The Highliners: Difference between revisions

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History

The Highliners is a British rock and roll / psychobilly band formed in London in 1984 by Luke Morgan, lead singer and Chris Finch on saxaphone having met at The Central School of Art and Kev Feeney aka Stretch on bass. The name The Highliners came from the Mk2 Ford Consuls and Zephyrs they all owned and early line-ups included members of The Cropdusters and Simon Collins the Dean of Fashion at Parsons School New York. In 1985 Morgan, Finch, Feeney and new drummer Tim Potter took a pink split screen VW bus to France for a 3 month tour of the Riviera. Later drummers included Dean, Andy and Mikey Stafford until Roy Williams of Nervous Records introduced Ginger (Steve Meadham) from The Meteors, Ricochets and Guana Batz in 1986. By 1987 this four piece had a TV residency on the channel 4 show Comedy Wave Length with Paul Merton and Josie Lawrence

They were then joined by Ben Blakeman of The Cocteau Twins on lead guitar and regularly topped the bill at John Curd’s legendary psychobilly club, the “Klub Foot” in Hammersmith where their pink van became a landmark with the surfing skeleton on it’s roof.

They were recorded live at The Klub Foot on Saturday 16th Jan 1988 for the album series “Stomping at The Klub Foot” appearing on “Stomping at The Klub Foot 5” released in March 1988 and they were the last Klub Foot band to play this venue on Sunday 26th June 1988

This 5 piece had UK chart successes with “Double shot of my babys love” reaching No.15 (NME Independent charts 3rd Sept 1988) then “Henry The Wasp” on the Radio One and Radio Two play-lists and “The Benny Hill Boogie” that immortalized Jenny Lee-Wright “The Sexiest Stooge”. These hits were featured in a Radio One interview with Luke Morgan and the first album “Bound for Glory” was released in 1989 on Razor Records.

Rick Buckler from The Jam then replaced Ginger on drums having earlier worked with Mike Spencer on the final mix and production of the album, Buckler toured the UK and Europe with them in 1990 and is still involved with the band today. All-star line-ups have included Doyley (Klingonz), Russ Ward (Klubtastic), John Belknap, Steve Fishman (now with Hue Cornwall of The Stranglers) Lamma (Pronghorn), Kathy X, and Brendan and Gasty both from The Arousers.

Fanzines include artwork by Luke Morgan, Chris Finch and Vaun Richards of The Funday Times.

In 2003 Dave Deville from The Vulture Squadron and Optic Nerves joined the band on lead guitar and in 2009 Brendan joined on sax. In 2010 Ginger rejoined and had his first gig with the band for over 20 years at the Pineda De Mar Psychobilly Meeting.