Tobruk (band)
Encyclopedia
Tobruk was an English
rock band
, formed in 1981 when vocalist Stuart "Snake" Neale (born 26 April 1963 - died 20 December 2006), guitarist Nigel Evans and keyboard player Jem Davies from the Bedford-based band, Stranger, joined forces with guitarists Mick Newman, lead Martin Gregory, bassist Steve (Woody) Woodward and drummer Alan Vallance. Although the band came to the fore during the tail-end of the NWOBHM movement, their sound was more melodic and polished.
The band relocated to Birmingham
and commenced touring. A demo brought them exposure on The Friday Rock Show in 1982. They gigged to promote their debut single "Wild On The Run" with "The Show Must Go On" which was released on Neat Records around 1983. Steve Woodward, who was a founding member and main songwriter, left the band in 1983 after a tour with Diamond Head
just as EMI
was showing interest in the band. A new rhythm section was recruited, when drummer Eddie Fincher and bassist Mike Brown joined. Vallance went on to stints in Sons Of Eden and Proteus. Woodward currently plays guitar and sings in the band Three Chord Trick.
The band's management at the time, Light And Sound Design, hired out the Birmingham Odeon, rigged it with expensive lights and sound and invited various talent scouts. This led the band to sign a deal. After signing to EMI
(Parlophone
) in 1984 Tobruk went on a club tour before playing some dates with Diamond Head. They also toured the UK supporting UFO (band)
.
They then ventured to Philadelphia to start recording their debut album, also titled 'Wild On The Run' at Warehouse Studios. Lance Quinn from Lita Ford and Bon Jovi
-fame co-produced the album with the band. The album was released in May 1985 and tours followed supporting UFO, Tokyo Blade
and Manowar (band)
.
Unfortunately, the band could not break in the UK, as they sounded too American. The album's sales disappointed and the band left Parlophone
around 1987. A second album was released through FM Revolver, called 'Pleasure + Pain'.
By this stage, the band started falling apart with Snake and Fincher leaving the band to join the band Idol Rich. Tobruk tried to soldier on and recorded some demos with ex-The Alliance vocalist, Tony Martin, but nothing came of it and the band split for good. Martin went on to join Black Sabbath
. Nigel spent some time touring with Shy (band)
.
Snake also had a stint in an early incarnation of The Wildhearts
but never recorded officially with them, although some demos were produced. Mike Brown played bass in a short-lived band with Alan Kelly (drummer, ex-Shy) called Why The Rabbit shortly after Tobruk broke up. Jem Davis and Fincher started the band Midnight Blue with one-time Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow (band)
singer Dougie White and recoded 'Take The Money And Run' circa 1994. Davis also toured with UFO and had stints in Praying Mantis (band)
and FM.
Phoenix Music re-issued a Tobruk retrospective in 2001 with rare tracks and video footage, called 'Recaptured'. Rip Tide Records also re-released 'Wild On The Run' on CD in that year.
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...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, formed in 1981 when vocalist Stuart "Snake" Neale (born 26 April 1963 - died 20 December 2006), guitarist Nigel Evans and keyboard player Jem Davies from the Bedford-based band, Stranger, joined forces with guitarists Mick Newman, lead Martin Gregory, bassist Steve (Woody) Woodward and drummer Alan Vallance. Although the band came to the fore during the tail-end of the NWOBHM movement, their sound was more melodic and polished.
The band relocated to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and commenced touring. A demo brought them exposure on The Friday Rock Show in 1982. They gigged to promote their debut single "Wild On The Run" with "The Show Must Go On" which was released on Neat Records around 1983. Steve Woodward, who was a founding member and main songwriter, left the band in 1983 after a tour with Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
just as EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
was showing interest in the band. A new rhythm section was recruited, when drummer Eddie Fincher and bassist Mike Brown joined. Vallance went on to stints in Sons Of Eden and Proteus. Woodward currently plays guitar and sings in the band Three Chord Trick.
The band's management at the time, Light And Sound Design, hired out the Birmingham Odeon, rigged it with expensive lights and sound and invited various talent scouts. This led the band to sign a deal. After signing to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
(Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
) in 1984 Tobruk went on a club tour before playing some dates with Diamond Head. They also toured the UK supporting UFO (band)
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
.
They then ventured to Philadelphia to start recording their debut album, also titled 'Wild On The Run' at Warehouse Studios. Lance Quinn from Lita Ford and Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
-fame co-produced the album with the band. The album was released in May 1985 and tours followed supporting UFO, Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade is an English heavy metal band, active since 1982. Tokyo Blade is one of the many acts considered part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement from the late 1970s / early 1980s. Tokyo Blade went through many changes of formation and disbanded twice, often changing their musical...
and Manowar (band)
Manowar (band)
Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980 the group is known for its lyrics based on fantasy and mythological topics along with their "loud and bombastic" sound...
.
Unfortunately, the band could not break in the UK, as they sounded too American. The album's sales disappointed and the band left Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
around 1987. A second album was released through FM Revolver, called 'Pleasure + Pain'.
By this stage, the band started falling apart with Snake and Fincher leaving the band to join the band Idol Rich. Tobruk tried to soldier on and recorded some demos with ex-The Alliance vocalist, Tony Martin, but nothing came of it and the band split for good. Martin went on to join Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. Nigel spent some time touring with Shy (band)
Shy (band)
Shy are a British metal band formed in 1980 under the name 'Trojan', hailing from Birmingham, England.-Biography:Formerly known as Trojan, Shy featured vocalist Tony Mills, Steve Harris , Paddy McKenna , Mark Badrick and drummer Alan Kelly...
.
Snake also had a stint in an early incarnation of The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
but never recorded officially with them, although some demos were produced. Mike Brown played bass in a short-lived band with Alan Kelly (drummer, ex-Shy) called Why The Rabbit shortly after Tobruk broke up. Jem Davis and Fincher started the band Midnight Blue with one-time Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow (band)
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
singer Dougie White and recoded 'Take The Money And Run' circa 1994. Davis also toured with UFO and had stints in Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
and FM.
Phoenix Music re-issued a Tobruk retrospective in 2001 with rare tracks and video footage, called 'Recaptured'. Rip Tide Records also re-released 'Wild On The Run' on CD in that year.
Discography
- Wild On The Run 45 (Neat) 1983
- Wild On The Run (ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
/ EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) 1985 - Wild On The Run [Re-released with Bonus Live Disc] (Majestic Rock Records) 2007
- Pleasure + Pain (FM Revolver) 1987
- Recaptured (Phoenix) 2001