Rudi
Encyclopedia
Rudi were a punk rock
/power pop
band from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
formed in 1975.
with members Brian Young, Ronnie Matthews, Graham Marshall, Leigh Carson and Gordon Blair, playing rock 'n' roll and glam rock
hits. The band's name was taken from a single
called "Oo Oo Rudi" by The Jook. After bass guitarist Johnny Stewart joined, the group adopted the new pop punk
sound. The band wore a stage uniform of boiler suits, stolen by drummer Graham Marshall from his place of work. Original Stiff Little Fingers
bassist Gordon Blair
joined in 1977.
The band's debut release was the "Big Time" single, the first release for Terri Hooley
's Good Vibrations
label in May 1978, bringing positive reviews in the music press (it was later described by Henry McDonals of The Observer
as "one of the most perfect pop songs to come out of this island") and prompting the band to relocate to London. They failed to secure a record deal in London, and suffered a further setback when guitarist Ronnie Matthews and drummer Marshall were jailed for a week after their Clapham
squat
was raided, and they returned to Belfast. In 1979 they contributed "Overcome by Fumes" to the Battle of the Bands EP
, and they were offered a record deal by Polydor, on the condition that they replaced Marshall, but the offer was declined. A four-track EP of their own followed, and the band embarked on a tour of England. Blair was sacked, later joining The Outcasts, with Matthews moving to bass. A television appearance on BBC2's Something Else
in 1980 showcased the band's proposed next single on Good Vibrations, "The Pressure's On"/"Who You", but the band left the label in frustration with Hooley. The band recorded a session for Mike Read
's BBC Radio 1
show The Evening Session in June 1980, and a deal with Target Records was proposed but failed with the label's demise. They were offered a deal with Ariola Records
by Pete Waterman
, but instead decided to sign with the Paul Weller
-funded Jamming! label. Sessions for John Peel
and David Jensen
's radio shows and two further singles followed between 1981 and 1983, the latter ("Crimson") being named "Single of the Week" by Sounds
, and Rudi supported The Jam
on their Transglobal Unity Express tour. When The Jam split up, the Jamming! label folded soon afterwards, and Rudi found themselves without a label, and also split up.
Matthews, Young, and Marshall re-emerged with a new band, Station Superheaven, while Brian Young formed a series of bands including The Tigersharks, The Roughnecks, and The Sabrejets. In the 2000s, Young played in Shame Academy, along with Greg Cowan of The Outcasts and Petesy Burns of Stalag 17.
A compilation CD of the band's recordings was released in 1996 on the Cherry Red
label Anagram.
Rudi have influenced several later bands, including The Saw Doctors
and Therapy?
, both of whom recorded cover versions of "Big Time".
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...
/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 from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
formed in 1975.
History
Rudi formed in 1975 as a covers bandCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
with members Brian Young, Ronnie Matthews, Graham Marshall, Leigh Carson and Gordon Blair, playing rock 'n' roll and glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
hits. The band's name was taken from 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...
called "Oo Oo Rudi" by The Jook. After bass guitarist Johnny Stewart joined, the group adopted the new pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
sound. The band wore a stage uniform of boiler suits, stolen by drummer Graham Marshall from his place of work. Original Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
bassist Gordon Blair
Gordon Blair
Gordon Blair is a Northern Irish musician, usually known as Gordy Blair.Blair started off his musical career as bass guitarist for Highway Star, the band that was to become Stiff Little Fingers. In 1976 he joined Belfast punk band Rudi, with whom he stayed for three years...
joined in 1977.
The band's debut release was the "Big Time" single, the first release for Terri Hooley
Terri Hooley
Terri Hooley, Godfather of the Belfast punk scene and the first person to win the Oh Yeah Legend Award in 2008. Hooley has received many awards throughout the world, his first was The Irish Music Industry Award 1994, Belfast caught up in 2008 when he received several awards in his native city...
's Good Vibrations
Good Vibrations (record label)
Good Vibrations is a Belfast record label and store. Founded by Terri Hooley in the early 1970’s, Good Vibrations started out in a small derelict building on Great Victoria Street, Belfast...
label in May 1978, bringing positive reviews in the music press (it was later described by Henry McDonals of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
as "one of the most perfect pop songs to come out of this island") and prompting the band to relocate to London. They failed to secure a record deal in London, and suffered a further setback when guitarist Ronnie Matthews and drummer Marshall were jailed for a week after their Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
squat
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
was raided, and they returned to Belfast. In 1979 they contributed "Overcome by Fumes" to the Battle of the Bands 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...
, and they were offered a record deal by Polydor, on the condition that they replaced Marshall, but the offer was declined. A four-track EP of their own followed, and the band embarked on a tour of England. Blair was sacked, later joining The Outcasts, with Matthews moving to bass. A television appearance on BBC2's Something Else
Something Else (UK TV series)
Something Else is a British television programme broadcast on BBC2 from 1978 to 1982 and targeted at a youth audience. It began in 1978 on Saturday evenings and was the first example of the genre known as "youth TV" encompassing unknown and largely untrained young presenters with undisguised...
in 1980 showcased the band's proposed next single on Good Vibrations, "The Pressure's On"/"Who You", but the band left the label in frustration with Hooley. The band recorded a session for Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
'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 The Evening Session in June 1980, and a deal with Target Records was proposed but failed with the label's demise. They were offered a deal with Ariola Records
Ariola Records
Ariola Records is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment...
by Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
, but instead decided to sign with the Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
-funded Jamming! label. 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...
and David Jensen
David Jensen
David "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
's radio shows and two further singles followed between 1981 and 1983, the latter ("Crimson") being named "Single of the Week" by Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
, and Rudi supported The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
on their Transglobal Unity Express tour. When The Jam split up, the Jamming! label folded soon afterwards, and Rudi found themselves without a label, and also split up.
Matthews, Young, and Marshall re-emerged with a new band, Station Superheaven, while Brian Young formed a series of bands including The Tigersharks, The Roughnecks, and The Sabrejets. In the 2000s, Young played in Shame Academy, along with Greg Cowan of The Outcasts and Petesy Burns of Stalag 17.
A compilation CD of the band's recordings was released in 1996 on the Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
label Anagram.
Rudi have influenced several later bands, including The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...
and Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
, both of whom recorded cover versions of "Big Time".
Original line-up (1975)
- Brian Young - guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Matthews vocals- guitar
- Leigh Carson - bass guitar
- Drew Brown - drums
Second stable line-up
- Brian Young - guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Matthews vocals- guitar
- Johnny Stewart - bass guitar
- Graham "Grimmy" Marshall - drums
Third line-up (1977–1979)
- Brian Young - guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Matthews lead vocals- guitar
- Gordon BlairGordon BlairGordon Blair is a Northern Irish musician, usually known as Gordy Blair.Blair started off his musical career as bass guitarist for Highway Star, the band that was to become Stiff Little Fingers. In 1976 he joined Belfast punk band Rudi, with whom he stayed for three years...
- bass guitar - Graham "Grimmy" Marshall - drums
1981 line-up
- Brian Young - guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Matthews - bass, lead vocals
- Graham "Grimmy" Marshall - drums
1983 line-up
- Brian Young - guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Matthews -lead vocals bass
- Graham "Grimmy" Marshall - drums
- Paul Martin - keyboards
Singles, EPs
- "Big Time" (1978), Good Vibrations
- I Spy EP (1979), Good Vibrations
- "When I Was Dead" (1982), Jamming! - UK Indie #29
- "Crimson" (1983), Jamming! - UK Indie #23
- "The Pressure's On" (1990), Bad Vibrations/Last Year's Youth
- 14 Steps to Death EP (2001), Last Year's Youth
- Yummy Yummy EP (2002), Last Year's Youth
Albums
- Big Time - The Best of Rudi (1996), Anagram
- The Band That Time Forgot (2002), Last Year's Youth
- The Complete Rudi Singles Collection (2002), Last Year's Youth
Miscellaneous
- "Overcome by Fumes" on Battle of the Bands double 7-inch set (1979), Good Vibrations