solomonics - 'Blanket Of Secrecy'. Hipsters 2. Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD255.
Much of Richard's work features with advert sync agencies such as Sync Master and Ricall.
Richard Searle is also publishing books.
External links
- http://www.b-u-m.co.uk
- http://modspeedproduction.blogspot.com/p/bum.html
- http://www.wet-dog.co.uk
- http://modspeedproduction.blogspot.com/2011/01/corduroy-boy-writes-book.html
- http://www.myspace.com/corduroyuk
- http://www.acidjazz.co.uk
- http://www.boyswonder.co.uk
- http://www.syncmaster.co.uk
- http://www.doctorandthemedics.com