(c’88-94) Graham “Julian Kill” Burgess (vocals/guitar/piano) and Wayne “Boncardo” Lowe (bass/keyboards), The Montrose Tractor (drum machine)
Trousershock BC, aka TBC, were a two piece from Yateley, plus their drum machine which went by the moniker: The Montrose Tractor; and reportedly the BC stood for Belinda Carlisle. In ’88 they supported Killing Faith at Frimley Community Center. Managed by Terry Burgess, they released several cassette demos / EPs. The “Some Lurvly Tunes” cassette demo was released in ’89; the 6-track cassette EP “More Stupid Gurly Lurve Songs” was released in ’90, and “Cheers” followed in ’91.
Inlay for 1989’s “Some Lurvly Tunes” cassette demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold
In June ’91 they competed in the Buzz Club’s Midsummer Madness local band competition. In December ’92 TBC competed in The White Hart, Frimley’s Battle of the Bands. “Go And Do Something You Hate. Being Miserable Builds Character” hit the streets in ’93. They broke into the national music press with a glowing review of one of their live gigs in the NME (Feb 27, ’93 issue). PopDisc™ was a floppy disc based interactive press kit and Trousershock appeared on PopDisc #1 with eponymous “Trousershock BC” for Give It Stick Records in May ’93 and PopDisc #3 with “Do Something you hate…”. Crowd favorites “Go” and “Here Without You” appeared on the Snakebite City compilation out of Bluefire Records. Although they were toyed with by Food Records it didn’t work out and they ended up releasing “(You’re) All The Room That I’ll Ever Need” a 12″ vinyl single on Ken Dudley’s (He of The Rock Box fame) newly formed “Give It Stick” label. This 12″ single also featured Trousershock staplers “Sometimes I Thought That You Didn’t Like Me” and “Child Bearing Lips” and featured the spine message ” let’s see Backlash edge this one, then. twats”.
Why “Miles Hunt Stole My Girl Away From Me” or “Bouncy Boots” didn’t make this pressing I am not entirely sure. Burgess went on to form Headcopter and Three Litre and also filled in on bass for a Slug gig. Wayne was also in Killing Faith, at the same time as he was in Trousershock. After drummer Shaun Jackson left Headcopter, The Montrose Tractor took over. Now, who recalls Helen-Louise, Trousershock’s pusher (of tapes that is) – she sold their tapes before & after shows)?
Tracks: Here Without You:
I Don’t Want You To Go Away:
Gallery:
21 November 1992: Trousershock B.C., Slug, Sunriser, and Who Moved The Ground? played the Buzz Club and the West End Centre, Aldershot. Source Who Moved The Ground?1993 press release from Bluefire Records launching the Snakebite City compilation with Trousershock BC, along with Backlash, Big Boy Tomato, Peachrazor, Pretty Green, Pomeroy and Mama Cain (aka Phobia). Picture courtesy of Steve PorterTrousershock BC competed in The White Hart, Frimley’s Battle of the bands in 1992. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter.Snakebite City flyer c’92. Picture courtesy of Steve PorterJune 1991: West End Centre info sheet covering the first rounds of the Buzz Club’s MidSummer Madness local band competition. Picture courtesy of Steve PorterSnakebite City, which included Trousershock BC, release date clipping, from a Dec ’91 unknown paper. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter1989’s “Some Lurvly Tunes” cassette demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold1991’s “Cheers” cassette. Picture courtesy of Sid StovoldInlay for 1990’s “”More Stupid Gurly Lurve Songs”. Picture courtesy of Sid StovoldInsert from 1991’s “Cheers”.Picture courtesy of Sid StovoldInsert for ’93’s “Go And Do Something…”. Picture courtesy of Sid StovoldInlay for 1991’s “Cheers”. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold1994 gig poster for Trousershock B.C. Picture courtesy of Nathan ArgonautBuzz Club FlyerThe green version…This little beauty feature on PopDisc, an interactive band profile developed by rGB interactive in 1992/93 and delivered on floppy disc and eventually on CD-ROM. It was a fore-runner of MySpace, etc. and developed by Tristan Greatrex and Terry Burgess.There can’t be many of these around…Surrey University, Surrey Court Fun Fest ’91 advert from Barefacts 21 June 1991.1991 – Big Sun replaced Rail Road Earth for this show. Source: chewtonia.comSource: chewtonia.comAlso from the 15th May ’92 issue of Bare Facts – a quick review of Trousershock BC’s single “(You’re) All The Room I’ll Ever Need. Released on Ken Dudley’s Give It Stick label.25 April 1992…Trousershock BC, Slug, Kaliedescope and Faceache (the tba listed) played the West End Centre, Aldershot.Trousershock BC gig reviewed by Camberley News, March ’91Trousershock BC broke onto the national music scene with the review of their live gig in this issue of NMETrousershock BC supported Railroad Earth at Surrey University – Review from 15th May ’92 issue of Bare Facts.
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