It Bites

The band sounded WAY too dated when I heard them...I am sorry, but that cheesy 80's synth/glam never settled well with me. More than likely, they'll probably end up like Duran Duran with their musical approach forever trapped in the 80's.

Snow Dog wrote: Glam??

Probably not the best word to describe that cliched 80's pop sound, admittedly.. but I am at a loss for words.

greenback wrote: it bites again? excellent!

 

gdub411 wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Glam?? Probably not the best word to describe that cliched 80's pop sound, admittedly.. but I am at a loss for words.

Last above ground British neo-prog band, who were pressurised by Richard Branson's Virgin organisation to come up with a profit. The last band the younger generation of the time, who had been thoroughly exposed to punk and new romantics, didn't say 'what's that sh*t' - and I had those blinkered, unimaginative t**sers around me in the radio station in the late 80's but they would go a long way out to see Francis Dunnery (and Co.), sing like Gabriel and play a little like Holdsworth. But cliched pop????????????????????? Comparisons with Duran Duran, bloody Hell? Personally: 25% Gabriel period Genesis, 10% Holdsworth period UK and some superior pop singles (as demanded by the man of the record company). And as a reminded Francis Dunnery produced some superior rock albums, Long Tall Helicopter is in my top 50 records for the last two decades, and includes the definitive version of Cat Stevens' Father & Son. And didn't the rest of It Bites end up as Robert Plant's first backing band??? And for hint of the energy of It Bites live, check out: Thankyouandgoodnight.

Sorry guys, I've got to say there is some amazing naivity if you think a band can stay one hundred percent true to their original intentions, and survive much beyond a couple of albums, without thinking and applying commercial compromise to some extent. There are very few bands who have stuck to it and lasted longer than 5 years but aren't  wealthy. There are many bands who made one or two remarkably good albums, but never got the publicity and not the sales, and folded - worse most people have forgotten them, e.g. Touch , T2 (and that is just from the box labelled 'forgotten bands: T')

Cheers Snow Dog, I'll take a look at that.

I have very fond memories of seeing them. The first time was in a small club in Reading. 'Big lad in the Windmill' tour. I was blown away by their brilliant live sound and Franks guitar playing. There was stage diving and everything that night. Having listerned to the album I didn't think it would be like that  ..and Frank Dunnery nicked my pint!

The last time I saw them was in 1989 in the Hammersmith Odeon. They played 'Once around the World' and FD cracked open a bottle of Champagne and sprayed the crowd during the 'Crack the champagne, whats the year...' section. They were clearly celebrating their rise to playing the Hammy Odeon. That was a good night, but they split shortly after

Those were the days, hey ..