Chrome Molly

For the Die Monster Die album, see Chrome Molly (album).
Not to be confused with Chrome moly.

Chrome Molly
OriginLeicester, England
GenresHard rock, heavy metal[1]
Years active1984 (1984)–1991 (1991), 2009–present
LabelsPowerstation, I.R.S., Music for Nations, Edel
MembersSteve Hawkins
Nic Wastell
John Foottit
Andy Barrott
Greg Ellis
Past membersChris Green
Mark Godfrey
Tim Read
Ian Jones
John Boyer
John Antcliffe
Sam Flint
Banksy
Websitewww.chromemolly.com

Chrome Molly are an English hard rock band from Leicester. They formed in 1982, releasing four albums before splitting up in 1991.[2] They re-formed in 2009.

History

The band formed in 1982, and after an early demo settled on a line-up of singer Steve Hawkins, guitarist John Antcliffe, bass guitarist Nic Wastell and drummer Chris Green.[3][4] Mark Godfrey (Drums) replaced Chris Green after the release of the "You Said" EP (Bullet Becords, BOLT 10) in 1984 and prior to the recording of the band's debut album, You Can't Have It All...or Can You?, which was released in 1985.[3] The album was received enthusiastically by the music press. For instance reviewers of British newspaper Music Week gave it the highest rating and expressed a wish that the band have to progress into something bigger.[5]

After the second album Stick It Out (1987), Antcliffe was replaced by Tim Read, and the band signed to I.R.S. Records. IRS released the third album Angst in April 1988, which included a cover version of Squeeze's "Take Me I'm Yours".[4] They toured as support act with Alice Cooper on his Raise Your Fist And Yell tour in 1988, with guitarist Andrew Barrott added to the line-up.[3] The band's third and final single release for the label was "Shooting Me Down", which was written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder of Slade and produced by Lea. The single received airplay on BBC Radio 1 but suffered from a dispute between I.R.S. and distributors MCA Records.[3][6] They moved on to the Music for Nations label for fourth album Slaphead (1990).[3] The band split up in 1991, although they played together as Van Halen tribute band Von Halen a few times.[6]

The band reformed in 2009 with members of the early line-up Hawkins, Antcliffe and Wastell joined by Greg Ellis, and announced a new album, Gunpowder Diplomacy.[6][7]

The band's first two albums were reissued by Cherry Red sublabel Lemon Recordings in 2010.[7]

The band returned to the studio with Toby Jepson from Little Angels in the producers chair, the album Gunpowder Diplomacy was released in 2013 by earMUSIC.

Johnny Antcliffe left the band in December 2014 to be replaced in 2015 by John Foottit, the band return to the studio in August 2015 to record their sixth studio album with Toby Jepson again in the production role.[8]

The band's 6th studio album Hoodoo Voodoo was released in January 2017 on Edel records.

In September[when?] former member Andy Barrott returned to the line up replacing Sam Flint. Andy was a member in the 1980s. Andy was formerly a member of Geddes Axe, Baby Tuckoo and The Dukes of Bordello.

Discography

Albums

  • You Can't Have It All...or Can You? (1985), Powerstation
  • Stick It Out (1987), Powerstation
  • Angst (1988), IRS
  • Slaphead (1990), Music for Nations
  • Gunpowder Diplomacy (2013) Edel
  • Hoodoo Voodoo (2017), Edel
Compilations
  • You Can't Have It All...or Can You?/Stick It Out (2010), Lemon

Singles

  • "You Said" (1984), Bullet
  • "Take It or Leave It" (1985), Powerstation
  • "I Want to Find Out" (1986), Powerstation
  • "Take Me I'm Yours" (1988), IRS UK Chart: no 115
  • "Thanx for the Angst" (1988), IRS UK Chart: no 137
  • "Shooting Me Down" (1988), IRS

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chrome Molly | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  2. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 80/1. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin (1999) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0257-7, p. 97
  4. ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2001) The Great Metal Discography, MOJO Books, ISBN 1-84195-185-4, p. 115
  5. ^ "Chrome Molly: You Can't Have It All. Powerstation. AMP 6" (PDF). LP Reviews. Music Week. Gwent: Pensord Press Ltd. 28 September 1985. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  6. ^ a b c "Rockers return Archived 18 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Leicester Mercury, 19 July 2010, retrieved 2012-05-02
  7. ^ a b "Chrome Molly Return Archived 26 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine", Classic Rock, 24 June 2010, retrieved 2012-05-02
  8. ^ "The return of Chrome Molly: 'We’re having the best fun. It’s like the best hobby in the world’ Archived 21 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine", Leicester Mercury, 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015