The Quick
Encyclopedia
The Quick were a mid-1970s pre-new wave
/power pop
band based in Los Angeles
. In their initial phase in late '74, The Quick proudly wore on their musical sleeves inspirations drawn from 1960s British Invasion
bands: (The Beatles
, The Who
, The Kinks
, The Move
, Love Sculpture
); and were modeled heavily on the Angelenos-cum-British expatriates, Sparks
(formerly Halfnelson
). "The Quick" was previously the name of the band that evolved into Raspberries
.
Over the course of its 3-year existence, the band rapidly evolved a sound of its own, noteworthy for cleverly arranged three-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos frequently inspired by classical or film score music.
During its brief career, The Quick succeeded in releasing only one full-length record and never played a show outside of California.
in April 1976 and revived the Whisky A Go Go
in November 1976. During its career, The Quick played various club shows supporting such bands as Van Halen
, Ramones
, The Runaways
and Crack The Sky
, in addition to headlining slots. The Quick's most-attended show was an opening slot for Starz
at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
in 1977.
The Quick released one full-length album, 1976's Mondo Deco on Mercury Records
, produced by Earle Mankey, the original guitarist of Sparks
(formerly Halfnelson
), one of the band's key influences. In 2003, various demo recordings were included on the 2003 Untold Rock Stories on Rev-Ola Records
in the UK.
From September 1977 through March 1978, the band recorded demos produced by established Elektra Records
staff arranger David Campbell. Referred to as The Elektra Demos, (though the band never signed with Elektra Records) the songs displayed a shift in the band's sound to, generally, a more contemporary, harder-rock approach. A few of the songs were released on 10" and 7" limited edition vinyl via the band's fan club, and all nine tracks were eventually released on Untold Rock Stories.
One of those tracks, "Pretty Please Me", was played frequently by local KROQ-FM
DJ Rodney Bingenheimer
on his weekly "Rodney On the ROQ" radio show in 1978, but there were no records available to sell. The song was later covered and officially released by both Redd Kross
and The Dickies
.
In April 1978, the band invited fans to attend its 3rd anniversary show (and vote on the set list) at its Hollywood rehearsal space. It was The Quick's final show, as the group disbanded shortly afterwards.
Most of The Quick's material was written by guitarist Steven Hufsteter (who would later become a founding member of The Cruzados). He currently plays in Tito & Tarantula
with fellow former Cruzado member Tito Larriva
.
Lead vocalist Danny Wilde and bassist Ian (Grey) Ainsworth formed Great Buildings and released one LP on Columbia Records. Wilde later partnered with Phil Solem as The Rembrandts
. They found success with their recording of the Michael Skloff/Allee Willis-co-written song "I'll Be There For You,"
which was used as the theme song for the TV show Friends
Keyboardist Billy Bizeau would go on to collaborate on writing songs with Kim Fowley
(the band's initial manager) for The Runaways.
Drummer Danny Benair played with several other Los Angeles bands, including Flyboys, Choir Invisible, The Falcons, The Weirdos
, and The Three O'Clock
(formerly Salvation Army) before switching to the behind-the-scenes licensing business and founding a film soundtrack song placement agency, Natural Energy Lab.
One of their early songs, "Guardian Angel", appeared in 1978 on Rhino Records' "Saturday Night Pogo" new wave compilation LP. To avoid copyright problems, this early recording was credited to "The Young Republicans".
Producer David Campbell is the father of noted alternative musician Beck Hansen
.
Benair's girlfriend during much of his tenure in The Quick was Lisa Fancher, who wrote liner notes for The Runaways' debut album, then went on to found the influential independent record label Frontier Records
.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
/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 based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. In their initial phase in late '74, The Quick proudly wore on their musical sleeves inspirations drawn from 1960s British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
bands: (The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
, Love Sculpture
Love Sculpture
Love Sculpture were a Welsh blues-rock band of the late 1960s, led by Dave Edmunds , plus bassist John Williams - stage name John David and drummer Rob 'Congo' Jones .-Career:Love...
); and were modeled heavily on the Angelenos-cum-British expatriates, Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
(formerly Halfnelson
Halfnelson (band)
Halfnelson was an American rock band, which was a precursor to the more successful Sparks. Halfnelson was formed in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , the first incarnation also including friend and electro-whizz Earle Mankey .-History:In the late sixties,...
). "The Quick" was previously the name of the band that evolved into Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
.
Over the course of its 3-year existence, the band rapidly evolved a sound of its own, noteworthy for cleverly arranged three-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos frequently inspired by classical or film score music.
During its brief career, The Quick succeeded in releasing only one full-length record and never played a show outside of California.
History
In Los Angeles, in between the glam and punk eras in the mid-1970s, there were few clubs for local bands to play original music. The Quick began playing the Starwood ClubStarwood Club
The Starwood Night Club was a popular club in West Hollywood, California from early in 1972 to late 1981. Many punk bands and heavy metal bands started their careers playing at the Starwood....
in April 1976 and revived the Whisky A Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in November 1976. During its career, The Quick played various club shows supporting such bands as Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
and Crack The Sky
Crack the Sky
Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock band formed in Weirton, West Virginia in the early 1970s. In 1975, Rolling Stone Magazine declared their first album "debut album of the year", and in 1978, Rolling Stone Record Guide compared them to Steely Dan; their first three albums charted on the...
, in addition to headlining slots. The Quick's most-attended show was an opening slot for Starz
Starz (band)
Starz was a 1970s heavy metal and power pop band from New Jersey, United States. Despite a lack of big commercial success, the band has a lasting cult following and has been cited as a major influence by bands such as Mötley Crüe, Poison and Twisted Sister....
at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket....
in 1977.
The Quick released one full-length album, 1976's Mondo Deco on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, produced by Earle Mankey, the original guitarist of Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
(formerly Halfnelson
Halfnelson (band)
Halfnelson was an American rock band, which was a precursor to the more successful Sparks. Halfnelson was formed in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , the first incarnation also including friend and electro-whizz Earle Mankey .-History:In the late sixties,...
), one of the band's key influences. In 2003, various demo recordings were included on the 2003 Untold Rock Stories on Rev-Ola Records
Rev-Ola Records
Rev-Ola Records is a UK record label formed in 1988 that specializes in reissues, as well as select new releases. The label is headed by Joe Foster, a former child actor and musician/producer...
in the UK.
From September 1977 through March 1978, the band recorded demos produced by established Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
staff arranger David Campbell. Referred to as The Elektra Demos, (though the band never signed with Elektra Records) the songs displayed a shift in the band's sound to, generally, a more contemporary, harder-rock approach. A few of the songs were released on 10" and 7" limited edition vinyl via the band's fan club, and all nine tracks were eventually released on Untold Rock Stories.
One of those tracks, "Pretty Please Me", was played frequently by local KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
DJ Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer, born December 15, 1947, is a radio disc jockey on the long-running Los Angeles rock station KROQ who is notable for helping numerous iconic bands become successful in the American market. His contribution to the music business has been described as important...
on his weekly "Rodney On the ROQ" radio show in 1978, but there were no records available to sell. The song was later covered and officially released by both Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
and The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
.
In April 1978, the band invited fans to attend its 3rd anniversary show (and vote on the set list) at its Hollywood rehearsal space. It was The Quick's final show, as the group disbanded shortly afterwards.
Band members
- Danny Wilde - lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist
- Steven Hufsteter - lead guitarist, primary songwriter
- Billy Bizeau - keyboardist, backing vocalist
- Ian Ainsworth bassist, backing vocalist
- Danny Benair - drummer
Most of The Quick's material was written by guitarist Steven Hufsteter (who would later become a founding member of The Cruzados). He currently plays in Tito & Tarantula
Tito & Tarantula
Tito & Tarantula are a chicano rock band formed in Hollywood California in 1992. The band is best known for its songs, "After Dark", "Back to the House That Love Built", "Strange Face of Love", and "Angry Cockroaches", as well as for its role in Robert Rodriguez's film From Dusk Till Dawn as the...
with fellow former Cruzado member Tito Larriva
Tito Larriva
-Early life:Larriva was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and El Paso, Texas. As a child he played the violin in the school orchestra and sang in the church and school choirs where he met his wife Janet Carroll. In 1972 Larriva snuck into Yale University for a full...
.
Lead vocalist Danny Wilde and bassist Ian (Grey) Ainsworth formed Great Buildings and released one LP on Columbia Records. Wilde later partnered with Phil Solem as The Rembrandts
The Rembrandts
The Rembrandts are an American pop-rock duo formed by Phil Solem and Danny Wilde in 1989. They had previously worked together as members of Great Buildings in 1981...
. They found success with their recording of the Michael Skloff/Allee Willis-co-written song "I'll Be There For You,"
I'll Be There for You (Rembrandts song)
"I'll Be There for You" is a song recorded by the American pop rock duo The Rembrandts. It is best known as the theme song to the American sitcom Friends, which premiered during 1994 and ended in 2004...
which was used as the theme song for the TV show Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
Keyboardist Billy Bizeau would go on to collaborate on writing songs with Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
(the band's initial manager) for The Runaways.
Drummer Danny Benair played with several other Los Angeles bands, including Flyboys, Choir Invisible, The Falcons, The Weirdos
The Weirdos
The Weirdos were an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. They formed in 1976 and broke up in 1981, were occasionally active in the 1980s, and recorded new material in the 1990s...
, and The Three O'Clock
The Three O'Clock
The Three O'Clock were a United States alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A...
(formerly Salvation Army) before switching to the behind-the-scenes licensing business and founding a film soundtrack song placement agency, Natural Energy Lab.
One of their early songs, "Guardian Angel", appeared in 1978 on Rhino Records' "Saturday Night Pogo" new wave compilation LP. To avoid copyright problems, this early recording was credited to "The Young Republicans".
Producer David Campbell is the father of noted alternative musician Beck Hansen
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
.
Benair's girlfriend during much of his tenure in The Quick was Lisa Fancher, who wrote liner notes for The Runaways' debut album, then went on to found the influential independent record label Frontier Records
Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
.
Discography
- "Saturday Night Pogo" A Collection of Los Angeles New Wave Bands. Rhino Records RNLP 003 USA 1978+
- Mondo Deco, Mercury Records, USA, 1976 (vinyl LP only)
- Untold Rock Stories, Rev-Ola Records CR-REV-30, UK, 2003, 22 tracks (CD only) UPC: 5013929433021
- "Pretty Please Me" on D.I.Y.: We're Desperate: The L.A. Scene (1976-79), Rhino Records 71176, USA, 1993, 21 tracks (CD only)