China Drum

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China Drum were an English punk rock band. From Ovingham in Northumberland, they formed in 1989 and, after several early EPs and active support by BBC Radio One, released their debut album Goosefair in 1996. They were known by their fans as 'The Drum' and recorded and released their final album under this name in 2001. They split up shortly afterwards citing "musical indifference" in their press release as a reason. This was a pun on the commonly used phrase "musical differences" frequently used to describe arguments within bands and referred to that fact that the band members felt they were working hard only to be met with indifference by the public.

Press release from 1997 The early years of China Drum (which lasted roughly from 1989 to 1992) are now just a blur of memories - vague recollections of motorway service stations, endless ginster pasties, and trying to sleep in the back of a VW camper with a broken heater. Amidst heavy competition, the film rights to this period have been sold to the Disney Corporation of America. In 1993, however, all this changed when the shivering Geordies were joined in the back of the van by a self-financed single "Simple", all 555) copies of which (thanks to enthusiastic support from John Peel and Steve Lamacq) were quickly snapped up by an eager nation. CHINA DRUM were pleasantly surprised of this enterprise, and decided to try it again sometime, which they did the following year when they teemed up with the cheeky Fluffy Bunny label to bang out the "Great Fire" single. Again, they sold out the only pressing, helped, perhaps, by a UK and European tour with Green Day.

Despite these unlikely triumphs, it wasn't until 1995 that CHINA DRUM began to make an impression on the Great British Public. First off was the 'Barrier' single, then tours with Supergrass and Ash, and an assortment of deals being signed and sealed. Shortly after these formalities were concluded, "Fall Into Place" was released as a single in the UK and as part of a compilation EP (curiously titled "Rolling Hills and Soaking Gills") everywhere else as the rest of the world played a spot of catch-up.

In August '95 the band opened the main stage at Reading Festival, arriving stylishly in their own hovercraft, and saw all the rest of the year by headlining a 30-date UK tour and spending a month in Europe spreading the word of St Geordie. Not content with the marathon gig list, the Drum then headed for the USA and joined Ash for a few dates on the West Coast.

Next up was "Can't Stop These Things", with a chucklesome version of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" which kept radio producers happy for weeks and also was CHINA DRUM on the Big Breakfast. CHINA DRUM also played a triumphant gig at London's Astoria, as part of the NME Brat Awards Week.

CHINA DRUM released "Last Chance" in April '96 and supported it with another headlining tour around the country, culminating with a sell-out show at London's LA2. Later that month CHINA DRUM's debut LP (recorded in a three week burst at Trinity Heights in Newcastle) was released, produced by John Greatwood and mixed by Chris Sheldon. It was called "Goosefair" - 'a triumphant, compelling, irresistible debut' NME - after Ovingham-Upon-Tyne's premier social event, and was launched with a sweaty, alcohol-fuelled shin-dig at their local tavern in High Spen, at which Steve Lamacq proclaimed them 'the best new band in Britain."

CHINA DRUM then embarked on another European tour, and it was whilst the were playing in Triest, Italy, that they noticed that Bosnia was just over the border. They felt they had played everywhere else in Europe, so why not Bosnia? And in July 1196, CHINA DRUM became the first British band to play in Sarajevo since the 1995 Daytton Peace Accord. "The Bosnian countryside is so beautiful, but once you get into the war zone, it's like seeing a 300 mile car crash, a huge pile up in Paradise" said Dave McQueen. The band still keep in contact with the Serious Road Trip, the charity who helped them with the logistics to get to Bosnia, and in December played a gig in Glasgow for which all the funds went to the SRT.

Before embarking on a tour of the States which was extended from three to four weeks, CHINA DRUM released a single "Wipeout" (the noise that Satan's surfboard would make on the big breakers" NME) in July. The CD also included a nine-minute bonus track by 'mystery' techno-teasers RANCID HUM, "Sleazeball", which was remixed by Empirion.

CHINA DRUM continued to tour Europe and Japan in December '96 they were invited to support punk super-group Die Totenhosen in a stadium tour round German. They then holed up in a studio with highly regarded engineer turned producer Al Clay (who had previously worked on such luminaries as The Pixies, Therapy? 60ft Dolls and Frank Black). The result is the frenetic, splenetic "SELF MADE MANIAC" which is due to be released on Mantra in September.

As a prelude to "SELF MADE MANIAC" the band plan to tour in August with the added bonus of an extra member. Jan Alkema (ex-Compulsion) joins Adam and the brothers McQueen on drums, unleashing Adam Lee out front in rollicking Henry Rollins style. The first test of the new boy will be on Friday 13th June, when CHINA DRUM attempt to break yet more records by playing three gigs in one night in Camden Town. Wouldn't you just hate that to be the first day of your new job.

The first single off the new album is "Fiction Of Life" which is set for release on 28th July.

1 Members
2 Covers
3 Discography
- 3.1 EPs/Singles up to Goosefair album
- 3.2 Albums
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Members

The founding members were guitarist Bill and bassist Dave McQueen, and vocalist and drummer Adam Lee. For their second album they were joined by Jan Alkema, ex- of Compulsion for live performances who was retained for their third and final, more dance influenced album, Diskin.

[edit] Covers

Their breakthrough hit was a high-tempo cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights", and they also recorded a take on Crowded House's Fall At Your Feet in a similar vein. Of their material, Leatherface included a cover of China Drum's "Meaning" on their Little White God single; Bodyjar covered "Fall Into Place", among a number of other covers, on You Got Me A Girl's Bike You Idiot.

[edit] Discography

[edit] EPs/Singles up to Goosefair album

Simple 1. Simple 2. On My Way 3. Meaning (Acoustic) Self financed and released on their own label in April 1993, Simple was the Drum's first single. 550 copies were originally pressed by German punk label Bitzcore and sold at gigs. Another 1000 copies were pressed and sold in Europe in July 1993. Simple was made Record Of The Week by Steve Lamacq on Radio 1's Evening Session in October 1993.

Great Fire 1. Great Fire 2. Biscuit Barrel (Acoustic) 3. Meaning 4. Down By The River (live) Released in March 1994 by Fluffy Bunny records and produced for free by Julian Standen.

One Way Down Part of a 7" compilation called the Built To Blast EP with five other bands. Released by Fierce Panda in July 1994.

Barrier 1. Barrier 2. Brain 3. One Way Down 4. Sleazeball (live) Also produced by Julian Standen, released on Fluffy Bunny and another single of the week. A tour with Green Day and features in NME and Melody Maker follow.

Wuthering Heights and Cloud 9 Wuthering Heights (only 800 made) was released by Fierce Panda in April 95 with Riot by the Flying Medallions on the other side. These free 7"'s were given to the first 50 people at gigs when the two bands toured together. An early version of Cloud 9 was released along with 23 other tracks by other bands on Sean Forbes' Snuffy Smiles label on a compilation called 'Best Punk Rock In England Son'. This was released only in Japan.

Fall Into Place 1. Fall Into Place 2. Simple (original version) 3. On My Way 4. Barrier (live) This was the Drum's first release on the Beggar's Banquet Mantra label and the first to be produced by John 'live soundman' Greatwood. The 10" contained Cloud 9 from the Japenese release and a live version of Great Fire recorded with Barrier in Scotland while on tour with Supergrass.

Pictures 1. Pictures 2. Last Chance (Acoustic) Released by Mantra on limited edition green vinyl 7" only. Only 1200 copies. Meanwhile in Europe we have the Rolling Hills and Soaking Gills EP and in America the Barrier EP. Both including the UK singles and B-sides:

Barrier (USA) 1. Barrier 2. Simple 3. Biscuit Barrel 4. One Way Down 5. Great Fire 6. Meaning

Rolling Hills And Soaking Gills (USA & Europe) 1. Fall Into Place 2. Simple 3. Barrier 4. Biscuit Barrel 5. One Way Down 6. Great Fire 7. Meaning

Can't Stop These Things 1. Can't Stop These Things 2. Wuthering Heights 3. Drown It. Released by Mantra on February 19th 1996.

Last Chance 1. Last Chance 2. Walk 3. Cut Them Out 4. Careful With That Chieftain, Adam The last single released before the LP in April 1996.