The Rezillos

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Rezillos


Img_capt = Original 45rpm single cover: "The Rezillos – I Can’t Stand My Baby"
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Background = group_or_band
Alias = The Revillos
(1979–1985, 1994–1996)
Origin = Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre = Punk
New Wave
Ska punk
Years_active = 1976–1978
2001–present
Label = Sensible, Sire
Associated_acts = The Revillos, Shake, S.W.A.L.K., Human League, Silly Wizard
URL = [http://www.rezillos.com/ The Rezillos' official site]
Current_members = Eugene Reynolds
Fay Fife
Jo Callis
Angel Patterson
Johnny Terminator
Past_members = Dr D.K. Smythe
William Mysterious
Hi-Fi Harris
Simon Templar

The Rezillos are a punk/new wave band, who formed in Edinburgh in 1976, and are still playing gigs around the world in a reformed line-up. Although frequently aligned with the punk movement, the Rezillos' (later known as the Revillos) irreverent glam rock image and affection for campy girl-group iconography, set them distinctly apart from their peers. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THE|REZILLOS&sql=11:3ifyxqr5ldje~T1 Allmusic.com biography] ]

Career

The band originally consisted of Eugene Reynolds (born Alan Forbes) vocals; Fay Fife (born Sheilagh Hynde) vocals; Jo Callis guitar; William Mysterious (born Alastair Donaldson), saxophone; Angel Patterson (born Alan Patterson), drums; Hi-Fi Harris guitar; Dr D.K. Smythe bass guitar and Gale Warning (Gail Jamieson) backing vocals. The Rezillos' early live repertoire included versions of songs originally recorded by the likes of the Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, Fleetwood Mac (in the guise of Earl Vince and the Valiants) and the Dave Clark Five. Bootleg recordings exist of this stage of the band's history.

This line-up released their first single "Can't Stand My Baby" on the indie record label, Sensible Records. This led to a major recording contract with Sire Records, home at that time to such other rising new wave acts as Talking Heads and The Ramones. The band also underwent a transformation, shedding both Hi-Fi Harris, Dr. D.K. Smythe, and two backing singers. William Mysterious then shifted to bassist for the band's debut album "Can't Stand The Rezillos", widely regarded as a classic of both punk rock and New Wave. A second single "Flying Saucer Attack" / "My Baby Does Good Sculptures" grazed the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart, and contained different versions of the songs found on the album release. Like the first single, it is considered highly collectable.Fact|date=February 2007

However, the quintet reached the Top 20 of the UK chart with their third single, "Top of the Pops" in 1978. By this time, William Mysterious had left the band to be replaced by another bass player Simon Templar (a pseudonym for Simon Bloomfield). The single version of "Top of the Pops" features him, whilst the album version was recorded with William Mysterious.

After releasing their debut album "Can't Stand The Rezillos" — also in 1978 — Reynolds and Fife left the original band. The live LP "Mission Accomplished but the Beat Goes On" remains as a testament to the original line-up. A final single, "Destination Venus" made the lower reaches of the UK chart, and earned them a final appearance on the actual "Top of the Pops", a long running BBC One TV programme.

Reynolds and Fife renamed themselves The Revillos for contractual reasons, recruiting new members, including original Rezillo Hi-Fi Harris, and released an album "Rev Up" in 1980 under the new name. The Revillos had a longer career than The Rezillos, and toured and released music continually during the 1980s. The band had an ever changing line-up, but the focus and nucleus always remained Reynolds and Fife. The band later also released a compendium of their music. The remaining three Rezillos plus Troy Tate, ex-Teardrop Explodes, renamed themselves Shake, and released a 10" EP and a single ("Invasion Of The Gamma Men") before disbanding. A side project named S.W.A.L.K was also short lived. Jo Callis went on to perform with The Human League.

Some of The Revillos reformed in 1994, playing a series of concerts in Japan, and recording the "Live and On Fire in Japan" album. In 1996, they issued a rarities compilation album, "From the Freezer", and played some live dates in Britain.

In 2001, the band reformed as The Rezillos with the "Can't Stand…" line-up, except for new bassist Johnny Terminator. They continue to play live to the present day. Former member Simon Templar (real name Simon Bloomfield) was last heard of in 2006, having created songs on the debut album by the Swedish singer, Thomaz.

They are probably best known outside of the UK for their cover version of the song "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight". The song was written by Jeremy Spencer and originally recorded by Fleetwood Mac, who released it in 1969 as the b-side of their "Man of the World" single — credited to Earl Vince & The Valiants. Since The Rezillos recorded it, the song has been covered by numerous punk bands, including Youth Brigade and Murphy's Law.

Line up changes

* The first Rezillos single (1977): Jo Callis (AKA Luke Warm) – guitar and vocals; Fay Fife (b. Sheila Hynde) – vocals; Hi-Fi Harris (b. Alan Harris)– guitar; Angel Paterson (b. Alan Harrison) – drums; Eugene Reynolds – vocals; Dr. D.K. Smythe – bass; Gale Warning – backing vocals.
* The second single: William Mysterious replaced Smythe on bass. Also played sax. Harris and Warning left band.
* The fifth single: Simon Templar replaced Mysterious on bass.
* Disbanded in late 1978.
* The first Revillos single (1979): Fife, Harris, and Reynolds joined by Rocky Rhythm (b. Nicky Forbes) on drums. Brown, Bryce and White provided backing vocals.
* The second single: Felix joined to play bass; Kid Krupa (b. Jon McLoughlin) joined band on guitar. Backing vocalists replaced by Cherie and Babs Revette.
* Third single: Mysterious returned to replace Felix on bass; Drax replaced Babs Revette.
* Fifth single: Vince Santini replaced Mysterious on bass.
* Seventh single: Max Atom replaced Krupa on guitar; Terri Revette replaced Drax.
* Eighth single: Fabian Wonderful replaced Atom on guitar.
* Before split: Buddy Moon replaced Santini on bass.
* Disbanded in early 1985.
* Reformed in mid-1990s with original line-up.

Music excerpt

Discography

Albums

* "Can't Stand The Rezillos" (July 1978: Sire, K 56530) # 16 UK Albums Chart
* "Mission Accomplished But The Beat Goes On" (Live album) (April 1979: Sire, SRK 6069) UK # 30
* "Rev Up" (as "The Revillos") (September 1980: Snatzo / Dindisc, DID X 3)
* "Attack!" (as "The Revillos") (January 1982: Superville, SV 4001) Album withdrawn

ingles

ee also

* List of British punk bands
* List of musicians in the first wave of punk music
* List of New Wave bands and artists
* List of Peel sessions
* List of performers on Top of the Pops
* Music of the United Kingdom (1970s)

References

External links

* [http://www.rezillos.com/ The Official Rezillos website]
*
* [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/rezillos.htm The Rezillos] on www.punk77.co.uk
* [http://davidsmythe.org/rezillos/the%20rezillos.htm/ David Symthe's personal story of how it started]
* [http://www.revillos.co.uk/ The Revillos website]
* [http://dek.spc.org/rezillos/inset.html 'Can't Stand the Rezillos']