Genres Punk rock Labels O.H.M.S., Valer Genre Punk rock | Years active 1975–19821999 Active until 1999 | |
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Past members M.J. DroneGus GangreneSteve ‘Whisper’ CundallPete Purfect Members M.J. Drone, Steve Cundall, Gus Callender Similar Slaughter & The Dogs, Suburban Studs, The Nosebleeds, The Lurkers, Alternative TV | ||
The Drones are a punk rock band from Manchester, England. For a period of time, the band were in their early days produced and managed by Paul Morley.
Contents
- Career
- Studio albums
- Compilation albums
- Appearances on various artist compilations Selective
- Singles
- Songs
- References
One critic wrote: "Bonafide DIY three-chord wonders, the Drones were there at punk’s inception."
Career
Formed in Manchester in 1975, the band started out as a pub rock outfit called Rockslide and released a single called "Roller Coaster". When this failed to make an impact, they reinvented themselves as a punk rock band.
In 1976, The Drones made their debut at the Houldsworth Hall, Manchester with Generation X as support.
Most bands in the thriving Manchester punk scene stayed in the city, but The Drones relocated to London. They became one of the pioneering punk bands that performed in the first few months of the now-legendary Roxy Club. They supported The Vibrators in January 1977, headlined in February, and supported X-Ray Spex and Chelsea in March. Later that year they supported The Stranglers on tour. The band appeared on two influential early punk compilation albums Streets and Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus.
The band's debut EP, Temptations Of A White Collar Worker (1977), was described by one reviewer as "classic dole-queue punk." In October 1977, the Drones’ second single, "Bone Idol", was released. In December 1977, they recorded a session at Maida Vale 4 studio for John Peel at BBC Radio 1. The track listing was "Be My Baby", "The Change", "Clique", and "Movement". That same month they released their debut album, Further Temptations, which has come to be regarded as a punk classic.
Fans would have to wait until May 1999 for the follow-up album, Sorted. The band reformed and toured to promote the record; including concert dates in the United States.
In 2001 "Bone Idol" was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
Lead singer and guitarist M.J. Drone (aka Michael Howells) died on 10 January 2013.
In 2015, The Drones re-formed with original members Steve 'Wispa' Cundall, Gary 'Gus' Callendar and new members Martin Smith [drums] and Glenn Jones [guitar].
In 2016, the new Drones line up will be playing festival and other dates and recording a live album as well as new material.
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Appearances on various artist compilations (Selective)
Listing of those various artist compilation albums mentioned in the text of the main article:
Singles
Songs
Bone IdolFurther Temptations · 1977
LookalikesFurther Temptations · 1977
Persecution ComplexFurther Temptations · 1977