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Richard Searle is a 1960s influenced musician best known for reaching number one in the pop charts, in the psychedelic glam band Doctor And The Medics in 1986.
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Doctor and the Medics first single was 'The Druids are Here' c/w 'The Goats are Trying to Kill Me' released on Dan Trecy's cult label Whaam Records in 1982. Richard played Bass.
They released no further records until 1985, although a four track EP recorded live at Alice In Wonderland, a Soho nightclub where the band were regulars.
In 1985 they signed to IRS Records and released 'Happy but Twisted' a five track 12" EP including a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine" which reached number 2 on the indie charts.
This was followed by 'The Miracle of the Age' produced by Andy Partridge of XTC.
Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse, London which was recorded for television broadcast, although it was not shown at the time. At this concert the line up featured Roman Jugg of The Damned on keyboards and second guitar.
They scored a massive international hit in 1986 with their next single, a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky". The single reached number one in thirty-two countries. They fared less well with subsequent singles. Also in 1986, "Burn" and "Waterloo" (the latter of which was a cover of the ABBA hit, with Roy Wood from Wizard and The Move on saxophone, backing vocals and in the video). 'Burn' reached No 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo No 45.
In addition to their musical career, the group were closely associated with the Alice in Wonderland nightclub. The club ran the "Mystery trips" taking unsuspecting clubbers to gigs and venues across the country on coach trips. One such venue was Lowestoft Pier in 1986 featuring performances by: Zodiac Mindwarp: Another Green World: Daisy Chainsaw and The Cult. These trips are now widely regarded, as quoted by Rave magazine, to be the precursor of the beginning of the rave scene in the UK, which mirrored the use of secret locations, out of town venues and famous DJ's.
Richard Searle left Doctor and the Medics in 1990. He appeared in two different line-ups of brit- pop stealers Boys Wonder', both before and after they were dropped by Sire Records in the late eighties.
Co-founder of Acid Jazz band Corduroy in 1991, giving the band its name, Richard's fast and fluid bass playing style was fore-front in the funky punky sound of the new mod outfit.
Corduroy were a four-piece based in South East London, formed with twins Ben and Scott Addison, formerly of Boys Wonder. Based heavily around the style of a local instrumental jazz band, led by guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith, who completed the Corduroy line-up.
Releasing three albums on Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records: Dad Man Cat, High Havoc and Out of Here. They proved a popular live attraction. They gained a healthy following in Japan, making the first of several trips to the country in 1993, and the following year they recorded a live album, 'Quattro - Live In Japan'.
After leaving Acid Jazz Records they signed to Big Cat Records/V2, releasing two further albums, The New You! and the Rob Playford-produced Clik!.
Clik! failed to chart and Corduroy were dropped in 1999 and the band split.
Richard played in a session-man capacity with various bands throughout the early noughties, such as The Freestylers, Soul Hooligan and Mother Earth. Produced others including Smashing Time and recorded with Australian grunge band The Standing Eight Counts and Lord Large. The Paul Weller penned northern soul record 'Left Right and Centre' by Lord Large and Dean Parrish features Richard's distinctively flamboyant style. More recently appearing on stage at The 100 Club with sixties mod legend's Sharon Tandy and The Fleur De Lys.
Richard is now writing books. His first novel The Absurdist is described as 'A light-hearted, science-fictional tale about the illusionary nature of reality, lethal cocktails, hairy heroes, unrequited love and wasp hammers. Rude and irreverent, this funny philosophical caper about two young scam-artists caught up in unusual events, features the prettiest of girls, silliest of toys, quantum physics and giant space propellers in an adventure of absurd proportions.,
In 2005 Richard co-formed the band Wet Dog. Wet Dog is an international group featuring Stephen 'Vom' Ritchie from renowned German rockers Die Toten Hosen. Ritchie played with Searle in Doctor and the Medics. Wet Dog also features Anna Donarski, who has played for Damo Suzuki from Can and German punk rock outfit Fehlfarben.
'Fancy You', the first release by Wet Dog, appeared on an Acid Jazz Records compilation called 'Old School New Cool 2' in 2005.
The band's debut album 'Perfect Crime' was released through Drumming Monkey Records / Rough Trade in August 2007 in Germany. It featured 14 tracks, covering such styles as funk, punk, pop, rock and soul. A single 'Heart' was taken from the album.
Wet Dog are members of the mysterious Bohemian Underground Movement.(B.U.M.)
The Bohemian Underground Movement (B.U.M) is the umbrella name used by Richard Searle for his various and mischievous pop art projects.
The name came from writing BUM in the sand for purile and mischievous effect.
The first B.U.M track 'I'm Afraid Of The Man In The Pasty Shop' was recorded entirely over the phone from Cornwall, then mixed in the B.U.M studio weeks later. It features on Acid Jazz Record compilation 'The New Testament Of Folk'.
There have been several Bohemian Underground Movement releases, mostly through Acid Jazz Records.
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
& Totally Rewired. AJX180D download only.
& Welcome To The People Tree. People Tree Records. SEED01.
Much of Richard's work features with advert sync agencies such as Sync Master and Ricall.
Richard Searle is also publishing books.
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
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