Rudi
| Rudi | |
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| Background information | |
| Genres | Punk rock, pop punk, power pop |
| Years active | 1975–1983 |
| Labels | Good Vibrations, Jammed! |
| Associated acts | Stiff Little Fingers, the Outcasts, Station Superheaven, the Tigersharks, the Roughnecks, the Sabrejets, Shame Academy |
| Past members | Drew Brown Leigh Carson Graham "Grimmy" Marshall Ronnie Matthews Brian Young Johnny Stewart Gordon Blair Drew Brown Paul Martin |
Rudi were a punk rock/power pop band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1975.
Rudi formed in 1975 as a covers band, playing rock 'n' roll and glam rock hits. The original members were Drew Brown (drums), Leigh Carson, Graham "Grimmy" Marshall (bass guitar), Ronnie Matthews (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Young (guitar, vocals). The band's name was taken from a single called "Oo Oo Rudi" by the Jook.
Carson left, and after bassist Johnny Stewart joined, Marshall moved to drums and the group adopted a pop punk sound.
The band wore a stage uniform of boiler suits, stolen by drummer Marshall from his place of work. Original Stiff Little Fingers bassist Gordon Blair joined in 1977, replacing Stewart.
The band's debut release was the "Big Time" single, the first release for Terri Hooley's Good Vibrations label in May 1978. It received positive reviews in the music press, and was later described by Henry McDonals of The Observer as "one of the most perfect pop songs to come out of this island". The single's success prompted the band to relocate to London. They failed to secure a record deal in London, and suffered a further setback when guitarist Matthews and drummer Marshall were jailed for a week after their Clapham squat was raided, and they returned to Belfast.
In 1979, Rudi contributed "Overcome by Fumes" to the Battle of the Bands EP, and were offered a record deal by Polydor, on the condition that they replaced Marshall, but the offer was declined. A four-track EP of their own followed, and the band embarked on a tour of England. Blair was sacked, later joining the Outcasts, with Matthews moving to bass.
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