Any Trouble
Any Trouble was a British rock band that was founded in 1975 in Crewe, England. Their sound was between Wave and pub rock, in a row with Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, but also with elements of Bruce Springsteen (whose song Growing Up was part of their standard repertoire ). On the radio and in hundreds of live concerts, they were very successful in the nine years of its existence; They released five albums, an official chart hit them but was not granted.
- 3.1 albums
- 3.2 Singles
Band History
From Folk Trio for Wave band
Songwriter Clive Gregson (guitar / vocals), the band from Manchester called into life, when he was in Crewe on the College of Education. With Chris Parks (guitar) and Tom Jackson, the band initially a short time was a folk trio. When punk came along, the band moved towards Wave / Rock. Drummer Mel Harley and Phil Barnes came on bass to Tom Jackson went. The four remaining Any- Trouble - members played with great success in the pubs. This line-up also took the beginning of 1980 to the first demo single by Any Trouble. Yesterday's Love was on the desk of BBC cult DJ John Peel, who gave it the same in his show for the best. A few days later, the recording also landed at Stiff Records; here we realized the potential of the band and took them under contract.
For the first album dedicated Stiff a renowned producer: John Wood, who had pushed the regulator already for Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Nick Drake and Richard & Linda Thompson and had recently successfully contributed to the band Squeeze on the charts to establish. • The result: Where Are All the Nice Girls, an album that had all the ingredients for a New Wave classic, which (like the single from the Second Choice ) enthusiastic reviews received - but did not reach the sales figures that is expected of him had. Since it does not help that the band Stiff (along with Joe King Carrasco, the Equator, Tenpole Tudor and Dirty Looks ) sent to the Son -of- Stiff tour criss-crosses the United Kingdom.
Second LP, first separation
As alleged vulnerability of the drummer was replaced by Martin Hughes. Produced by Mike Howlett came out in 1981 Wheels in Motion, which again contained some strong songs with hit potential; musically the band away despite increased use of keyboards, mandolin and saxophone little from the pure guitar sound from the first album - the commercial success but did not come on. For Any Trouble so that the time had almost expired when Stiff Records.
The band went on a short U.S. tour to promote Wheels in Motion, but the tour was nearly half over when she learned that she had fired Stiff. Without record company they were now stranded in America. The stress to the remedying of that situation was too much and the band broke up only once.
Fresh start and farewell
After one and a half years Gregson Any Trouble formed new; Hughes came Andy Ebsworth on drums, Steve Gurl on keyboards replaced Parks - an almost new band so took in 1983 for EMI America LP Any Trouble on. Instead guitar synthesizer now were the focus - but even that did not bring the long awaited breakthrough. In the summer of 1983 they came as opening act for Joan Armatrading on tour in Germany.
Gregson persuaded EMI to record a double album as a farewell album. Wrong End of the Race had 1984 once all the skill of Any Trouble to the point: At 19 tracks ( new songs, new recordings of earlier fast- hits as well as some cover versions ) supported guest stars of the folk and pub rock scene such as Richard Thompson, Ian Matthews, Billy Bremner and the Sutherland Brothers band. The single Baby, Now That I've Found You ( 1967 in the UK, a No. 1 hit the Foundations ) was (in the U.S. and Germany, the album was released, however, only as a single LP with eleven tracks. ) Played on MTV, the reviews were good - but the cult status remained without commercial recognition. In May Any Trouble were again (as the opening act for Chris Rea ) in Germany; The end of 1984, the band stood for the last time on the stage, before they broke up for good.
The fire and the atmosphere of a live concert, which accounted for a large part of the band, has captured the Stiff mobile recording at London's The Venue on May 31, 1980. The concert as the opening act for the 1960 hit-makers The Searchers was released in 1981 on LP Live at the Venue.
After the separation
Clive Gregson joined the band by Richard Thompson on, brought out a few solo albums and later formed a folk - rock duo with Christine Collister. He also worked in the U.S. and in the UK as a music producer. Chris Parks was a software programmer. Phil Barnes went to television and produced music videos ( and Others for Oasis ) and commercials. Andy Ebsworth worked as a lecturer at a music college in London.
Since 2002 (when the band members in the selection of songs for Girls Are Always Right participated ) there are rumors that Any Trouble will play together again. In 2005, the band announced on their website at a reunion in the cast Gregson / Barnes / Parks / Hughes and a new album. After that they have already taken back to sample, and Gregson had already recorded 23 demo songs that could be used for the project in question. The album will be re- produced by John Wood.
Band Members
- Clive Gregson ( born January 4, 1955 - vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboards)
- Chris Parks ( guitar until 1982)
- Phil Barnes (bass, saxophone)
- Mel Harley (drums until 1981)
- Martin Hughes (drums, 1981/82 )
- Andy Ebsworth (drums, from 1982)
- Steve Gurl (keyboards, from 1982)