listen
to "city of lost souls"
- taken from the album 'Gusto'
THE
SCOOP
After
what seemed like years in a wilderness of gigging, rehearsing, punch-ups, sacking,
auditioning, loads more gigging, writing, touring, THE END settled on the line-up
which was to record their debut album. They signed to Phil Manzanera's (Roxy
Music ) Expression label and got down to business in his Gallery studio in leafy
Chertsey. The day they started recording, the Gulf war errupted which made the
process feel like entering into a fantasy world - each time a part was recorded
the band would come out into the social area only to get shocked into reality
by the footage of missile attacks on TV. Four weeks later 'Gusto' was born and
it's vital ingredients were a blast of hope in the throws of all the madness.
Phil allowed THE END to create their own spin-off label which they called' Mad
Moon Records'. Soon they were out on the road promoting the album and supporting
an odd collection of bands such as The Ramones, Status Quo, The Damned, Manfred
Manns Earthband, Gaye Bykers On Acid, Cockney Rebel, Nina Hagen. As well as
doing their own headlining tours out, up and around Europe. The song 'Destiny'
from the 'Gusto' album was released as the 1st single and recieved moderate
airplay on Radio 1 and other select stations with the video being played on
MTV. The End had created quite a stir as a band well worth catching live with
mostly only positive media coverage. There was one review which eventually rang
true, "The End are one of those bands who are too sussed for their own
good. They have the kind of appeal which unless backed by clever marketing (
and money ) is likely to go over the heads of the mass populace who seek solace
in the depressingly familiar". Andy Bradshaw / Metal Hammer . Eventually,
after a particularly strange German tour where a chaotic chain of events lead
to what seemed like the ultimate challenge for each band member, The End returned
home triumphant with the feeling that they survived it. Within two weeks of
being back in London The End had crumbled and from tours to tears it was time
to turn over the page of this chapter and move on. Clovis went on to join 'Headswim'
and Rook , Matt and Nick put together maximum raw groovers 'Lunaseed'.
Band
line-up from left to right
Nick
Hall-Guitar : Bemo Miller-Drums : Matt Hammond-Keyboards
Rook
Randle-Vocals-Acoustic Guitar-Lyrics : Clovis Taylor-Bass
This is what the press said about THE END , getting a wide cross section of
reviews and opinions will give you a better idea than someone who was totally
in love with them.
"The
End are both soulful and spirited, the two elements apparant in roughly equal
amounts, their lyrics dragging an emotional depth all too rare in rock, their
music revealing a raw energy". Push / Melody maker
"The
End are bold and hairy, wigged out and wanking over a hot bed groove of psychedelic
power rock". "The End are basically mainman and mad march hare Rook,
plus a mountain of spiritual bovver anthems". Chris
watts / Kerrang!
"They
are quite probably the most exciting commercial rock outfit to have emerged
in yonks". Ian Watson / Music Week
"After
much deliberation we bundled into a taxi and shot up to Camden Underworld, and
oh boy, if i'd missed this show i'd have missed what has got to be one of the
most inspiring bands that ever blew my ear drums. The End were phenomenal. They
posses a quality of natural presence that cannot be fake no matter how hard
you try" . Peter grant / Riff Raff
"There
are people who love this band like brothers, as the dance floor who move as
one , clearly illustrate , but it's difficult to see The End's quirky, chameleon-like
sound capturing the attention of the average pig-headed Metal fan". Dave
Ling / Raw
"I
haven't heard them before so I don't know what they're like live or anything
but I like it, I really do". Sharon Osbourne / Reviewing
the Destiny single in Raw
"Die
buntgekleideten Mannen um den furiosen Frontmann Rook Randle veranstalteten
ein derart energiegeladenes Feuerwerk, als wurden sie die ausverkaufte Royal
Albert Hall besschallen. Martina
Weith / Hamburgs Stadtmagazin Oxmox
"E'un
buon disco questo del The End, ma non mi spiego come siano state scomodate recensioni
cosi cariche di elogi per l'operato di questi cinque londinesi in cul trovo
tracce di cult prima maniera, spruzzate funk, un suono d'organo stramale-dettamente
anni '70 e nulla di piu". Metal shock / Italy
"The
End are truly a refreshing experience, as anyone who saw them at their first
headline gig at the London Marquee will vouch, and it is this uniqueness which
puts them in the same league as Sly, Lenny Kravitz, Led Zeppelin and even the
Waterboys. Pigeoning ( if there is such a word ) them into a musical
category is too complex". LA
Rock review / America
Selected
bits from 'GUSTO' album reviews
"One
part 60's psychedelic rock, one part '70's Funk/Soul and one part '80's punk.
Mix them together and you've got "Gusto". You've got THE END. You've
got intriguing style." Jerry Ewing / Metal Forces
"
I think this album is worth the money: It's good, has a great feel, and the
artwork is great. Give it a listen anyway." RAVE
/ Australia
"Generally
speaking 'Gusto' is proof indeed that there's still fresh and original British
talent breaking on through .Yeah, the vibe is good". GRADE
B+ Marc Liddel / Riff Raff
"Gusto
is a massive, brooding trek through Rook's book of road poems and untouched
by any hokey whimsy". They can be anthemic without being tugid. Moody without
being morbid. In that respect, 'Gusto' is a rollicking success".
KKKK Chris watts / Kerrang!
"Rook
and company have contrived over the last couple of years to create a band and
identity which is thought-provoking and musically attention grabbing."
Andy Bradshaw / Metal Hammer
"
Weirdo si riallaccia invece allo spirito pui 'free' di Hendrix , mentre in chiusura
troviamo l'iniezione d'energia 'stuck in the middle' . E'proprio un buon disco,
ma niente di piui". VOTO:70 Gianni D.C. / MetalShock
Italy
"If
theres anyone out there who remembers 'The End' wether it be from accidently
catching us live or from being one of the dedicated mob of groovers who frequented
our gigs, I'd like to say a big time THANKYOU for helping us have a great time
and sharing with us the collected moments of bliss and frenzy. Bless the lot
of ya"....Love Rook
