John Wicks is a singer/songwriter and producer, working with numerous artists worldwide. Wicks is best known as the lead singer and songwriter from U.K. powerpop band The Records, who formed in London in 1978 having risen from the ashes of the Kursaal Flyers during the 1977 punk rock movement.
As a British powerpop/classic rock band, The Records recorded three albums for Virgin Records: “Shades In Bed”/ “The Records” (1979), “Crashes”” (1980), and “Music On Both Sides” (1982).
Their first album, produced by Mutt Lange and Tim Friese-Greene reached #41 on the Billboard chart in the U.S. - spawning the classic hit single, “Starry Eyes”.
The Records lasted through the punk era and into the new wave scene, headlining tours and opening for a wide variety of acts including The Cars, Robert Palmer, Elvis Costello, The Jam, and Joe Jackson - before finally disbanding in 1982.
The songs of John Wicks have been recorded by 1960’s British invasion band The Searchers, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Too Much Joy, Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks, and numerous other artists.
Today, John Wicks and The Records continue to record new albums and tour worldwide.
The classic powerpop band The Beat was founded by Paul Collins, who spent his pre-teens living in Greece, Vietnam and Europe before returning to his native New York.
He studied at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music and eventually moved to San Francisco where he joined songwriter Jack Lee and bassist Peter Case to form The Nerves in 1974.
The Nerves proved to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning US punk rock scene, independently releasing their own 4 song EP which included the classic “Hanging On The Telephone”, later to become a hit for Blondie.
After The Nerves disbanded in 1977, Collins moved to L.A. and formed The Beat with bassist Steve Huff, drummer Mike Ruiz, and lead guitarist Larry Whitman. Their friend Eddie Money recommended The Beat for management by legendary concert promotor Bill Graham. Under new management, The Beat toured with The Police, The Jam and Joe Jackson. They also made numerous TV appearances and recorded their debut self-titled album with producer Bruce Botnick (who had produced The Doors). The album featured Beatles and Byrds influenced guitars and catchy choruses, defining the skinny-tied power pop which The Knack took to the charts. In the 90’s, The Beat
re-formed as Paul Collins’ Beat and continue to write and tour.