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| − | '''[[File:Rivvits.jpg|right|300px]] |
+ | '''[[File:Rivvits.jpg|right|300px]]''' |
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| − | '''Personnel''' |
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| + | == Links with Peel == |
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| − | The band played - in their brief career - most of the influential punk/new wave clubs and pub venues then flourishing around London...''The Marquee, The Hope & Anchor (Islington), The Roxy, The Vortex, The Rock Garden, The Red Cow (Hammersmith), The Windsor Castle (Harrow Road) and The Brecknock (Tufnell Park), The Electric Ballroom (Camden) ''among many others. The Rivvits played alongside fledgling new wave and punk bands ''XTC, The Lurkers, Subway Sect, The Slits, Jilted John, John Cooper Clarke, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Stranglers, Adverts, Chelsea, UK Subs, The Jam, Raincoats ''and many other lesser known bands too numerous to mention here. |
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| − | The Rivvits also played a number of UK and European tours that saw them play in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Chelmsford, Nottingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Exceter, Southhampton and Brighton. On one tour the band were supporting proto-punk heroes ''The Pirates'', composers of the legendary rock n roll hit '''Shakin All Over''' at university gigs all over the UK and Ireland. The band also appeared on German, Dutch, French and Swedish TV, playing their minor hit record 'Saturday Night at the Dance/Girl Next Door.' |
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| + | == Shows Played == |
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| − | '''Early Career''' |
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| + | == External Links == |
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| − | The band signed to Indie label, '''''Alien Records''''', in 1977, after an initial signing with London 'Prog Rock' manager, ''Del Taylor.'' This did not work out due to differences of perceived 'direction.' It was said by friends of the band that Burne and Godfrey chased Del Taylor around his plush office in Hammersmith's King Street and threatened him with serious physical violence unless he released them from their draconian management contract. Strangely, Taylor did release the band from their contract rather quickly and with no financial penalties, so this might not be an urban myth. |
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| + | *[https://www.discogs.com/artist/2246900-The-Rivvits Discogs] |
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| − | '''''The Alien Record Company '''''was run by their new manager, Nigel Lucas, who also handled the publishing of the Rivvits' material, which was written mainly by Burne and Godfrey. Burne also co-designed the Rivvits record sleeves with his then girlfriend, graphic designer,'' Sonia Ferrier'' (who sang some backing vocals on various studio sessions). The Rivvits played many live gigs throughout 1977/79, sometimes headlining, sometimes as support band, and they gained a great reputation as being able to get a bored crowd going. |
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| − | '''Recording History''' |
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| − | The first Rivvits single was released as ALIX-1 in 1978: ''Saturday Night at the Dance ''(composed by Chris Burne) B/W ''The Girl Next Door'' (by Martin Godfrey).The single came with a FREE give-away flexi disk, a rockabilly influenced rocker, ''Alright On the Night. '''Saturday Night at the Dance''''' sold well for a new-wave disc and reached the lower parts of the UK chart and high in the alternative charts. After extensive publicity executed by the band themselves, that was later a big influence on today's Guerrilla Marketing techniques, they plastered London's underground, buses, cafes, bars and punk venues with distinctive circular Alien stickers advertising the single. Blondie were in London at this time and Debbie Harry met the band, dressed in fancy dress animal costumes, when they were handing out the stickers in Carnaby Street. She went on to say that she really liked the single she'd been given for free. The single ''Saturday Night at the Dance'' is an up-tempo rock ‘n' roll anthem with "Dance, dance, dance" as the chorus lyric and a Chuck Berry-style lead guitar solo played by Nick Jones, who also produced the single. ''''''Girl Next Door'''''' is a Buddy Holly-style spoof about an underwear fetishist. Andy Peebles played the single on Radio 1 and John Peel gave it a spin on his show. |
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| − | ''''''Never'''''', the next Rivvits single, was amore adventurous piece. Written by Godfrey and arranged by Burne, the song features unusual modal multi-sax harmony on the chorus, using elaborate counterpoint. Nigel Green, the jazz sax player feautured, blasts into a jazz/blues solo over the following chorus. The sound is pentatonic, 60s sounding, influenced by both psychedelia and Stravinksky, with a brilliant lead bass line by Godfrey. Julie Birchall was a fan of 'Never' and gave it a very good review in the NME. Typically forked-tongued, Burchill said; "''The Rivvits are cool and completely acceptable...but why did they bother with blue vinyl. They don't need gimmicks, the song is good enough on its own.''" Praise indeed from the acid tongue of the hilarious Miss B. |
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| − | 'Never' is backed with ‘Boy Meets Girl’, which was written by Burne. This is a classic three-minute pop song in very fast tempo with a catchy 60’s Farfisa organ and antiphonal female backing vocals on the chorus's chant. The lyric is cynical about marriage and mortgages and is considered amusingly witty. |
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| − | The Rivvits recorded an album of ten songs in 1978, but due to subsequent contractual problems it was never released and is now only avilable on a rare demo casette. |
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| − | Alien Records continued to bring out singles into early 1980s, using personnel formed from the nucleus of The Rivvits writing and performing under various band names. There were ''The Beaks'' (Dr X), 1979, a spoof Hammer Horror influenced song written by Godfrey, with a strong Iggy/Stooges type bass and guitar riff; and, ''Nathaniel Halcrow & The Mastadons ''(Move to the Right), written by Burne, which is a classic organ/bass syncopated pop song with a very catchy chorus. It's about liberty versus the dangers of extremist politics of both the right and left. |
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| − | '''''Chris Burne '''''also collaborated with noted songwriter and keyboardist'' Vic Martin'' in1979 on another Alien single entitled ''Don't Turn Me Away'.'' It's a spacey synth-orchestrated ballad co-written by Martin and Burne, with a throbbing Moog bass riff and sparse synth-percussion. Burne wrote the lyrics and also the music for the chorus. Martin wrote the riffs and played all the synth parts. The singer was a strikingly attractive nineteen year-old brunette, known as ''Rexy''. She was a supercool St. Martin's art student, who spoke the vocals and occasionally 'sang,' in an ironic way. Wistful harmonies on the chorus are by Martin, Burne and his then girlfriend, Sonja Ferrier. '''''Don't Turn Me Away''''' was well received and gained a cult following among electro-pop fans. The track was originally recorded in John Foxx's studio, ''The Garden'', on London's Covent Garden Piazza. The single was feautured on an Alien Records album of 1980, entitled 'Running Out of Time,' recorded at Ark Studios, in Kingston, Surrey. (The single was remixed there.) Vic Martin went on to become keyboard/synth player with the ''Eurhythmics, Random Hold, The Electric Chairs, Helen Terry, Boy George ''and, for over a decade,'' Gary Moore's Blues Band. ''Vic also composes music for TV and Film. |
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| − | '''Where are they now?''' |
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| − | '''''Chris Burne''''' has since studied music compostion at ''Goldsmith's College'' and written chamber music and scores for various media. On the popular music front Burne now records with many excellent UK and Nashville musicians on bluegrass, rockabilly, jazz, New Orelans, folk and Americana-influenced material. His latest incarnation is as lead singer and writer for his band '''''Larry Wilder and the Colts''', ''formed with legendary London-based slide-guitarist ''Rob Williams'', a lifelong friend and collaborator. Burne has a small studio in SW London, where he records all his demos. |
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| − | '''''Nick Jones''''' lives in rural Leicestershire and makes bespoke musical instruments and furniture, which are very sought after. He is an accomplished accordionist and plays in a folk band at festivals all around the UK. Jones is also a classical music composer and has written much library music. In 1994, Leicester University commissioned Jones to write a piece for the university orchestra which was performed there that year. |
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| − | '''''Martin Godfrey''''' is a very sucessful accountant and property developer based in the UK and Spain. He plays bass in various informal bands. |
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| − | '''''Dave Hawthorn''''' is a dentist, practising in East London. He still plays drums in a jazz combo. |
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| − | The Rivvits' singles and other vinyl by Alien Records are collectable and are regularly sold on E-Bay and other auction sites. |
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[[Category:1978]] |
[[Category:1978]] |
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[[Category:Artists]] |
[[Category:Artists]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:25, 19 May 2016
The Rivvits (1977-79) were a West London-based pop-punk-new-wave band formed by songwriter, lyricist, lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Burne, bassist and songwriter Martin Godfrey, guitarist/keyboard player and arranger Nick Jones and jazz drummer Dave Hawthorn.
Links with Peel
Festive Fifty Entries
- None
Sessions
- None
Shows Played
- 20 October 1978: Saturday Night At The Dance (7") Alien