Friction Groove | |
|---|---|
 Friction Groove, performing live | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Reading, England, U.K. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1983–1985 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Past members |
|
Friction Groove was a 1980s dance-punk band formed by members of earlier new wave band Between Pictures.
Between Pictures gigged and recorded in London and South-East England from 1979 to 1983 and released two singles, "Treat Me Like An Equal" / "Life Of Your Own" and "Birthday Card" / "Down At The Factory". Their original line-up consisted of lead guitarist Mic Dover, bass player Paul Tucker, vocalist Alison Rolls, keyboard player Haydn Meddick, and drummer Steve Sawtell. Dover and Tucker were ex-members of proto-punk band, Clayson and the Argonauts,[1] with Alan Clayson. In 1982, Sawtell was replaced by Kevin Drain, from the K9's, who was subsequently replaced by John Reynolds.
Band members Dover, Rolls, and Reynolds dissolved Between Pictures in 1983 to form Friction Groove, having recruited Mike Clowes on keyboards.[2] The search for a bass player took several months, auditioning the late Garry Jones[3] and Barry Adamson, ultimately selecting Ali McMordie in late 1983, after the breakup of Stiff Little Fingers.[4]
Record Producer Martin Rushent of Genetic Studios heard a Between Pictures demo of the Dover-Tucker composition "Time Bomb" and offered Dover and Rolls a record deal, which they declined as it was not for the whole band.[citation needed] Instead, Friction Groove were signed by Atlantic Records in 1984 and released the singles "Time Bomb" / "Ambition" and "Family Affair" / "The Kiss" from their studio album The Black Box in 1985. The Black Box was produced by Dave Allen (best known for his work with The Cure) and recorded at Hansa by the Wall in Berlin (November 1984) and ICP Studios in Brussels (February 1985).
After managerial changes at Atlantic Records and disappointing record sales of The Black Box album, the band split in 1985.
- ^ Clayson, Alan (2005). Keith Moon : Instant Party : musings, memories and minutiae (1st ed.). New Malden, Surrey, Great Britain: Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-310-9.
- ^ "Mike Clowes". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Clayson, Alan (11 December 2007). "Garry Jones obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Berman, Annie (29 September 2014). "Stiff Little Fingers' Ali McMordie, The TVD Interview". The Vinyl District. Retrieved 21 June 2021.