Amongst the assorted arachnidae currently doing the rounds. Spider are four guys from Merseyside who stand as much chance of superstardom as my grandmother does. . .and she's dead. However, impending superstardom isn't the only plus-point that a band can offer, and Spider's brand of boogie goodtime should at least assure them of a reasonable level of popularity, and many enthusiastic receptions.
The music's good-natured and unpretentious, leaning heavily towards Quo, with a rousing version of 'Don't Waste My Time' emphasising the point. Every number is delivered at maximum velocity, a raucous violation of decibel limits with the drummer coaxing a huge wail of sound out of a pretty small kit. Over the top (a highly appropriate phrase in Spider's case) is a brutal guitar onslaught, lead, rhythm and bass all thrashing away like madmen on their way to boogie heaven.
Musically Spider have only got one actual virtue, which is manic tightness (apart from the occasional difference of opinion over when a number finishes), but then for heads-down boogie what else is necessary? They're spectacular in a low-budget sort of way, with explosions and flashing lights to complement their on-stage cavorting, and their reconstruction of 'Born To Be Wild' has got to be seen — and heard — to be believed.
Spider and alcohol go together excellently, and anyone looking for a really wild band for a drunken bop need look no further. Social secretaries, are you listening? Your audience is primed and ready to rock.
(Paul Suter, Sounds, 01/03/80)
Although they were always labelled as Status Quo clones this was way off the mark. Sure they were influenced by the mighty Quo, but they were also influenced by a host of others too - Slade for example (anyone who saw Spider live will attest to this), they even used to cover Get Down And Get With on stage. The problem Spider had wasn't the Quo comparisons it was their own image - they seemed to be content to be a club band rather than push forward to bigger and better things. The fact that bassist Brian Burrows would throw 'sweeties' out to the crowd and would include as much inuendo into introducing some of their songs merely constrained the band rather than endear it, which was a great pity.
A couple of years ago the two guitarists (Dave 'Sniffa' Bryce and Col Harkness) actually got together (ironically with members of a Quo tribute band!) for a few laughs and played a handful of songs from this album in a London pub. The energy was still there, the talent was definitely still there......who knows a reunion at some point maybe?
Tracks
| 1. AWOL |
| 2. Talkin' 'Bout Rock 'n' Roll |
| 3. Part Of The Legend |
| 4. Did Ya Like It Baby |
| 5. Them That Start The Fighting (Don't Fight) |
| 6. What You're Doing To Me |
| 7. Lady (I'm Dying For You) |
| 8. Till I'm Certain |
| 9. Rock 'n' Roll Forever Will Last |
| 10. All The Time |
Link http://www.mediafire.com/?4rmmoiudczn
I remember seeing these guys supporting Gillan at the Caird Hall in Dundee. The audience hated them and after their sweetie malarky they were pelted with self-same sweets! Aaah, the follies of youth!
ReplyDeleteRe Marwood...Bollocks mate..The pelting of sweets you mention never happened..unless you threw a solitary one...hated them..? they stormed the fucking place..!
ReplyDeleteYou obviously beleive too much of what you read in the gutter music press..!
Okay then, I hated them. And, yes I did hoy a sweet at them!
ReplyDelete