Rudi were a punk rock/power pop band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1975. The band started out as a covers band, playing rock 'n' roll and glam rock hits and later switched to pop punk. The original members were Drew Brown (drums), Leigh Carson, Graham "Grimmy" Marshall (bass guitar), Ronnie Matthews (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Young (guitar, vocals). The band's name was taken from a single called "Oo Oo Rudi" by the Jook. Throughout the late 1970s they were one of the most popular Northern Ireland punk bands. But while The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers secured record deals with major labels and had chart success, Rudi didn’t hit the big time and became 'the band that time forgot'. Rudi split in 1982 leaving behind recordings that can still be found today.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first heard the band through the Good Vibrations label in 1978, whose first release was Rudi's 'Big Time' single. The single was played by Peel and he would later play further material from the band including a session recorded in 1981. After the band split up in 1982, Peel would often revisit the band's material on a few occasions.
Guitarist and vocalist, Brian Young, later paid tribute to Peel in helping many punk bands from Northern Ireland on the Peel, Punk, Belfast and Beyond radio documentary first broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music in 2018.
Sessions[]
RUDI - PEEL SESSION 21.09.81
NOTE: Ken Garner's book, The Peel Sessions, states that the band did two sessions. In fact they only did one for Peel's show in 1981 and the session which the band did in 1980 written in the book was actually for Mike Read's show rather than for John Peel's BBC Radio One programme.
1. Recorded: 1981-09-21. First Broadcast: 28 September 1981. Repeated: 27 October 1981
- Crimson / Tiger Land / When I Was Dead / Excitement
Other Shows Played[]
- 02 May 1978: Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 05 May 1978: No. One (7" - Big Time) Good Vibrations
- 1979
- 02 January 1979: Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 22 March 1979: Overcome By Fumes (v/a 2x7" EP -Battle Of The Bands) Good Vibrations
- BH011: 'Overcome By Fumes (Compilation 2x7"-Battle Of The Bands)' (Good Vibrations)
- John Peel Mid 70s Compilation: Overcome By Fumes (Compilation 2x7"-Battle Of The Bands)' (Good Vibrations) BH011 onwards separate plays, either compilation might be 22nd March
- 23 April 1979: Overcome By Fumes (Various EP - Battle of the Bands) Good Vibrations
- 30 July 1979: I-Spy (7") Good Vibrations
- 06 August 1979: I-Spy (7") Good Vibrations
- 09 August 1979: Ripped In Two (EP – I Spy) Good Vibrations
- 04 September 1979: I-Spy (7") Good Vibrations
- 15 September 1979 (BFBS): I-Spy (7") Good Vibrations
- 1980
- 09 January 1980 (BFBS): Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 23 January 1980 (BFBS): Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 28 April 1980: I Spy (7”) Good Vibrations
- 20 May 1980: I Spy (7”) Good Vibrations
- 24 May 1980 (BFBS): I-Spy (7") Good Vibrations
- 31 July 1980 (BFBS): Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 1981
- 17 February 1981: The Pressure's On (7" - When I Was Dead) Jamming!
- 19 August 1981: When I Was Dead (7") Jamming!
- 03 September 1981 (BFBS): When I Was Dead (7") Jamming!
- 1982
- 28 February 1982 (BFBS): Crimson (7") Jamming!
- 21 March 1982 (BFBS): Crimson (7") Jamming!
- 1989
- 14 September 1989: Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 21 September 1989 (Radio Bremen): Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 1996
- 04 August 1996: Big Time (7") Good Vibrations
- 10 August 1996 (BFBS): 'Big Time (7")' (Good Vibrations)