Twenty Flight Rockers

Twenty Flight Rockers
Twenty Flight Rockers (1986)
Background information
Origin	London, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Rock, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, punk rock
Years active	1985–1989
Associated acts	Supernaut, Generation X, Puncture, Thirteen, Balaam and the Angel, The Runner Brothers, Dead Horse, The Honeydippers, Speedtwinn, The International Swingers
Past members	Gary Twinn Mark Laff Ian McKean Jeff D. Vine Danny B. Harvey Steve Counsel

Twenty Flight Rockers (sometimes abbreviated as TFR) were an English rock 'n' roll band founded by Supernaut singer Gary Twinn, Generation X drummer Mark Laff, and Puncture bassist Steve Counsel.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

History

British vocalist Gary Twinn had once lived in Perth, Western Australia, where he was the frontman of the glam rock group Supernaut from 1974 to the beginning of 1980.^[6] After the group broke up he decided to relocate back to London, where he formed Twenty Flight Rockers with ex-Generation X drummer Mark Laff and bass player Steve Counsel, joined by guitarist Ian McKean.^[7][8] Counsel's time with the newly formed band would be short lived, as he left to join The London Cowboys. He was replaced by Jeff D. Vine to complete the line up.^[1]

Drawing influences from Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Johnny Kidd, the new band adopted a black biker leather clad look and a focus on pure rock 'n' roll blended with a punk rock attitude. The group toured clubs in London, including several shows at The Marquee Club^[9][10] and Mayfair Ballroom.^[11] They were subsequently invited to play the BBC's Janice Long show. In 1985, Twenty Flight Rockers released the single "Tower Block Rock" (ranked #31 for Best Single on Rockerilla Magazine)^[12] with ABC Records, and in 1986 the single "Johnny 7" with WEA Records.^[13] In March of that same year, a rare song, "Searching for a Hero", was given away for free on the Spools Gold compilation released on cassette by Record Mirror Magazine.^[14][15]

They were one of many bands to perform at Richfield avenue for the first day of the returning Reading and Leeds Festivals on 22 August,^[16][17] which also featured the likes of The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim, Doctor and the Medics, and Balaam and the Angel (McKean would later join this band).^[18][19]

Subsequently, Bernie Rhodes (the former manager of The Clash) was hired to manage them.^[20] He decided for the band to sign with Epic Records, and he had McKean replaced by The Rockats guitarist Danny B. Harvey.^[21][22] Twenty Flight Rockers recorded a series of sessions (compiled by Twinn and Harvey) as well as an entire studio album entitled Ride.^{[23][24][25][26]} "Black Leather Jacket" was released as a single promo,^[27] with the album due to follow in mid 1988. However, Epic was bought out by Sony, who then dropped the band from the label. Disappointed by political mismanagement from record companies, Twenty Flight Rockers broke up.^[28][29][30]

Members

• Gary Twinn - lead vocals (1985-1989)
• Mark Laff - drums (1985-1989)
• Danny B. Harvey - lead guitar, backing vocals (1986-1989)
• Jeff D. Vine - bass, backing vocals (1985-1989)
• Ian McKean - lead guitar, backing vocals (1985-1986)
• Steve Counsel - bass, backing vocals (1985)

Discography

Albums

• 2001 – Twenty Flight Rockers (Revel Yell Music) (Originally recorded in 1988 as Ride.)
• 2004 – The New York Sessions 1988 (Revel Yell Music) (Originally recorded in 1988.)

Singles

• 1985 – "Tower Block Rock" b/w "Weekend Revolution" (ABC Records)^[31][32] (7" version w/ "Tower Block Rock" marked at 3:26 for running time.)
• 1985 – "Tower Block Rock" b/w "Weekend Revolution" & "Young Man (Live)" (ABC Records)^[33] (12" version w/ "Tower Block Rock" marked at 5:50 for running time.)
• 1986 – "Johnny Seven" b/w "Tower Block Rock (W.1)" (WEA Records)
• 1988 – "Black Leather Jacket" b/w same track (Epic Records)

Others

• 1985/1986 – 9 Yards of Dead Cow - Live (Never officially released.)
• 1986 – "Searching for a Hero" featured on the limited and rare Spools Gold cassette compilation. (Record Mirror Magazine)
• 2001 – "Guns 4 Sale (NY Sessions)" featured on the History Of Danny B. Harvey CD compilation. (Revel Yell Music)^[34] (Mislabeled as the studio version.)
• 2016 – "King of a Lonesome Road" & "We Are the Rockers" featured on the Danny B. Harvey: Rock 'n' Roll Guitar Hero compilation. (Naked Spurs Records)

See also

• List of songs about London
• Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups

References