I am just a fan and in no way associated to the band Tobruk. If you are ex-Tobruk, played or toured with them or would like to update the bio, please contact me.
Tobruk was formed in 1981 when vocalist Snake (Stuart Neale), guitarist Nigel Evans and keyboard player Jem Davies from the Bedford-based band, Stranger, joined forces with guitarist Mick Newman, bassist Steve (Woody) Woodward and drummer Alan Vallance.
The band relocated to Birmingham and commenced touring. A demo brought them exposure on The Friday Rock show in 1982. They gigged to promote their debut single "Wild On The Run" with "The Show Must Go On" which was released on Neat Records around 1983. Steve Woodward, who was a founding member and main song writer, left the band in 1983 after a tour with Diamond Head just as EMI was showing interest in the band. A new rhythm section was recruited, when drummer Eddie Fincher and bassist Mike Brown joined. Vallance went on to stints in Sons Of Eden and Proteus. Woodward currently plays guitar and sings in the band Three Chord Trick.
Parlophone publicity hand out ... Thanks to Dave Brown !
The band's management at the time, Light And Sound Design, hired out the Birmingham Odeon, rigged it with expensive lights and sound and invited various talent scouts. This led the band to sign a deal. After signing to EMI (Parlophone) in 1984 Tobruk went on a club tour before playing some dates with Diamond Head. They also toured the UK supporting UFO.
Thanks Dave!
They then ventured to Philadelphia to start recording their debut album, also titled 'Wild On The Run' at Warehouse Studios. Lance Quinn from Lita Ford and Bon Jovi-fame co-produced the album with the band. The album was released in May 1985 and tours followed supporting UFO, Tokyo Blade and Manowar.
Read a Canadian Review by Dave Hackett on Tobruk (click below). Thanks to Alan Kelly ex-drummer of Shy!
Unfortunately the band could not break in the UK as they sounded too American. The album's sales dissapointed and the band left Parlophone around 1987. A second album was released through FM Revolver, called 'Pleasure + Pain'.
By this stage the band started falling apart with Snake and Fincher leaving the band to join the band Idol Rich . Tobruk tried to soldier on and recorded some demos with ex-The Alliance vocalist, Tony Martin, but nothing came of it and the band split for good. Martin went on to join Black Sabbath. Nigel spent some time touring with Shy .
Snake also had a stint in an early incarnation of The Wildhearts but never recorded officially with them, although some demos were recorded. Mike Brown played bass in a short-lived band with Alan Kelly (drummer, ex-Shy) called Why The Rabbit shortly after Tobruk broke up. Jem Davis and Fincher started the band Midnight Blue with one-time Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow singer Dougie White and recoded 'Take The Money And Run' circa 1994. Davis also toured with UFO and also had stints in Praying Mantis and FM .
Phoenix Music re-issued a Tobruk retrospective in 2001 with rare tracks and video footage, called 'Recaptured'. Rip Tide Records also re-released 'Wild On The Run' on CD in that year.
Althought the band came to the fore during the rise of the NWOBHM movement, their sound was more melodic and polished and IMHO, way ahead of their time.
Sadly, Snake passed away on 20 December 2006. Check out the site Shithappenz.co.uk. This website is dedicated to the memory of Snake and got its name from his favourite quote, no matter what was going on in his life, he accepted it all by using just two words ... ''SHIT HAPPENS".
hey no probs Phil, Yeah I did backing vocals on their first album, used to hang around with Andy Pyke all the time in those days, not sure quite what Shy had to do with Marshall Law though, I also did some Bv's for them on a recent album but I don't think they ever got round to releasing it ... all good fun!
Hi What a shocker to find out that Snake has died. Myself Alan from Shy and he shared many good times together drinking and partying he was a diamond. Also we had one thing in common I spent my growing up years in Kettering,and was born in Northampton. So we bonded straight away. Tobruk were a very under rated band and should like many others have broken through to the big time!!! Rip Snake your in my thoughts mate, Krell time anyone? Andy
Hey, good to hear from you again, not up to much, still trying to get to grips with the in's and out's of Pro Tools before I start on some new material, its coming together...slowly.....anyway, I hope all is well with you and yours....don't be a stranger, kind regards Alan
Hi guys! Thanks for the add! Welcome to our N.W.O.B.H.M. Corner Show. 6 N.W.O.B.H.M. bands will be featured every month. Tobruk is on the list. Cheers!
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