The Speedometors
Encyclopedia
The Speedometors or Speed-O-Metors are a London
, New Wave
and punk
band. They were formed in 1976 in Shepherd's Bush
by Martin Finlay, Robbie Watson and Lol Gellor (previously of the West London band Rough Diamonds) and joined shortly thereafter by Ian "Toose" Taylor, late of the Mike Batt
-produced group Houdini.
The Speedometors attracted the attention of the independent record label
Mascot Records, and the release of the single
"Disgrace" / "Work" put the band on the UK Indie Chart
. Drummer Gellor decided to leave the band to become a record producer
and commenced by working on Desmond Dekker
's album
Black and Dekker. Steve Parry
(ex-Radio Stars
) replaced Gellor.
Meanwhile the "Disgrace" single came to the attention of the producer Miki Dallon
, who presented the disc to industry representatives at the Midem Song Festival, resulting in the band being signed by the Acrobat/Arista label. The signing resulted in the release of the Day in the Lights album.
During the recording
of the LP, Parry left the band, and was replaced by Paul Spencer
(ex-Magazine
). As result of the LP sessions the band added Lee Dallon on keyboards and Chris Gent on saxophone for live appearances.
Their next single, "Tonight Tonight", received airplay
on BBC Radio 1
and a BBC recording session followed. The band continued to tour the UK
with Sham 69
and Ultravox
(then featuring John Foxx
as singer and frontman). Club shows included a residency at the Marquee Club
in Wardour Street
, London, coupled with two appearances at the Reading Festival.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, New Wave
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...
and 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...
band. They were formed in 1976 in Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
by Martin Finlay, Robbie Watson and Lol Gellor (previously of the West London band Rough Diamonds) and joined shortly thereafter by Ian "Toose" Taylor, late of the Mike Batt
Mike Batt
Michael Philip "Mike" Batt is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry...
-produced group Houdini.
The Speedometors attracted the attention of the independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Mascot Records, and the release of the 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...
"Disgrace" / "Work" put the band on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. Drummer Gellor decided to leave the band to become a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and commenced by working on Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing group, The Aces , he had one of the first international Jamaican hits with "Israelites". Other hits include "007 " and "It Miek"...
's album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Black and Dekker. Steve Parry
Steve Parry (musician)
Steve Parry, , Pontypool, South Wales Valleys is a Welsh guitarist, musician, composer who was a founder member of the experimental rock band Hwyl Nofio.He founded and played with Neu Electrikk...
(ex-Radio Stars
Radio Stars
Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving...
) replaced Gellor.
Meanwhile the "Disgrace" single came to the attention of the producer Miki Dallon
Miki Dallon
Miki Dallon is an English musician, songwriter and producer . Miki's first published work was a Mickie Most b-side called "That’s Alright" on which Miki also played piano. One success of his was the song "Take A Heart" by The Sorrows...
, who presented the disc to industry representatives at the Midem Song Festival, resulting in the band being signed by the Acrobat/Arista label. The signing resulted in the release of the Day in the Lights album.
During the recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of the LP, Parry left the band, and was replaced by Paul Spencer
Paul Spencer
Paul Spencer is a movie producer who previously worked as drummer with different New Wave artists....
(ex-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...
). As result of the LP sessions the band added Lee Dallon on keyboards and Chris Gent on saxophone for live appearances.
Their next single, "Tonight Tonight", received airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
on 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...
and a BBC recording session followed. The band continued to tour the UK
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...
with Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
and 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....
(then featuring John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
as singer and frontman). Club shows included a residency at the Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
in Wardour Street
Wardour Street
Wardour Street is a street in Soho, London. It is a one-way street south to north from Leicester Square, up through Chinatown, across Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford Street.-History:...
, London, coupled with two appearances at the Reading Festival.