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Zerra One / Zerra 1

From: London

Active: 1982-87?

Style:

Lineup:

Bio:

Founded in 1982 by the core duo of Paul Bell (keyboards/vocals, ex Lookalikes) from Wexford and guitarist Grimmo AKA Andreas Grimminger AKA Andrias O'Gruama, later Cathal Coughlan's right hand man in Fatima Mansions. They were joined by Adrian Wyatt on bass. Another ex Lookalike Mike Mesbur played drums on the first demo. He was replaced by Korda Marshall in 1983, yielding the most stable lineup. Alison Kelly provided cello.

The early singles are interesting but as they developed their sound became a bombastic U2-meets-Psychedelic Furs which will not be to everyone's tastes. While Paul Bell was obviously passionate and committed, the music was often soulless and derivative. To make matters worse, Todd Rundgren produced the debut LP, emphasising all the worst aspects of the music. The second album is more balanced and makes better use of synths and is all the better for echoes (sorry) of Echo & The Bunnymen but there are still too many grandiose anthems. The artwork for their Mercury releases is consistently bad too.

The band was known to do Thin Lizzy covers live, including "Still In Love With You" and "The Rocker".



Paul Bell (extreme left above) later formed a duo called Wild Swans (later just Swans) with Brendan Wade of Cry Before Dawn. Andreas Grimminger fronted his own band The Baby's Head before joining Fatima Mansions. Korda Marshall later worked in A&R and ran Infectious Records.



Discography

• The West's Awake / Let's Go Home
7" - Second Vision - SV-001 - 1983 - PS
12" - Second Vision - SV12-001 - 1983 - PS
Reviewed in Hot Press in June 1983.


• The Banner Of Love (How I Run To You) / Cry
7" - Second Vision - SV-002 - 1983 - PS
12" - Second Vision - SV12-002 - 1983 - different PS
entered the UK indie singles chart on 26.11.83 for a 6 week run peaking at #33


• Let's Go Home [4:01] / Let's Go Home [5:50]
7" - Top Hole Records - TH-17 - Netherlands - 1983 - PS
Dutch only single produced by Robert Smith of The Cure.


• Peel Session, recorded 07.05.1983


• Peel Session, recorded 14.11.1983

• various artists - Jamming Presents A New Optimism for the 80's
LP - Situation Two Records - SITU-11 - UK - 1984


• Ten Thousand Voices, Message from the Peoples / Saoirse I Do Cheann
7" - Mercury Records - MER 161 - 1984 - PS
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 161 - 1984 - PS
"Saoirse I Do Cheann" means "Freedom in your head"


• Tumbling Down / Dangerous Vision
7" - Mercury Records - MER 174 - 1984 - textured PS
• Tumbling Down (extended) / Dangerous Vision
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 174 - 1984 - PS
Produced by Todd Rundgren


• Mountains And Water / I Know
7" - Mercury Records - MER 183 - 1984 - PS
• Mountains And Water // I Know / Rain (live)
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 183 - 1984 - PS
12" - Vertigo Records - VOG-1-3351 - Canada 1984 - PS


• Mountains And Water EP
7" flexi - Mercury Records - Lyntone 15506 - 1984 - no PS, promo only
5-track promo flexi given away during the 1984 UK tour supporting the Boomtown Rats; the reverse side lists the tour dates


• Zerra 1
LP - Mercury Records - MERL 53 - UK - 1984 - inner sleeve
LP - Mercury Records - 822 987-1 - EU - 1984
Produced by Todd Rundgren


• Rain (remix) / Nothing
7" - Mercury Records - MER 191 - 1985 - PS
• Rain (remix) // Nothing / The Other Side
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 191 - 1985 - PS
"The Other Side" released by arrangement with the BBC (Peel Session version 14.11.1983)


• Rescue Me / No Longer
7" - Mercury Records - MER 205 - 1985-86 - PS
• Rescue Me / No Longer // Ten Thousand Voices / Connor Pass
2x7" - Mercury Records - MERDP 205 - 1985-86 - foc PS


• Rescue Me / No Longer / Connor Pass
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 2105 - 1985-86 - PS, picture label in diecut black sleeve with '86 autumn tour sticker.
l2" - Mercury Records - ZERRA1 - 1985-86 - PS, (promo edition?) text label in white sleeve with '86 autumn tour sticker.


• Forever And Ever / You Are My Friend
7" - Mercury Records - MER 220 - 1986 - PS
• Forever And Ever // You Are My Friend / Golden
12" - Mercury Records - MERX 220 - 1986


• The Domino Effect
LP - Mercury Records - MERH93 - UK - 1986
LP - Mercury Records - 830035 - USA - 1986
LP - Mercury Records - 830 035-1 - EU - 1986


• The Domino Effect
7" - Mercury Records - MER 239 - 1986 - PS


• B-Sides & Rarities
CDR - bootleg - ZER 03 - UK - 200?

Notes:
An enterprising individual is selling this bootleg CDR compilation of B-sides and Rarities on ebay.




Help!

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.



See Also: Fatima Mansions, The Lookalikes


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