![]() Sadly this is the sole release of the band (with the exception of one demo). She sings b-vox on a couple of tracks and lead on two, including the cover of The Ricochets’ Night Ship and the ska/new wave/psychobilly Change Myself. The songs are well done, with a will to make melodic and original tunes. It’s solid neo-rockabilly with a touch of psychobilly featuring an excellent lead guitar and a powerful slap bass with a sound very close to Restless (Vanish Without A trace/Girl Invisible era). They eventually got a contract with the newly created Maybe Crazy records (later home of Mad Sin, Scallywags) but Gonzo left before the recording because he had to go to the army.The Lp was recorded with Johannes Bokskopf who Semmel knew from another musical project.The album is quite good and has aged rather well. Finally Klaudia Menzel joined the band sharing the vocals with Semmel. Then Pennmütz left and Gonzo took the drums. Murphy stayed with the band for less than a year then left leading Semmel to take over the vocals duties and the band carried on as a trio. Semmel quotes Restless, The Sharks as well as Gene Vincent and Johnny Burnette as influences while the others were more into the 80’s Psycho scene and a bit of Punk too. Klein and Glenz were soon joined by Murphy (singer/second guitar) and Pennmütz on drums (both from Bonn). They were very young (Glenz was 16!) and that was the first band for both of them. Uwe had started to play doublebass and was looking for a guitar player to form a neo-rockabilly / psychobilly band. Sebastian Glenz aka Semmel (guitar) met Uwe Klein through his older brother. It's getting embarrassing.The Scannerz started in late 1985/ early 1986. Equal parts psycho and billy with a splash of the aforementioned sci-fi for good measure. So yes, another quality release from Crazy Love Records (Guido really has an ear for quality) with this, the sophomore album from The Rocket Beats. But what appears to be the music industry's pet hate, is our subcultural secret which sticks two fingers up at them triumphantly. Yet, it has survived on its own merits while being blacklisted by the "music press". Within music's broad spectrum of genres and styles, psychobilly has to be thee most ignored one of all. It's testament to the talent that exists within the realms of psychobilly's self-contained world I suppose. Fuck knows how such an underground scene can still produce bands like this, putting their own stamp on things with that classic, minimalist ensemble of guitar, drums and slap bass. ![]() Bands like Les Crabs, The Scallywags, The Scannerz.that kinda thing. Speaking of which, she's an excellent slap bassist too! They're reminiscent of that wave of bands that came from Europe in the mid 1980s. But what sets them apart from the usual psychobilly brigade is the inclusion of quality female backing vocals (and lead vocals on one track). Evil, sci-fi themed psychobilly sounds are order of the day here. Russia has produced some top class bands over the years and The Rocket Beats maintain that high standard. My nipples were plain to be seen poking out through my shirt whilst listening to this album, the second outing from Russia's Rocket Beats. ![]()
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