Coventry Bands 1960's to Now: Urge

Urge

c 1978 - 83

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More tracks including Sea of Storms and Megadeath as well as the tracks on youtube below.)

Kevin Harrison's YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/user/spectro52

Kevin and Lynda Harrison were in the avant garde Jazz Rock rock band Whistler in the early 70's and in 1973-5 Kevin was forming Zoastra - experimenting with synths and cut up lyrics. Zoastra was the bridge between Whistler and Urge.

Original line up -

Revolving Boy boy Urge on Look Hear.

Dave Wankling - Vocals
Kevin Harrison - Guitar & Synth
Lynda Harrison - Vocals
John Westacott - Bass (Later Nigel Mulvey)
Billy Little - drums (Ex Squad) Later Rich Medlock

Later - Dennis Burns - Keys / John Shipley - Guit (briefly) - Left to form The Swinging Cats

From Marco on the Bass site
"Urge were one of the most popular local bands and were tipped for success. Given Harrison's relationship with members of 2-Tone bands, they toured nationally with both The Specials and The Selecter and released the single 'Revolving Boy' on their own label before signing to Arista where they recorded demos with noted reggae producer Dennis Bovell (bassist with Matumbi). While clearly not a ska band, the band's most well know song 'Revolving Boy" marries an updated Stax groove with a hypnotic dub bass line."

From Kevin Harrison's Personal History site here Marzimprint (now sadly gone from the internet)

"April '81 urge split up due to insurmountable difficulties with Arista and some acrimonious internal wrangles. The wheels have definitely well & truly come off the wagon. This is a very difficult time.

A new urge line-up is quickly put together (incl. Lynda, Dave Gedney, Rick Medlock, Dennis Burns and myself. See Rex Brough's Site but times have shifted and the elusive chemistry has gone. Chic & funky, we play plenty of gigs, but by this time we've had too much shit kicked out of us, and despite tentative record company interest, we accept the fact that Coventry is no longer the fashionable city it once was and we reluctantly decide to call it a day. (In hindsight, if we could have done some studio recordings things may have been very different)."

Pete Chambers in Godiva Rocks comments

"They claimed they refused to jump on the ska bandwagon then released a virtual ska single Revolving Boy in 1980. It made them lots of fans, especially DJ's John Peel and kid Jensen who made it his record of the week. They supported the UK subs and The Specials on their European tour. They also appeared on the Sent from Coventry compilation in 1980 with Nuclear Terrorist. Kevin Harrison released a solo tape On Earth ll on Eyeless from Gaza - Ambivalent label.

In August 1980, the band signed to Arista, releasing a second record Bobby and appeared on TV in the show Look Hear. John Westacott left to be replaced by another ex Squad member - Nigel Mulvey. After a tour supporting The Selecter, they called it a day."

Urge mark 11 were then formed with Lynda Harrison (Novak / Wolfe), Kevin Harrison / Dennis Burns (Keys - former Mix / Flood), Dave Gedney (Guitar) - Drummers - drum machine / John Hill / then Rich Medlock / Nigel Mulvey. Sax player Pete Jordan (Ex L' Homme de Terre). They played a lot at Whitley Abbey pub but their chance had come and gone with the first line up. Kevin Harrison, formerly with Whistler in the early 70's went on to do solo work - eg The LP Inscrutably Obvious - on Cherry Red and a 12 inch single called The Fly featuring Horace Panter of the Specials. Kevin has continued to work solo alongside musicians like Horace Panter, Neol Davies, Rich Medlock and others.

Urge came back again with a new line up - this time Kendell Smith (who went on to join Stereo Nation)

Lynda and Kevin Harrison and Rich Medlock. They recorded one session at Woodbine Studios, including songs such as Pressure Drop, Style and Fashion. They finally split for good in 1993. David Gedney joined Roddy Radiation'sThe Skabilly Rebels.

In Feb 2010, Urge reformed briefly - (From the Pete Chambers article in Coventry Telegraph)

http://www.geneticmusic.de/index2.htm Some of Urge's recording available here.

Urge 2 (with Rick Medlock, Dave Gedney, Kevin Harrison, Lynda Wulf)

ONE of Coventry’s leading pop bands of the 80s are reforming for two concerts in aid of their former lead singer.

" Coventry band Urge reunite for former lead singer The charity double-header is at Taylor John’s House, at the Canal Basin, on
Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7.

Guitarist Kevin Harrison said David, who wrote the lyrics to Revolving Boy and Bobby, had just returned home after a second operation.

“He was a very quirky, humorous writer often satirising the world we live in,” said Kevin. “He was also an original performer, vocalist and a self-taught, uncompromising saxophonist.

“We all hope he gets well really soon and would like to help support him and his family through this difficult time.”

Vocalist Linda Harrison said: “We are really excited to be playing together again, although tinged with sadness. “

Tickets are £12 on the door.

Read More http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/02/24/coventry-band-urge-reunite-for-former-lead-singer-92746-25899887/#ixzz1SqmgtI00

FROM THE HOBO SITE ON VOX 2010

URGE - Reform and Sell Out!

URGE, one of the most popular upcoming Coventry bands in the Two Tone era, have reformed and have already sold out their first
concert in 30 years.

The concert, scheduled for March 6th 2010 at Coventry's prime music venue Taylor John's House, has now sold out in advance and further concerts are being planned. A second concert will be held at the same venue on Sunday 7th March and more may be in the offing.
Said Kevin Harrison, who initiated the project, "The concert is a benefit for our former singer Dave Willet (Wankling) who went into hospital suffering from a brain tumour. We plan to have some special guests on the night including Neol Davies of Selecter and Horace Panter of The Specials"