The Radiators from Space

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The Radiators from Space
General information
Genre (s) Punk , new wave
founding 1975, 2004
resolution 1981
Website http://www.theradiators.tv
Founding members
Philip Chevron † (until 2013)
Steve Rapid (Steve Averill) (until 1977)
Guitar , vocals
 Pete Holidai
Mark Megaray (until 1979)
Jimmy Crashe
Current occupation
singing
 Steve Rapid
Guitar, vocals
 Pete Holidai
bass
 Jesse Booth (since 2006)
Drums
 Johnny Bonnie
former members
bass
 Cait O'Riordan (2004-2006)
Singer and guitarist Philip Chevron

The Radiators from Space is an Irish punk band formed in 1975. They were one of the first bands of this style. The group is also known by the names The Radiators and The Rads .

history

The Radiators from Space were originally founded by Pete Holidai as Greta Garbage and the Trashcans , and before they found their final name, they also called themselves Rockette , Hell Razors and Rough Trade at times . Singer and guitarist Philip Chevron applied for membership in the group after reading a newspaper advertisement by Holidais looking for like-minded musicians.

The following year Chevron met drummer Jimmy Crashe and bassist Mark Megaray, Steve Rapid took on the role of lead singer. For a short time, Bill Morley (guitar), Joey Clarke (drums) and Dave McAdam (bass) also played in the band.

In September 1976 the group was renamed The Radiators from Space , and their first appearance was as the opening act for Eddie & the Hot Rods on September 13, 1976. Five days later they signed a recording deal with the Chiswick Records label . In February 1977 the band recorded their first single, Television Screen (with the reverse side Love Detective ), which was released on April 22, 1977. It reached first place on the British alternative charts and seventeenth on the Irish charts. This made Television Screen the first punk single to make it into the top 20. During this time, the Northern Irish punk band The Undertones appeared as the opening act for the Radiators from Space.

On June 25, 1977, the band appeared together with The Undertones, Revolver, The Gamblers and The Vipers at a punk festival in Dublin, in which a spectator was killed. As a result of the incident, only a few festival organizers hired the Radiators for a concert, but in August 1977 they appeared together with Thin Lizzy , The Boomtown Rats , Fairport Convention and Graham Parker and the Rumor, among others .

After this concert, the band planned to relocate their musical activities to London , which led to singer Steve Rapid separating from the band as he preferred to stay in Dublin with his family. The group's second single, Enemies (with the backing Psychotic Reaction ), was released on September 9, 1977 by Chiswick Records. The third, Sunday World (with Teenager In Love on the reverse ), was released on September 25th of that year. In the same month the band started their first tour through Great Britain.

On October 7, 1977, the first album of the Radiators from Space, TV Tube Heart , was used for the partly by Chevron and partly older songs sung by Rapid. On the following tour, the group played as the opening act for Thin Lizzy. Shortly thereafter, they changed their band name to The Radiators .

For the next album, Ghosttown , Tony Visconti could be hired as producer. Two singles were released from the album: Million Dollar Hero (In A Five And Ten Cents Store) and Let's Talk About the Weather (with the backs Blitzin 'At The Ritz (Live) , The Hucklebuck and Try And Stop Me ). Ghosttwon was released on August 10, 1979. A subsequent appearance in the London Roundhouse was for the 1996 live CD Alive-Alive-O! recorded. Musically, the band moved with Ghosttown more in the direction of new wave and mainstream .

In January 1979 bassist Mark Megaray left the band, he was replaced in 1980 by Neil Whiffen, who was not a permanent member of the band. On August 31, 1979, the single Kitty Ricketts was released , which also contained the song Ballad of the Faithful Departed . In January 1980, Hans Zimmer agreed to produce the Radiators' next two singles. The first of these singles, Stranger Than Fiction (with B-sides Prison Bars and Who Are the Strangers? ), Was released on July 24, 1980. The second, The Dancing Years , which contained an instrumental version of the first song as an additional song, was released on September 2, 1980. During this time, the group toured Ireland again after more than two years. In January 1981 Whiffen left the Radiators, he was replaced for the next recordings by the sound engineer Johnny Byrne.

In March 1981, the band canceled the planned tour of Ireland and announced the dissolution of the Radiators. On March 13 of the same year, the farewell single Song Of The Faithful Departed (with the back They're Looting In The Town ) was released.

In November 1985 the best-of compilation Buying Gold In Heaven was released . In February 1989, Ghosttown was re-released with two bonus tracks. In November 1995, the second best-of compilation Cockles And Mussels was released .

The radiators found a few more times, e.g. B. to benefit concerts , among other things for Aid To Fight Aids . They also recorded the 1989 single Under Cheryl's Clock , which was released on January 30, 1989. Additional songs included Strangers In Fiction and Take My Heart And Run . Philip Chevron became known as the guitarist for the folk punk band The Pogues . In 1994 he left the group, after their reunification in 2001 he accompanied them on tours again. Steve Rapid is still developing artwork for the band U2 under the name Steve Averill with his company four5one .

The band made their comeback in 2004; it consisted at the time of Philip Chevron, Steve Rapid, Pete Holidai, Cait O'Riordan and Johnny Bonnie. This line-up released two EPs : Television Screen (2004) and Summer Season (2005). In March 2005, TV Tube Heart and Ghosttwon were re-released for the band's 30th birthday.

In October 2005, Cait O'Riordan left the Radiators, she was replaced by Jesse Booth. On October 20, 2006, the third studio album by the group, now renamed The Radiators from Space, Trouble Pilgrim .

The fourth album, Sound City Beat  - a cover album - was released on April 30, 2012. Philip Chevron died of cancer on October 8, 2013, after which The Radiators from Space stopped all activity. The remaining members of the band formed the band The Trouble Pilgrims together with Paddy Goodwin (bass and vocals) and Tony St. Ledger (guitar and vocals) .

Discography

Albums

  • 1977: TV Tube Heart
  • 1979: Ghosttown
  • 1987: Dollar For Your Dreams: The Radiators Live!
  • 1996: Alive-Alive-O! Live in London
  • 2006: Trouble Pilgrim
  • 2012: Sound City Beat

Singles

  • 1977: Television Screen / Love Detective
  • 1977: Enemies / Psychotic Reaction
  • 1977: Sunday World / Teenager in Love
  • 1978: Million Dollar Hero (in a Five and Ten Cents Store) / Bltzin 'At The Ritz (Live)
  • 1979: Let's Talk About the Weather / The Hucklebuck / Try And Stop Me
  • 1979: Kitty Ricketts / Ballad Of The Faithful Departed
  • 1980: Stranger Than Fiction / Prison Bars / Who Are The Strangers?
  • 1980: The Dancing Years / The Dancing Years (Instrumental)
  • 1981: Song Of The Faithful Departed / They're Looting In The Town
  • 1989: Under Clery's Clock / Strangers In Fiction / Take My Heart And Run
  • 2005: Live At The Southend Kursaal 1977
  • 2005: The Midnite Demos

EPs

  • 1980: Four On The Floor
  • 1980: The Dancing Years EP
  • 2004: The Television Screen
  • 2005: Summer Season

Compilations

  • 1985: Buying Gold In Heaven: The Best Of The Radiators (from Space) 1977-1980
  • 1995: Cockles And Mussels: The Very Best Of The Radiators

Web links