Fab write up of fabulous band. That string of first four albums is astounding. I started on a Crocodile’s EP with a life version of Over the Wall, as they say when Peter joined on drums they became a band.
In the summer of ‘84 when our upstairs toilet leaked and a chunk the living room ceiling caved in, it was an Ocean Rain promo poster that covered the unsightly hole for at least a few “moons”. I had hoped to tell Mac that story when we opened for them but he wasn’t having any of that nonsense!
The second concert I ever went to was the Bunnymen on the Heaven Up Here tour in 1981 when I was 13. Incredible. I saw them 2-3 times after that, both the original and reunion lineups. "Ocean Rain" is a top 50 album of the 80s. Maybe even top 10. Wildly underrated band. Great musicians, original songs and sound, strange lyrics, stunning vocals. Even Ian McCulloch's solo albums are worthwhile. He was a huge Bowie fan btw. That's the other big influence worth mentioning. "Hunky Dory" and "Scary Monsters" in a blender!
Having grown up in post-punk Liverpool, I'm always intrigued by how our bands are seen elsewhere particularly across the pond. Interesting that you call the band "Echo" for short; we always say "the Bunnymen".
Oh Penny, I was so anxious about your assessment of this. You were in the middle of this, and I feel an outsider for writing about it. That said, my love runs deep.
The Echo vs. Bunnymen thing is interesting. Must be a US thing. Everyone here I know shorthands them as Echo.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. It means a lot to have you here.
Fab write up of fabulous band. That string of first four albums is astounding. I started on a Crocodile’s EP with a life version of Over the Wall, as they say when Peter joined on drums they became a band.
Thanks so much, Jim. Glad you dug it. Great to have you here.
In the summer of ‘84 when our upstairs toilet leaked and a chunk the living room ceiling caved in, it was an Ocean Rain promo poster that covered the unsightly hole for at least a few “moons”. I had hoped to tell Mac that story when we opened for them but he wasn’t having any of that nonsense!
It is still so wild that I saw you guys open for Echo & The Bunnymen. What a night.
The second concert I ever went to was the Bunnymen on the Heaven Up Here tour in 1981 when I was 13. Incredible. I saw them 2-3 times after that, both the original and reunion lineups. "Ocean Rain" is a top 50 album of the 80s. Maybe even top 10. Wildly underrated band. Great musicians, original songs and sound, strange lyrics, stunning vocals. Even Ian McCulloch's solo albums are worthwhile. He was a huge Bowie fan btw. That's the other big influence worth mentioning. "Hunky Dory" and "Scary Monsters" in a blender!
Totally Bowie. I mentioned glam, but not him specifically. Thanks for noting the omission.
I am trying to imagine how blown your mind must have been at that tender age to see that display. You were ruined from that moment forward.
Having grown up in post-punk Liverpool, I'm always intrigued by how our bands are seen elsewhere particularly across the pond. Interesting that you call the band "Echo" for short; we always say "the Bunnymen".
Oh Penny, I was so anxious about your assessment of this. You were in the middle of this, and I feel an outsider for writing about it. That said, my love runs deep.
The Echo vs. Bunnymen thing is interesting. Must be a US thing. Everyone here I know shorthands them as Echo.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. It means a lot to have you here.
I enjoyed reading it, because you wrote with love and authenticity. And they belong to you as much as anyone. Anyway, we are all outsiders.
We are indeed, all outsiders. The insiders are full.
This reminds me that I had started to listen through their first 4 albums and few months ago, but got distracted. So much music to listen to!
This makes me happy. Love it when my nerdy sends a reader down a rabbit hole. Fantastic. Have a grand time. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.