Had they been anywhere but Bowling Green, Kentucky, they may have been a bigger blip on your memory chip. As it stands, it's only hindsight that provides pop music fans a chance to discover Sgt. Arms. Anyone who loves the quirky melodic rock of the New Wave era just might find something here that feels like buried treasure.
The band revolved around the songwriting partnership of David Surface and Bill Lloyd. Twenty five years later, Surface lives and teaches school in the NYC area. He writes short stories, poetry and is working on a novel . In 1982, Lloyd moved sixty miles south to Nashville, Tennessee where he has remained since. He ended up with a country music career as a songwriter and artist (Foster and Lloyd/The Sky Kings) and continues to record independent pop-rock albums as a solo artist that have received widespread critical favor. As a songwriter he's had recent cuts by acts like Cheap Trick and Tricia Yearwood. To note; nearly all of Lloyd's solo records have a co-written song with Surface so their writing partnership continues.
Drummer Marc Owens still plays as well as owning and operating a recording studio in Bowling Green. Keyboardist, guitarist and utility player,Ernest Raymer, also still lives and plays music in Bowling Green. Other musicians who came in and out of the picture included guitarist Kyle Frederick and drummer Kevin Lovelace.
The Sgt. Arms discography was short. One 7" single on their own Active Duty records..complete with pictures sleeve and an insert with lyrics and recording info.
They were also featured on an lp sampler in 1981 called "Goodies" sponsored by the local radio station, WBGN. Two songs, "Baby Never Gives An Inch" and "Little White Rooms"
appear on that album. While the band recorded enough material, both live and in the studio to compile a full album, they never got around to it.
If this music picques your interest, please find Bill Lloyd's own website for more information.
http://www.billlloydmusic.com
Sgt. Arms is easily one of the most excellent and coolest underground pop bands of all time...
PLEASE allow me to fill in the song list on this myspace page [we'll START with ramp #9...]...
In fact - please allow me access to the original tapes and allow me to make a cd if you haven't already... and if you have - HOW CAN I GET A HOLD OF A COPY?!?!
Your friend always...
~love*bliss*friendship*ecstasy
"All of this can make one feel unmistakable uncomfortable" - lol...
