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The first time most people may have heard of the
band would have been around August 1987 when the
indie single “When the Hoodoo Comes" started to
get played on night-time radio, leading to a
full session later that year which really got
tongues wagging. By late 87 the band had become
available hot property in London with the majors
all forming a disorderly pack of signature
chasers. Overnight sensations? Not really there
had been some formative years grimly holding on
to principles while music in the UK was being
led by some seriously transparent early-mid
eighties "artistes". In fact strange as it might
seem now, the guitars position as the pivotal
popular instrument looked to be at an end. There
were guitar bands of course and the worldwide
success of U2 ensured that record companies were
constantly looking for something similar, but
the influences of the previous decade (with a
few exceptions) had largely been unhelpful.
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By early '88 however things were starting to
change a little and Food records were signed to
EMI Records in order for the label to get its
hands on the Indies latest band...Diesel Park
West. Now with major backing, the band started
to record the debut album which was soon to have
a considerable impact, "Shakespeare Alabama".
Although the album never delivered a huge
breakthrough hit single it did generate enough
influence on the times and create such a buzz
about the band to ensure them a special place in
the bigger picture. Three whole years however
were to slip by until the second album "Decency"
was to surface. In true major label style there
had been a lot of executive positioning ready
for the inevitable massive breakthrough. Like
all dead certs it never quite worked out the
way it was meant, and despite an "almost hit
single Fall to Love" in early 92, the band were
divorced by the overweight EMI and seemed set to
follow the well worn path of other
major-label victims...thank you and goodnight.
Well no! Not at all, in fact for a variety of
reasons the creative rivers were really starting
to flow at this point. |
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The band had forged a strong musical identity
onstage, drawing upon its own musical influences
which are now acknowledged as being seminal. As
rock has grown older with an unexpected dignity,
names such as the Buffalo Springfield, Moby
Grape, Big Star, the Brian Jones era Stones and
Love are mostly free from misguided taboos which
had been largely born of ignorance. Free to
operate within its own taste Diesel Park West
proceeded to release four independent albums
which have all maintained a high critique for
the band. To be continued... |
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