Bands England

You have to forgive British record executives if they are pinching themselves these days to make sure they aren't dreaming. Just two years after the once-glorious English rock scene was a shambles because a Nirvana-led wave of American bands had captured the fan allegiance in Britain, that scene is experiencing a rebirth. Dozens of bands are contributing to this renewed optimism and enthusiasm, but two--Blur and Oasis--stand far above the crowd.

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has been pegged as a tormented soul, a man so demonized by self-loathing that fans readily accepted it as confessional when he wrote the lines, "I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo," in the 1993 hit "Creep." After that song vaulted the British band into the international pop spotlight, Radiohead was branded, in the U.S. at least, a one-hit wonder while singer-songwriter Yorke was painted as a talented, but frighteningly self-absorbed artist. It's reappraisal time.

In contrast to the relatively stable American music charts, Britain is known for embracing a new pop sensation every six weeks--generally some unknown band of teen-agers riding the crest of a fashionable new sound. Curve doesn't quite fit that profile. Yes, it is at the forefront of just such a trend--the airy, guitar-heavy sound known as "dream pop" that also includes such hot acts as Ride, My Bloody Valentine and Lush.

The Mekons, an English punk rock band that dates to the early days of the movement, put out a fine CD last year, but even fans may not know about it. The CD, called "Mekons United" on Chicago's Quarterstick label, could be in the book section because it's part of a $45 book with art by various Mekons and others. The CD is not sold separately. The Mekons' co-leader, singer-guitarist Jon Langford, explains the philosophy behind it.

The Mekons, an English punk rock band that dates to the early days of the movement, put out a fine CD last year, but even fans may not know about it. The CD, called "Mekons United" on Chicago's Quarterstick label, could be in the book section because it's part of a $45 book with art by various Mekons and others. The CD is not sold separately. The Mekons' co-leader, singer-guitarist Jon Langford, explains the philosophy behind it.

"The Best of British Blues" tour is a calculated risk on the part of its principals. The concept is simple enough: Assemble a group of British rock heavyweights from the '60s and '70s on one stage and see what happens. The players are singer Eric Burdon (the Animals, War), guitarist-singer Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), drummer Aynsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Journey, etc.

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has been pegged as a tormented soul, a man so demonized by self-loathing that fans readily accepted it as confessional when he wrote the lines, "I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo," in the 1993 hit "Creep." After that song vaulted the British band into the international pop spotlight, Radiohead was branded, in the U.S. at least, a one-hit wonder while singer-songwriter Yorke was painted as a talented, but frighteningly self-absorbed artist. It's reappraisal time.

It's a long stretch--geographically and culturally--from the streets of industrialized Birmingham, England, to the sunny shores of Dana Point, but Dave Wakeling seems to be making the transition. The former lead singer for the English Beat and General Public has been a local for three years now (he moved here after three years in Los Angeles, where the Rodney King riots drove him and his wife, Damessa, to seek tamer environs). "I'm well on my way in my apprentice dude-ship--or is that dude-dom?

Shaun Ryder heard the stories. He remembers reading in the British music press that his career was over now that his band the Happy Mondays had finally self-destructed beneath an avalanche of drugs, booze and other excesses. But Ryder never said a word, never granted an interview after the Mondays' 1993 breakup, nor felt the need to contradict his reputation as an aging wild man.

Lee Brilleaux, 41, founder of the rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood. Brilleaux, who sang and played guitar, was the only remaining original member of the four-man band, which was founded in 1971. The group had a big hit in 1976 with the album "Stupidity," and its stripped-down sound and energetic act became an inspiration for early punk bands in England in the 1970s. Brilleaux made his last performance at his Dr.

"The Best of British Blues" tour is a calculated risk on the part of its principals. The concept is simple enough: Assemble a group of British rock heavyweights from the '60s and '70s on one stage and see what happens. The players are singer Eric Burdon (the Animals, War), guitarist-singer Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), drummer Aynsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Journey, etc.

It's a long stretch--geographically and culturally--from the streets of industrialized Birmingham, England, to the sunny shores of Dana Point, but Dave Wakeling seems to be making the transition. The former lead singer for the English Beat and General Public has been a local for three years now (he moved here after three years in Los Angeles, where the Rodney King riots drove him and his wife, Damessa, to seek tamer environs). "I'm well on my way in my apprentice dude-ship--or is that dude-dom?

Shaun Ryder heard the stories. He remembers reading in the British music press that his career was over now that his band the Happy Mondays had finally self-destructed beneath an avalanche of drugs, booze and other excesses. But Ryder never said a word, never granted an interview after the Mondays' 1993 breakup, nor felt the need to contradict his reputation as an aging wild man.

You have to forgive British record executives if they are pinching themselves these days to make sure they aren't dreaming. Just two years after the once-glorious English rock scene was a shambles because a Nirvana-led wave of American bands had captured the fan allegiance in Britain, that scene is experiencing a rebirth. Dozens of bands are contributing to this renewed optimism and enthusiasm, but two--Blur and Oasis--stand far above the crowd.

In contrast to the relatively stable American music charts, Britain is known for embracing a new pop sensation every six weeks--generally some unknown band of teen-agers riding the crest of a fashionable new sound. Curve doesn't quite fit that profile. Yes, it is at the forefront of just such a trend--the airy, guitar-heavy sound known as "dream pop" that also includes such hot acts as Ride, My Bloody Valentine and Lush.

In one of rock's more peculiar traditions, marginal heavy-metal bands from England or America would often travel to Japan and somehow end up deified there. In what might be considered atonement for creating this "zero to hero" effect, Japan has spawned Loudness, a melodious metal outfit that turned in a strong, perky performance Saturday at the Hollywood Palladium.

Monday's bill at the Roxy featured Catherine Wheel and Slowdive, two bands from England's "shoegazing" scene--a genre typified by multi-guitar white noise, dreamy melodies and wafting, float-away vocals. The style can often prove boring live, because all the textures tend to bleed into one annoying, distorted hum. It's a hurdle that Catherine Wheel, the more experienced headliner, cleared. Slowdive didn't.