Stereo Models
Encyclopedia
Stereo Models were an English
new wave
group, formed in 1979 in Bristol
. They are best known for the track "Move Fast-Stay Ahead", on the Bristol compilation album
, Avon Calling
, released by Heartbeat Records in 1979. Rick Joseph of NME
writing at the time of the original release said, 'The joys of profligate living are eulogised in "Move Fast, Stay Ahead", a reckless, infectious punkabilly chorus from Stereo Models'. The track was written by Russ Thomas, who provided vocals and played guitar, and was recorded at Horizon Studios, Coventry. The drummer was Mark Hatwood, formally of Coventry
band Squad, which included Terry Hall
in their line-up. Later Paul Tyler was added on bass and Steve Libby on keyboards.
In 1980 Tyler left and Hatwood got disillusioned and joined Mud
- later to write film music. Thomas and Libby carried on under the name of Metropolis, with Geoff Fulton on bass and Simon Phillips on drums. In 1981 Libby left to join The Agents
, and then Force Majeure
. Later in the year the rest of the band split up.
In 2005 the original LP, Avon Calling
, was re-released by Cherry Red
as a double album
.
In 2010 Heartbeat and Bristol Archive Records brought out a CD follow-up to the original album, calling it Avon Calling 2. Included on this CD release is the Stereo Models
track "Middle Of Nowhere".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
new wave
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...
group, formed in 1979 in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. They are best known for the track "Move Fast-Stay Ahead", on the Bristol compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Avon Calling
Avon Calling
Avon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979...
, released by Heartbeat Records in 1979. Rick Joseph of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
writing at the time of the original release said, 'The joys of profligate living are eulogised in "Move Fast, Stay Ahead", a reckless, infectious punkabilly chorus from Stereo Models'. The track was written by Russ Thomas, who provided vocals and played guitar, and was recorded at Horizon Studios, Coventry. The drummer was Mark Hatwood, formally of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
band Squad, which included Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
in their line-up. Later Paul Tyler was added on bass and Steve Libby on keyboards.
In 1980 Tyler left and Hatwood got disillusioned and joined Mud
Mud (band)
Mud were an English glam rock band, formed in February 1968, best remembered for their single "Tiger Feet", which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974...
- later to write film music. Thomas and Libby carried on under the name of Metropolis, with Geoff Fulton on bass and Simon Phillips on drums. In 1981 Libby left to join The Agents
The Agents
The Agents were a post-punk band formed in 1980 in Bristol, England. The band formed from the remnants of several bands that were playing the American Military bases circuit in Europe in the 1970s. The Band were based in Mannheim, Germany and the lineup consisted of vocalist Swig , guitarist Dave...
, and then Force Majeure
Force Majeure (Band)
Force Majeure was an English new wave group, formed in 1983 in Bristol. The band was formed from the German based group, The Agents, and mixed post-punk, electronic dance with an original line-up of two singers and two keyboard players. The line-up consisted of Agent members Richard Snow , Dave...
. Later in the year the rest of the band split up.
In 2005 the original LP, Avon Calling
Avon Calling
Avon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979...
, was re-released by Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
as a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
.
In 2010 Heartbeat and Bristol Archive Records brought out a CD follow-up to the original album, calling it Avon Calling 2. Included on this CD release is the Stereo Models
Stereo Models
Stereo Models were an English new wave group, formed in 1979 in Bristol. They are best known for the track "Move Fast-Stay Ahead", on the Bristol compilation album, Avon Calling, released by Heartbeat Records in 1979...
track "Middle Of Nowhere".
See also
- Avon CallingAvon CallingAvon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979...
- Heartbeat Records
- List of Bands from Bristol
- Culture of BristolCulture of BristolBristol is a city in South West England. As the largest city in the region it is a centre for the arts and sport. The region has a distinct West Country dialect.-Events:...
- The AgentsThe AgentsThe Agents were a post-punk band formed in 1980 in Bristol, England. The band formed from the remnants of several bands that were playing the American Military bases circuit in Europe in the 1970s. The Band were based in Mannheim, Germany and the lineup consisted of vocalist Swig , guitarist Dave...
- Force MajeureForce Majeure (Band)Force Majeure was an English new wave group, formed in 1983 in Bristol. The band was formed from the German based group, The Agents, and mixed post-punk, electronic dance with an original line-up of two singers and two keyboard players. The line-up consisted of Agent members Richard Snow , Dave...
External links
- Listen to Stereo Models at last.fm
- [ Stereo Models at Allmusic]
- Heartbeat Records