Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Gruesomania!...The Gruesomes Story and Show # 207


The Gruesomes formed in 1985 in Montreal,Quebec in Canada. The band took inspiration from Sixties garage rock and early punk. The band started off with very little musical ability and were also known for their on stage humour and energetic live shows. Their band name came from the TV show The Flinstones. The Gruesomes were the Flinstones scary neighbours. The band also created a band image which consisted of sixties style dress, moppy haircuts, and beatle boots. The original band consisted of John Davis (Guitar), Eric Davis (drums), Gerry Alvavez (guitar/vocals), and Bobby Beaton (guitar/vocals). The band released their first EP Jack The Ripper in 1986 and another EP titled Unchained in 1987. The bands sound fused together the snotty energy of 70s punk, with the primitive sounds of 60s garage rock.

The bands first full length album was titled Tyrants of Teenage Trash and it was released in 1986. By the time this album came out the band had built up a large fan base not only in Canada, but in the US and Europe also. The band would get a new drummer in 1987, John Knoll. He would bring the band into more of an R&B sound as opposed to Eric Davis who brought in more of a punk sound. The bands next album Gruesomania! came in 1987 and Hey! came in 1988. The band became Canada's biggest selling underground act and all over their albums did very well. In 1990, the band called it quits when they were at a high point in their career.

In 1999, the band reformed and recorded the album Cave In!, which was released in 2000. They also started touring again. They went to Europe for the first time, as well as going back to places in the US and Canada. The Gruesomes were a loud Canadian band from Montreal, they still perform live occasionally. In 2003, the band released a compilation called Gruesomology and in 2008 All three of the bands albums were re-released. In 2002 John Davis and Bobby Beaton of The Gruesomes formed a side project called Fuad and The Feztones. They recently released an album in 2008 titled Beeramid

The Play List:

1. The Jam - London Traffic
2. The Cramps - Human Fly
3. Golden Hands Before God - Communist Party
4. Albert Hammond Jr. - Rocket
5. Ugly Ducklings - Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut
6. Gruesomes - Unchain My Heart
7. Gruesomes - No More Lies
8. The Brigands - (Would I Still Be) Her Big Man
9. The Monks - Complication
10. Night Crawlers - Little Black Egg
11. Tricky Woo - Liberty Drawl
12. Young Rival - Master of None
13. The Stills - Snow in California
14. Neil Young - Drive Back
15. David Bowie - Hang on to Yourself (Live Santa Monica 72)
16. MC5 - Back in the USA
17. Futureheads - This is Not The World
18. The Outcasts - Magnum Force
19. Undertones - Mars Bar
20. Gang of Four - 5:45
21. Black Kids - Hit the Heartbreakes
22. Subway Sect - Paralell Lines
23. The Subways - Shake! Shake!
24. Radiohead - Bangers n' Mash
25. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Go Away 

No comments: