Killerwat were formed in 1977 by Steve Charnock (guitar) and Greg McGraw (bass). When they advertised for a drummer and a second guitar they had already written some original songs, such as Arnie the Aardvark (later re-styled in dub fashion for a Rock Against the Ringroad gig at the Masonic) and Hector and the Haemorrhoids (apparently with a recognizable Hawkwind vibe). 
Phil Rice (guitars) and Geoff Stalford (a.k.a. Stinkfoot [as in the Frank Zappa's song], drums, later Flashpoint) replied to the add and completed the line-up. Rice recalls: ‘The name [Killerwatt] was meant to pun on death and power’.The band debuted at the Havana club (July 1978) supporting the Mutants, and did various gigs around Merseyside between 76 and 78, such as The Mayflower, The Sportsman The Dale in Wallasey and The Moonstone in the Precinct, eventually making it at Eric’s in 1978 supporting Dalek I Love You.
As to the band’s live activity, Stalford adds:
‘Other places we played were The Joiners Arms in the heart of Chorley (Lancashire), The Duke Of Wellington Pub high on a hill in Congleton (Cheshire), The Bull's Head in Little Sutton (Wirral) and various venues that I'm struggling to remember in Kirkby (Merseyside), Burscough (Lancashire) and the Cherry Tree in Runcorn that we didn’t make it to. […] We played The Moonstone in St John Precinct (Liverpool city centre) but also appeared in the Sportsman and Star & Garter which were situated in the same precinct. Notably the Sportsman was famous for the real sports car set in the ceiling and we always wondered when it would fall down - but thankfully it never did!’
Killerwatt were first given airwaves by Phil Easton of Radio City. Stalford adds: ‘We got to know a famous local pirate radio DJ called Rick Dane (R.I.P) who would give us many a mention on Radio Jackie North rock station and would come to see us. Phil Easton (RIP) would also mention us regularly on the local 'Gig Guide' on Radio City’
Stalford describes the band’s music as follows: ‘Although we didn’t look the part with long hair etc., we played some noisy, raunchy, punky, MC5 style R’n’R which also included tracks by Eddie & The Hot Rods, Stranglers, Motorhead & occ. Quo – I mean what a combination!’. In 1978 Killerwatt changed their name to Dark Heart.
(Thanks to our friend Phil Rice [philrice60@hotmail.com] for the info)
1 commento:
There was a band of the same name operating in San Francisco....AND also a band named the Mutants. Now, Mutants seems obvious; there were probably a dozen bands with that name. But "Killerwatt?" Interesting, eh?
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