Torment

Torment is a psychobilly group from the United Kingdom, originally formed in the second half of 1985 by Simon Brand, Sean Holder and Kevin Haynes. The line-up later changes, with Simon Crowfoot taking over on double bass after Tony Biggs leaves. The band’s working core is associated with Simon Brand, Simon Crowfoot and Kevin Haynes.

Formation and early history

The band develops out of the Bristol rockabilly scene. Simon Brand and Sean Holder already know each other from a Bristol-based outfit called Jumpin Jacks in 1984, while Sean Holder and Kevin Haynes have been playing together in the Joint Jumpers. Simon Brand has previously been active in Frenzy and the Firebirds. The name Torment comes from the flip side of the Frenzy 12-inch EP Robot Riot. By November 1985 the band is rehearsing in Sean Holder’s garage and writing original material, including “Uncle Sam”, “The Source” and “Death Trail”.

‘Nutty’ Dave Ayres helps arrange early gigs, including shows in Brighton and Bristol in December 1985, where Torment appears alongside newer bands from the scene such as The Long Tall Texans and the Coffin Nails. The first demo tape is recorded in January 1986.

Releases and recordings

Torment makes its recording debut in 1986 on Nervous Records’ compilation Zorch Factor-One, with two tracks: “My Dream” and “The Source”. The release is followed by further compilation appearances, including the Stomping At The Klub Foot series and Psycho Attack Over Europe Vol. 2. The band also records a four-track 12-inch EP, Mystery Men, in 1987.

The band’s first album, Psyclops Carnival, appears in the summer of 1986. It is recorded at Diamond Studios in two days and produced by Roy Williams and the trio. The album becomes closely associated with the early psychobilly scene and is later regarded as a classic of the genre.

Torment’s second album, Three’s A Crowd, is released at the end of 1987 and is produced by Steve Whitehouse. It reaches the Top 20 of the UK Independent Album Chart in December 1987. In 1988 the band re-records “My Dream” for the third Psycho Attack Over Europe compilation.

The group’s third album, Round The World, appears in 1989. It includes a wide range of styles within psychobilly, with swing elements, neorockabilly passages, classic psychobilly and an a cappella version of Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock”. One track, “Hideaway”, is recorded with a string section. The album also includes a cover of “I’m A Loser” by The Ricochets.

Torment’s fourth and final album, Hypnosis, is recorded in 1990. It is produced by Pete Gage and released by Nervous Records on vinyl and compact disc. The CD edition includes bonus tracks “Sad Man” and “Strangulate”. The album contains cover versions of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” and Tina Turner’s “I Can’t Stand The Rain”. The band also records “Route 66”, later used on the third part of the Zorch Factor compilation, which also includes Simon Brand’s solo recording “Broken Home”.

Live work and later activity

Torment tours mainland Europe on the “Psyclops Tour” in early 1987 and appears at the First Psychobilly Weekend in Dendermonde, Belgium. The band also plays events including the Klub Foot, the 3rd Belgian Psychobilly Festival in Gent, the Hemsby Weekender and the Wreckin Festival in Belgium. After a show in Amsterdam, Simon Crowfoot stays in the Netherlands, and Simon Brand and Kevin Haynes replace him with Vince Mildren before touring again in 1992.

Simon Brand later moves to Vermont, then returns to Bristol in early 1994 and begins planning a reunion, but he dies while in hospital that same year. That ends the band’s activity. A compilation of the band’s work, Best Of Torment, is released in 2000.

Style

Torment plays psychobilly with a distinctive approach that draws on rockabilly, swing, neorockabilly and other related forms. The band is noted for writing songs with personal or offbeat lyrical themes and for making use of varied arrangements and production techniques across its recordings.