Jesse Garon And The Desperadoes
Encyclopedia
Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes were a Scottish
band formed from around, and within, the Edinburgh
indie-pop scene of the mid-1980s. The band had a distinctive guitar-jangle sound with male and female vocals. The band took their name from Elvis Presley
's stillborn twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley.
a band that was active from 1985-1988.
This initial line-up recorded the first two singles, "Splashing Along" and "The Rain Fell Down" (described by one reviewer as a "pop gem that's not to be missed"), on Narodnik Records. With the departure of McMahon and Clarke, Bruce Hopkins and John Robb (not the Manchester writer) were drafted in for third single, the Billy The Whizz EP
, these being replaced on a more permanent basis by Michael Kerr (of Meat Whiplash
). Next release was a flexi-disc featuring the track "Hank Williams Is Dead" along with a track by The Fizzbombs, a side-project of Margarita and Angus, along with Ann Donald of The Shop Assistants
. Moving to Velocity Records, the band released two more well-received singles, "The Adam Faith Experience" and "You'll Never Be That Young Again", followed by first album, A Cabinet Of Curiosities, which collected the tracks released to date.
In 1989, Kerr left to join The Darling Buds
, and the band returned in 1990 with single "Grand Hotel", a reference to the IRA
bombing
of Brighton
's Grand Hotel
, the venue for the Conservative Party
conference. Tully described this as a 'fuck Thatcher
and fuck the IRA for not killing her when they had the chance' song - the band never afraid to be controversial. The album Nixon followed, and in October 1990, they released their final single, the Hold Me Now EP.
Schoppler released a solo album, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, in 2000, recorded with Mick Cooke
of Belle & Sebastian
and Roy Hunter.
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...
band formed from around, and within, the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
indie-pop scene of the mid-1980s. The band had a distinctive guitar-jangle sound with male and female vocals. The band took their name from Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's stillborn twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley.
History
The original members of the band were Andrew Tully (guitars/vocals), Angus McPake (bass guitar), Fran Schoppler (vocals), Margarita Vasquez-Ponte (drums), Kevin McMahon (guitars), and Stuart Clarke (guitar). Tully and Vasquez-Ponte were also members of Rote KapelleRote Kapelle (band)
Rote Kapelle were a post punk/indie pop band from Edinburgh, Scotland, active during the 1980s. The band members included musicians who were also members of Jesse Garon And The Desperadoes, and The Shop Assistants.-History:...
a band that was active from 1985-1988.
This initial line-up recorded the first two singles, "Splashing Along" and "The Rain Fell Down" (described by one reviewer as a "pop gem that's not to be missed"), on Narodnik Records. With the departure of McMahon and Clarke, Bruce Hopkins and John Robb (not the Manchester writer) were drafted in for third single, the Billy The Whizz 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...
, these being replaced on a more permanent basis by Michael Kerr (of Meat Whiplash
Meat Whiplash
Meat Whiplash was an alternative rock band from East Kilbride, Scotland, that were amongst the first to be signed to Creation Records.The line-up was Paul McDermott , Stephen McLean , Edward Connelly and Michael Kerr . They took their name from a B-side track by The Fire Engines...
). Next release was a flexi-disc featuring the track "Hank Williams Is Dead" along with a track by The Fizzbombs, a side-project of Margarita and Angus, along with Ann Donald of The Shop Assistants
The Shop Assistants
Shop Assistants were an indie pop band from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1984, initially as Buba & The Shop Assistants. After achieving success with independent releases they signed to Chrysalis Records sublabel Blue Guitar, releasing their only album in 1986...
. Moving to Velocity Records, the band released two more well-received singles, "The Adam Faith Experience" and "You'll Never Be That Young Again", followed by first album, A Cabinet Of Curiosities, which collected the tracks released to date.
In 1989, Kerr left to join The Darling Buds
The Darling Buds
The Darling Buds were an indie band from Newport, South Wales. The band formed in 1986 and were named after the H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May – a title taken in turn, from the third line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May".-Career:Influenced...
, and the band returned in 1990 with single "Grand Hotel", a reference to the IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bombing
Brighton hotel bombing
The Brighton hotel bombing happened on 12 October 1984 at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England. The bomb was planted by Provisional Irish Republican Army member Patrick Magee, with the intention of assassinating Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet who were staying at the hotel for the...
of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
's Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel (Brighton)
The Grand Hotel is a Victorian hotel in Brighton on the south coast of England. It is located on Kings Road, the main carriageway along the seafront; one of several major hotels along this road. Following the fashion to include a hotel's parent company in its name, it is also known as the De Vere...
, the venue for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
conference. Tully described this as a 'fuck Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and fuck the IRA for not killing her when they had the chance' song - the band never afraid to be controversial. The album Nixon followed, and in October 1990, they released their final single, the Hold Me Now EP.
Schoppler released a solo album, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, in 2000, recorded with Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke is the trumpet player of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Besides trumpet, Cooke plays other brass instruments, including the French horn, and occasionally plays electric guitar and bass live...
of Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
and Roy Hunter.
Singles
- "Splashing Along" (Oct 1986, Narodnik, NRK001 [7"])
- "The Rain Fell Down" (Mar 1987, Narodnik, NRK002 [7"]) - UK Indie #21
- Billy The Whizz EP (May 1987, Narodnik, NRK005T [12"]) - UK Indie #16
- "Hank Williams Is Dead" (1987, Wild Rumpus, ? [7" flexi])
- "The Adam Faith Experience" (Jan 1988, Velocity, SPEED001 [7"]/SPEEDT001 [12"]) video - UK Indie #9
- "You'll Never Be That Young Again" (Jan 1989, Velocity, SPEED002 [7"]) - UK Indie #15
- "Grand Hotel" (Jan 1990, Avalanche, AGAP002 [7"]) video
- Hold Me Now EP (Oct 1990, Avalanche, AGAP001 [12"])
Albums
- A Cabinet Of Curiosities (Jan 1989, Velocity, SPEEDLP111 [LP]) - UK Indie #20
- Nixon (Mar 1990, Avalanche, ONLYLP001/ONLYMC001/ONLYCD001)