It Bites; they blew it didn’t they?
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Topic: It Bites; they blew it didn’t they?
Posted By: sigod
Subject: It Bites; they blew it didn’t they?
Date Posted: October 19 2004 at 12:10
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Man 'o man It Bites were one of my favourite bands during the 80's. They had it all, talent, good looks Eat Me In St Louis came next. Okay it had some good tracks but it was largely a forgettable album for me compared to it's predecessors. Even so, I stuck in there as they climbed the ladder from pubs to clubs to eventually, selling out the Hammersmith Odeon. I was really pleased for them to have made it into the big time. It felt like we had all won and then.... I swallowed my pride and bought the offshoot albums, I tried to like them but it just wasn't the same. Boys, I know you might be getting back together and that's great, I'll be there to support you if you do but...LOOK WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN!!! You had it all at your feet and you blew it!!
------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Replies:
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 19 2004 at 12:31
Francis Dunnery became a self-confessed drunk and married a California girl (it is unclear whether he did this whilst drunk???). I think he toured as Robert Plant's support and it is suggested that the several of It Bites became Plant's touring backing band at the same time. Dunnery got divorced pretty quickly and joined AA - check out his One Night on Sauchiehall Street for those confessions. And he has made a some good solo albums, Tall Blond Helicopter is a favourite. And he went to university, I think to study psychology, and seems now to spend more time in astrology than rock. |
sigod wrote:Posted By: Pixel Pirate
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 03:50
Why did you have to mention It Bites,Sigod?! There I was,perfectly content in my internet retirement and there you go bringing up one of my favourite bands of all time,forcing me to post! No one seems to care for It Bites anymore,not that many did back then either,which is a shame because they really did have it all. The technical ability to rub shoulders with any prog outfit,the creativity needed to make it big in the field and also a talent for writing incredibly catchy songs of which more than "Calling All Heroes" should have been hits. So sad that it all just dissipated.  ------------- Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 05:55
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I followed this band quite closely at the time. I saw them about six times. They were one of the best live acts I ever saw. I was 16 when I first saw them in a club in Reading (UK) and was blown away by their live sound, their and intricate playing. I had been into Rush and Marillion for a couple of years, and It Bites was just my thing. I was there at the Hammersmith Odeon for that triumphant sell out night, and I remember thinking that Prog was very much alive in the UK. I think Virgin put them under pressure to broaden their appeal further. 'Big lad in the Windmill' was very poppy, but you could hear where they wanted to be. 'Once around the world' got them there. A brilliant prog album, not not as commercially successful as the debut. The single releases were either slated (Old man and the Angel) or ignored (Kiss like Judas) which was a terrible shame. I think their record company pressured them to become more stadium rock orientated, less thoughtfull, less English and quirky and generally more appealing to an American audience. This drastic change of direction, that they didn't support, in their hearts led them to split. I think FD became very dissilusioned with the music industry. I hope they do reform. My top IB tunes would have to be: Yellow Christian Old man and the Angel You'll never go to heaven Screaming on the beaches Once around the world Whats your favourites..?? ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:00
PIXEL: Shame on you for trying to retire at your age  Ye are just a tadpole and an important one as well.   : Bites Pixel------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Pixel Pirate
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:33
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Thanks for your vote of support Velvet,but I really feel like a spent force these days. It seems the stuffing's gone out of me,in a way. I haven't retreated to the isolated mountain cabin of my mind quite yet but I'm standing on the doorstep. ------------- Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. |
Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:35
Well we need you here, but I know the feeling  Hang in there my friend, Norway won´t be the same without you  There´s a thousand reasons to give up, but don´t let the morons win, please !!!!!!!!
------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:42
------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Pixel Pirate
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:45
Well,it seems that no matter what one part of my brain says,there's another one that's itching to start typing again and they're fighting it out at the moment so we'll just have to wait for the result. ------------- Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. |
Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 06:51
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OK let the best part win In the blue corner ............................ This message was sponsored by the lighthouse keeper ------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Nizzy
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 07:49
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Sigod wrote: "Man 'o man It Bites were one of my favourite bands during the 80's. They had it all, talent, good looks Yes indeedy, they were terrific. Nice to see the update on Mr Dunnery too, Dick. I remember the Sauchiehall Street album, but personally was unaware of anything else he'd done since the backing vocals on Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe - which was, ahem, some time ago. |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 07:54
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I hear you guys and girls. It Bites absolutely rocked my world for a while back there and please don't think that I'm being hard on the band members as people. I understand that the pop world has (and always will be) a sh*tty business. They made an absolute gem of a prog album in Once Around The world and for that I will be forever grateful. I'm just a bitter old thirtysomething who thinks they could have been HUGE! I'm glad that there are other IB supporters (I thought I was the only one) still out there. Incidentally, any prog fans unfamiliar with IB out there should instantly check them out. The production on Once Around The World sounds a little dated now but it is still a classic prog album with some great pop melodies thrown into the pot for good measure. Contender for best prog album of the 80's??
...Hmm, maybe that's best left for another thread
------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Pixel Pirate
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 08:04
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Keep the lighthouse dream burning! Btw,Terje Rypdal recently played a concert for guitar,keyboards,jet fighter planes (!) and....lighthouse! If you think that looks unbelievable on print you should have heard how it sounded! ------------- Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 08:05
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sigod: I too, am a bitter thirty something who think they SHOULD have been huge 'Once around the world' best prog album of the 80's??? Not for me, to be honest, I could never rank it higher than 'Fugazi' By Marillion or 'Moving Pictures' and 'Grace under pressure' by Rush. However, rest assured it wouldn't be far behind them
------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 08:10
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For me all of the above plus All In Red and Vampires ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 08:15
Yeah Pixel, stick with us. This forum would be a little less fun without your words  ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Pixel Pirate
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 09:10
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Thanks,Sigod. We'll see how the battle goes. And I agree with the list of It Bites favourites with the additions of "Calling All The Heroes" (album version of course) and the only two tracks I liked from "Eat Me In St.Louis", "When The Ice Melts Into Water" and the guitar extravaganza "Charlie". ------------- Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 09:48
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Come on Pixie it's not a battle it is a game! A bit of FUN! We all talk bollocks, me We will always be on the point of Apocalypse and man will always be inhumane to man-it's the nature of the beast.
------------- 
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(more than) most!
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 10:19
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One of the best gigs I ever saw was IB at the Astoria in London on the 'Once Around The World' tour. We got right down to the front before they came on stage and did not move for love 'nor money. When they hit the stage and opened up with 'Kiss Like Judas' the place just absolutely exploded. They played the track 'Once Around...' in it's entirety and at the end of the show the crowd made a noise that I'd never heard before or since, it was deafening. The guys in the band looked genuinely amazed at the reaction from the crowd and I felt so proud that we'd all helped this great band make it. It still remains in my top three favourite gigs. ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 11:34
Okay, I'm sold. I'll order Once around the World on Friday. 
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Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 11:38
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I'll show my backside on this forum if you genuinely dont like it!!!!!!! Oh I forgot,I already have-enjoy the album though -------------
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Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 11:41
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It's only $7.71 on Amazon! Used is good. What about Eat Me and Windmill, are they comparable? I've seen yer arse, You need more roughage in your diet or maybe wet wipes. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 11:55
Go to: http://www.itbites.com/ - http://www.itbites.com/ Click downloads and then click on the "Once around The World" mp3 for a live performance of the title track. Eat Me in St Louis is not great-I think they were pulling apart by this time, maybe 2 1/2 stars. Big Lad is not bad- 3 stars. -------------
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Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 11:59
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For your info danbo, the proggiest tracks on OATW are 'Old Man And The Angel' and the majestic 'Once Around...' As for the other two albums, Try 'Big Lad In The Windmill' before 'Eat Me In St Louis'. Proggiest track on 'Big Lad..' being 'Screaming On The Beaches' I think. 'Big Lad..' is poppier, 'Eat Me..' was produced by Mack (ELO, Queen) and REALLY sounds like it.
------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 13:05
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Why haven't you guys mentioned It Bites' Live At Montreaux yet - don't you check their website? |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: October 20 2004 at 14:32
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Wakey, Wakey! -------------
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 04:59
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'Big lad' is very poppy in places, but quite infectous too. As an album its not that progressive on the whole, IMO, but tracks like 'Screaming on the beaches' and 'You'll never go to heaven' are brilliant and make up for the crap on the album like 'Whole new world' and 'Wanna shout' the latter sounds like something Duran Duran may have rejected even as a B-side. IB were sneaking their prog in through the back door at this point. Lulling the pop world into a false sense of security. They really progged out on 'Once around the world' 'Eat me..' has a few good tunes, but annoying production and more than its fair share of cliche. Their split was a msuical tragedy, when you consider what they were capable of. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: emdiar
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 05:36
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At the time I was a massive IB fan, even though Frank Dunnery tried to chat up my babelicious wife at a gig in Wolverhampton. I agree with Blacksword about their 3 albums. "Eat Me.." was a cynical record company driven attempt to crack the US market. Suck-up tracks like "People of America" made me cringe. All the American prog fans I know are pretty much musical anglophiles anyway, and know full well when they're being patronised. Why bother trying to sound American? Americans do it much better. ------------- Perception is truth, ergo opinion is fact. |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 05:47
Good point DH. It is an excellent album and many of the studio tracks have more 'balls' to them when played live. However, I truly believe that 'Once Around The World' was the prog high water mark of IB's short but illustrious career. ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 05:50
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That's guys for you emdair, always on the lookout for a new 'liason' BTW, did IB ever play in The Netherlands? ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: emdiar
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 08:15
I don't know, Sigod. I'm English really. I moved here just as they split, 1990. ------------- Perception is truth, ergo opinion is fact. |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 10:55
Ooh, I'm Jelous. Holland seems to be the home of Prog at the moment. I mean, every live Prog DVD I own seems to have been filmed at in The Netherlands ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |