Shake Appeal
Encyclopedia
Shake Appeal is the name of a rock
group from Oxford
, England from 1984-1989. The last line-up of the band evolved into Swervedriver
.
song off the album Raw Power
. Their primary influences were the Stooges
and the MC5
. The first song the band learned to play was "Search and Destroy
".
The original line-up was Graham Franklin (vocals), Jimmy Hartridge (guitar) (both previously in The Roadrunners), Adam Franklin
(guitar) and Paddy Pulzer
(drums) (both previously in Splatter Babies). Original bass player Paul Wilson left, and was replaced by Richard Mason, who was in turn replaced by Adi Vines.
After the departure of Wilson in 1986, the band recorded a four-song demo EP featuring the songs "Amphetamine", "Freedom", "Gimme Fever", and "Train Train" with Franklin on bass. The demo was reviewd in Underground magazine, who described the band as sounding "like MC5
with their shirts on fire", calling it "loud, obnoxious, and perfect for the late '80s". In 1988, they released a new version of Gimme Fever (featuring Vines on bass) on NoTown Records; the Black Flag
-influenced "Mexico City SOS" was on the b-side.
Later in 1988, the band recorded a new version of "Amphetamine", and an MC5-inspired tune called "Rollercoaster". "Amphetamine was featured on The Jericho Collection, a compilation album featuring Oxford bands; "Rollercoaster" was on a bonus 7" included with the album. The band was voted "Best Band in Oxford" by readers of local music magazine "Local Support".
, Dinosaur Jr
, and Sonic Youth
. They took these new influences on board and began to evolve a new sound. However, by 1989 the band felt stuck in a rut in the Oxford scene. After a gig at the Oxford Polytechnic opening for World Domination Enterprises
, the band decided to split up.
Adam Franklin
recorded home demos of three new songs: Son of Mustang Ford, Afterglow, and Volcano Trash, and the band reformed to record studio demos of these songs, with Adam singing and Graham on backing vocals. Shortly after recording, Graham Franklin left to pursue electronic music with Techno Band Dimension 5, and Pulzer left to join the band Jack. The three remaining members, Adam Franklin, Hartridge, and Vines changed their name to Swervedriver
. They added Graham Bonner, formerly of the band Ut
on drums, and Swervedriver was soon signed to Creation Records
based on the strength of the last Shake Appeal demo..
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England from 1984-1989. The last line-up of the band evolved into Swervedriver
Swervedriver
Swervedriver are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band went on hiatus in 1998 before reforming in 2008 for a world tour, which included a performance at the high-profile Coachella Festival...
.
Origins
The band took their name from a StoogesThe Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
song off the album Raw Power
Raw Power
Raw Power is the third studio album by American rock band The Stooges. Though not initially commercially successful, Raw Power gained a cult fanbase in the years following its release and, like its predecessor , is generally considered an influential forerunner of punk rock.-Recording history:After...
. Their primary influences were the Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
and the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
. The first song the band learned to play was "Search and Destroy
Search and Destroy (song)
"Search and Destroy" is a song by American rock band The Stooges, recorded for the group's third album Raw Power . Lead singer Iggy Pop said that he pulled the title "from a column heading in a Time article about the Vietnam War." In 1997, "Search and Destroy" along with the rest of the songs on...
".
The original line-up was Graham Franklin (vocals), Jimmy Hartridge (guitar) (both previously in The Roadrunners), Adam Franklin
Adam Franklin
Adam Franklin is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who has played in Swervedriver , Shake Appeal , Toshack Highway and currently releases records as Adam Franklin and tours with live band Bolts of Melody...
(guitar) and Paddy Pulzer
Paddy Pulzer
Patrick Pulzer is a drummer/percussionist from Oxford, England who has been in numerous British indie bands. He started out in 1984 with the band Shake Appeal, who eventually evolved into Swervedriver after Pulzer's departure. Pulzer left Shake Appeal in 1989 to join the band Jack. He has also...
(drums) (both previously in Splatter Babies). Original bass player Paul Wilson left, and was replaced by Richard Mason, who was in turn replaced by Adi Vines.
Early career
Throughout 1986, the band played in Oxford, Brighton, and London. They played one show at a squat in Hackney called the Blue House with an early incarnation of My Bloody Valentine, who at the time closed their set with a version of the Stooges' Shake Appeal.After the departure of Wilson in 1986, the band recorded a four-song demo EP featuring the songs "Amphetamine", "Freedom", "Gimme Fever", and "Train Train" with Franklin on bass. The demo was reviewd in Underground magazine, who described the band as sounding "like MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
with their shirts on fire", calling it "loud, obnoxious, and perfect for the late '80s". In 1988, they released a new version of Gimme Fever (featuring Vines on bass) on NoTown Records; the Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
-influenced "Mexico City SOS" was on the b-side.
Later in 1988, the band recorded a new version of "Amphetamine", and an MC5-inspired tune called "Rollercoaster". "Amphetamine was featured on The Jericho Collection, a compilation album featuring Oxford bands; "Rollercoaster" was on a bonus 7" included with the album. The band was voted "Best Band in Oxford" by readers of local music magazine "Local Support".
Evolution into Swervedriver
Around this time, the band had discovered the new American sounds Hüsker DüHüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
, 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...
, and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. They took these new influences on board and began to evolve a new sound. However, by 1989 the band felt stuck in a rut in the Oxford scene. After a gig at the Oxford Polytechnic opening for World Domination Enterprises
World Domination Enterprises
World Domination Enterprises were an English indie rock band, who were active in the 1980s. The band mixed elements of indie rock, post-hardcore , and dub.World Domination Enterprises' sound was defined by their atonal guitar...
, the band decided to split up.
Adam Franklin
Adam Franklin
Adam Franklin is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who has played in Swervedriver , Shake Appeal , Toshack Highway and currently releases records as Adam Franklin and tours with live band Bolts of Melody...
recorded home demos of three new songs: Son of Mustang Ford, Afterglow, and Volcano Trash, and the band reformed to record studio demos of these songs, with Adam singing and Graham on backing vocals. Shortly after recording, Graham Franklin left to pursue electronic music with Techno Band Dimension 5, and Pulzer left to join the band Jack. The three remaining members, Adam Franklin, Hartridge, and Vines changed their name to Swervedriver
Swervedriver
Swervedriver are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band went on hiatus in 1998 before reforming in 2008 for a world tour, which included a performance at the high-profile Coachella Festival...
. They added Graham Bonner, formerly of the band Ut
Ut (band)
Ut originated from New York City's downtown No Wave scene in December 1978. The inheritors of the fertile collision between rock, free jazz and the avant garde that first manifested itself in the Velvet Underground, Ut soon became a serious force within the New York music scene.- History :Ut's...
on drums, and Swervedriver was soon signed to Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
based on the strength of the last Shake Appeal demo..
Discography
- "Gimme Fever" b/w "Mexico City SOS" 7" - (1988, Notown Records)
- Various artists: The Jericho Collection - (1988, Jericho Records) - Two Shake Appeal tracks appear on this compilation: "Amphetamine" and "Rollercoaster"
- Swervedriver: Juggernaut Rides - (2005, Castle Music) - Includes original 1989 demo of "Son of Mustang Ford"