Return of The Speedometors
Formed in 1976 The Speedometors were on the crest of the London Punk/New Wave/New Mod scene. The founding members, Martin Finlay, Toose Taylor, Robbie Watson and Lol Gellor estsablished themselves rapidly in the spreading "London" explosion.
The Speedometors attracted the attention of Colin Barton's indie label Mascot Records and the subsequent release of the single "Disgrace/Work" put the band on the indie charts.
The "Disgrace" single caught the ear of producer Miki Dallon, who then ran around the Midem song festival hyping the band to the same labels who had previously ignored them. The reaction was GREAT!!
Instead of sucking up to the "A&R man of the week" he choose to put the band in the studio and cut the "Day in the lights"
L.P. and "shop it",. The result: the "LP" was picked up by genius "ex" RSO records chief Chris Yule for Acrobat/Arista records. Along the way Drummer Lol Gellor departed the band, (we can't remember why), but he helped get us there!! (Enter Steve Parry (ex Radio Stars)
The single "Tonight Tonight" recieved a great response with plays on B.B.C. Radio one and a live at the B.B.C. session. The band continued to tour the U.K. and play packed London shows at clubs such as the Greyhound, Fulham Palace Road, Golden Lion, Fulham and a residency at the "Marquee" in Wardour St London, the launching pad of acts such as The Who Son Adam is a guitarist/bass player performing with "Dog of the Moon", (www.myspace.com/dogofthemoon), and legendary AZ band "She Said".
Drummer Lol Gellor: "The Special One". Lol was and is still is the "heart and rhythmn soul" of the Speedos. Produced Desmond Dekker's "Black and Dekker" LP. Which featured Graham Parker's excellent band "The Rumour". He has a radio station in Hackney, London. (www.soundradio1503.wordpress.com). Check out the "Lol and Sib" show, a rambling collection of "English brilliance". His on "air" radio persona supplies more than a hint of "Special". Offspring Sam is a guitarist in the very cool band "The Twice".
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,75021,
00.html for Dekker review.
Drummer: 2 Steve Parry went back to Canada? Played on most of the Day in The Lights LP tracks. Great loss when he moved on. Now resides in Vancouver Canada. P.S. I still have the socks you lent me!!
Honary Mentions:
Drummer: 3 Paul Spencer became a movie producer.
Chris Gent: Sax/Vocals/ good looks/honary Speedo/Radio Star: bands: Houdini, Autographs, Speedos, Frank Xerox, Screamin' Lord Sutch.
Keyboardist: Lee Dallon, where is Lee?
Special Mentions:
Colin Barton: Producer/Bass player/Chris Thompson's right hand Mann. Founded Mascot Records. Had the faith and shared it. Currently touring with Roger Walters,
Dick Hogben: "True friend", "Supreme roadie, and another source of Speedos "lost" stuff.
Ian the "Ice": Roadie. Good times at the Red Lion. He had the most bizzare Wedding ever!!!. Pulled out the entire Van wiring harness trying to open the bonnet after a show in Cardiff in the pissing rain, but was always there for us.
John "Knocker" Knowles: Island records man! Manages English artist Chris Rea. Turned us on to Tom Petty, miss those free Island Records!
Kevin Stanton: Roadie "Supreme" with "The White Transit Van". " 'ere Butler what yer doin"
Warwick Nightingale: the founder of the "Swankers" (sex pistols), taught "Jonesy" everything he knows. Passed away, cheers Wal for being our friend, we will always remember "Reading", Harvey Wallbanger's H.Q.
Paul Crockford: "Minder" Remember the infamous Granada T.V. show puking incident with Frank Xerox ? Went on to run Outlaw Artists, managed Level 42 now manages Mark Knopler. Paul, a great humanitarian.
Chris Thompson: Manfred Mann,great singer inspiration and one of the few people in the Bizz that's true to his word.
Blue Transit Van:. "Liverpool and back! no Problem!!! via AA.
The Supporting characters: The Good, the Bad and the really Ugly!
Miki Dallon: Producer where's our royalties?
Chris Youle: Acrobat CEO, Robert Stigwood's favourite pal
Barry Holt: Manager where is he now? Spain selling Speedos songs for Miki?
Barry D'arcy: Barry Holt's right hand man! The "King" of Fulham's North End road. (want a to buy a cheap vcr ?/Jail?)
Andy "Potmore" Pether: the world's "worst" Roadie the "Prince of platform shoes" The owner of a "flick"knife that didn't flick!!! (See:pics for "Potmore"it's worth it!).
Graham ?: Brief Manager. Ran the legendary "Speakeasy" club in London. Got us loads of "great gigs" at three in the morning! and drove the Taxi!
A new Day (in the Lights):
An avid "new" interest in The Speedometors has arisen. The L.P. "Day in the lights" and singles "Disgrace" and "Tonight Tonight" are selling very well on rare vinyl web sites.
Members of the band have been tracked down by "new" fans and "old " requesting details of the band's history and beyond. To satisfy this need, a new CD history of the Speedometors is being compiled, featuring unreleased Speedos material including "demos" Arista L.P., and alternate L.P. mixes. "Exclusives" include the "Liverpool sessions, how many songs can we record in two hours, and the "Lost" Island Record tapes. (Island that's a story for another day!!).
Whatever!!
the Speedometors were and still are a "very special" bunch of fellows, the songs live on, and that's what's important.
Shepherds Bush on a cold winter's night drinking Red Stripe, playing and havin' fun, (remember that feeling?).
The home base, "The Red Lion Hotel", (Barnes, London, England).
Ted Wood the Landlord even got us his brother Ronnie's autographed picture after we invited him to the "Reading Festival" gig.
Personally I would have prefered the other brother "Art Wood's" signature. Google the "Artwoods".
Songs: "Tonight Tonight" and "Tired of Living"are from the Arista L.P. "Disgrace/Work" are from the first "indie single" on Mascot Records.
Thank's to all the people that sign up as "friends", we thank you. Some is sincere,some cheap promo, there's nothing wrong in cheap promo as long as you buy us a pint or two sometime. We are meeting some great bands and people out there. Keep it coming !!!!
Click on links for other Speedos related sites
Lol Gellor-Drummer
Toose Taylor-Guitarist
Martin Finlay- Millionaires site
Robbie Watson-Bass
Miki DallonPaul Crockford
Red Eye Banquet
The Twice
