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GLAM ROCK BEAR'S GLAM ROCK SITE
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Junk Shop Glam
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Junk Shop Glam is a relatively new phenomenon, which came to public notice via a feature in the Jan. 2002 issue of Record Collector magazine, and was followed up by an article in the Guardian newspaper. This deals with those glam rock groups who did not achieve any chart success, and who's names have largely been lost in the annals of pop music history.
Key artists featured in the article were the likes of...
IRON VIRGIN were a 5 piece from Edinburgh who released 2 singles, including a cover of Paul McCartney's 'Jet'.
HECTOR, whose line up included the unrelated Pete and Phil Brown and drummer Alan Gordon (thanks for contacting me Alan), adopted a Dennis The Menace styled image, and also released 2 singles in 73/74.
\BEARDED LADY were a British four piece operating between 74-77, whose sole single 'Rock Star' was a minor hit in Germany. A full CD of their 70's recordings has recently been released.
THE JOOK, who were formed by John Hewlett who had been in John's Children with Marc Bolan, had a surprisingly long career given their lack of chart success, releasing 6 singles. Their dress style was apparently copied by the Bay City Rollers, while their short hair meant that they attracted Slade's former skinhead following. When they split in '75, members went on Sparks and Jet. The band reportedly recorded a full album's worth of material, which some enterprising soul will hopefully one day uncover for a CD release. Lead singer TREVOR WHITE released a solo single, 'Crazy Kids', and was also the singing voice of Rocky in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (though oddly not on the soundtrack).
JET, whose eponymous album has recently received a CD release, had the perfect glam pedigree, comprising as they did former members of Sparks, John's Children, The Jook and Roxy Music, as well as sharing Queen's producer, Gary Glitter's management and Elton's clothes designer. Along with Jobriath their commercial failure was down to a simple case of over-hyping. Most of the group went on to form underated punk-era group RADIO STARS, who's first single, 'Dirty Pictures', had originally been recorded as a proposed track for Jet's second album. Ironically Radio Stars first TV appearance was on the 'Marc' TV show, reuinting former John's Children's alumni Bolan and Andy Ellison only weeks before the former's death.
ZAPPO was actually 60's rocker MARTY WILDE (father of Ricky and Kim) attempting a career rejuvination. While the single he released under this moniker was on a par with revivalist rivals Gary Glitter and Alvin Stardust, his Superman costume didn't quite have what it took. Wilde also released several good stabs at glam under his own name.
The case of BUSTER is similar to that of JIGSAW (see Glitter Rock page), in that there appear to have been at least three acts by this name. The first Buster appear to have actually been Australian act Buster Brown, who released the single 'Pasadena' (later a hit for John Paul Young) on Parlophone. The second 'group' were possibly a studio project for Adrian Baker (who had a solo hit with 'Sherry') who wrote and produced their 2 excellent glam singles released on Bradleys, 'Superstar' and 'Motor Machine'. Buster mark 3 were a teen act from Liverpool in the Rollers mould, who seem to have been pretty successful in Japan, while failing to score at home. The picture and links are for this group.
BRETT SMILEY, who was a teen protegee of Andrew Loog Oldham and released one single in the 70's, has recently undergone something of a rediscovery with the CD release of his previously unheard 70's album and a number of UK concert appearances.
In addition to uncovering the above acts, the feature listed records by even more obscure (and apparently collectible) acts such as YELLOW BIRD, PLOD, SHELBY, HOT ROD, THE RATS and SPIV. Also listed were STAVELY MAKEPEACE, of whom chart topping (but decidedly non-glam) LIEUTENANT PIGEON were an offshoot, and TUBTHUMPER whose ‘Kick Out The Jams’ single appeared on Kenny Everett’s ‘World’s Worst Records’ LP.
The first Junk Shop Glam compilation titled 'Velvet Tinmine' featured several, though not all, of the artists above, it also includes yet more forgotten artists such as WARWICK, SISTERS, CRUNCH, SHAKANE and the WASHINGTON FLYERS. For a full track listing (and reviews) check out the 70's Invasion site. This and two further compilations can be ordered now from RPM Records.
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Iron Virgin
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Hector
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Key Glam Tracks
IRON VIRGIN
Midnight Hitcher
Rebels Rule
HECTOR
Wired Up
THE JOOK
Alright With Me
Oo Oo Rudi
Bish Bash Bosh
BEARDED LADY
Rock Star
JET
Nothing To Do With Us
ZAPPO
Rock And Roll Crazy
YELLOW BIRD
Attack Attack
BUSTER (2)
Motor Machine
Superstar
BUSTER (3)
Sunday
SHELBY
(Dance With The) Guitar Man
YELLOW BIRD
Attack Attack
THE RATS
Turtle Dove
BRETT SMILEY
Va Va Va Voom
STAVELY MAKEPEACE
Slippery Rock 70's
Edna
SISTERS
There's A Raver Coming Home
WASHINGTON FLYERS
Another Saturday Morning
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Bearded Lady
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The Jook
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Zappo
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Yellow Bird
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Plod
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For information on yet more obscure and largely forgotten glam artists go to
where you will find info on SILVERHEAD, HARLEY QUINNE, SCREEMER, MERLIN, SHABBY TIGER, SON OF A GUN, HOLLYWOOD BRATS, ANGEL, BILBO BAGGINS, STARBUCK and many more...
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Buster (mk 3)
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LINKS
ZAPPO (aka MARTY WILDE)
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Brett Smiley
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View the original
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Jet
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