The Adverts were formed in 1976 by TV Smith (real name Tim Smith) (vocals), Gaye Advert (bass), Howard Pickup (real name Howard Boak)(guitar), and Laurie Driver (real name Laurie Muscat) on drums. The band began playing gigs in London, England at The Roxy in 1976. Michael Dempsey became their manager after seeing them support Generation X in 1977. The Averts also caught the attention of Damned guitarist Brian James, who let the band open for them, they got signed to Stiff records as a result. The bands first single was titled "One Chord Wonders". After barely playing a handful of live shows, The Adverts went on a tour with The Damned. The promotional tour posters read "The Adverts know one chord, the Damned know three. See all four at…"
The band then released their second single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes". They song went into the UK top 20, but was seen as controversial. The lyrical subject matter made reference to an American Murders wish to have his eyes donated to medical science after his execution. Their next single was "Safety in Numbers"", it did not chart. Their fourth single would crack the UK top 40, bringing the Adverts back into the charts; The song was "No Time To Be 21". In February of 1978 Crossing the Red Sea The Adverts first full length album was released. It featured three of the bands first four singles and debuted at number 38 on the UK albums chart. Many feel that their first album is their best. It is seen as a strong debut by many and all of the songs were composed by vocalist TV Smith.
In 1979, Cast of Thousands was released. The album produced three singles "Television's Over", "My Place", and "Cast of Thousands". It also featured a different sound compared to Crossing the Red Sea, once again all songs were composed by TV Smith. It was seen as a poor effort by many and soon after a gig in October of 1979 and the accidental electrocution of their manager Michael Dempsey, The Adverts split up. TV Smith was seen as a song writer who captured the spirit of the times in his music, Gaye Advert was seen as one of the first female punk icons. Not only a bassist, she also had a style that would influence female punks for quite some time. After the Adverts finished, TV Smith went on to form TV Smith's Explorers and The Cheap. In the 90's he would create music as a solo artist.
The Play List:
1. Wire - The 15th (Live Rockpalast 1979)
2. Proud Scum - I Am a Rabbit
3. Terrorways - Short Haired Rock n' Roll
4. Suburban Reptiles - Saturday Night Stay At Home
5. The Victims - Television Addict
6. Celibate Rifles - 24 Hours (sos)
7. Modernettes - Barbra
8. Diodes - Noise
9. Evaporators - Gassy Jack
10. Forgotten Rebels - I'm Surfin' On Heroin
11. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - New Pleasure
12. Killing Joke - Eighties
13. The Adverts - One Chord Wonders
14. The Unknowns - teenage Terrorist
15. 63 Monroe - Media Junkie
16. Sinners - No Brains Required
17. 222's - Hold Up
18. Hot Nasties - Get Away From Me
19. Wreckless Eric - A Pop Song
20. Radio Birdman - Hand of Law
21. The Jam - The Place I love
22. Franz Ferdinand - Jaqueline
23. Dead 60s - All Over By Midnight
24. The Clash - Somebody Got Murdered (Live Reitle Festival, France 1980)
25. Buzzcocks - A Different Kind of Tension
26. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Do You Love Me?
To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on Septemberr 30th, 2008.
Videos:
One Chord Wonders (1977)
Gary Gilmore's Eyes (Top of the Pops 1977)
Live At the Vortex 1977 (On the Roof, New Day Dawning, No Time to be 21)
Bored Teenagers (OGWT 1978)
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