The Stingrays (Bristol band)

For the London-based psychobilly band on Big Beat, see The Stingrays (1980s band).
The Stingrays

Cover of their first single, "Countdown"
Background information
Origin Bristol, England
Genres New wave, rockabilly
Years active 1977-present
Labels Fried Egg
Bristol Beat
Heartbeat
Cherry Red
Circus
Bristol Archive
YTY
Website The Stingrays website The Stingrays on myspace
Members Russ Mainwaring
Paul Matthews
Richard H. Meredith
Past members Bill Stair, Pete Thelke, Dean Sidney, Chris Bostock, Sean McLuskey, Paul Johnson, Mark Paignton, Biff, Tim Syniad, Pawb

The Stingrays are a new wave/rockabilly band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol, England, and is still gigging today. (There are at least three notable bands that have called themselves The Stingrays, Sting Rays or a permutation of the name).

They have experienced various line up changes over the years, but have included: Russ Mainwaring (who is still a member), Bill Stair (Art Objects, Various Artists, Blue Aeroplanes), Chris Bostock, and Sean McLuskey (Subway Sect, JoBoxers, If?).

Their first single, "Countdown", was released on local label Fried Egg Records in 1980. They also contributed the track, "Sound", to the seminal Heartbeat Records compilation album, Avon Calling.[1]

The mini-album, The Stingrays At the Dugout in '77: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping, was recorded by Simon Edwards (of Heartbeat Records) live at the Dug Out Club, Park Row, Bristol. According to Steve Bush of Essential Bop, they were “a bit like Bristol's equivalent of The Ramones. A rockin' unit with an advanced sense of irony.”[2]

A retrospective CD Back across the Rubicon was self released on YTY in 2009.[3]

Band line-ups

Original line-up

This line up is on the album “The Stingrays at the Dugout (1977): The Sound of Two Hands Clapping”

Line-up 2

Line-up 3

This line up is on “Sound” from the Heartbeat Records album Avon Calling

Line-up 4

This line up is on the Fried Egg Records single “Countdown”

Line-up 5

Line-up 6

This line up is on “Satellites”, the B side of the Circus Records single “Never Do”

Line-up 7

This line up is on the A side of the Circus Records single “Never Do”

Line-up 8

This line up is on the YTY album Back Across the Rubicon

Line-up 9

line-up 10

current line-up

Discography

Singles

Albums

Tracks appear on

See also

References

  1. ↑ George Gimarc Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982 AVON CALLING is the title of a new collection of new bands from Bristol, in the county of Avon. The lovely black and white... Private Dicks, Moskow, Essential Bop, Sneak Preview, The Stingrays, The X-Certs, Apartment, The Numbers. Vice Squad ...
  2. ↑ Review of The Stingrays by Steve Bush of Essential Bop ”Bristol Archive Records”
  3. ↑ Details of Back across the Rubicon ”TheStingrays.org”

External links