The Stingrays
Encyclopedia
The Stingrays are a New Wave
/Rockabilly
band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol
, England
, and is still gigging today. (There are at least three notable bands that have called themselves The Stingrays, Sting Rays or a permutation of the name).
They have experienced various line up changes over the years, but have included: Russ Mainwaring (who is still a member), Bill Stair (Art Objects
, Various Artists, Blue Aeroplanes), Chris Bostock
, and Sean McLuskey (Subway Sect
, JoBoxers
, If?
).
Their first single, "Countdown", was released on local label Fried Egg Records
in 1980. They also contributed the track, "Sound", to the seminal Heartbeat Records compilation album, Avon Calling
.
The mini-album, The Stingrays At the Dugout in '77: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping, was recorded by Simon Edwards (of Heartbeat Records) live at the Dug Out Club, Park Row, Bristol. According to Steve Bush of Essential Bop, they were “a bit like Bristol's equivalent of The Ramones. A rockin' unit with an advanced sense of irony.”
A retrospective CD Back across the Rubicon was self released on YTY in 2009.
This line up is on the album “The Stingrays at the Dugout (1977): The Sound of Two Hands Clapping”
This line up is on “Sound” from the Heartbeat Records album Avon Calling
This line up is on the Fried Egg Records
single “Countdown”
This line up is on “Satellites”, the B side of the Circus Records
single “Never Do”
This line up is on the A side of the Circus Records
single “Never Do”
This line up is on the YTY album Back Across the Rubicon
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...
/Rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
band, which originally formed in 1977 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...
, England
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...
, and is still gigging today. (There are at least three notable bands that have called themselves The Stingrays, Sting Rays or a permutation of the name).
They have experienced various line up changes over the years, but have included: Russ Mainwaring (who is still a member), Bill Stair (Art Objects
Art Objects (band)
Art Objects were a Bristol-based postpunk band who later evolved into the Blue Aeroplanes. Between 1978 and 1981 they released two singles and one album.Lineup:Gerard Langley: voiceJonathan J...
, Various Artists, Blue Aeroplanes), Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock is an English musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known for his work with the JoBoxersbut was also a member of Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys and Subway Sect....
, and Sean McLuskey (Subway Sect
Subway Sect
Subway Sect were one of the original British punk bands. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.-The early days:...
, JoBoxers
JoBoxers
JoBoxers was a predominantly British New Wave/soul group formed in 1982, when former Subway Sect members Rob Marche , Dave Collard , Chris Bostock , and Sean McLusky teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne...
, If?
If?
If? were an indie-dance band of the late 1980s and early 1990s signed to MCA Records. Comprising former JoBoxers members Sean McLusky and Robert Marche along with Paul Wells, they recorded such singles as "Everything And More" and "Saturday's Angels"....
).
Their first single, "Countdown", was released on local label Fried Egg Records
Fried Egg Records
Fried Egg Records was a record label set up in 1979 by Andy Leighton, administrator of the Bristol based Crystal Theatre. Its first release was by the Theatres anarchic “house band” Shoes For Industry...
in 1980. They also contributed the track, "Sound", to the seminal Heartbeat Records compilation album, 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...
.
The mini-album, The Stingrays At the Dugout in '77: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping, was recorded by Simon Edwards (of Heartbeat Records) live at the Dug Out Club, Park Row, Bristol. According to Steve Bush of Essential Bop, they were “a bit like Bristol's equivalent of The Ramones. A rockin' unit with an advanced sense of irony.”
A retrospective CD Back across the Rubicon was self released on YTY in 2009.
Original line-up
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar
- Bill Stair - Bass
- Pete Thelke - Vocals
- Dean Sidney - Drums
This line up is on the album “The Stingrays at the Dugout (1977): The Sound of Two Hands Clapping”
Line-up 3
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar / Vocals
- Paul Matthews - Guitar
- Chris Bostock - Bass
- Sean McLuskey - Drums
This line up is on “Sound” from the Heartbeat Records album 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...
Line-up 4
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar/ Vocals
- Chris Bostock - Bass.
- Sean McLuskey - Drums.
This line up is on the Fried Egg Records
Fried Egg Records
Fried Egg Records was a record label set up in 1979 by Andy Leighton, administrator of the Bristol based Crystal Theatre. Its first release was by the Theatres anarchic “house band” Shoes For Industry...
single “Countdown”
Line-up 6
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar / Vocals.
- Paul Johnson - Bass.
- Mark Paignton - Drums
This line up is on “Satellites”, the B side of the Circus Records
Bristol record labels
The city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...
single “Never Do”
Line-up 7
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar / Vocals.
- Biff - Bass.
- Mark Paignton – Drums
This line up is on the A side of the Circus Records
Bristol record labels
The city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...
single “Never Do”
Line-up 8
- Russ Mainwaring - Guitar / Vocals.
- Tim Syniad - Bass.
- Pawb - Drums.
This line up is on the YTY album Back Across the Rubicon
Current line-up
- Russ Mainwaring Guitar - Vocals.
- Paul Matthews - Bass.
- Richard H Meredith - Drums.
Singles
- "Countdown" / "Exceptions" / "Actions" (1979, Fried Egg, UK, 7", EGG 006)
- "Never Do" / "Satellites" (1981, Circus, UK, 7", CIRC 0003)
Albums
- The Stingrays At the Dugout in '77: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping (2009, Bristol Archive, Mini Album Download, ARC077)
- Back across the Rubicon (2009, YTY, UK, CD)
Tracks appear on
- Bristol Beat: The Stonehouse Tapes 8-3-80 / 15-3-80 (1980, Bristol Beat, UK, Cassette)
- "Avon Calling" (1980, Heartbeat, UK, LP, HB 1)
- "Avon Calling [Reissue + Unreleased Tracks and Heartbeat Singles Collection]" (2005, Cherry Red, UK, CD, CDMRED292)
- Bristol Beat 1980 - The Stonehouse Tapes (200?, Bristol Archive, UK, Download, ARC036)
See also
- 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:...
- List of Bands from Bristol
- Heartbeat Records
- 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...
- JoBoxersJoBoxersJoBoxers was a predominantly British New Wave/soul group formed in 1982, when former Subway Sect members Rob Marche , Dave Collard , Chris Bostock , and Sean McLusky teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne...
- List of Record Labels from Bristol
- Bristol Record LabelsBristol record labelsThe city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...