Years active 1985–1989 | Active until 1988 | |
Associated acts Supernaut, Generation X, Puncture, Thirteen, Balaam and the Angel, The Runner Brothers, Dead Horse, The Honeydippers, Speedtwinn, The International Swingers Past members Gary Twinn
Mark Laff
Ian McKean
Jeff D. Vine
Danny B. Harvey
Steve Counsel Origin London, United Kingdom (1985) Genres Rock music, Rock and roll, Rockabilly, Punk rock Similar Gary Twinn, The International Swingers, Mark Laff, Supernaut, Bob Andrews | ||
Twenty flight rockers tower block rock 12 inch version
Twenty Flight Rockers (sometimes abbreviated as TFR) were an English rock 'n' roll band founded by Supernaut singer Gary Twinn, Generation X drummer Mark Laff, and Puncture bassist Steve Counsel.
Contents
Twenty flight rockers out of control
History
British vocalist Gary Twinn had once lived in Perth, Western Australia, where he was the frontman of the glam rock group Supernaut from 1974 to the beginning of 1980. After the group broke up he decided to relocate back to London, where he formed Twenty Flight Rockers with ex-Generation X drummer Mark Laff and bass player Steve Counsel, joined by guitarist Ian McKean. Counsel's time with the newly formed band would be short lived, as he left to join The London Cowboys. He was replaced by Jeff D. Vine to complete the line up.
Drawing influences from Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Johnny Kidd, the new band adopted a black biker leather clad look and a focus on pure rock 'n' roll blended with a punk rock attitude. The group toured clubs in London, including several shows at The Marquee Club and Mayfair Ballroom. They were subsequently invited to play the BBC's Janice Long show. In 1985, Twenty Flight Rockers released the single "Tower Block Rock" (ranked #31 for Best Single on Rockerilla Magazine) with ABC Records, and in 1986 the single "Johnny 7" with WEA Records. In March of that same year, a rare song, "Searching for a Hero", was given away for free on the Spools Gold compilation released on cassette by Record Mirror Magazine.
They were one of many bands to perform at Richfield avenue for the first day of the returning Reading and Leeds Festivals on 22 August, which also featured the likes of The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim, Doctor and the Medics, and Balaam and the Angel (McKean would later join this band).
Subsequently, Bernie Rhodes (the former manager of The Clash) was hired to manage them. He decided for the band to sign with Epic Records, and he had McKean replaced by The Rockats guitarist Danny B. Harvey. Twenty Flight Rockers recorded a series of sessions (compiled by Twinn and Harvey) as well as an entire studio album entitled Ride. "Black Leather Jacket" was released as a single promo, with the album due to follow in mid 1988. However, Epic was bought out by Sony, who then dropped the band from the label. Disappointed by political mismanagement from record companies, Twenty Flight Rockers broke up.
Members
Discography
Songs
Tower Block Rock1985
Weekend Revolution1985
King of a Lonesome Road2016