The Lambrettas

The Lambrettas

The Lambrettas are a British mod revival group from Brighton, formed in 1979. The band’s original line-up is Jez Bird on vocals and guitar, Doug Sanders on guitar and vocals, Mark Ellis on bass, and Paul Wincer on drums, although the verified membership later centres on Bird, Ellis and Sanders. They remain active.

Early history

The group first performs on 9 June 1979 at an all-day mod concert in the ballroom at the end of Hastings pier. They then play venues across England before being noticed by Elton John’s Rocket Records label in August 1979. Rocket includes their first recording, Go Steady, on the compilation album 499-2139, which features a dozen new and little-known bands. Rocket issues Go Steady as a single in November 1979, and by early 1980 the release has sold enough to secure the band a recording deal.

Singles and chart success

The Lambrettas follow with a cover of Poison Ivy, a 1950s Lieber/Stoller song previously recorded by The Coasters and The Rolling Stones. Their version uses brass arrangements and a more upbeat ska-influenced feel. It becomes their biggest hit, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart and earning a silver disc for sales of more than 250,000. The next single, Da-a-ance, reflects the band’s pop-rock side and reaches number 12. Another single, Another Day (Another Girl), is issued after their song Page 3 is retitled because of a court injunction by the Sun newspaper, and it reaches number 49.

Albums and later releases

The band’s debut album, Beat Boys In The Jet Age, appears while the group is building its profile and reaches number 28 in the UK album chart. Towards the end of 1980, they tour Europe as support to Madness. In 1981, they record a second album, Ambience, with Steve Bray replacing Paul Wincer on drums. Two tracks feature saxophone by Wesley Magoogan of The Beat. The album is more polished and has a fuller sound, but it does not repeat the earlier commercial success. Singles released from it also fail to make a major impact. In early 1982, the band records a version of Jefferson Airplane’s Somebody To Love, which receives radio play but does not chart.

Disbandment and later activity

The Lambrettas play their final concert, their 123rd, at The Venue in London on 14 April 1982. They then part ways with Rocket Records and split up. A singles compilation, Kick Start, is released in 1985, and the band’s complete recordings are later made available on CD. Jez Bird dies in August 2008. Mark Ellis lives in Los Angeles. Doug Sanders and Paul Wincer later perform as The Lambrettas, with Sanders taking over lead vocals.

Discography highlights

The band releases two albums, Beat Boys and Ambience, and eight singles between late 1979 and 1982. Their best-known recording is Poison Ivy, while Go Steady marks their first released track and Another Day (Another Girl) becomes notable for the title change forced by legal action.