The Motors was a British Pub rock/punk band, formed in London in 1977 by Nick Garvey and Andy McMaster. The band was active until 1980. Their biggest success was the song "Airport" from 1978, which took fourth place in the British charts.
Content[]
History[Edit][]
Beginning 1975 left Garvey the band Ducks Deluxe. Garvey founded a band called The Snakes, along with Slaughter and vocalist Robert Gotobed. This band didn't last long. They were looking for Garvey at the urging of his manager Richard Ogden contact Andy McMaster, also a former member of Ducks Deluxe. Together they recorded some demos in January 1977, after which they switched to the forms of The Motors.The Group also included guitarist Rob Hendry and Ricky Slaughter. [1]
The official live debut of the Motors was in March 1977 in the Marquee Club. Also, the band recorded three songs for John Peel weekly BBC Radio 1show. [2]. Hendry left the band In May 1977. He was succeeded by Bram Tchaikovsky. That same month the band got signed to Virgin Records. Here, the band recorded in the composition The Garvey/McMaster/Tchaikovsky/Slaughter two albums, both of which were a modest success: The Motors in 1977 and Approved By The Motors in 1978.
Their first single was "Dancing The Night Away", which reached the 42nd spot in the British charts. Two other hits followed. The Motors came In 1978 with "Airport" – that was their biggest hit. The song was also a minor hit in the United Kingdom except in the United States. The next single, "Forget About You", was released two months later.
Middle 1978 Tchaikovsky stepped up, according to rumors because he would be unhappy about the fact that he was seen not as a full band member. Slaughter also departed shortly thereafter. Bassist Martin Ace and drummer Terry Williams took their places in. In 1980 followed the third album of the band: Tenement Steps. This album contained the minor hit "Love and Loneliness". After edition of the album it became quiet around the band. In 1982 finally made Garvey and McMaster officially announced that the band was raised.
After The Motors[Edit][]
Tchaikovsky had after leaving "The Motors" a brief solo career. He scored a top 40 hit in America among other things with "Girl of My Dreams". In Netherlands he had a minor hit with "Sarah Smiles". Further, he founded his own band on which together with The Joe Perry Project, The Cars, and Alice Cooper. In the 80 's he had a private recording studio.
Garvey brought himself a solo album; Blue Skies from 1982. Further he collaborated with Paul McCartney.
Slaughter performed during the rest of the 80 's on with different bands, including Fallen Angels.
McMaster would still be active in the music industry.
The three albums of "The Motors" were reissued on 27 March 2006 in the United Kingdom, with new live tracks and remixes.
Main formation[Edit][]
- Nick Garvey – vocals, guitar
- Bram Tchaikovsky – guitar, vocals
- Andy McMaster – bassist/vocals
- Ricky Slaughter – drummer
Discography[Edit][]
Albums[Edit][]
| Album (s) with any charts in the
the Dutch Album Top 100 |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Motors | 1977 | - | |||
| Approved by The Motors | 1978 | - | |||
| Tenement steps | 1980 | - | |||
| Greatest hits | 1981 | - | Compilation album |
Singles[Edit][]
| Single (s) with any charts in the
the Dutch Top 40 |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dancing the night away | 1977 | 24-09-1977 | tip21 | - | |
| Airport | 1978 | 15-07-1978 | 28 | 5 | # 26 in the Single Top 100 |
| Forget about you | 1978 | 09-09-1978 | tip13 | - | # 47 in the Single Top 100 |
| Sensation | 1978 | - | |||
| Today | 1978 | - | |||
| Tenement steps | 1980 | 12-07-1980 | tip17 | - | |
| Love and loneliness | 1980 | - | |||
| Metropolis | 1980 | - | |||
| That's what John said | 1980 | - |
Radio 2 Top 2000[Edit][]
| Number (s) with markings
in the Radio 2 Top 2000 |
' 99 | ' 00 | ' 01 | ' 02 | ' 03 | ' 04 | ' 05 | ' 06 | ' 07 | ' 08 | ' 09 | ' 10 | ' 11 | ' 12 | ' 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | - | 1091 | 1336 | 1091 | 1346 | 632 | 950 | 1102 | 1536 | 1083 | 1558 | 1605 | 1732 | 1389 | 1618 |
Covers[Edit][]
- "Dancing the Night Away" was covered by Cheap Trick.
- "Love and Loneliness" was covered by Chris Thompson in 1986 for the soundtrack of American Anthem .