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Swervedriver are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. Their sound was frequently compared^{[by whom?]} to Sonic Youth, The Stooges, Dinosaur Jr., The Who, and former labelmates My Bloody Valentine and Ride. The band went on hiatus in 1998 before reforming in 2008 for a world tour, which included a performance at the high-profile Coachella Festival. Their first three albums were also reissued in 2008/2009.

History

Early years

The band started in Oxford in 1984, with the formation of a group called Shake Appeal, named after a song by one of their main acknowledged influences, The Stooges. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Adam Franklin, guitarist Jimmy Hartridge, lead vocalist Graham Franklin (Adam’s brother), bassist Paul Wilson, and drummer Paddy Pulzer. Wilson left and Adam Franklin switched to bass duties before Richard Mason took over and finally the band settled on Adi Vines as bass player. They released one 7" single, 1987's "Gimme Fever", on Notown Records as well as two tracks, "Amphetamine" and "Take A Ride", appearing on Oxford bands compilation album The Jericho Collection around the same time.. The band disbanded in 1988.

The band effectively reformed after Vines heard demos of new songs "Son of Mustang Ford", "Volcano Trash" and "Afterglow" that Adam Franklin had recorded at home. The last Shake Appeal line-up then recorded a full band studio demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" and "Afterglow" before Graham Franklin departed. The new lineup had a new name, Swervedriver and after a time Pulzer left to be replaced by Graham Bonnar. Their hometown colleagues Ride passed their demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" to Alan McGee of Creation Records.

First album and possible breakup

The group debuted with a series of 12" EPs between 1990 and 1991: Son of Mustang Ford, Rave Down and Sandblasted. They then issued their debut album Raise in 1991. On February 6, 1992, Bonnar abandoned the band at the Canadian border only a few dates into a two-month headlining tour of the U.S. Tour manager Phil Ames called on Danny Ingram from Washington, D.C. band Strange Boutique, to fill in on drums for the rest of the U.S. tour and a short tour of Japan. Rather than replace Bonnar permanently, the band had Ingram move to London for a UK and European tour. In April 1992, the group, with Ingram still on drums, did a U.S. tour with two American A&M labelmates, Monster Magnet and Soundgarden as well as a tour of Japan. Following an appearance at the Hultsfred festival in Sweden on August 8, 1992, Vines departed to form the heavy metal-oriented Skyscraper. (Vines has since worked as guitar tech for various UK bands including The Darkness, Feeder and The Prodigy). Swervedriver’s final release with the original lineup was 1992's Never Lose That Feeling 12" EP/ 7" single, produced by Alan Moulder. Bonnar went on to drum for The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The future of Swervedriver appeared uncertain.

Release of Mezcal Head

In 1993, Swervedriver re-emerged with the core of Adam Franklin and Hartridge, along with newly-recruited drummer Jez Hindmarsh (a.k.a. "Jez"), and released the album Mezcal Head, continuing their relationship with Moulder. The album gave them their most successful single, "Duel" (NME's Single Of The Week). "Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn" was added to the American release of the album. With the addition of new bassist Steve George they toured U.S. arenas with Smashing Pumpkins and Shudder to Think in October and November 1993 and fellow Creation act Medicine in 1994.

Ejector Seat Reservation

Creation Records released Ejector Seat Reservation in April 1995 and then dropped the band one week later. Early UK promo pressings featuring additional track "It's All Happening Now" were withdrawn (given away to fan club members) after permission was denied to use lyrics lifted from Bob Dylans "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". Ejector Seat Reservation was never officially released in the U.S., though it was reissued on CD in 2003 by Sony International. It incorporated a wider number of influences from 1960s rock bands such as The Beatles, and possibly 1970s power pop bands like Big Star and had a more garagey sound than the previous albums. It received little to no record company support and ended up being their poorest-selling album. This began a protracted period of record label problems for the band.

99th Dream and the late 1990s

In 1996, Swervedriver signed to Geffen Records with a multi-record deal, and began recording its fourth album. However, their contract was terminated when their A&R (Artists & Repertoire) representative was fired in a corporate downsizing. Geffen released promotional CD copies of the band's fourth and final album, entitled 99th Dream, but these were quickly withdrawn and the label never officially released the album for sale.

99th Dream was finally given an official release in early 1998 after the band signed to fledgling U.S. label Zero Hour Records (the only differences between the Zero Hour and Geffen versions was a new version of "These Times"). 1998 saw tours of the U.S. (with Hum), Britain, and Australia (with Powderfinger). The Wrong Treats EP was the band's last release as an extant group and featured the tracks "Homeless Homecoming", a recording begun during a soundcheck in Sydney, Australia at the Metro Club and a cover of the Tyrannosaurus Rex tune "Chateau In Virginia Waters" ("Wrong Treats" was replaced by "These Times" on Australian editions). The last show by the band was in Margaret River, Australia in December 1998 and the band went on a hiatus that lasted nearly a decade.

Non Swervedriver activity

In 2000 Adam Franklin released an album called Toshack Highway as Toshack Highway on Flower Shop/Planetary as well as a 2001 EP Everyday, Rock 'n' Roll Is Saving My Life on Space Baby Recordings; a 2003 split CD release with Sianspheric entitled Magnetic Morning/Aspirin Ageon Sonic Unyon; a 2006 seven inch single Syd's Eyes on Black Mountain; 2006 Birdsong EP download only release on Shifty Disco and a 2005 mail order compilation of odds and ends entitled Everyday, Rock 'n' Roll Is Saving My Life Vol 2.

In 2005, with most of the band's discography out of print, Castle Music released a 2-CD Swervedriver anthology entitled Juggernaut Rides. It brought together 33 songs, including many only available on rare EPs and singles, and four that were previously unreleased, including the 8-minute "Neon Lights Glow," which features accompaniment by an orchestral string section.

In June 2007, Franklin released his first album under his own name called Bolts of Melody on Hi-Speed Soul Records from San Diego, California. His second solo record Spent Bullets was released on Second Motion Records on March 31 2009 (with Hi-Speed Soul distributing the vinyl and Franklin and his band Bolts of Melody toured the US with The Church in support of the album in May 2009. The third album will be released under the moniker Adam Franklin & Bolts of Melody in May 2010 and is titled I Could Sleep For A Thousand Years.

In early 2007, Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino joined with Adam Franklin to form a band that would come to be know as Magnetic Morning (formerly the Setting Suns).^[1] Their debut EP was released in November 2007 and debut album AM appeared early 2009 on Friend or Faux. The band toured the US in Nov 2008 in a band that also featured Jimmy LaValle from The Album Leaf.

2008 Reunion

During an interview promoting his first solo album, Adam Franklin discussed the prospects of a Swervedriver reunion, and referred positively to the recent reunion of the Pixies.^[2] In October 2007, the band's publicist announced Swervedriver would reunite in 2008 for a world tour.^[3] Drummer Jez Hindmarsh confirmed the news on the band's message board.^[4] Dates and details have been announced on their MySpace page. Right before their 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival performance Adam Franklin said in an interview "This time around—it’s ten years on, and the people who saw us ten years ago would love to see us again, and a bunch of people have sprung up in the interim—it could be a good time!".^[5]

In November 2008, the first three albums (Raise, Mezcal Head, and Ejector Seat Reservation) were re-released by Sony BMG in the UK as "Remastered and Expanded" editions. All three records are released as digi-packs, with 16 page booklets and liner notes from Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, are digitally remastered, and have 4 extra bonus tracks each.

In the USA, Hi-Speed Soul records (in conjunction with Second Motion) licensed the reissues of "Raise" and "Mezcal Head", and released them on January 20 2009. The US releases are the same as the UK versions, except for printing differences. A limited number of online "Deluxe Edition" orders will also include a limited edition poster signed by the band and a "Swervedriver Raygun" water-pistol.

Discography

Albums

Raise (1991, Creation/ A&M) (initial copies came with free 7") (reissued & remastered 2008 Sony BMG, 2009 Hi-Speed Soul/Second Motion)
Mezcal Head (1993, Creation/ A&M) (reissued & remastered 2008 Sony BMG, 2009 Hi-Speed Soul/Second Motion)
Ejector Seat Reservation (1995, Creation) (initial copies came with free 7") (reissued 2003, Sony International) (reissued & remastered 2008 Sony BMG)
99th Dream (1997, Geffen [promo CD only]/ 1998, Zero Hour) (initial copies came with free 7")

Compilations

Juggernaut Rides '89–'98 (2005, Castle) 2-CD best-of collection

EPs

Son of Mustang Ford 12" (1990, Creation)
Rave Down 12" (1991, Creation)
Sandblasted 12" (1991, Creation)
Reel to Real 12" (1991, A&M)
Never Lose That Feeling 12"/ 7"/ CD EP (1992, Creation)
Duel 7"/ CD EP (1993, Creation/ A&M)
Last Train to Satansville 12"/ CD EP (1993/1994, Creation/ A&M)
Last Day on Earth 12" (initial copies on white vinyl) / CD EP (1995)
Space Travel Rock 'n' Roll 12"/ CD EP (1998, Zero Hour) (came in anti-static foil wrap bag)
Wrong Treats (1999)

Singles

"Surf Twang" (b/w "Deep Twang") free instrumental 7" included with initial vinyl copies of Raise (1991, Creation)
"For Seeking Heat" (b/w "Duel") 12" (promo) (1993, Creation)
"My Zephyr (A Sequel)" (b/w "Mars") 7" (1994, Flower Shop) (1000 copies only)
"Plan 7 Star Satellite 10" (b/w "Flaming Heart") (1995, Creation) free 7" with initial vinyl copies of Ejector Seat Reservation
"Bring Me the Head of the Fortune Teller" (b/w "The Birds") 12" (promo) (1995, Creation)
"Why Say Yeah" – Swervedriver/Sophia split double 7" (1996)
"Magic Bus" – Swervedriver/Happy Campers split (1997, A&M Records) and Forces of Nature movie soundtrack (1999, Geffen)
"93 Million Miles from the Sun... And Counting" 7" (1997, Sessions)
"Good Ships" (b/w "Hate Yr Kind") (1998, Zero Hour) free 7" with initial vinyl copies of 99th Dream
"Hitcher" b/w "Just Sometimes" 2008 Reunion Tour only red vinyl 7" Hi-Speed Soul Records

Adam Franklin releases

Toshack Highway

Toshack Highway (aka the orange album) (2000) Flower Shop/Catapult
Everyday, Rock'n'Roll Is Saving My Life EP (2001) Space Baby
Magnetic Morning/Aspirin Age (split 2CD release with Sianspheric (2003) Sonic Unyon
Everyday, Rock'n'Roll Is Saving My Life Vol 2 (2005) SWD (full length album of outtakes, rarities, demos etc)
Birdsong EP (2006) Shifty Disco (download release)
Syd's Eyes/Silver Freight Train (2006) Black Mountain seven inch

Adam Franklin

Bolts of Melody (2007) Hi-Speed Soul
Spent Bullets (2009) Second Motion/Hi-Speed Soul
A Soundworld of Rain (2009) iTunes only radio session release with Gerald Menke on pedal steel
I Could Sleep For A Thousand Years (2010) Second Motion/Hi-Speed Soul

Magnetic Morning

Magnetic Morning EP (2007) DH Records
AM (2008) Friend or Faux

Home video

On the Road with Swervedriver: A Rockumentary (promo VHS, 42:51 total time) (1992, A&M) Features live footage, interviews, and all of the band's music videos up to that point

Books

Rider - by Jez Hindmarsh (1992, Lulu.com) An autobiographical look at life on the road with Swervedriver.

References

External links

[1] Pitchfork article on The Setting Suns

[2] July 2007 Auralgasm interview with Adam Franklin

[3] Billboard article on the 2008 Swervedriver reunion tour

[4] Swervedriver message board post confirming the reunion

[5] April 2008 Interview with L.A. Record

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@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==History==
 ===Early years===
-The band started in [[Oxford]] in 1984, with the formation of a group called [[Shake Appeal]], named after a song by one of their main acknowledged influences, The Stooges. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist [[Adam Franklin]], guitarist [[Jimmy Hartridge]], lead vocalist [[Graham Franklin]] (Adam’s brother), bassist [[Paul Wilson]], and drummer [[Paddy Pulzer]]. Wilson left and Adam Franklin took over bass duties before [[Richard Mason]] took over and finally the band settled on [[Adi Vines]] as bass player. They released one 7" single, 1987's "Gimme Fever", on Notown Records as well as two tracks, "Amphetamine" and "Take A Ride", appearing on Oxford bands compilation album The Jericho Collection around the same time.. The band disbanded in 1988.
+The band started in [[Oxford]] in 1984, with the formation of a group called [[Shake Appeal]], named after a song by one of their main acknowledged influences, The Stooges. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist [[Adam Franklin]], guitarist [[Jimmy Hartridge]], lead vocalist [[Graham Franklin]] (Adam’s brother), bassist [[Paul Wilson]], and drummer [[Paddy Pulzer]]. Wilson left and Adam Franklin switched to bass duties before [[Richard Mason]] took over and finally the band settled on [[Adi Vines]] as bass player. They released one 7" single, 1987's "Gimme Fever", on Notown Records as well as two tracks, "Amphetamine" and "Take A Ride", appearing on Oxford bands compilation album The Jericho Collection around the same time.. The band disbanded in 1988.
 The band effectively reformed after Vines heard demos of new songs "Son of Mustang Ford", "Volcano Trash" and "Afterglow" that Adam Franklin had recorded at home. The last Shake Appeal line-up then recorded a full band studio demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" and "Afterglow" before Graham Franklin departed. The new lineup had a new name, Swervedriver and after a time Pulzer left to be replaced by [[Graham Bonnar]]. Their hometown colleagues Ride passed their demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" to [[Alan McGee]] of [[Creation Records]].