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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZECHO and the BUNNYMENPost-punk UK band of Liverpool's 'second wave' late '70s. Ian McCulloch, vocals, guitar (b 5 May '59, Liverpool) began in prophetically-named Crucial Three, with Pete Wylie (later Wah!), Julian Cope (Teardrop Explodes); McCulloch and Cope were also in A Shallow Madness '78. With restaurant chef turned guitarist Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson on bass, Echo first gigged at Eric's Club '78, period equivalent of the Cavern, where the Beatles started; Echo was the name of their drum machine, retired when Pete de Freitas joined (d 14 June '89 in motorbike crash). Early records on Zoo label; initially criticized for doomy Doors sound, they moved from the ghetto of critical approval of debut album Crocodiles '80 to mass popularity. Live act was suggested by film Apocalypse Now: camouflage costumes, dry ice; album Heaven Up Here '81 furthered reputation; short film Shine So Hard also released '81; A Crystal Day '83 was 24-hour Liverpool event culminating in Echo concert and other unusual gigs incl. tour of remote Scottish islands, first rock band to play at Royal Shakespeare Company theatre in Stratford. Porcupine '83 incl. first single hit 'The Cutter' (UK no. 8); more lavishly arr. Ocean Rain '84 incl. 'Silver', 'Seven Seas', 'Killing Moon' (no. 9). Frontman McCulloch gave good copy, rarely out of the music press '85, opinionated, fiercely proud of the group and of Liverpool. Singles compilation Songs To Learn And Sing '85 incl. 'Rescue', 'Bring On The Dancing Horses' (featured in soundtrack of US film Pretty In Pink '86); album Echo And The Bunnymen '87 almost made the US top 50. McCulloch left to go solo, not getting along with Sergeant; his first album Candleland '89; the others carried on, but Reverberation '90 (Noel Burke replacing McCulloch, Damon Reece on drums) failed to chart; McCulloch's Mysterioso '92 featured Roddy Frame and other guests. Pattinson had left music, came back to play on Home '94 by Terry Hall (Fun Boy Three); McCulloch and Sergeant made it up and re-formed as Electrafixion (album Burned), jettisoned the fiction and became Echo again for Evergreen '97. Echo compilation Ballyhoo '97 replaced the '85 one. |