The Modern Eon was a part of the "New Liverpool Scene" that sprang up in 1979-1980 around 'Eric's Club'. But, unlike all other bands gravitating around the club (Echo & the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Dead or Alive, Pink Military, etc.) Modern Eon “always stayed clear of the typical Liverpool connection”. The founding members Alix Plain (Alex Johnson) and Danny Hampson started the group in the late '70s, originally under the name of Luglo Slugs, then Tank Time, One Two and finally Modern Eon.Their first release appeared on a compilation (Steet to Street: A Liverpool Album, vol I) in November 1978:
Benched Down/ 70s Sixties
The band was:
Alex Plain (aka Alex Johnson): vox, guitars
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Ged Allen: guitar, b-vox
In 1979 the lineup expanded:
Alix Plain: vox
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Ged Allen: guitar, b-vox
Joey McKechnie: drums
The band released the self-released EP:
Pieces:
- Second Still (different from the album version)
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Ged Allen: guitar, b-vox
In 1979 the lineup expanded:
Alix Plain: vox
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Ged Allen: guitar, b-vox
Joey McKechnie: drums
The band released the self-released EP:
Pieces:
- Second Still (different from the album version)
- Waiting for the Cavalry
- Choreography (different from the album version)
- The Look a Smack
In 1981 the band was again restructured:
Alix Plain: vox
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Bob Wakelin: synth, and
Tim Lever – future Dead or Alive member: on guitar and sax,
The new lineup reshapes the band’s sound into something more original, updated and distinctive, releasing the single
Euthenics:
- Euthenics (different from the album version)
- Waiting for the Calvary (different from the album version)
(the single was then re-released the same year, backed by Cardinal Sign instead of Calvary)
In the same year the 17 year old Cliff Hewitt joined the band on drums, and this line up released two more singles (Child’s Play and Mechanic) the LP Fiction Tales, and toured the country, before the new recruit got injuried his wrists, and his drumming was sampled for the rest of the tour (supporting The Stranglers).
Fiction Tales
1. Second Still
In 1981 the band was again restructured:
Alix Plain: vox
Danny Hampson: bass, b-vox
Bob Wakelin: synth, and
Tim Lever – future Dead or Alive member: on guitar and sax,
The new lineup reshapes the band’s sound into something more original, updated and distinctive, releasing the single
Euthenics:
- Euthenics (different from the album version)
- Waiting for the Calvary (different from the album version)
(the single was then re-released the same year, backed by Cardinal Sign instead of Calvary)
In the same year the 17 year old Cliff Hewitt joined the band on drums, and this line up released two more singles (Child’s Play and Mechanic) the LP Fiction Tales, and toured the country, before the new recruit got injuried his wrists, and his drumming was sampled for the rest of the tour (supporting The Stranglers).Fiction Tales
1. Second Still
2. The Grass Still Grows
3. Playwrite
4. Watching The Dancers
5. Real Hymn
6. Waiting For The Cavalry
7. High Noon8. Child's Play
9. Choreography
10. Euthenics
11. In A Strange Way
12. Mechanic
The end of 1981 found Modern Eon at work on demos for a second album but sadly the banded folded before releasing a follow up album.
(see: http://www.soulsaw.com/modern-eon/bio1.htm )
The end of 1981 found Modern Eon at work on demos for a second album but sadly the banded folded before releasing a follow up album.
(see: http://www.soulsaw.com/modern-eon/bio1.htm )
1 commento:
A small correction: The second track on the Pieces EP is "Special Patrol". This EP is pretty raw, but great to hear how much a producer did for them.
"Benched Down" is amazing no matter how you look at it. Wish there were more tracks like this.
Surely one of the greatest pop bands ever?
Posta un commento