The Stairs
Encyclopedia
The Stairs were an English
rock band formed in Liverpool
around 1990 by vocalist and bassist Edgar Summertyme, guitarist Ged Lynn and drummer Paul Maguire. Together they released one album
and a clutch of EPs
and singles.
frontman Ian McCulloch
, Edgar Jones set about forming a Nuggets/Pebbles style band, influenced by the likes of The 13th Floor Elevators, The Seeds
, The Chocolate Watch Band as well as The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
. Initially set to release their debut EP Weed Bus on local independent label Imaginary Records
(for which a handful of white labels with unique picture sleeves were pressed up), the band ended up signing to Go! Discs, home to The La's
and Paul Weller
with whom they would issue cult album Mexican R'n'B
(1992) along with 3 EPs, all recorded in mono as a nod to their garage rock
influenced sound. The band's manager Jason Otty, although not a proper member of the band, would often play harmonica and appear in press shots.
The band would also release an EP featuring the Del-Vetts
cover "Last Time Around" and provide a cover version of the Captain Beefheart
version of the David Gates
penned "Moonchild" for a compilation for Imaginary Records to make up for not releasing the Weed Bus EP with them. They had also intended to record a full album of garage rock covers for the label, but their contract with Go! Discs prevented this.
Following numerous aborted studio sessions for a second album after their departure from Go! Discs in late 1992, including stints at Toe Rag Studios
, changes in personnel including second guitarists Carl Cook and Danny Kierney, the departure of Ged Lynn and moving away from the mono production and more into blues rock and psychedelia, the band split in 1994.
In 2006, a collection of demos Right in the Back of Your Mind was released via The Viper Label
which included early versions of previously released material along with several demos for the aborted second album. In 2008, the second album entitled Who Is This Is was finally released by Viper. Although marketed as the second album, it is believed there was another album recorded prior to this with the working title of "Our Life Behind The Golden Cabbage" (the cover art for Who Is This Is referenced this title).
(in an early version of The Healers), St Etienne
, Candie Payne
, Cherry Ghost
and The La's
. He also formed The Isrites and The Big Kids in the 90s who featured two future members of The Zutons
and Howie Payne of The Stands
as well as releasing 3 solo albums before forming Free Peace in 2008.
Ged Lynn formed The Living Brain, starting as an acoustic duo with Lars Gabel pre-1997, and later adding Tom Sumnall, James Pagella, and Matt Lord. The band folded in late 2000, the remnants of which became Zukanican
. They contributed two tracks to Get Serious '97, a collection of material from Merseyside
artists. The Living Brain also released two albums: Life Sentence On Planet Earth (Medical Records 1999), and Bad Present Day (Medical Records 2000). Ged was also a member of Kung Fu with ex-everybody Barry Sutton (who impersonated Ged for a month in '91) and ex Room and future Zukanican Phil Lucking between 1996-99. Lynn then formed Rhombus of Doom with Lee Webster in 2000 and later The Privileged Few.
Paul Maguire formed Gloss with Icelandic singer Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir, who were signed to Nude Records and were active between 2001 and 2002 before the bands label went into voluntary liquidation. He has also done session work with former Cast
frontman John Power and Candie Payne before relocating to Iceland
, where he is now a member of Ske
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock band formed in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
around 1990 by vocalist and bassist Edgar Summertyme, guitarist Ged Lynn and drummer Paul Maguire. Together they released one 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...
and a clutch of EPs
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 singles.
History
Following a stint as bassist with Echo & The BunnymenEcho & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
frontman Ian McCulloch
Ian McCulloch (singer)
Ian Stephen McCulloch is an English singer, born in Liverpool, and is best known as the frontman for the rock group Echo & the Bunnymen.-Career:...
, Edgar Jones set about forming a Nuggets/Pebbles style band, influenced by the likes of The 13th Floor Elevators, The Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
, The Chocolate Watch Band as well as 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...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. Initially set to release their debut EP Weed Bus on local independent label Imaginary Records
Imaginary Records
Imaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Lancashire, England, which specialised mainly in indie rock and post-punk. It was created and owned by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to Porcupine Tree's first two albums, On the Sunday of Life and Up the...
(for which a handful of white labels with unique picture sleeves were pressed up), the band ended up signing to Go! Discs, home to The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
and 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...
with whom they would issue cult album Mexican R'n'B
Mexican R'n'B
Mexican R'n'B is the debut album by English rock band The Stairs. It was released in 1992 on Go! Discs in the UK and, in a shorter format, on London in the United States. The album was issued in the following formats: 12" vinyl LP, cd, and cassette. It is now long-deleted...
(1992) along with 3 EPs, all recorded in mono as a nod to their garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
influenced sound. The band's manager Jason Otty, although not a proper member of the band, would often play harmonica and appear in press shots.
The band would also release an EP featuring the Del-Vetts
The Del-Vetts
The Del-Vetts were a rock band from Chicago, Illinois.The Del-Vetts formed in 1963 as a surf rock cover group, playing mainly in the greater Chicago area. In 1965, the quartet recorded a cover version of The Righteous Brothers's "Little Latin Lupe Lu" with producer Bill Traut for Seeburg Records...
cover "Last Time Around" and provide a cover version of the Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
version of the David Gates
David Gates
David Gates is an American singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the group Bread, which reached the tops of the musical charts in Europe and North America on several occasions in the 1970s. The band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame...
penned "Moonchild" for a compilation for Imaginary Records to make up for not releasing the Weed Bus EP with them. They had also intended to record a full album of garage rock covers for the label, but their contract with Go! Discs prevented this.
Following numerous aborted studio sessions for a second album after their departure from Go! Discs in late 1992, including stints at Toe Rag Studios
Toe Rag Studios
Toe Rag Studios is an analogue recording studio located in Hackney, London, UK.-History:The studio was founded in 1991 by Liam Watson and Josh Collins in the Shoreditch area of London. In 1997, the business relocated to Hackney due to rising overheads...
, changes in personnel including second guitarists Carl Cook and Danny Kierney, the departure of Ged Lynn and moving away from the mono production and more into blues rock and psychedelia, the band split in 1994.
In 2006, a collection of demos Right in the Back of Your Mind was released via The Viper Label
The Viper Label
The Viper Label is an independent record label from Liverpool, England and was founded in 1999 by Paul Hemmings and Mike Badger who were key figures in the Liverpool music scene; both ex members of the La's and The Onset. Hemmings also played with Ian Broudie in The Lightning Seeds...
which included early versions of previously released material along with several demos for the aborted second album. In 2008, the second album entitled Who Is This Is was finally released by Viper. Although marketed as the second album, it is believed there was another album recorded prior to this with the working title of "Our Life Behind The Golden Cabbage" (the cover art for Who Is This Is referenced this title).
Post Stairs
Since the breakup of The Stairs in the mid-1990s, Edgar Jones has worked with Paul Weller, Johnny MarrJohnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
(in an early version of The Healers), St Etienne
Saint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
, Candie Payne
Candie Payne
Candice "Candie" Payne is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool. She released her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band The Stands and Sean Payne, the drummer of The...
, Cherry Ghost
Cherry Ghost
Cherry Ghost is an indie rock band from Bolton, England. Their debut album, Thirst for Romance, was released in July 2007 and entered the UK Album Charts at #7...
and The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
. He also formed The Isrites and The Big Kids in the 90s who featured two future members of The Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
and Howie Payne of The Stands
The Stands
The Stands were an English band from Liverpool.-Biography:The Stands were formed by Howie Payne in 2002. There was no fixed line up in the band originally and local musicians Martyn Campbell Sean Payne Russel Pritchard and Robby Stevenson all contributed to early shows...
as well as releasing 3 solo albums before forming Free Peace in 2008.
Ged Lynn formed The Living Brain, starting as an acoustic duo with Lars Gabel pre-1997, and later adding Tom Sumnall, James Pagella, and Matt Lord. The band folded in late 2000, the remnants of which became Zukanican
Zukanican
Zukanican are an experimental band primarily based in Liverpool, England. They have been in existence since 2003 and, amongst other releases, have had two albums and one EP on Pickled Egg Records...
. They contributed two tracks to Get Serious '97, a collection of material from Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
artists. The Living Brain also released two albums: Life Sentence On Planet Earth (Medical Records 1999), and Bad Present Day (Medical Records 2000). Ged was also a member of Kung Fu with ex-everybody Barry Sutton (who impersonated Ged for a month in '91) and ex Room and future Zukanican Phil Lucking between 1996-99. Lynn then formed Rhombus of Doom with Lee Webster in 2000 and later The Privileged Few.
Paul Maguire formed Gloss with Icelandic singer Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir, who were signed to Nude Records and were active between 2001 and 2002 before the bands label went into voluntary liquidation. He has also done session work with former Cast
Cast (band)
Cast are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split...
frontman John Power and Candie Payne before relocating to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, where he is now a member of Ske
Ske
Ske is an Icelandic band whose origins can be traced back to 1992, when a band called Skárren ekkert was founded by Eiríkur Þorleifsson, Frank Hall and Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and joined by Hrannar Ingimarsson in 1998....
.
Members
- Edgar Summertyme – vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards (1990–1994)
- Ged Lynn – backing vocals, guitar (1990–c. 1993)
- Paul Maguire – drums (1990–1994)
- Carl Cook – guitar (c. 1993/1994)
- Daniel Kierney – guitar (c. 1993/1994)
Albums
- Mexican R'n'BMexican R'n'BMexican R'n'B is the debut album by English rock band The Stairs. It was released in 1992 on Go! Discs in the UK and, in a shorter format, on London in the United States. The album was issued in the following formats: 12" vinyl LP, cd, and cassette. It is now long-deleted...
(1992) - Right in the Back of Your Mind (2006)
- Who Is This Is (2008)
Singles and EPs
- Weed BusWeed BusWeed Bus was the first ep released by Liverpool band The Stairs. The ep was issued in several formats: CD ep; 7" vinyl single; 12" vinyl 45rpm single with picture sleeve; 12" 45rpm vinyl DJ promo single with a plain black sleeve. The matrix of Side A on the 7" vinyl single has Mexican R'N'B...
(1991) - Woman Gone And Say GoodbyeWoman Gone and Say GoodbyeWoman Gone And Say Goodbye was the second ep released by Liverpool band The Stairs, the first being Weed Bus. The EP was issued in several formats: CD ep; 7" vinyl single with picture sleeve; 12" vinyl 45rpm single with picture sleeve; 12" 45rpm vinyl DJ promo single with a plain black sleeve...
(1992) - Mary JoannaMary JoannaMary Joanna is an ep released in 1992 by The Stairs. As with other Stairs releases, it was issued in several formats: cd single, 7" vinyl, and 12" vinyl. The 7" vinyl release came with Stairtex Record Cleaner enclosed, supposedly a cd cleaner on one side, and a vinyl record cleaner on the other...
(1992) - Last Time Around (1992)
- "Flying Machine" (1992)
Compilation appearances
- Album Network Expando Tuneup 24 (1992)
- The Album Network#10 (1992)
- The Album Network#11 (1992)
- 1965 - Through the Looking Glass1965 - Through the Looking Glass1965 – Through The Looking Glass is a compilation album released by Imaginary Records in 1992.-Track listing:...
(1992) – "Moonchild"