Zones (band)
Encyclopedia
Zones was a British
punk
and power pop
band founded in 1977, after the end of PVC2 (formerly the bubbleglam and soft rock band Slik
) and the Midge Ure
's membership demise. PVC2 was conformed by Ure (future Ultravox
frontman) on guitar, Russell Webb
on bass, Billy McIsaac
on keyboards and Kenny Hyslop
on drums. In late 1977, Ure moved to Glen Matlock
's The Rich Kids
, leaving PVC2 which immediately ended. Then, Webb, Hyslop and McIsaac called in Alex Harvey
's cousin Willie Gardner
to replace Ure on guitar and vocals, and Zones was formed.
In February 1978, Zones released a single
"Stuck with You". In that same year, Zones toured with Magazine
. The song attracted the attention of BBC Radio 1
DJ
John Peel
, who shortly afterwards recorded sessions with them, and Arista Records
, who signed them and released the rest of their discography. Their next single was "Sign Of The Times" released in 1978.
In 1979, Zones released Under Influence
, an album with power pop, reggae and like-post punk songs. But, after a bunch of Peel Sessions that year, the band split up. Gardner moved to Endgames
, with Simple Minds
' original drummer Brian McGee, McIsaac moved to a piano college in Glasgow, and Webb and Hyslop to The Skids
. Webb teamed bands and projects with Skids' singer Richard Jobson
(Skids singer) until 1988 and Hyslop, after collaborating with Skids album, Joy, moved to Simple Minds (1981–1982) and Set The Tone
(1982–1983).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band founded in 1977, after the end of PVC2 (formerly the bubbleglam and soft rock band Slik
Slik
Slik were a Scottish pop group of the mid 1970s, most notable for their UK no.1 hit "Forever and Ever" in 1976. Beginning with glam rock and changing their style to soft rock/bubblegum...
) and the Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
's membership demise. PVC2 was conformed by Ure (future Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
frontman) on guitar, Russell Webb
Russell Webb
Russell Irving Webb is a retired water polo player from the United States. He played in two consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1968. He won a bronze medal with the Men's National Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.He is now a practicing oral...
on bass, Billy McIsaac
Billy McIsaac
Billy McIsaac is a musician, who played mainly keyboards since his early days with different pop bands, and still does, with his current ceremony-band The Billy McIsaac Band....
on keyboards and Kenny Hyslop
Kenny hyslop
Kenny Hyslop is a Scottish drummer who played with different projects and bands who were varied in different styles, such as glam rock, 1970s teenybop, soft rock, punk, new wave, new romantic, blues and modern electronica.-Biography:Hyslop attended Hermitage School.He joined the band Salvation...
on drums. In late 1977, Ure moved to Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
's The Rich Kids
The Rich Kids
Rich Kids were a short-lived, seminal new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from The Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure, and Rusty Egan, who later went to found Visage.-Career:...
, leaving PVC2 which immediately ended. Then, Webb, Hyslop and McIsaac called in Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
's cousin Willie Gardner
Willie Gardner
Willie Gardner was a Scottish musician, who formed part of various pop and rock bands in the 1970s and 1980s, playing guitar. He was a cousin of the glam rock icon Alex Harvey....
to replace Ure on guitar and vocals, and Zones was formed.
In February 1978, Zones released a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Stuck with You". In that same year, Zones toured with Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
. The song attracted the attention of 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...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
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...
, who shortly afterwards recorded sessions with them, and Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, who signed them and released the rest of their discography. Their next single was "Sign Of The Times" released in 1978.
In 1979, Zones released Under Influence
Under Influence
Under Influence was the only album of New Wave band Zones, released by Arista Records in mid-1979. The album contained multi-genred songs, being very far from the early punkier stuff, like the case of 7" single "Stuck with You"...
, an album with power pop, reggae and like-post punk songs. But, after a bunch of Peel Sessions that year, the band split up. Gardner moved to Endgames
Endgames (band)
Endgames are a Scottish New Wave band, who had some success in the 1980s with singles such as "Waiting For Another Chance" and "Love Cares".-Biography:...
, with Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
' original drummer Brian McGee, McIsaac moved to a piano college in Glasgow, and Webb and Hyslop to The Skids
The Skids
Skids were an art-punk/punk rock and new wave band from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, founded in 1977 by Stuart Adamson , William Simpson , Thomas Kellichan and Richard Jobson...
. Webb teamed bands and projects with Skids' singer Richard Jobson
Richard Jobson (television presenter)
Richard Jobson is a Scottish singer-songwriter and film-maker, best known as a television presenter, film director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
(Skids singer) until 1988 and Hyslop, after collaborating with Skids album, Joy, moved to Simple Minds (1981–1982) and Set The Tone
Set The Tone
Set The Tone is the debut album by British soul singer Nate James.-Track listing:# "Said I'd Show You" # "The Message" # "Get This Right"...
(1982–1983).
Albums
- Under InfluenceUnder InfluenceUnder Influence was the only album of New Wave band Zones, released by Arista Records in mid-1979. The album contained multi-genred songs, being very far from the early punkier stuff, like the case of 7" single "Stuck with You"...
album (Arista, 1979) - That Summer soundtrack (Various artists compilation) (song: "New Life")
Singles
- "Stuck with You" (Zoom, February 17, 1978)
- "Sign of the Times" (Arista, 1978)
- "Looking to the Future" (Arista, 1979)
- "Mourning Star" (July 17, 1979)