Partly inspired by Archie’s None Eightsier and KFD’s spurned songwriter posts, does any one have any recollection of this lot?
The Europeans ( who all surely voted to remain) never quite made it. I had their album “Recurring Dreams” and it was somehow of its time. Featuring a pre Marillion Steve Hogarth in Tucker Boots and a band of fellow muso’s with all the 80’s gear they should really have been bigger but yet the songs didn’t quite have the requisite hooks. Or something.
Anyhow…This is ” You don’t want me (in your life)”. Boo hoo Steve, go Prog.
Kaisfatdad says
Very classy touch, Freddy. A clip about a band called The Europeans and they are presented in German. From a TV show called Dr Mambo.
It’s a stomping, catchy number. Luck of the draw I suppose that they didn’t get a break,
Mavis Diles says
I liked them at the time, but even then there was an obvious problem – complete and utter lack of charisma. The change of vocalist from Ferg Harper to Steve Hogarth between the two studio albums was also a bit confusing. A&M really, really tried to hype this band and I seem to recall there being some sort of controversy around singles being given away for free or something… (anyone remember..?)
Looking back, the songs were pretty lacking in tunes as well.
Steve Hogarth has done alright for himself, as has Geoff Dugmore, who’s an in demand session drummer.
Freddy Steady says
@mavis-diles
You’ve nailed it. Lack of charisma and tunes. And I think they were trying too hard to be a bit different. Which they weren’t really.
And that thing about A&M hyping them has rung a few 30 year old bells though I can’t really recall anything concrete. My mates who went on to form Catherine Wheel were really into them for a while. Tiny piece of trivia for you!
Mavis Diles says
I can’t remember if they were before or after ReFlex (The Politics of… Ooh! Feeling good!), but they were like a more histrionic version of the same thing. Both were bands of musos trying to get on the bandwagon.
Uncle Wheaty says
In Great Yarmouth they would have been hyped into the charts with 99p 12 inch singles sold from the electrical shop at the top of King Street (Hughes?).
Mavis Diles says
I think it was a live album given away with a single…
badartdog says
I preferred Europeans. Earlier, punkier, clunkier. From 1978:
went on to feature in Specimen, Banshees, Blue Aeroplanes.