Chevy

 

Chevy

by Pete Clemons

The recent loss of lead vocalist Martin Cure had me searching for reviews of Chevy that indicated just how good this band was and how close they were to making it big. Luck and timing is everything of course and I cant help they somehow got lost in a crowded market.


General Wolfe 1980

And the heat was on. Outside the evening was warm and pleasant but inside was hot, hot, hotter than hell. The sort of Turkish Bath conditions that melt your shirt, lubricate your trouser legs and make catching a band more a case of survival than anything else.

But Chevy, blending inspiration and perspiration to a fine degree were worth dropping the odd pound for. Simply, they were a revelation. The stage was cramped, the PA small and the crowd similar but the band rattled through an all too short set of harmony tinged US style rock, a boogie with the sort of confidence that only comes from knowing your good. And, of course, they are.

Guitarists Steve Walwyn and Paul Shanahan play with a power and finesse reminiscent of Boston at their knee trembling best, drummer Chas Chaplin and bassist Bob Poole provide an unfaltering backbeat and singer/sometime guitarist Martin Cure proves the possessor of a very healthy pair of lungs indeed. But then, coming from the spa town of Leamington (as do they all) that's just what you'd expect.

But what convinces me that the name Chevy wont provoke cries of 'who?' for very much longer is the quality of the songs. To combine raw, gutsy power with instant memorability is no easy task but this band do just that, ensuring that their John Stronach produced debut album will be worth saving the shekels for.

Particularly ear catching are 'Chevy' (their contribution to the patchy 'Metal For Muthas Vol 2'), 'The Taker', 'Rock On' and the magnificent 'Rock City' which sounds like prime singles material even to these battered ears.

In September the band will be leaving for America where, being as their music is more in synch with Zep and Bad Co. than Saxon and Maiden, their management feel they'll be more rapturously received, but hopefully a few British dates will precede their departure. So if you get a chance to check them out then do. I guarantee you'll be impressed. And, if not, well you can always send me back to Coventry - as long as Chevy are playing there.

Chevy article 1980 (rated 4 stars - precious metal)

Riding out from Coventry, this five piece strike out with a decidedly natural Transatlantic blend of effervescent melodies and primal boot boy aggression. Formed two years back the band has remained constant in their line up. Martin Cure (lead vocal/guitar), Paul Shanahan and Steve Walwyn (guitar/vocals), Andy Chapman (drums) and Bob Poole (bass/vocals), first came to the public eye via their signature tune 'Chevy' on EMI's album, 'Metal For Muthas Volume 2'. Since then they've signed with new label Avatar, owned by Alvin Lee's manager Jon Brewer, subsequently releasing their first single 'Too Much Loving' towards the end of July 1980. During the remainder of that year you did hear and read a lot about Chevy. At the start of Autumn they'll be out on tour with Alvin Lee and there's a proposed US trek in October (again with Lee), to coincide with the British release of their first album.

Gillan/Chevy

1981 seemed to be shaping up more positively. For a start the disintegration of the heavy metal bandwagon had led to greater demand for diversity and depth laying more emphasis on songwriting, structure and execution, all of which were in Chevy's favour. Their was a graceful thrustfulness about this quintet that took your breath away. A selection of quality material from the thunder of 'The Taker' through to the majesty of 'Skybird' won over an audience to whom Chevy were previously an unknown quantity. The release of 'The Taker' confirmed Chevy's natural class and potential. Towards the end of that year, this promise began to harden and take real shape when the band unleashed three new songs on the Hawkwind tour. 'Wind of Change', 'Same Old Feeling' and 'Hit and Run' were instant classics. Chevy have had a virtually stable line up since it all began in early 78. The sole change being the addition of guitarist/vocalist Steve Walwyn (in October of that year) to the quarter foundation. So, given the length of time this band has been together playing hard rock (a full 18 months BEFORE the HM media explosion), its incredible that they've been accused of bandwagon jumping.

This was based on a misconception concerning a certain cabaret act with which various members of Chevy appeared at one time - Cupid's Inspiration.

'The fact is we were getting great money for going out as Cupid's' added Bob Poole. 'Switching to hard rock has meant us taking a large drop in earnings'.

Another problem was that Chevy weren't too pleased with their debut album.

'I don't think it helped that working on 'The Taker' was the first time the band had gone into a studio properly' said Poole. 'We just kept our mouths shut and let the producer get on with the job, which was a mistake'.