Wild Horses

Bio:

WILD HORSES started out as a three-quarters Scottish affair when Brian Robertson, Jimmy Bain and Jimmy McCulloch teamed up with English drummer Kenney Jones. Robertson had been ousted from the THIN LIZZY ranks in July of 1978 after several tumultuous years, Bain had been sacked by the mercurial Ritchie Blackmore as the bass player in RAINBOW, and McCulloch (ex-STONE THE CROWS, Paul McCartney's WINGS) and Jones had been part of a final SMALL FACES reunion line-up. The latter two would barely last longer than a blink of an eye, with Jones joining THE WHO in place of the late Keith Moon. Sadly, on September 27, 1979, McCulloch would be found dead of a heroin overdose in his flat in Maida Vale, West London. He was only 26. Suitable replacements were quickly found in drummer Dixie Lee, formerly with Welsh rockers LONE STAR, and guitarist / keyboardist Neil Carter (WILDER, GILBERT O'SULLIVAN), respectively. In November / December '78 the band were out testing the waters with an extensive club tour, playing more than two dozen shows all over the UK. However, by the time January '79 rolled around, Lee would be gone, superseded by Clive Edwards coming off stints with PAT TRAVERS and Uli Jon Roth's ELECTRIC SUN.

WILD HORSES would continue their heavy touring schedule throughout 1979, highlighted by a 3-night residency at the famed Marquee in London in mid-April, an appearance at the Reading Rock Festival on August 26, as well as supporting RUSH at Bingley Hall, Stafford on September 21st and 22nd. On the label front, the band were snapped up by EMI Records and released their debut single, 'Criminal Tendencies' b/w 'The Rapist', in November 1979, followed by 'The First Album' on April 14, 1980. Recorded with South African expatriate Trevor Rabin (ex-RABBITT, pre-YES) at the production helm between December '79 and January '80 at Konk Studios in London, the album stood in marked contrast to the crash bang wallop of the emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal, as WILD HORSES were decidedly a rock act whose sound owed a debt to both Thin Lizzy and The Beatles. Further underlining the strong Lizzy connotations, the record featured co-writes by both Phil Lynott ('Flyaway') and Scott Gorham ('Dealer') and contained the song 'Blackmail', which Lynott had cut as a demo with the 'Black Rose' line-up in early 1978 at Good Earth Studios. 'The First Album' would crack the Top 40 but ultimately failed to connect with a wider audience despite a further pair of singles, 'Face Down' b/w 'Dealer' and 'Flyaway' b/w 'Blackmail', being released by EMI and Horses supporting TED NUGENT in the UK. Carter would leave the fold in August 1980 in order to join UFO (and later GARY MOORE). The band then recruited guitarist John Lockton, formerly of THE NEXT BAND, a trio that also featured Rocky Newton and 'The Def Leppard E.P.' credited Frank Noon.

For their sophomore effort, WILD HORSES would turn to engineer/co-producer Kit Woolven, who had worked on both Lizzy's 'Chinatown' and Phil Lynott's 'Solo In Soho'. Released in May 1981, 'Stand Your Ground' proved to be an altogether tougher, more well rounded affair but again the album failed to set the charts on fire. The band fared somewhat better in Japan where Horses toured in late 1980. Desperate to revive their fortunes at home, the band cut a cover of 'Everlasting Love', a chart topper for LOVE AFFAIR in January 1968, with Phil Lynott co-producing. Ironically, Robertson had cut the same song a few years earlier with Steve Ellis for the 'Last Angry Man' album. Alas the single stalled and the core duo of Bain and Robertson soon fell out, with both Robbo and drummer Clive Edwards leaving the band at the end of yet another UK tour and a final show at the Paris Theatre in London in June '81 (documented on the 'BBC In Concert' bootleg). In a surprise move, Robertson would take over for 'Fast' Eddie Clarke in MOTORHEAD, lasting for only one album, 'Another Perfect Day', before joining FRANKIE MILLER's band in time for 'Dancing In The Rain' and STATETROOPER in 1987. Meanwhile Edwards linked up with former WHITESNAKE guitarist Bernie Marsden's S.O.S., with whom he played the Reading Festival '82, LIONHEART and GRAND PRIX in short order. Intent on keeping the band afloat, Bain would assemble a new WILD HORSES line-up by August of '81, consisting of vocalist Reuben Archer (LAUTREC) and drummer Frank Noon (THE NEXT BAND), both coming over from LIONHEART, as well as Laurence 'stepson of Reuben' Archer (LAUTREC) on guitar. However, it would turn out to be a short-lived union. Dropped by EMI, WILD HORSES were effectively over for good when the Archers and Noon split to form their own group, STAMPEDE, in October of the same year after a final series of London Marquee gigs. Lockton would demo material with Gary Barden of MSG and John Sloman's BADLANDS before finding a new home with German hard rockers VICTORY, appearing on the band's self-titled 1985 debut LP, while Bain moved on to bigger and better things after getting a call from former RAINBOW band mate Ronnie James Dio who had just left BLACK SABBATH along with drummer Vinny Appice. Joined by young Irish hotshot guitarist Vivian Campbell of SWEET SAVAGE, brought into the fold at Bain's suggestion, the veteran trio emerged with the 'Holy Diver' album in the spring of 1983, an instant classic that would establish DIO at the forefront of the surging metal movement for the rest of the decade.

Former WILD HORSES members Clive Edwards and Laurence Archer would cross paths in the early 90's when both were recruited by Phil Mogg and Pete Way to be part of a new UFO constellation. The band went on to release the well received 'High Stakes & Dangerous Men' album in 1992 and toured both Europe and Japan, resulting in the 'Lights Out In Tokyo - Live' disc, released the following year. Edwards and Archer moved on to MEDICINE HEAD when it became apparent that Mogg and Way were intent on reuniting the classic line-up with Michael Schenker. Both WILD HORSES albums would finally get the CD re-issue treatment in 1993 as part of the 'BURRN! Legendary Masters' Series through EMI Japan. ' The First Album' was released on September 29, with 'Stand Your Ground' following suit on November 24. It would be another six years before the albums would see a European re-issue via the now defunct Zoom Club label. Unlike the Japanese titles, these UK pressings featured a pair of bonus tracks each. Released in November 1999, 'The First Album' added 'Rocky Mountain Way' (live) and 'Saturday Night' (live), taken from the 'I'll Give You Love' double 7", while 'Stand Your Ground' came with 'The Kid', also from said limited edition single, and 'The Rapist', originally the B-side on the 'Criminal Tendencies' 7".

As of May 26, 2009, both WILD HORSES albums are back in print, courtesy of UK-based Majestic Rock off-shoot, Krescendo Records. Both re-issues add several live bonus tracks each, taken from the June 1981 Paris Theatre, London BBC broadcast.

Jimmy Bain: Residing in Los Angeles, CA where he is a member of star-studded hard rock outfit, 3 Legged Dogg, whose debut album 'Frozen Summer' was issued in 2006 via Perris Records, as well as all-star cover band, the HOLLYWOOD ALLSTARZ, since exiting Dio for a second time in 2004. Also back working with Mandy Lion in a new incarnation of WWIII and solo with THE KEY.
Brian Robertson: Recorded guest spots with several Scandinavian acts such as Lotus and Five Fifteen as well as touring with the latter and his own unit, The Clan. Featured on 4 songs on 'A Tribute to Frankie Miller', released in 2003, and the 2008 'Led Box - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute.' Working on a new album in Stockholm with Leif Sundin, Ian Haugland and Nalle Pahlsson as of December 2008.
Clive Edwards: Reunited with his former Rococo mates - minus John 'Rhino' Edwards, now with Status Quo - under the name WireHead in 2007 and released the 'Losing Ground' CD in 2008. Has been announced as the drummer for reactivated NWOBHM act Stampede, featuring one-time Wild Horses members Reuben and Laurence Archer. First reunion show is currently scheduled for May 2009.
Neil Carter: Walked away from it all in 1989 after getting off the road with Gary Moore. Is now the Head of Woodwind and Brass at Brighton College, a co-educational Independent School in Brighton, England where he is also the conductor of the Concert Band and Swing Band. Became an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2003 which involves examining practical music exams in all disciplines.
John Lockton: Missing in action; last whereabouts unknown but reportedly living somewhere in Canada now.



.. .. ..

Member Since:

January 14, 2009

Members:

Wild Horses Mk I:
Jimmy Bain - bass/vocals
Brian Robertson - guitar
Jimmy McCulloch - guitar
Kenney Jones - drums

Wild Horses Mk II:
Jimmy Bain - bass/vocals
Brian Robertson - guitar
Neil Carter - guitar/keyboards
Dixie Lee - drums

Wild Horses Mk III
- 'The First Album' line-up:
Jimmy Bain - bass/vocals
Brian Robertson - guitar/vocals
Neil Carter -guitar/keyboards
Clive Edwards - drums

Wild Horses Mk IV
- 'Stand Your Ground' line-up:
Jimmy Bain - bass/vocals
Brian Robertson - guitar
John Lockton -guitar
Clive Edwards - drums

Wild Horses Mk V
- final live line-up:
Reuben Archer - vocals
Jimmy Bain - bass/vocals
John Lockton - guitar
Laurence Archer - guitar
Frank Noon - drums

Influences:

Thin Lizzy, The Beatles, Scotch Whisky and other spirits

Sounds Like:

Albums:

The First Album
EMI (EMC3326) 1980
Toshiba-EMI (EMS-81315) 1980
Toshiba-EMI/Insideout (TOCP-7975) 1993
Zoom Club (ZCRCD22) 1999
Krescendo (KRECD32) 2009
01. Reservation
02. Face Down
03. Blackmail
04. Flyaway
05. Dealer
06. Street Girl
07. No Strings Attached
08. Criminal Tendencies
09. Nights On The Town
10. Woman
- Rocky Mountain Way (live)+
- Saturday Night (live)+
+ Zoom Club re-issue bonus tracks
- The Axe (live)^
- In The City (live)^
- New York City (live)^
^ Krescendo re-issue bonus tracks

Stand Your Ground
EMI (EMC3368) 1981
Toshiba-EMI/Insideout (TOCP-8084) 1993
Zoom Club (ZCRCD23) 1999
Krescendo (KRECD33) 2009
01. I'll Give You Love
02. In The City
03. Another Lover
04. Back In The USA
05. Stand Your Ground
06. The Axe
07. Miami Justice
08. Precious
09. New York City
10. Stake Out
- The Rapist+
- The Kid+
+ Zoom Club re-issue bonus tracks
- Everlasting Love (live)^
- I'll Give You Love (live)^
- Stake Out (live)^
- Stand Your Ground (live)^
^ Krescendo re-issue bonus tracks


BBC In Concert bootleg
[live @ Paris Theatre, London, UK, June 1981]
01. Intro
02. The Axe
03. In The City
04. Everlasting Love
05. I'll Give You Love
06. New York City
07. Stakeout
08. Stand Your Ground


Mad Axe Attack bootleg
[live @ Electric Ballroom, London, UK, 12/1/79]
01. Dealer
02. Blackmail
03. The Stash
04. Criminal Tendencies
05. Nights On The Town
06. You Were The One
07. Street Girl
08. One Call A Week
09. The Kid
10. Saturday Night
11. Are You Ready w/ Phil Lynott
12. A Wee Jam w/ Phil Lynott & Michael Schenker
13. Rock Me Baby w/ Michael Schenker

Singles:

UK:
Criminal Tendencies / The Rapist
(EMI INT599) 1979
Face Down b/w Dealer
(EMI 5047) 1980
Flyaway / Blackmail
(EMI 5078) 1980; ltd ed white vinyl
I'll Give You Love / Rocky Mountain Way (live)
(EMI 5149) 1981
I'll Give You Love / Rocky Mountain Way (live); The Kid / Saturday Night (live)
(EMI 5149) 1981; ltd ed gatefold double single
Everlasting Love / The Axe
(EMI 5199) 1981

Japan:
Face Down / Dealer
(EMS-17053) 1980
Flyaway / The Rapist
(EMR-20685) 1980

Compilations:

Metalmania (EMI-Harvest 1980; SHSP 4115)
- Criminal Tendencies [A5]
Heavy-Duty (EMI-Fame 1980; FA 41 3123 1)
- Criminal Tendencies [A5]
Headstone: The Best of UFO (Chrysalis 1983; CTY 1437)
- Criminal Tendencies [C3]

Click the links below for more Horses!

Are You Ready / Rosalie w/ Phil Lynott
'Alright Now' TV, Newcastle UK, March 18, 1980

Retribution unreleased demo, 1979

Nights On The Town demo version, 1979

Record Label:

EMI, Zoom Club, Krescendo