Chrome Molly are an English hard rock band from Leicester. They formed in 1982, releasing four albums before splitting up in 1991. They re-formed in 2009.

History

The band formed in 1982, and after an early demo settled on a line-up of singer Steve Hawkins, guitarist John Antcliffe, bass guitarist Nic Wastell and drummer Chris Green.Larkin, Colin (1999) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock'', Virgin Books, , p. 97Strong, Martin C. (2001) ''The Great Metal Discography'', MOJO Books, , p. 115 Mark Godfrey (Drums) replaced Chris Green after the release of the "You Said" EP (Bullet Becords, BOLT 10) in 1984 and prior to the recording of the band's debut album, ''You Can't Have It All...or Can You?'', which was released in 1985. After the second album ''Stick It Out'' (1987), Antcliffe was replaced by Tim Read, and the band signed to

I.R.S. Records I.R.S. Records was an American record label founded by Miles Copeland III, Jay Boberg, and Carl Grasso in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new w ...

, their first single release for the label being the cover "Shooting Me Down" which was written by Jim Lea and

Noddy Holder Neville John "Noddy" Holder (born 15 June 1946) is an English musician. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the English band Slade, one of the UK's most successful acts of the 1970s. Known for his unique and powerful voice, Holder c ...

Slade Slade are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Wolverhampton in 1966. They rose to prominence during the glam rock era in the early 1970s, achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. The ''British H ...

and produced by Lea; The single received heavy airplay from

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

but suffered from a dispute between I.R.S. and distributors

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wi ...

. IRS released the third album ''Angst'' in April 1988, which included a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song relea ...

of Squeeze's " Take Me I'm Yours". They toured as support act with

Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guilloti ...

on his Raise Your Fist And Yell tour in 1988, with guitarist Andrew Barrott added to the line-up. They moved on to the

Music for Nations Music For Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. It was a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG and later Sony Music Entertainment. Launched in ...

label for fourth album ''Slaphead'' (1990). The band split up in 1991, although they played together as

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...

tribute band A tribute act, tribute band or tribute group is a Musical ensemble, music group, Singing, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the songs and style ...

Von Halen a few times. The band reformed in 2009 with members of the early line-up Hawkins, Antcliffe and Wastell joined by Greg Ellis, and announced a new album, ''Gunpowder Diplomacy''.Rockers return
", ''

Leicester Mercury The ''Leicester Mercury'' is a British regional newspaper for the city of Leicester and the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The paper began in the 19th century as the ''Leicester Daily Mercury'' and later changed to its p ...

'', 19 July 2010, retrieved 2012-05-02Chrome Molly Return
", ''

Classic Rock Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, prim ...

'', 24 June 2010, retrieved 2012-05-02 The band's first two albums were reissued by Cherry Red sublabel Lemon Recordings in 2010. The band returned to the studio with Toby Jepson from

Little Angels Little Angels were an English hard rock band predominantly active between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. The band reformed on 8 June 2012 to play the Download Festival. History 1984–1994: Early history and UK popularity Little Angels formed i ...

in the producers chair, the album ''Gunpowder Diplomacy'' was released in 2013 by earMUSIC. Johnny Antcliffe left the band in December 2014 to be replaced in 2015 by John Foottit, the band return to the studio in August 2015 to record their sixth studio album with Toby Jepson again in the production role.The return of Chrome Molly: 'We’re having the best fun. It’s like the best hobby in the world’
", ''

'', 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015 The band's 6th studio album ''Hoodoo Voodoo'' was released in January 2017 on Edel records. In September former member Andy Barrott returned to the line up replacing Sam Flint. Andy was a member in the 1980s. Andy was formerly a member of Geddes Axe, Baby Tuckoo and The Dukes of Bordello.

Discography

Albums

*''You Can't Have It All...or Can You?'' (1985), Powerstation *''Stick It Out'' (1987), Powerstation *''Angst'' (1988), IRS *''Slaphead'' (1990), Music for Nations *''Gunpowder Diplomacy'' (2013) Edel *''Hoodoo Voodoo'' (2017), Edel ;Compilations: *''You Can't Have It All...or Can You?/Stick It Out'' (2010), Lemon

Singles

*"You Said" (1984), Bullet *"Take It or Leave It" (1985), Powerstation *"I Want to Find Out" (1986), Powerstation *"Take Me I'm Yours" (1988), IRS *"Thanx for the Angst" (1988), IRS *"Shooting Me Down" (1988), IRS

References

External links