Bruce Wilkinson-Vocals/Sax
Tom Hauck-Guitar
Paul Michael-Bass/vocals
Tim Long-Keys/vocals
Gene Gilmartin-Drums
Influences
Bowie, Rolling Stones, T Rex, The Atlantics, Blondie, Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, Kinks, Roxy Music, Duran Duran, Mott the Hoople, Depeche Mode, Human League, The Clash, Blondie, Ramones, Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley.
Sounds Like
The Atlantics, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Killers, My Chemical Romance, AFI, Linkin Park, Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Arcade Fire, Bowie, Rolling Stones, T Rex, Muse, The Cars, Blondie, Roxy Music, Duran Duran, Mott the Hoople, Depeche Mode, Human League, The Clash, Elvis Costello.
The Boston rock band Ball and Pivot was formed in early 1984 by singer Bruce Wilkinson (previously the bass player with the Atlantics), guitarist Tom Hauck, and drummer Paul Caruso (both also formerly with the Atlantics). The group’s first project was an independent six-song EP recorded at Syncro Sound and released on Z-Club Records in the spring of 1984. The band was joined on the record by Tim Long (keyboards) and Skip Smith (bass), who stayed with the group when Ball and Pivot started playing live in clubs and colleges in the New England area. The EP yielded the regional hit “Two O’Clock Jump.”
The next year the group was restructured, and Gene Gilmartin replaced Paul Caruso as the drummer and Paul Michael replaced Skip Smith on bass. The group returned to Syncro Sound with producer William Garrett and recorded the 12” single “Down.” With support from Aruba’s travel office, in the spring of 1985 Ball and Pivot went with director Luis Aira to Aruba and made a video of the song. The single, extolling the virtues of an oral hook-up, was a huge regional radio and dance club hit, and the controversial video—available in both regular and R-rated versions—made it briefly to MTV. During live performances the group was often joined onstage by vocalist Hope Moon, who was featured as the female partner during “Down.”
In 1986, the group traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, to perform during Spring Break week. After only three days of a week-long contract the group was escorted out of the hotel by Daytona police and told not to come back, presumably due to Bruce and Hope’s outrageous stage performance. During the next two years the band played to audiences in the New England area, and performed with artists as diverse as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Nona Hendryx, and INXS. In 1987 the band scored again with the rocker “Nowhere to Hide,” released with a video by Jeff Hudson.
Ball and Pivot was the quintessential 80’s techno rock-dance band, with success both onstage and in urban dance clubs and radio. In early 1988 Dave Roberts replaced Paul Michael on bass. The band continued to perform until June, 1988, when they played their final show. Singer Bruce Wilkinson passed away in October 2000.
Ball and Pivot's CD "Heart in the Sky" features 12 tracks recorded in 1985-1987, including the smash hits "Down," "Two O'Clock Jump," "Downtown," "Looey Salamander," and 8 more. All have been digitally remastered, and many have never been previously released.
"Heart in the Sky" is available at Newbury Comics and CDbaby.
Glad to see B&P represented on MySpace! I remember listening to your 1st EP until it played more noises from scratches than wot was originally on there. "2 O'Clock Jump" is a classic!
Sorry B. isn't around to see the renewed interest in B&P, Atlantics, etc.
