Runner (band)
Encyclopedia
Runner were a short-lived British rock band, formed in 1978 out of a friendship between Steve Gould of the band Rare Bird
and Alan Merrill
of the band Arrows.
Steve Gould had been touring with Merrill's live touring band Arrows after his band Rare Bird broke up in 1976. When the Arrows broke up in 1978 both singers were looking for new projects. They went into the studio to do a rough demo with bass player Mick Feat, who was playing with Van Morrison
at the time, and drummer Dave Dowle
who was playing with the band Whitesnake
.
The demo the foursome did was so good that the band were signed by Island Records
immediately. They went to The Manor
recording studio in Oxfordshire
England and recorded their first and only album with James Guthrie
producing.
The Runner album made the US Billboard top 100 charts, but due to musical differences the band broke up whilst recording their second album with Alex Sadkin
producing.
After the band split, Mick Feat and Steve Gould went on to record with Alvin Lee
, Dave Dowle with the Maggie Bell
band Nightflyer, and Alan Merrill joined Rick Derringer
's band Derringer.
Oddly, the band Runner never toured, in spite of their making the American charts.
Rare Bird
Rare Bird was a progressive rock band founded in 1969. They were formed in England, but had more success in other European countries than they did at home. They are mostly remembered for the haunting, organ-based track "Sympathy"...
and Alan Merrill
Alan Merrill
Alan Merrill is an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. In the early 1970s Merrill was the first westerner to achieve pop star status in Japan...
of the band Arrows.
Steve Gould had been touring with Merrill's live touring band Arrows after his band Rare Bird broke up in 1976. When the Arrows broke up in 1978 both singers were looking for new projects. They went into the studio to do a rough demo with bass player Mick Feat, who was playing with Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
at the time, and drummer Dave Dowle
Dave Dowle
David 'Duck' Dowle is an English drummer who has played with the bands Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Runner, Midnight Flyer, Bernie Marsden.-Biography:...
who was playing with the band Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
.
The demo the foursome did was so good that the band were signed by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
immediately. They went to The Manor
The Manor
The Manor may refer to:in Australia* The Manor , a large 1911 house in the Sydney suburb of Mosman* The Manor, a Hip Hop, Funk, Underground, Indie bar in Leederville, Western Australiain England...
recording studio in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
England and recorded their first and only album with James Guthrie
James Guthrie (record producer)
James K.A. Guthrie is a British recording engineer and record producer best known for his work with the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, having served as a producer and engineer for the band since 1978...
producing.
The Runner album made the US Billboard top 100 charts, but due to musical differences the band broke up whilst recording their second album with Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
producing.
After the band split, Mick Feat and Steve Gould went on to record with Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
, Dave Dowle with the Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell is a Scottish rock and blues-rock singer, regarded by some as Britain's answer to Janis Joplin.-Career:...
band Nightflyer, and Alan Merrill joined Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
's band Derringer.
Oddly, the band Runner never toured, in spite of their making the American charts.