Blyth Power
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blyth Power are a British rock band formed in 1983 by singer/drummer Joseph Porter, formerly of Zounds and The Mob, and are a well-respected band among the underground scene, often categorised with the likes of Chumbawamba and Crass and maintaining a fiercely devoted cult following despite a lack of mainstream success.
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[edit] Overview
Blyth Power's music shows strong influences from both punk rock and folk music. The band themselves have described their sound as a cross between The Clash, Steeleye Span and The Rubettes and their sound ranges from snarling punk to acoustic folk.
Established in 1983 (named after a railway locomotive), the one constant in an ever-shifting lineup has been drummer/vocalist/songwriter Joseph Porter (real name Gary Hatcher, born 1962 in Somerset). Porter's lyrics are a large part of the band's attraction. Literate and wordy, they often deal with episodes from history, obscure or otherwise, ranging from the Trojan War to the Cod War, as well as aspects of English culture such as cricket, village life and trains. Porter is himself an avowed trainspotter and once appeared on a British television programme on which musicians discussed their religions, with trainspotting cited as his religion.
Since 1993, Blyth Power recordings have been released on their own label, Downwarde Spiral. Although they have cut back on their touring schedule in recent years, the band remain active and also organise their own annual mini-festival, the Tallington Ashes, which takes place each August in Lincolnshire and combines live music with a cricket match featuring the band members and their associates.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Joseph Porter (drums/lead vocals)
- Annie Hatcher (keyboards/harmony vocals)
- Steven Cooper (guitar)
- Jerry Hatcher (bass)
[edit] Former members
- Neil Keenan (guitar)
- Curtis Youé (bass) - a former member of The Mob
- Andy Morgan (harmony vocals)
- Sarah Lewington (harmony vocals)
- Martin "Protag" Neish (bass) - a former member of Alternative TV
- Steve Ardcorr (guitar)
- Jamie Hince (guitar) - later formed Scarfo and The Kills
- Sian Jeffries (harmony vocals)
- Julie Dalkin (harmony vocals)
- Helen Rush (harmony vocals)
- Wob (guitar)
- Darren Tansley (keyboards)
- John Rutherford (guitar)
- Chris Hopkins (guitar)
- Andrew "Jessi" Adams (guitar)
- Bambi (bass)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Wicked Women, Wicked Men and Wicket Keepers (1986)
- The Barman and Other Stories (1988)
- Pont Au-Dessus de la Brue (1989, compilation of early singles)
- Alnwick and Tyne (1990)
- The Guns of Castle Cary (1991)
- Karpov Crosses the Border (1992)
- Pastor Skull (1993)
- Ten Years Inside the Horse (1994, compilation)
- Paradise Razed (1995)
- Out from Under the King (1996)
- A Rededication of Pastor Skull (1997, live recording of the Pastor Skull album in its entirety)
- When Death Went to Bed With a Lady (1998, Joseph Porter solo album)
- Gladly Give to Caesar (1999, live album)
- The Bricklayer's Arms (2000, new recordings of early songs)
- On the Viking Station (2002)
- Fall of Iron (2006)
[edit] Singles
- Chevy Chase (1985)
- Junction Signal (1985)
- Ixion (1986)
- Up from the Country (1988)
- Goodbye to All That (1988)
- Better to Bat (1990)
- A Wild Card to Play (1995)
1985/86 releases were on All the Madmen, 1988 to 1991 releases on Midnight Music and all releases since 1992 on Downwarde Spiral with the exception of "Ten Years Inside the Horse" which was on Anagram, a division of Cherry Red Records.
