PVC2
PVC2 managed only one single Put You In The Picture / Deranged Demented and Free/ Pain (Zoom Records 1977) but it’s a Triple A-side (WTF?!) cracker and a great picture cover to boot. Featuring Midge Ure, after turning down The Sex Pistols, prior to his transfer to punk supergroup The Rich Kids and en route to the pompous later Ultravox.
Formed in Glasgow in 1974, after changing their name from Salvation, Slik (Midge Ure guitar and vocals, Jim McGinlay bass, Kenny Hyslop drums and Billy McIsaac keyboards) got a contract with seventies glam rock label Bell records and became involved with expert songwriters Bill Martin and Phil Coulter, at the time churning out big hits for the Bay City Rollers.
Somewhat embarrassedly decked out in 1950s-style baseball outfits, Slik’s first single flopped miserably but the second, Forever And Ever, shot to the top of the British charts in February 1976.
Eagerly anticipating a long and prolific career, the band hastily put out a follow-up, Requiem, which although just as catchy and theatrical as its predecessor, only made the top twenty.
In March 1977, Jim McGinlay left and was replaced by Russell Webb. Bell records became Arista and the next single, The Kid’s A Punk, was not a hit. The song was doubtless intended as a response to the incendiary impact of the new energy explosion, but the public were unimpressed. In the midst of much spitting, ripped T-shirts and safety pins, well-groomed pop combos like Slik appeared decidedly bland.
So a name change to the more punky sounding PVC2 with Billy McIsaac on Keyboards. Rough vocalled punkery slightly tarnished by cheesy synth solo. Another classic for the Edinburgh Zoom label. It was short lived, PVC2 fell apart and the band bar Midge Ure, would become The Zones.
Stuart Jones
TalkPunk
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