Years active 1979–1980
2003–present Genres New wave, Synthpop | Labels Virgin, Pnuma | |
 | ||
Associated acts Ken Lockie, The Clash, Public Image Ltd, Generation X, Department S, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Rema-Rema, Adam and the Ants, The Wolfmen, Neo, Radio Stars, The Civilians, The Fallout Club, Tiger Lily, Ultravox Past members Keith Levene
Evan Charles
Terry Chimes
Rick Jacks
Jimmy Hughes
Allan Rawlings
Marco Pirroni
Paul Simon
Lee Robinson
Stevie Shears
Pete Jones
Rob Doyle Origin England, United Kingdom (1979) Albums The Original Sin, Revisited, The Backwards Life of Romeo Members Ken Lockie, Keith Levene, Terry Chimes, Marco Pirroni | ||
Cowboys international thrash 1979
Cowboys International (also stylised as Cowboys International®) were a new wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980. The band can be considered as supergroup because they comprised many musicians with some trajectory in the punk and new wave scenes.
Contents
- Cowboys international thrash 1979
- Cowboys international wish
- History
- Studio albums
- Compilations
- Singles
- Legacy and influence
- Songs
- References
Cowboys international wish
History
In the late 1970s, Ken Lockie and Keith Levene were in a band called The Quick Spurts. Changing their name to Cowboys International, the members were Lockie on lead vocals, Rick Jacks on guitar, Jimmy Hughes (formerly of The Banned) on bass, Evan Charles on piano, and ex-Clash Terry Chimes on drums. This line-up, with a little help of Levene (who was in Public Image Ltd) recorded and released The Original Sin album in 1979.
After the releasing of the album and a tour, the band suffered important line-up changes: Chimes (who joined Billy Idol's Generation X) was replaced by Paul Simon (previously in Neo, Radio Stars and The Civilians); Jacks by Allan Rawlings and Marco Pirroni (Adam and the Ants member), who recorded some material in 1980 with the band, but they were replaced by ex-Ultravox Steve Shears; and Hughes (who joined Original Mirrors) by Lee Robinson of Boney M fame but later replaced by Pete Jones shortly afterwards; the last band alineation (Lockie, Charles, Jones, Simon and Shears) did the last band tour, which ended at the Kantkino Theatre in Berlin. The band split up in late 1980.
After the dissolving of the band, Lockie pursued a solo career, with collaborations of other former members, Simon and Shears, then other musicians who played in different bands with trajectory. Also by this time, and along with Pete Jones, he joined Public Image Ltd, reuniting with Keith Levene but his membership was brief, dedicating to producing music, but retired in the mid-1980s. Simon formed The Fallout Club, worked with John Foxx and Glen Matlock, and he now works with his brother Robin in AjantaMusic. Shears formed Faith Global, and later retired from the music business. Charles' whereabouts are unknown.
In 2003, Ken Lockie reissued his masterpiece of days gone by along with non-album material and alternate mixes on the compilation album Revisited. He also revived Cowboys International, and began to work on more original material on The Backwards Life of Romeo, which was released in 2004.
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
Legacy and influence
The song "Wish" from The Original Sin was an inspiration for the song "You Ain't Got Me" by French cyberpunk band Punish Yourself as stated on the sleeve notes of their Pink Panther Party album.
Songs
Here Comes a SaturdayThe Original Sin · 1979
Pointy ShoesThe Original Sin · 1979
Part of SteelThe Original Sin · 1979