The Ravyns
| The Ravyns | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1979–1984, 2011–present |
| Labels | MCA Records |
| Associated acts | Hollins Ferry, Climbadonkey, Passion, Word of Mouth, Company of Wolves, Crack the Sky, Face Dancer, Rob Fahey & the Pieces, Barleyjuice |
| Members |
Rob Fahey Kyf Brewer Lee Townsend David Bell John Tracey |
| Past members |
Bobby Hird Tim Steele Vince Crist |
The Ravyns are an American rock group from Baltimore, best known for their 1982 single Raised on the Radio, which was included on the soundtrack to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In 1984, the group signed with MCA and recorded a self-titled debut album, and then won the 1985 Basement Tapes competition on MTV with the music video for Rhythm of the Heart.
The first Ravyns line-up formed in 1979 and featured Rob Fahey (guitar and vocals), Kyf Brewer (keyboards and vocals), Bobby Hird (guitar and vocals), Lee Townsend (bass) and John Tracey (drums). Fahey had previously recorded an album in 1977 as a member of Baltimore group Hollins Ferry. The other members had all played together in another Baltimore band, Climbadonkey, which recorded an album in the 1970s that was not released until 2013. The Ravyns debut release was a four song EP which came out in 1981. By this time, Vince Crist had replaced Tracey on drums. Shortly thereafter, the group broke up.
The Ravyns eventually reunited with a new lineup that included Fahey, Brewer, and Townsend along with David Bell (guitar) and Tim Steele (drums). This line-up recorded "Raised on the Radio" which was included in the film and soundtrack Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982. This led to a recording contract with MCA and the release of a self-titled album in 1984. Although the album was well-received, it did not become a hit and the band was ultimately dropped by MCA and later broke up a second time. Brewer went on to record several albums with Company of Wolves in the early 1990s.
In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens football team got their name, and The Ravyns released a single called I'm a Rav'n Maniac—this was the first time the original group had recorded as a unit since 1985. In 1999, a second album called Remnants was released, featuring recordings the band made in the 1980s. A live album recorded in 1983 at Baltimore club Maxwell's was released in 2004. The Ravyns have occasionally performed reunion shows in the Baltimore area in the 2000s. In 2013, The Ravyns announced their intention to record their first album of new studio material since the 1980s. The album will consist of contemporary recordings of material that was written and performed by the band during their heyday in the 1980s. The projected release date is October/November 2014.[1]
The Ravyns released the title track of their new CD, "History Repeats Itself," as a free download on December 9, 2014. The song can be freely downloaded at History Repeats Itself -- FREE DOWNLOAD
Discography
Studio Albums
- The Ravyns (1984)
- Remnants (1999)
- History Repeats Itself (2014)
Live Albums
- Live at Maxwell's 1983 (2004)
EPs
- Ravyns (1981)
- I'm A Rav'n Maniac (1996)
Other Appearances
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Music from the Motion Picture (1982) - includes "Raised on the Radio"