Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, also known very briefly as the Lorries, are an English indie rock band formed in Leeds in early 1981 by guitarist and songwriter Chris Reed, vocalist Mark Sweeney, bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown. After breaking up in 1991, the band reformed in 2003 and have released 5 studio albums over the course of their career.
The band was formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown (who would later join The Mission). Sweeney left the band in late 1981 and Reed permanently took over as vocalist, with Martin Fagan joining as a second guitarist.
The group's sound, featuring a numbing guitar drone, powerfully throbbing bass, pounding drum machine, and Reed's cavernous vocal tones, caused the Lorries (as their fans came to call them) to be quickly lumped into the then-developing gothic rock scene by pop journalists, although the band themselves denied they were ever associated with goth and preferred to cite Wire as an influence, and said they "were primarily inspired by MC5."
Links to Peel[]
In an interview with Penny Black Music website, guitarist, Dave Wolfenden, who joined the band in the mid 80's, was asked about John Peel: [1]
PENNY BLACK MUSIC: You were one of John Peel's favourite groups, weren’t you?
DAVE WOLFENDEN: Yeah, he liked the band. I think that he liked the silly name really. He also always liked the awkward jigsaw piece that didn’t fit which we were. I do think though at the end of the day the music stood up for itself really.
PENNY BLACK MUSIC: Do you think that you would have broken through without his help?
DAVE WOLFENDEN: No, I don’t think so at all, and I don’t think we would be the only band that would say that either. Peel was a big fan of the Sisters of Mercy. He was an early champion of the Leeds post-punk scene in general, and the Gang of Four and the Mekons as well. There was no internet back then and the only way of hearing something challenging or leftfield was to tune into John Peel.
However, on the BFBS show of 08 March 1986 (BFBS) John suddenly rebels against the whole genre of music that Red Lorry Yellow Lorry represent and opines that this might be the last time he plays plays an example of it. He did, though, play them the following week
Sessions[]
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry - Peel Session 1982
- Both sessions available on See The Fire Albums, Singles And BBC Recordings 1982-1987 CD, 2014 (Cherry Red)
1. Recorded: 1982-12-22. First Broadcast: 13 January 1983. Repeated: 01 February 1983, 10 March 1983.
- Sometimes / Happy / Silence / Conscious Decision
2. Recorded: 1983-11-05. First Broadcast: 16 November 1983. Repeated: 08 December 1983
- See The Fire / Strange Dream / Monkeys On Juice
Other Shows Played[]
- 1982
- 07 September 1982: Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino RED 48
- 15 September 1982 (BFBS): Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino RED 48
- 23 September 1982: Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino RED 48
- 29 September 1982 (BFBS): Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino RED 48
- 20 March 1983 (BFBS): Take It All (7") Red Rhino
- 27 March 1983 (BFBS): Take It All (7") Red Rhino
- 24 April 1983 (BFBS): Take It All (7") Red Rhino
- 08 May 1983 (BFBS): Take It All (7") Red Rhino
- 13 July 1983 (BFBS): Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino
- 29 October 1983 (BFBS): He's Read (7") Red Rhino
- 19 November 1983 (BFBS): He's Read (7") Red Rhino
- 1984
- 20 February 1984: Beating My Head (12" - This Today) Red Rhino
- 06 March 1984: Beating My Head (12" single - This Today) Red Rhino
- 17 March 1984 (BFBS): See The Fire (12" - This Today) Red Rhino
- 24 March 1984 (BFBS): He's Read (12" - This Today) Red Rhino
- 08 August 1984: Monkeys On Juice (7") Red Rhino
- 19 November 1984 (BBC World Service): Hollow Eyes (12") Red Rhino RED T52
- 25 November 1984 (BFBS): Hollow Eyes (12") Red Rhino RED T52
- 03 December 1984: Hollow Eyes (7") Red Rhino
- 1985
- 30 January 1985: Hand On Heart album - Talk About The Weather) Red Rhino REDLP 50
- 13 February 1985: Talk About The Weather (LP - Talk About The Weather) Red Rhino
- 14 February 1985 (BBC World Service): Talk About The Weather (LP - Talk About The Weather) Red Rhino
- 01 April 1985: Chance (7") Red Rhino RED 55
- 21 April 1985 (BFBS): Chance (7") Red Rhino RED 55
- 29 July 1985 (BFBS): Beating My Head (7") Red Rhino RED 48
- 02 September 1985 (BFBS): 'Spinning Round (7")' (Red Rhino)
- 06 September 1985 (BBC World Service): Spinning Round (7") Red Rhino
- 1986
- 03 March 1986: Save My Soul (album - Paint Your Wagon) Red Rhino
- 08 March 1986 (BFBS): Save My Soul (album - Paint Your Wagon) Red Rhino REDLP 65
- 15 March 1986 (BFBS): Head All Fire (album - Paint Your Wagon) Red Rhino REDLP 65
- 17 March 1986 (BBC World Service): Jipp (LP - Paint Your Wagon) Red Rhino