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John Wicks (singer)

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John Wicks is a music producer and songwriter, working with numerous artists in the United States and the United Kingdom. Wicks is best known as the lead singer/songwriter from UK mod punk band The Records, who formed in London from the ashes of the Kursaal Flyers during the 1977 punk rock movement.

As a British punk/classic rock band, The Records recorded three albums for Virgin Records: Shades In Bed (1979), Crashes (1980), and Music on Both Sides (1982). Unlike many bands, The Records lasted through the punk era and into the new wave scene, before disbanding in 1982. Wicks became a respected producer and songwriter in addition to his work as a solo artist. He released a series of singles on the Prizm label in the early 1980s, including "The Way That Love Goes", "Prisoner Of Love" and "Nowhere Left To Run". In 1988, British rock enthusiasts petitioned Virgin Records to release the music of The Records on CD. The fans had their wish when Caroline Records released a best-of collection entitled Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses that same year. In 1990, Line Records Germany remastered and released an album of rhythm and blues flavored punk entitled A Sunny Afternoon In Waterloo.

The Records reunited in the 1990s to record an updated version of "Darlin'" for a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys Tribute CD. John Wicks was impressed by the response to their reunion and vowed to reform The Records. In 1994, The Records became known as John Wicks And The Records, booking shows primarily in the US and UK. Under new management, John Wicks And The Records were awarded an opening slot at the San Diego Sports Arena in California.

By the middle of 1994, John Wicks And The Records recorded Solace In Wonderland, an album of country-rock tinged songs reminisicent of Wilco, Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams. The album Rock 'Ola was released by Rock Indiana in 1998, while John Wicks And The Records were on tour in Spain. "Rock 'Ola" included 10 new songs and is considered to be their ultimate comeback album.

Working closely with John Wicks, Angel Air Records released Paying For The Summer Of Love remastered on CD in 2001. In 2002, Virgin Records teamed with On The Beach Recordings to release a deluxe CD edition of Shades In Bed, which featured 10 bonus tracks including every cut from the High Heels EP. In 2005, On The Beach Recordings joined forces with Virgin Records to release a deluxe CD edition of Crashes, which included 6 bonus tracks.

In 2006, John Wicks And The Records released an album of new material on Kool Kat Musik entitled "Rotate." This anothology included a number of new and unreleased songs that were remixed in 2005. As a bonus track, "Rotate" included their version of We Can Work It Out, which initially appeared on the Beatles tribute CD. The songs of John Wicks have been recorded by 1960s British Invasion band The Searchers (with John McNally and Mike Pender), Mary Chapin Carpenter, Too Much Joy, Michael Monroe from Hanoi Rocks, Euro pop sensation Dominique and numerous other artists. The Records continue to record new albums and tour the world, billed as The Records in England and John Wicks And The Records in the US. Primary genres are classic rock and punk rock.

John M. Wicks is a studio session drummer based in Los Angeles. After establishing himself as one of the most distinctive and supportive drummers in the Northwest, John Wicks has made the move south-no surprise, really, when you consider his laid-back style and its origins. "I was a Navy brat, so we moved a lot," he says. "When my dad was stationed in New Orleans, my mother took me out to Mardi Gras, and I just fell in love with that sound. My parents were also really into Ahmad Jamal, so Vernel Fournier was a big influence. I loved him, along with Levon Helm and Paul Motian" With his mother's encouragement, Wicks pursued private lessons with Dave Coleman Sr., a former Billie Holiday sideman, and attended Berklee for two years. In Boston, he took additional lessons with Joe Hunt, Alan Dawson, and a few with Fournier in New York. Wicks' instrumental voice has a definite southern drawl, just slightly behind the beat, with planty of room between strokes. As he likes to describe it: "It's slow and relaxed the way southerners are because it's humid."

As of March 2007, John Wicks is playing live with Heather Porcaro, Money Mark of The Beastie Boys, Jessie Baylin, Skerik, punk band Soccermom, and The Good Listeners.


John Wicks and The Records Discography

  • Shades In Bed LP (1979)
  • High Heels EP (1979)
  • Crashes LP (1980)
  • Music On Both Sides LP (1983)
  • A Sunny Afternoon In Waterloo CD (1988)
  • Smashes Crashes And Near Misses CD (1988)
  • Solace In Wonderland CD (1994)
  • Rock 'Ola CD/LP (1998)
  • Paying For The Summer Of Love CD (2001)
  • Shades In Bed Deluxe CD reissue (2002)
  • Crashes Deluxe CD reissue (2005)
  • Rotate CD/LP (2006)

External links


John M. Wicks Major Label Recordings

  • Money Mark "Brand New By Tomorrow" (Brushfire/Universal)2007
  • Donovan Frankenreiter "Snakes On A Plane" Soundtrack (New Line Cinema) 2006
  • Iggy Pop w/ Teddy Bears “Punk Rocker” Squeak E Clean remix(Atlantic)2006
  • Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (Ropeadope/WEA)2005


John M. Wicks Indie Label Recordings

  • Skerik’s “Syncopated Taint Septet” (Hyena) 2006 #1 CMJ Jazz Charts
  • Heather Porcaro “The Heartstring Symphony”2007
  • Soccermom 2007
  • Alana Sweetwater (2007)
  • Tina Tohsakul (2007)
  • Andy Coyne (2006),
  • Swampdweller (Freetone Records)2005
  • Skerik's “Syncopated Taint Septet” Recorded by S. Husky Hoskulds (Hyena Records)2005
  • Skip Heller “Fakebook” (Hyena Records)2004
  • Spirit Tuck (NCM East) 2004
  • The Hit “Shermer, Illinois” (Cydonia Records-Spain)2003
  • Skip Heller “The Battle in Seattle” (Jewbilee)2003
  • Joe Doria “The Place To Be” 2002
  • Samo “Hard G Coach” (NCM East)2001
  • Nikol Kollars "Cream Of The Drop" Seattle Hip Hop and Soul Compilation (360BPM Recordings)2001
  • Bebop and Destruction “Heavy Machinery” (My Own Planet Records)1998
  • Dan Heck Trio “Go To Work!” (Trio)1998
  • Ryan Burns “This Is The Ryan Burns Trio” (Trio)1997
  • The Marriott Jazz Quintet produced by Delfeayo Marsalis (Red Raspus)1997
  • Bebop and Destruction “The Day After” (Will)1996


John M. Wicks External links

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