Robert Stoddard (musician)
| Robert Stoddard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres |
Rock Hard rock Glam Rock Power pop |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1978 - 1990s |
| Labels |
Elektra Blitzen Flicknife |
| Associated acts |
Robert Stoddard Band The Dogs D'Amour On The Wire L.A. Guns |
| Website | www.myspace.com/boogabug |
Robert Stoddard played in the L.A. rock scene starting in the late 70's and early 80's with The Robert Stoddard Band and released two singles. The band signed to Elektra Records and released the "L.A.P.D." single in 1980 which blasted the Los Angeles Police Department for being "out of control". The second single was a cover of the Lou Reed song "Sweet Jane" and was released by Blitzen Records in 1982. The band played many L.A. clubs including The Whiskey A Go Go, The Starwood, and Madame Wongs.
After the Robert Stoddard Band dissolved, Robert moved from L.A. to London in 1982. Robert was then recruited into the original lineup of the UK rock band The Dogs D'Amour[1] as the band's lead vocalist. It was Stoddard that came up with the band's name and he cowrote many of the band's early songs with Tyla. Some of the other earliest Dogs D'Amour songs were actually songs written and recorded in 1981 and 1982 by Tyla and Rook Randles' previous band Kitsch. During his stint in the Dogs D'Amour, Robert Stoddard assumed the stage name of "Ned Christie" after the 19th Century Cherokee Indian of the same name who was falsely branded an outlaw.
With Ned as lead singer, the Dogs D'Amour played around 50 shows and recorded many songs throughout 1983. Two separate recording sessions were recorded during this era of the band. On the strength of the 2nd session, the Dogs D'Amour were contracted to Kumibeat Records out of Finland. But shortly before the band were scheduled to record their debut album, Ned quit the band in late 1983 over musical differences with guitarist Tyla. Another reason for the split was that Ned had recently started up another band with Bam called On The Wire named after a song by Kitsch. Original band titles were "Ned Christie and The Heat" and "Viva". On The Wire had prior recording commitments scheduled around the same time that the Dogs D'Amour were to record the debut album. Tyla took over on lead vocals for the departed Ned Christie and recorded the band's debut album "The State We're In" in early 1984.
Ned and Bam (who had left the Dogs D'Amour around the same time as Ned) continued with On The Wire in 1984 and enlisted Gerry Kelsey on keyboards and Swiss bass player Mark Drax. On The Wire recorded 10 songs that remain unreleased.
Robert Stoddard (using his real name) joined L.A. Guns in the fall of 1985 as a guitarist and backing vocalist. The band with Stoddard in the lineup played many Hollywood shows and recorded demos throughout 1985 - 1986. Robert wrote or co-wrote six of the songs including a new version of his own "L.A.P.D.". Robert left L.A. Guns due to musical differences in late 1986.
Robert recorded a solo album in 1987 entitled "Grapevine" that remained unreleased. He continued to write and record music privately and contributed to various projects after the album release but dropped from sight since the early 90's.
Discography
Robert Stoddard Band - "LAPD" 7" / 12" Single (Elektra Records, 1980)
Songs:
- LAPD (Stoddard)
- A Little Bit Of Money (Stoddard)
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard - lead vocals, guitar
- Greg Staples (Reventlos) - guitar
- Johnny Krumae - bass
- Craig Pratt - drums
- Tim - drums
Robert Stoddard Band - "Sweet Jane" 7" Single (Blitzen Records, 1982) (Produced and recorded by Steve Catania)
Songs:
- Sweet Jane (Lou Reed)
- Alvarado Grind (Stoddard)
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard - lead vocals, guitar
- Greg Staples (Reventlos) - guitar
- Johnny Krumae - bass
- Craig Pratt - drums
- Tim - drums
Additional ROBERT STODDARD BAND Songs:
- Water And Fire
- Never Look Away
- Melinda
- All Talk And No Action
- Blame It On Me
- Wasn't I The Only One
- Pakistan
- The Last Time (Rolling Stones)
Dogs D'Amour - "Blame It On Us" 7" EP (Empty Bottles, 1992, 250 Copies, Bootleg)
(Songs taken from the 1st ever Dogs D'Amour recording session in 1983. "Teenage" also appeared on the "Trash On Delivery" LP compilation. (Flicknife Records, 1983)
Songs:
- Teenage (Tyla/Randle)
- Fool Like Me (Tyla/Randle/Raven)
- Secret Girlfriend (Tyla/Randle)
- Goodbye Charlene (Tyla/Stoddard)
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard (aka Ned Christie) - lead vocals
- Tyla - guitar, backing vocals
- Nick Halls (The End) - guitar
- Karl Watson - bass
- Bam - drums
Early versions of "Teenage" (original title -"Teenager Of The Week"), "Fool Like Me", and "Secret Girlfriend" (original title - "Weird Girlfriend") were written and recorded by Tyla and Rook Randles' previous band Kitsch in 1981 and 1982.
Dogs D'Amour - 2nd Dogs D'Amour Recording Session
(The actual number of songs and song titles recorded at this session are unknown at this time but recording is most likely early demos of songs that appeared on the debut album "The State We're In" 1984.)
Songs:
- Wired And Wide Awake! (Tyla/Stoddard)
- How Do You Fall In Love (Again) (Tyla on lead vocals) (Tyla)
- ?
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard (aka Ned Christie) - lead vocals
- Tyla - guitar, backing vocals
- Nick Halls (The End) - guitar
- Karl Watson - bass
- Bam - drums
On The Wire - 10 Song Demo (1984)
Songs:
- Mysterious Ways
- Everything I Do (Stoddard)
- Hold On
- 20 West 10-835
- ?
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard (aka Ned Christie) - lead vocals, guitar
- Mark Drax (Dogs D'Amour) - bass
- Bam - drums
- Gerry Kelsey - keyboards
L.A. Guns - Black List (2005) (Official release of 1985-1987 demos)
Songs:
- Stranded In L.A. (Black/Guns/Stoddard)
- L.A.P.D. (Stoddard)
- Show No Mercy
- One More Reason To Die
- Looking Over My Shoulder
- Love & Hate
- On And On
- Wired And Wide Awake (Tyla/Stoddard)
- One Way Ticket To Love
- Name Your Poison
- Liquid Diamonds
- Love Is A Crime
- Winters Fool
- Everything I Do (Stoddard)
- Word To The Wise Guy
- Roll The Dice (Black/Stoddard)
- Black City Breakdown (Black/Stoddard)
- Devil In You (Performed by Black Cherry)
Personnel:
- Paul "Mars" Black (Maus Maus, Joneses, Black Cherry) - vocals
- Tracii Guns - lead guitar
- Robert Stoddard - guitar, backing vocals
- Mick Cripps - bass
- Nickey "Beat" Alexander (Venus & The Razorblades, Weirdos, Germs, Maus Maus, Barracudas, Lord Of The New Church) - drums
ROBERT STODDARD - "Grapevine" Album Tape (Unreleased, 1987)
Songs:
- Grapevine (Stoddard)
- Pink Champagne (Stoddard)
- Why Can't You Be The Same To Me? (Stoddard)
- Love Is In Vain (Stoddard)
- Wasco (Stoddard)
- Elegantly Wasted (Stoddard)
- Hey Amos (Stoddard)
- Will You Be Coming Home Again? (Stoddard)
- Whatever You Do (Do It With All Your Heart) (Stoddard)
- Sons Of Soil (Stoddard)
- Ronald Reagan (Stoddard)
Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard - guitars, bass, harmonica, vocals
- Rachel Uchizono - backing vocals
- All tracks recorded with drum machine
Live Personnel:
- Robert Stoddard - guitar, vocals
- Marc Ford (Burning Tree, Black Crowes) - guitar
- Marc (Muddy) Dutton (Burning Tree) - bass
- Doni Gray (Burning Tree) - drums
- Jimmy Ashhurst (Broken Homes, Izzy Stradlin, Buckcherry) - bass
- Derek O'Brien (Social Distortion) - drums
- Rachel Uchizono - backing vocals
RIC BROWDE - "While I'm Dead...Feed the Dog" (1997) CD / Book
(appears on guitar and backing vocals on "Dick")
References
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The encyclopedia of popular music: Indexes. Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
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