Eddie & the Hotrods
It has been 33 years since the Hot Rods first entered the circuit in 1975. Now into 2008 and credited with sixteen 45's, 6 vinyl albums and a host of CD's (with no doubt more to come), they are still very much in business. Down the years they have packed audiences into most of the major UK, US and European venues. Many times they have made front page news in the music press, appeared on Top of the Pops and have graced the national charts with anthems such as "Teenage Depression, the TOP TEN HIT "Do Anything You Wanna Do", and "Quit this Town". They also do credit to a number of classic covers such as Van Morrison's "Gloria", Bob Seger's "Get out of Denver" and of course, Domingo Samudio's "Woolly Bully". Continually touring and gigging the Hot Rods thunder onward with a new found energy. Only recently, they were featured by Mojo as one of the top 100 most influential British bands of all time. Lead singer and founder member "His Masters Voice" - Barrie Masters, stands firmly at the helm as he leads this band, Richard Holgarth (guitar), Chris Taylor (guitar), Dipster (bass) and Simon Bowley (drums) - on stage to dish out their own style of high energy R&B, each and every time leaving an ecstatic audience yelling for two and three encores.Key ChronologySpring 1975 - The Hot Rods are born and move out of Essex and into London. Oct 1975 - Tuesday night residency with the 101ers at the Nashville, alternating headline slots week to week. Sounds run interview following their Oct 28 show saying they looked like "those before they were famous pictures you get of the Stones, Yardbirds, etc.Nov 1975 - Signed to Island Records and placed on salary at 20 pounds per week each.Jan 1976 - Hot Rods tour with Kursaal Fliers. Lew Lewis leavesFeb 1976 - Headline at the Marquee in London. Sex Pistols as openers of a show which was to kick off a UK tour with both bands. The Pistols smash up most of the equipment leaving the Hot Rods with broken gear to play their set. The Hot Rods throw them off the tour, but the UK press gives rave reviews to the Pistols almost ignoring the Hot rods. Barrie Masters almost comes to blows with John (Johnny Rotten) Lydon. The press have a heyday over it all.March 1976 - First single released, "Writing on the Wall / Cruising in the Lincoln".June 1976 - Second single released, "Woolly Bully / Horseplay".Aug 1976 - Third single released "Live at the Marquee" An EP with four tracks from their July 9 Marquee show. Band appears on Top of the Pops.October 1976 - First LP released. "Teenage Depression". Making # 13 in Greg Shaws Bomps Charts.March 1977 - "I Might be Lying / Ignore Them" single released.June 1977 - The EP "Live at the Speed of Sound" released, from their Rainbow concert.Spring 1977 - Graeme Douglas joins the band from the Kursasal Fliers. USA tour follows with 58 gigs in 56 days.July 1977 - Name shrunk to "RODS" and the release of "Do anything you wanna do / Schoolgirl Love" CHARTING at #9Summer 1977 - UK tour with Squeeze and the Radio Stars.Nov 1977 - "Life on the Line" LP released. Legal problems arise from the presence of new member Graeme Douglas, whose previous label, CBS claim he is still under contract to them. European tour follows with Talking Heads and the Ramones.Dec 1977 - Release of the single "Till the night is gone / Flipside Rock" with Rob Tyner, ex MC5 vocalist. Same time "Quit this Town / Distortion may be expected" is released.April 1978 - "Do anything you wanna do" released in the US and a US tour with the Ramones and the Talking Heads.Feb 1979 - Third Album "Thriller" is released. Album has Linda McCartney on backing vocals. Two more 45's released - The Power and the Glory and Media Messiahs.May 1979 Bassist, Paul Gray goes on tour with the Members and ultimately joins the Damned at the persistent request of Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible and a promise to double his wages.Summer 1979 - Ramones Movie, Rock n' Roll High School released, includes Teenage Depression on the soundtrackAugust 1979 - Contract signed with EMI.1980 - 45's, "At Night" and "Wide Eyed Kids" released by EMI. April 1981 - EMI release final single - "Farther on down the Road / Fish and Chips (part two)"; The Album "Fish n' Chips" is released. Band splits.1985 - Band reform with Russ Strutter and Warren Kennedy. Tour of France and UK same year. Release of LP "One Story Town" and the single "Fought for you".1990 - LP "The Curse of the Hot Rods" released.1992 - Band goes out on a one off European tour. Barrie, Steve and Paul continue working together.1993 - CD "Live and Rare" released.1994 - CD "Best of" released titled "End of the Beginning" Another CD released - "Ties that bind".1995 - CD "Get your balls off" released on Skydog. New album also released on CD "Gasoline Days".1996 - CD released, "Doing anything they wanna do" on Anagram, and another - "Canvey 2 Island" released by Stychnine.1996 - Drummer Simon Bowley and Guitarist Gary Loker join the Band.Oct 1998 - CD released, "Live at the Paradiso"1999 Bass guitarist Paul Gray quits due to Tinnitus. Dipster joins the line up.June 2000 - 76 date "Naughty Rhythms" tour with Dr Feelgood, John Otway and The Hamsters.August 2002 Richard Holgarth (Also of John Otway Band) joins on guitar.January 2004 Record NEW ALBUM, Better Late Than Never. 12 all new songs, and cover art by VIZ Comic artist, Simon Thorp.March 2004 Gary Loker parts company with the band, and is replaced by ex Receders guitarist Chris Taylor.
