Rudi 2564234 224089385 2008-07-07T07:01:01Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{other uses|Rudi (disambiguation)}} {{Unreferenced|date=October 2006}} '''Rudi''' was a [[punk rock]]/[[power pop]] [[band (music)|band]], formed in 1975 in [[East Belfast]]. The original members of the band were Brian Young,Ronnie Matthews, Graham Marshall, Leigh Carson and Gordon Blair. The name Rudi came from a [[single (music)|single]] called "Oo Oo Rudi" by The Jook. The band started off by playing [[cover version]]s of [[glam rock]] [[song]]s and [[music]] from the 1960s. Brown and Carson left the band shortly after its formation, and Johnny Stewart was brought in on [[bass guitar|bass]]. By 1976, punk rock was emerging, and the band adopted a new [[pop punk]] sound. They were unable to get regular [[concert|gigs]], so the band resorted to booking hotels for private parties. By 1977, their set contained a mix of glam, punk and 1960s covers mixed with a few originals. In October 1977, [[The Clash]] were due to play the [[Ulster Hall]], [[Belfast]]. The concert was cancelled at the last minute due to the insurance being withdrawn. The crowd reacted by trying to block Bedford Street, and a confrontration broke out with the police. This event became the inspiration for Rudi's most popular song, "Cops", with the chorus "We hate the cops".Stewart left the band and [[Gordon Blair]] joined on bass. In January 1978, they played a gig with another Belfast band, [[The Outcasts (band)|The Outcasts]], at The Pound. Later that same month, a support slot with [[Buzzcocks]] turned into a headline spot, when the Buzzcocks got stranded on the other side of the [[Irish Sea]], however in April 1978, Rudi released their debut single, "Big Time". The song was originally intended to be given away as a free [[flexidisc]] with a [[fanzine]], but the band discovered they could release a proper [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] single for the same cost. With the help of Terry Hooley, who had seen them at the Pound gig earlier that year, the Good Vibrations [[record label]] was born, and "Big Time" was its first release. Rudi decided that it was the time to try their luck in [[London]], but things did not work out and they returned to Belfast. In their absence, another single was released, "Overcome By Fumes", and the band continued to gig locally. In 1979, the band were filmed for a segment of the forthcoming [[Northern Ireland]] punk [[film|movie]], ''Shell Shock Rock'', being made by John T. Davis, and they also played at the Dark Space Festival in [[Dublin]] with [[U2]]. Shortly after, they released the ''I Spy'' EP (with the [[James Bond]] [[theme song]] as the introduction to the title track). At about this time, they made another journey to [[England]] to play some gigs and record [[demo (music)|demos]] and sessions for [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]]. Blair then left and later joined The Outcasts, whilst Mathews took over the bass for the England trip. After returning to Belfast, the band appeared with [[The Undertones]] in an edition of the [[BBC 2]] youth programme ''Something Else'', recording a two-song set consisting of "Who? You!" and "The Pressure's On". In 1980, the band split from Good Vibrations after the [[record label]] allegedly failed to release the "Who? You!" single in time to cash in on the band's ''Something Else'' appearance. In 1981, Rudi signed a [[recording contract]] with a new label called Jamming (funded by [[Paul Weller (singer)|Paul Weller]] of [[The Jam]]). During their time on Jamming, they put out two singles, the ''When I Was Dead'' EP, (which came with a limited edition insert) and "Crimson". They were joined on [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]] by Paul Martin of [[Pretty Boy Floyd]] and The Gems. They supported the Jam on a few dates of their Transglobal Unity Express Tour, however the Jam split up, which meant the Jamming label would be wound up. Soon after, Rudi also split up. Mathews, Marshall and Young re-emerged as Station Superheaven, however Mathews and Marshall eventually quit the [[music industry]]. Young went on to lead the Belfast [[rockabilly]] band, The Sabrejets. ==Original lineup== *Brian Young *Ronnie Matthews *Graham Marshall *Leigh Carson *Gordon Blair Rudi has also been made a well known name throughout boys and girls. Eg. Rudi McClurg from Bangor N.I ==External links== *[http://rudi77.free.fr/history.htm History of the band] *[http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/rudi.htm Information about the band]