Dec 03 2010
hear me calling
Last week caught an excellent DJ at Casa De Popolo that turned me on to The Barracudas. Since then I’ve been digesting their entire discography as I run the plateau in frigid mornings. The Barracudas story is best detailed by Jeremy Gluck (lead singer/canadian)
Jeremy Gluck was a Canadian who lived in London and had early sing in band called The Yohawks and The New Master Race. In London he and Robin Wills (ex- Lou Chysler et Les Noustiquaries) formed R.A.F. but it didn’t took long before they changed the name to The Barracudas. Name was taken from an old The Standells song. The line-up was: Jeremy Gluck (vocals), Robin Wills (guitar & vocals), David Buckley (bass & vocals) and Nick Turner (drums). Band style in the beginning was some kind of neo-surf & punk.
The Barracudas supported band like the Clash and U.K. Subs and when record companies didn’t seems to be interested in the band the made a D.I.Y. single I Want My Woody Back. This single was a minor hit and band was soon signed to Zonophone (sub-label of EMI). To EMI they recorded bunch of fine neo-surf song like Summer Fun and (I Wish It Could Be) 1965 Again and two sided (UP = surf punk and DOWN = dark stuff) LP Drop Out with the Barracudas.
After Drop Out Nick Turner left to join the Lords of the New Church, also David Buckley leave the band. New members where Jim Dickson (bass; ex- Surivors) and Graham Potter (drums). Band style became some sort of garage-rock. Chris Wilson (ex- Flamin’ Groovies) joined the band in 1982. Albums Meantime and Endeavour to Preserve, were released only in France. In 1984 Graham left the band and Mark Sheppard come to drums.
January 2 1985 the band disbanded because of general frustration: no record deal, no money, few gigs. After ‘cudas Jeremy Gluck made some solo records and formed The Civilisation Machine, Rob Wills new band was called The Fortunate Son, Chris Wilson formed Rock’ n’ Roll Gypsies. Time went on and The Barracudas still was a big cult name (many demo & live records were released) so it was time to reform in 1989 with line-up: Jeremy Gluck (lead vocals), Robin Wills (guitar), Steve Robinson (bass) and Jay Posner (drums). With this line-up they did make great Wait fo Everything LP and last for two years, before break up again.
The Barracudas are my latest obsession. Below are a two golden tracks, one more light surf the other more dark garage, dig.
