The Scooter Scene and Beyond
Celebrating 30 Years of Detour Records 1990-2020
Categories Detour Records Labels Downloads STEREOTYPES, THE - 40 Years Too Late EP DOWNLOAD
THE STEREOTYPES BIOGRAPHY
The Stereotypes formed in 1978 in Ilford, Essex. They were influenced by the punk bands of the time and lead songwriter, Jon Ward, thought it would be funny to call the band The Stereotypes as there were so many three chord wonders around at the time.
They played songs at a blistering pace with the singer, Ashley Grant, getting in as many words as possible as he vented his spleen. The wall of sound guitars from Jon Ward and Chris Murray were interjected by ear-shattering cross rhythms from drummer Steve Bending and bassist James Harrison.
They played one gig and that was it! Band disagreements and the distractions of adolescence got the better of The Stereotypes and they called it a day. However, they managed to get some of their superfast cacophony on record when they recorded the ‘Countdown’ EP in 1979. It featured four tracks, ‘Countdown’, Parisian, Telephone Affair’ and ‘Champagne Suicide’. It was a clever mix of explosive punk riffs, speed of light vocals and insular soul-searching. It was limited to 100 copies and released on Hinterland Records.
Fast forward to 2013 and The Stereotypes story takes an outrageous twist. Ashley is contacted out of the blue by Dizzy Holmes from Detour Records. Dizzy tells him that he’s been trying to track him down for ten years as the ‘Countdown’ EP has become the rarest punk single of the era. It’s changing hands for up to £1200 and interest in the ‘mystery’ band is now worldwide.
Dizzy puts the band members in touch and in 2014 they play their second gig (35 years later!). The band decide to work with Detour on an album and more gigs follow. Throughout this time, the band have been filmed by Blacklabs Studios for a forthcoming documentary on their birth and resurrection.
The Stereotypes have carefully listened to cassettes of their one and only gig in 1979 and created versions of the songs from that time. They release their second single, ’40 Years Too Late’, on Detour Records on July 17. It features the tracks, ‘40 Years Too Late’, ‘Atomic Bomber’, Heartbreak Girl’ and ‘Volt City’. All original members are still in the band except for Chris Murray, the mystery guitarist who can’t be found. You can download the single on iTunes and Amazon.
It is understood that The Stereotypes hold the dubious record of having the longest time between first and second single releases (36 years) and this will be confirmed with the Guinness Book Of World Records.
So, The Stereotypes are back. Loud, authentic and just as fast as they were in 1979. They are amazed. Prepare to be amazed too.
