| gerard |  |
norman |
| gerard | |
norman |
Teenage Fanclub (the best Scottish band ever!) are comprised of Norman Blake (guitar, vocals), Gerard Love (bass, vocals) and Raymond McGuinley (guitar, vocals) - all three who write songs for the band. Blake and McGuinley were formerly in the Glaswegian band 'Boy Hairdressers' and were originally going to call their new band 'Teenage Fanny' when they formed in 1990. Brendan O'Hare was initially the bands drummer, but was sacked and replaced by Paul Quinn in 1995, while keyboardist Finlay MacDonald officially joined them at the end of 1997. Since the recording of Howdy! though, Quinn has left and the drummer from Catholic Education, Francis MacDonald has rejoined.
Their first album, A Catholic Education, was released in 1990, with a tribute to John Lennon, a cover of his 'Ballad Of John And Yoko', released on the anniversary of his death in October 1990 and deleted on the same day.
The band were beginning to receive support from the music press, as music industry insiders were saying their next album would be a masterpiece, they released the single 'Star Sign' in 1991 which contained a cover of Madonna's 'Like A Virgin' on the b-side but it just failed to make the UK Top 40. Bandwagonesque, the Fannies 2nd album, was released at the end of 1991 and was widely regarded as one of the best albums of that year, US magazine Spin voted it album of the year, ahead of the likes of Nirvana's Nevermind and Out Of Time by REM.
Thirteen was released in 1993 and was heavily criticised from many quarters, critics saying it was a huge disappointment and had been rushed. This criticism was unfair as, although not Teenage Fanclub's best, Thirteen is a good album, perhaps it was criticised due to it not being similar to its predecessor, Bandwagonesque?
If it took their poorest album, Thirteen, to produce what would come next, then I am certainly not complaining. Grand Prix (1995) is one of the most perfect albums ever made, full of happy guitar songs, as well as one or two tunes that could bring a tear to your eye. This album didn't receive a bad review and has been contained in many magazines/critics 'best album' charts, but it still has to be one of the most forgotton records of the 90s.
Another fine album, Songs From Northern Britain, was released in 1997. While still Teenage Fanclub, it has a different sound to Grand Prix but remains Teenage Fanclub at their best.
With the demise of record label Creation in 2000, to whom the Fanclub were signed to, they found themselves with no record deal in the middle of recording their new album. Luckily, this was sorted in July of 2000 when Teenage Fanclub signed a new record deal with Columbia and Howdy!, released in October of last year, continues TFC's love of chirpy melodies and made the Top 40 of the UK Album Chart on its release. Blake, McGuinley and Love contribute four songs each to the album which has earned favourable reviews wherever I have seen. During the recording of Howdy! Francis McDonald, previously a drummer with TFC, returned after Paul Quinn decided to part company with the rest of the band.
Teenage Fanclub ended 2000 by playing at the Edinburgh Street Party on New Year's Eve.
The Fannies did something very interesting at the Camden Underworld in April 2001. On the 17th they played an electric guitars gig, the 18th saw an acoustic set, while the gig on the 19th featured no guitars at all (although the "no guitars" wasn't strictly adhered to!)!
The second single from Howdy!, Dumb Dumb Dumb was released on June 18th on CD and 7" formats and unfortunately didn't even make the Top 100.... but I have recently found the single was inelegible for the chart, why? A free sticker included with the CD and 7" meant it was inelegible (How stupid!).
Rumour is, the Fanclub will start recording on a new album around December time! Although no new material was previewed at the Reading & Leeds Festivals this year.
