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Formed
in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in 1977. The Killer meters (as
they were known at that stage) were influenced by the punk movement
and Dr. Feelgood and thier main attraction was bass player Vic
Szeczesnowicz (or Vic Vomit as he was otherwise known). The bands
lead guitarist was Mick Moore who worshipped Keith Richards. Another
Rolling Stone obsessive was vocalist Owen Ford and their line-up
was completed by drummer Graham 'Jez' Jessop.
Fed up with the limitations of the Punk sound the band broke up
in early 1978, only to reform as the 'Killermeters' in October
1978, the punk style had gone and the band adopted a 'Mod' style,
their first new song 'Back in Business' would indicate this new
direction (available on Detour Records release 'Metric Noise').
With Vic (now known as Vic Vespa) on Vocals, Jez on drums and
mick on lead guitar, this new line-up expanded to include two
more musicians, the brothers Sid and Tony Ruttle (both Rhythm
Guitar). The new band looked right and sounded right, develpoing
into a very tight outfit. Their set at the time was laced with
a few choice covers like Edwin Starr's 'SOS' and the Who's 'Legal
Matter'.
The band quickly built up a large follwing amongst the numerous
scooter clubs in the north of the country and it wasn't long before
they released their debut single 'Why Should It Happen To Me?'
c/w 'Cardiac Arrest' on the Psycho label. Pressed in a quantity
of just 1000, with only half having a picture sleeve (due to a
mix up at the printers!).
The single generated wider interest and resulted in a joint gig
with Secret Affair in May 1979 (also on the bill were the Teenbeats).
A successful support slot on a tour of Scotland by The Undertones
followed and shortly after a large feature in Sounds written by
Gary Bushell. With mounting record company interest the band played
an exhibition gig at the Moonlight club in London in November
1979. Sadly their ill timed consumption on pre-gig alcohol took
it's toll on their performance, resulting in a rapid loss of interest
by the major labels.
The band eventually signed to GEM records. With a new drummer,
Gary 'Horace' Westwell (Jez having left the band), and a new single
(the classic 'Twisted Wheel' c/w 'SX225'), the band should have
broken through. However the single was poorly produced by Cliff
Richard producers 'Slush and Leathwood' and failed to chart. The
band hastily undertook a promotional tour with Eddie and The hotrods,but
it turned out to be an expensive mistake. Although well received,
it was the completely wrong audience for the band.
In the true tradition on their sixties mod counterparts, the band
began to experiement, leaning in a psychedelic direction and adding
12 string guitar to enhance their sound. The band split in 1981
with Vic, mick & Horace along with new member Mick Massey forming
'Soldiers are Dreamers', taking their name from the Sasson poem.
In 1996 Detour Records released a collection of unreleased demo's
under the name of 'Metric Noise' (DRCD013/DRLP013) and on the
strength of this the band reformed for several gigs. They also
recorded a new EP, again for Detour records entitled 'Are You
Ready' and a mini album entitled 'Charge'. |
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