Dead End Kids (band)
| Company type | Pop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Kilmarnock , Scotland, United Kingdom |
Key people | Kerr, Johnstone, Drew Clark, Alan Bingham, Robbie Gray, Colin Ivory, Ricky Squires |
| Products | Music recordings (singles and album) |
Dead End Kids, occasionally referred to as The Dead End Kids and initially presented as dEAd ENd KIdS, were a Scottish pop ensemble notable for securing a single UK top 40 hit in 1976.
History
The group originated in 1974 under the name Vehicle, founded by Kerr from Dreghorn and Johnstone from Irvine. Their original lineup featured Drew Clark on lead guitar and Alan Bingham on drums. After bringing Robbie Gray on board as the lead singer, they adopted the name Dead End Kids—a suggestion made by Kerr's mother—and established their base in Kilmarnock.
Discovered by talent agent Colin Robertson, the band underwent a lineup change in 1975 when Bingham and Clark left, replaced by two 16-year-olds from Ayr: Colin Ivory on lead guitar and Ricky Squires on drums. This refreshed formation expanded their performances from local gigs to nationwide stages.
Their major breakthrough occurred in September 1976 when they toured nationally as support for the Bay City Rollers and secured a recording contract with CBS Records. Their debut single, a rendition of The Honeycombs' "Have I The Right," climbed to number 6 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1977, achieved number 2 in Sweden, and held the top position on the Irish Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks.
Although this initial success was significant, later singles did not enter the charts. The band's sole album, Breakout, released in autumn 1977, mainly comprised cover tracks and compositions by producer Barry Blue but failed to chart. After disbanding, members moved on to other ventures: Squires joined Heavy Metal Kids; Kerr and Ivory created Dance Faction; Johnstone became part of Hollywood; and Gray established the Long Johns, specializing in traditional Irish and Scottish music.
Singles discography
- Have I The Right (February 1977), UK no. 6, SWE no. 2, IRE no. 1
- Breakaway (June 1977)
- Glad All Over (September 1977)
- All My Love Always (November 1977)
- Heart Get Ready For Love (January 1979)