Engine (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 1979 in Birkenhead, England |
| Headquarters | Birkenhead , England |
| Products | Albums, singles, live performances |
Engine was a British boogie rock ensemble established in July 1979 in Birkenhead, close to Liverpool, England.
The lineup featured Pete Wade ('Wad') handling vocals and guitar, Roy Hughes ('Yozzer') on bass and backing vocals, and Dave Cornes ('Ape') on drums.
1980s
During the early 1980s, Engine gained recognition as a compelling live band, particularly popular among the British biker scene. They supported biker-favourite acts such as the Groundhogs and Dumpy's Rusty Nuts at venues including London's renowned Marquee Club.
One of their significant early festival performances occurred at the 'Autumn Rock Fest' held in Staffordshire on 8 September 1984, where they appeared alongside groups like Magnum, Wishbone Ash, and Dumpy's Rusty Nuts.
The Merseyside radio station Radio City awarded Engine the title of 'Best Local Band' in consecutive years, 1986 and 1987.
On 29 May 1987, Engine took the headline spot at a charity event organized in collaboration with the M53 Motorcycle club to benefit the Claire House Children's Hospice, performing alongside other musicians from the Wirral area.
In 1987, the UK motorcycle publication Back Street Heroes sponsored Engine’s debut album—a live vinyl titled Well Oiled—released under their 'Six Fifty' label. This album garnered favorable reviews in Kerrang! magazine.
Subsequently, a 7" single featuring "Getting Away From It All" and "Just Feel Like Smiling" was issued through Beak Records. The band also contributed to a cassette compilation of live performances from the Kent Custom Bike Show of 1988, curated by Back Street Heroes.
On 5 August 1989, Engine performed at the East Anglia Rock Festival held at Mildenhall Speedway, sharing the lineup with artists such as Rory Gallagher, Uriah Heep, and Dumpy's Rusty Nuts. They returned to this festival on 3 August 1991 alongside acts including Hawkwind and Mama's Boys.
1990s
Throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s, Engine toured extensively across the UK, sharing stages with musicians like Walter Trout, Snowy White, Lawnmower Deth, Macc Lads, and UK Subs. Their live shows were noted for high energy and theatrical flair—highlighted by drummer Ape’s humorous facial expressions and coordinated guitar moves—helping them cultivate a strong fanbase. Their annual Christmas concerts in Wolverhampton (spanning 1989 and from 1991 to 1994) as well as Boxing Day gigs at Stairways in Birkenhead became fan favourites. A commercially available video titled Live As Yer Like, recorded in 1989, showcased their vibrant stage performances.
In August 1990, Engine played before an audience of roughly 22,000 at the Bulldog Bash motorcycle festival, which was headlined by Uriah Heep. The following year saw them expand into continental Europe with tours across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, culminating in a concert at Salle Surcouf in Brest on 19 October 1991.
Engine maintained their presence at festivals into the early ’90s, including appearances at the 1992 Bulldog Bash alongside acts like Dr. Feelgood and Girlschool, as well as the 1993 Rock and Blues Custom Show featuring Hawkwind. Their performance at the 1993 Bulldog Bash earned positive mentions in Kerrang! magazine.
Despite receiving encouraging press coverage from underground fanzines such as Mosher and mainstream outlets including Kerrang!, Engine found it difficult to convert their dedicated grassroots audience into commercial success. Their only studio album, Autowreck, released on CD in 1993 through the 'Making Waves' label, did not achieve notable market traction.
Engine’s final live appearance took place at the Limelight Club in Crewe in September 1997 before they disbanded.
Post-band activities
Following the dissolution of Engine, guitarist Pete Wade engaged in several musical endeavors. He had a short stint with the funk-influenced punk ensemble Solid before establishing the blues-rock trio Mojo Filter in 2003 alongside Pete Somerville and Paul Tsanos, producing the classic rock tribute album Many Miles Travelled. In 2007, Wade took over guitar duties from John Lewis in the British blues group Connie Lush & Blues Shouter, touring with them until 2013. Later, in 2011, Pete Wade and the Lifeblood Band released Fired Up under Fierce Joy Records. By 2014, he reunited with Somerville and Tsanos to form the blues outfit One Eyed Crow.
Since 1997, drummer Dave "Ape" Cornes has performed as 'Diamond Dave' in the Mexican-inspired rock 'n' roll band the Jalapeños, working alongside Charlie Davidson and Doctor Martyn, with multiple CD releases through the independent label 3D Discs.
Cornes and Davidson also participated in Status Quo tribute band Status Quid, featuring Roy "Yozzer" Hughes on bass. This group appeared at the Derbyshire Rock and Blues Custom Show in 1996.
Roy Hughes collaborated intermittently with Liverpool-based musician Paul Kappa and created the power trio The Crunched in 2010 with former Cathedral drummer Brian Dixon and Alan Kulke. After adding vocalist Ash Brookes in 2013, they rebranded as Rock Steady. Hughes was a member of The Swillers (Wrexham) from 2012 until his departure in 2023. Currently, he performs with Liverpool covers band The Spacies alongside Ian Jump, Paul Ryan (Muffin Men), and Terry Steers (Rage).
Cornes has remarked that although no official reunion is planned, the former members maintain close ties and occasionally play together informally. In 2009, he expressed skepticism about a full Engine reunion but left room for possibility: "Never say never again."
Members
- Pete "Wad" Wade – guitar, lead vocals
- Roy "Yozzer" Hughes – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Dave "Ape" Cornes – drums
Albums
- Well Oiled (1987) – live album released exclusively on vinyl, recorded in a single take before a studio audience at Yellow Two Studios, Stockport.
- Rough 'N' Ready (1992) – cassette-only release combining live and studio tracks.
- Autowreck (1993) – studio-recorded album.
Compilation albums
- Live at Kent Custom Bike Show (1988) is a cassette-exclusive compilation capturing live sets from the 10th Kent Custom Bike Show near New Romney, Kent. Featured acts include Engine, the Hamsters, the Brothers Grimm, and the Blues Band. Performances were recorded live via the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio with engineering by Mick McKenna and mixed at Woodworm Recording Studios in Oxfordshire. The project was financed and distributed by Back Street Heroes motorcycle magazine.
Singles
- Getting Away From It All / Just Feel Like Smiling (Beak Records, 1987; 7-inch vinyl)
Videography
- Live As Yer Like (1989) documents a live show at the Tivoli Theatre in Buckley, Wales.
- Live at the New Inn, Crawley (1993) is an unofficial audience recording.
External links
- Engine at Myspace
- Engine at MusicMight