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| Headline Maniac |
Just a
couple of weeks ago, we lamented what we here at Garagerocktopia saw as a
seeming absence of a United Kingdom presence in rock and roll these days.
At
the time, we figured that it was likely, somewhere in the pubs of London,
or the garages of Glasgow, or some bar in Birmingham (or any of the UK’s other great rock and roll
cities), somebody was kicking out some good jams. We even said so in the post.
Little
did we know that Headline Maniac would prove to us so quickly that that
assumption was indeed quite correct.
A three
piece hailing from the “Thames Delta” in London,
Headline Maniac is perhaps a teeny bit out of the usual box here at
Garagerocktopia – but not much. Their sound harkens back to the days of
hook-driven, blues-based hard rock. With their short, punchy brand of rock,
it’s exactly the kind of music any devotee of garage could get into.
Headline
Maniac is not exactly a new band. Guitarist
Chris Taylor, Bassist Dipster and Drummer Simon Bowley are currently part of a
band we here at Garagerocktopia really dig – Eddie and the Hot Rods, the band
many credit as being the precise transit point between Pub Rock and Punk. We’re
working on setting up an interview for a separate piece on the Hot Rods, so
look for more on them very soon.
The
group’s soon-to-be released debut album, Rock n Roll Thuggery is a fine first
effort. If there’s one defining quality, it would be a bluesy, thumping sound
that reminds one, in modus operandi
at least, of the Yardbirds. Songs like “I Want All Your Love” instantly recall
the kind of hard British blues-rock popular just ahead of Led Zeppelin, albeit
in a very updated way.
Other
songs, such as “Hero” and “Millionaire” suggest a much more contemporary hard
rock sound akin to what one might hear from the likes of the Foo Fighters. Tying
all of it together is the gravelly but seemingly genuine voice of Dipster, who
handles a big chunk of the lead vocals, with Bowley backing. Looking at the band’s pedigree, it’s
not surprising there would be such a variety of sound on the album, due for a February
release.
“The three
of us have quite a different range of musical influences,” explained Bowley in
an email interview. “Chris was hugely influenced by Thin Lizzy and is a real
rock-head. Dipster was more into his
R'nB bands like Dr Feelgood and the Pirates. I was into punk but also loved the
classic rock sound of Bad Company and the Who. Headline Maniac has all those
influences in its sound.”
Songs
like “One More Chance” and “Idiot Me” do lean more in the direction of
first-wave punk bands like Stiff Little Fingers, Others, like “14 Days” recall more contemporary punk such as Green Day.
Bowley acknowledges much respect
for that first wave, and that certain sensibilities have stuck around long
after those bands faded away.
“I think it was such a big change,” says Bowley of that first explosion of punk. “Before ’76, there was the whole glam rock thing and then prog rock which was out of reach for most kids.”
“Then,
along came Eddie and the Hotrods, who were only 17 at the time. Kids watched
other kids becoming successful, and by 1977, it was possible for young people
to make their own clothes get in a band with their mates and be part of
something.”
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| Simon Bowley |
Headline
Maniac came to be when the three members, writing songs originally intended to
be for Eddie and the Hot Rods, figured the songs would fit better outside.
“Our band
came out of Dipster writing a few songs and initially recording them as a Eddie
and the Hotrods album,” Bowley recalled. “After the demos we decided they
weren't right for the band, so the three of us thought of doing a band outside
of Eddie and the Hotrods, just as something new. The response to the album has
been so good that we decided to carry it forward.”
Bowley
said there’s no big scheme, no master plan for Headline Maniac. The band
doesn’t seek to connect any musical divides, say between punk and pub rock or
between any of the genres. It’s a true artistic venture – to just play music
the band would listen to itself.
“We just
play the music that we have written and enjoy,” commented Bowley. “if other
people like it then it's a bonus. It isn’t really trying to tap into the whole
punk thing or trying to bridge any gaps.”
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| Dipster |
“The
response so far has been great and shows are coming in,” Bowley reports. “The
album hasn't been released yet and already we have a good number of radio
stations playing tracks and some music press have given great reviews. We have
shows in UK and Europe already. We don't have any expectations of fame
and fortune , but we’re having fun and that’s exactly the way it should be.”
Fans of
Eddie and the Hot Rods shouldn’t fret. The three aren’t planning to jump ship
any time soon. It should also be noted that Barrie Masters, E and the HR’s lead
singer also has a side project, Class of ’76, made up of Masters and other
veterans of that fabled first wave of punk in Britain. But being around for so
many years, Bowley said he and his Headline Maniac bandmates need to be
realistic.
“Yes we
are definitely still part of Eddie and the Hotrods,” Bowley reassured, but the
band is now in its 41st year and wont last for ever so who knows maybe we can
carry on with Headline Maniac.”
As part
of Eddie and the Hot Rods, Bowley has been to our side of the Atlantic
several times. Some have suggested that with it’s sound, Headline Maniac may
have what it takes to make a dent in the North American market as well.
“We have been told the album is very American sounding, which wasn't planned, said Bowley, “so yeah, we would love for America to take notice of Headline Maniac.”
Well, it
might not be much, but we’re listening here at Garagerocktopia. Check the band
out at its Facebook page.
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