The Termites
Encyclopedia
The Termites are a 5-piece psychobilly
musical group from Scotland
that formed in the 1980s. Their most recent CD, "Kicked In The Teeth" on Crazy Love Records, was released in 2008.
- A town that was, at the time, rich in psychobilly music with bands like The Longhorns. It was with this band that the Termites first started out, supporting The Longhorns in Kilmarnock clubs. Initially a four piece of Kenny Mitchell (vocals
), Scott Ballantyne (guitar
), Ewin Murray (drums
) and Gerry Doyle (electric bass
), the band became known for powerful, and usually violent, live shows.
All four members of the band were brought up around the 'Tap Shoaps' (Top Shops) of Kilmarnock
's housing scheme, New Farm Loch
, and as a result, were as much a gang as a band.
The band's recording career began in 1987 with the release of "Devil Call" on Fury Records
' compilation "Gypsy Girl". This was followed by a 4 track EP on Raucous Records
in 1988. After live performances in the UK and Europe, the first album, "Overload", came out in 1989 on Link Records. Other tracks appeared on many different compilation albums. "Overload" was recorded in Bracknell, England, with Chuck Flintstone behind the mixing desk. The album sessions were fraught with arguments and fist fights, but the album saw the light of day, released on the ‘Chuck Flintstone Presents’ series on Link Records. As the new album was being released, band members were leaving. The lineup changed throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving singer Kenny Mitchell as the sole original member.
1991 saw the last gig in Irvine
's 'Attic' nightclub. Ewin (the drummer) left the band within days of that gig and the Termites split. However, an 18 year old, Jonny Fiddles, who attended that last gig and who was raised in the same area of New Farm Loch, Kilmarnock, would ultimately become the fifth member of the Termites in years to come.
From the mid-1990s, through to 2000 the members of the band went their separate ways. The turn of the century saw a reappearance of the Termites for a few one-off shows, but not with the original line-up. Vocalist Kenny Mitchell's relocation to Boston, USA for several years ensured that the original band could not rise again. Kenny went on to become one of Scotland's most respected tattoo artist
s. He now works at Forevermore Tattoo Parlour in Glasgow
.
Im late 2005 original members Kenny Mitchell and Scott Ballantyne decided to bring the Termites back. Original drummer, Ewin Murray, also agreed and so the original three were back for the first time in 15 years.
This time, Matt Black, bass player from Kenny's previous band, "The Hateville Heroes", joined as upright bass
player. The band started touring again. 2006 also saw the re-release of the "Overload" album.
During the summer of 2006, an additional member was recruited to bring a fiddle
to two new tracks, "Somebody's Gonna Pay", and "Bubblegum". Jonny Fiddles lived three houses from Kenny Mitchell. Jonny has remained in the band, now appearing on many of the new tracks.
The Termites signed to German record label "Crazy Love Records" in 2007, with a new album released September 2008 entitled "Kicked In The Teeth".
Psychobilly
Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly...
musical group from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
that formed in the 1980s. Their most recent CD, "Kicked In The Teeth" on Crazy Love Records, was released in 2008.
History of the band
The Termites formed during the mid-1980s in KilmarnockKilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
- A town that was, at the time, rich in psychobilly music with bands like The Longhorns. It was with this band that the Termites first started out, supporting The Longhorns in Kilmarnock clubs. Initially a four piece of Kenny Mitchell (vocals
Singing
Singing 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...
), Scott Ballantyne (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
), Ewin Murray (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
) and Gerry Doyle (electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), the band became known for powerful, and usually violent, live shows.
All four members of the band were brought up around the 'Tap Shoaps' (Top Shops) of Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
's housing scheme, New Farm Loch
New Farm Loch
The large New Farm Loch estate to the North-East of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland and was created in the late 1960s by a number of builders to accommodate the growing population of Kilmarnock.-The Newfarm loch:...
, and as a result, were as much a gang as a band.
The band's recording career began in 1987 with the release of "Devil Call" on Fury Records
Fury Records
Fury Records was set up by Bobby Robinson in 1957. In 1959 it had a Billboard No.1 hit with Kansas City, sung by Wilbert Harrison. In the early seventies the label launched early rap groups like Grandmaster Flash....
' compilation "Gypsy Girl". This was followed by a 4 track EP on Raucous Records
Raucous Records
Raucous Records is a British record label focusing on rockabilly, psychobilly, rock and roll, and surf music. The label has released albums such as "Between The Polecats" by The Polecats, "Rock 'n' Roll Fever" by Jay Chance, "Rockabilly Express" by Gary Setzer and Barry Ryan, "The Lost Album" by...
in 1988. After live performances in the UK and Europe, the first album, "Overload", came out in 1989 on Link Records. Other tracks appeared on many different compilation albums. "Overload" was recorded in Bracknell, England, with Chuck Flintstone behind the mixing desk. The album sessions were fraught with arguments and fist fights, but the album saw the light of day, released on the ‘Chuck Flintstone Presents’ series on Link Records. As the new album was being released, band members were leaving. The lineup changed throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving singer Kenny Mitchell as the sole original member.
1991 saw the last gig in Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
's 'Attic' nightclub. Ewin (the drummer) left the band within days of that gig and the Termites split. However, an 18 year old, Jonny Fiddles, who attended that last gig and who was raised in the same area of New Farm Loch, Kilmarnock, would ultimately become the fifth member of the Termites in years to come.
From the mid-1990s, through to 2000 the members of the band went their separate ways. The turn of the century saw a reappearance of the Termites for a few one-off shows, but not with the original line-up. Vocalist Kenny Mitchell's relocation to Boston, USA for several years ensured that the original band could not rise again. Kenny went on to become one of Scotland's most respected tattoo artist
Tattoo artist
A tattoo artist is an individual who applies permanent decorative tattoos, often in an established business called a tattoo shop, tattoo studio or tattoo parlour...
s. He now works at Forevermore Tattoo Parlour in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Im late 2005 original members Kenny Mitchell and Scott Ballantyne decided to bring the Termites back. Original drummer, Ewin Murray, also agreed and so the original three were back for the first time in 15 years.
This time, Matt Black, bass player from Kenny's previous band, "The Hateville Heroes", joined as upright bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
player. The band started touring again. 2006 also saw the re-release of the "Overload" album.
During the summer of 2006, an additional member was recruited to bring a fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
to two new tracks, "Somebody's Gonna Pay", and "Bubblegum". Jonny Fiddles lived three houses from Kenny Mitchell. Jonny has remained in the band, now appearing on many of the new tracks.
The Termites signed to German record label "Crazy Love Records" in 2007, with a new album released September 2008 entitled "Kicked In The Teeth".
| Termites Releases |
|---|
| "Devil Call" on Fury Records compilation "Gypsy Girl" (1987) |
| 4 track E.P. on Raucous Records (1988) |
| 2 tracks on "Psycho tendencies" compilation (1989) |
| "Overload" album released on Link Records (1990) |
| Cramps cover "Can't Find My Mind" and "Blue Christmas" on Jungle Noise Records Psychobilly Christmas CD (1991) |
| "Kicked In The Teeth" released on Crazy Love Records (2008) |