Walkingseeds
Encyclopedia
Walkingseeds were an alternative rock
band from Liverpool
, England
, formed after the Mel-o-Tones split up in 1986.
and an EP
on Liverpool label Probe Plus
. After working as The Corinthians for a few months, during which time they recorded a seven-track demo, they decided on a change of name to Walkingseeds, and debuted in June 1986 with the Know Too Much EP, still on Probe Plus. The band's sound was charecterised as "psychedelic grunge". Neesam departed and the others drafted in former Marshmallow Overcoat guitarist Barry Sutton
and drummer Tony Mogan. After the "Mark Chapman
" single on their own Moral Burro label, they returned to Probe Plus with their debut album, Skullfuck (the title influenced by a Grateful Dead
album cover), released in late 1987. The band worked with Kramer on the second album, Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement, released on Glass Records
in 1989. Sutton departed to join The La's
and was replaced by Andy Rowan for the Shaved Beatnik EP. The band drafted in Nick Saloman (aka The Bevis Frond
) and brought in Lee Webster as a replacement for Rowan. The Sensory Deprivation Chamber Quartet Dwarf mini-album followed in 1989, and was their last release for Glass. After a split single with Bevis Frond, they moved on to Paperhouse Records for their next album, Bad Orb, Whirling Ball (1990). The band continued into the mid-1990s, with Dinosaur Jr
's Don Fleming
joining for a time, before splitting up, with Parker and Mogan forming The Del-Bloods and later White Bitch. Martin later reappeared in Batloaf's Meat Loaf
parody Meat out of Hell along with Parker and Mogan. Sutton and Webster joined Froth.
The band recorded four sessions for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show between 1987 and 1990.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
, formed after the Mel-o-Tones split up in 1986.
History
Frank Martin (vocals), Bob Parker (guitar), and John Neesam (drums) had previously worked together in the Mel-o-Tones, who released a mini-LPMini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
and an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
on Liverpool label Probe Plus
Probe plus
Probe Plus is a record label based in Liverpool, England. It was founded by Geoff Davies, an enthusiastic promoter of small, unsigned bands, who describes the label as "Music to drive you to drink"....
. After working as The Corinthians for a few months, during which time they recorded a seven-track demo, they decided on a change of name to Walkingseeds, and debuted in June 1986 with the Know Too Much EP, still on Probe Plus. The band's sound was charecterised as "psychedelic grunge". Neesam departed and the others drafted in former Marshmallow Overcoat guitarist Barry Sutton
Barry Sutton
Barry Sutton is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Liverpool who has performed with numerous alternative rock bands since 1981. His career began as the songwriter and vocalist in the unsigned bands Western Diplomats and Marshmallow Overcoat...
and drummer Tony Mogan. After the "Mark Chapman
Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman is an American prison inmate who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He committed the crime as Lennon and Yoko Ono were outside of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Chapman aimed five shots at Lennon, hitting him four times in his back...
" single on their own Moral Burro label, they returned to Probe Plus with their debut album, Skullfuck (the title influenced by a Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
album cover), released in late 1987. The band worked with Kramer on the second album, Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement, released on Glass Records
Glass Records
Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1989, if GLASS 001 and GLASS 002 were issued in 1979 and 1980 respectively.Glass was one of the circuit of key London-based indie labels of the 1980s...
in 1989. Sutton departed to join The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
and was replaced by Andy Rowan for the Shaved Beatnik EP. The band drafted in Nick Saloman (aka The Bevis Frond
The Bevis Frond
The Bevis Frond is a British musical group whose range covers hard edge to melancholy vintage indie rock to poetic, "classic-rock" songcraft with a thick Walthamstow accent. Nick Saloman is the band's frontman and songwriter...
) and brought in Lee Webster as a replacement for Rowan. The Sensory Deprivation Chamber Quartet Dwarf mini-album followed in 1989, and was their last release for Glass. After a split single with Bevis Frond, they moved on to Paperhouse Records for their next album, Bad Orb, Whirling Ball (1990). The band continued into the mid-1990s, with Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, prior to legal issues that forced the group to change their name, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005...
's Don Fleming
Don Fleming (musician)
Don Fleming is an American musician, best known for being the frontman of Velvet Monkeys, B.A.L.L., and Gumball.-Biography:...
joining for a time, before splitting up, with Parker and Mogan forming The Del-Bloods and later White Bitch. Martin later reappeared in Batloaf's Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
parody Meat out of Hell along with Parker and Mogan. Sutton and Webster joined Froth.
The band recorded four sessions for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show between 1987 and 1990.
Albums
- Skullfuck (1987) Probe PlusProbe plusProbe Plus is a record label based in Liverpool, England. It was founded by Geoff Davies, an enthusiastic promoter of small, unsigned bands, who describes the label as "Music to drive you to drink"....
(UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#26) - Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement (1989) Glass
- Sensory Deprivation Chamber Quartet Dwarf (1989) Glass
- Bad Orb, Whirling Ball (1990) Paperhouse
- Earth Is Hell (live) (1991) Snakeskin
- Mirrorshades (1993) Butcher's Hook
Singles
- Know Too Much EP (1986) Probe Plus
- "Mark Chapman" (1987) Moral Burro
- Shaved Beatnik EP (1989) Glass
- "Reflection in a Tall Mirror" (1990) Clawfist (split with Bevis Frond)
- "Gates of Freedom" (1990) Paperhouse
- "Rollin' Machine" (199?) Fist Puppet
- "Beat Them All to Death" (1994) Dental
External links
- Robbins, Ira "Walkingseeds", Trouser PressTrouser PressTrouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...