Hollywood Brats
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in London, England |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Hollywood Brats were a British band associated with glam rock and protopunk, active during the early 1970s. Despite limited commercial achievement and their dissolution in 1974, they are acknowledged for their impact on the subsequent punk rock genre.
History
The group initially formed in London in 1971 under the name The Queen, with frontman Andrew Matheson, keyboard player Casino Steel (born Stein Groven in Trondheim, Norway), and drummer Lou Sparks. Following the ascent of the band Queen, they adopted the name Hollywood Brats.[1] In 1972, guitarist Eunan Brady and bassist Wayne Manor joined the lineup; Brady was recruited through an advertisement seeking a guitarist "intoxicated on scotch and Keith Richards." The band attracted notice in London due to their ostentatious appearance and aggressive musical style, akin to groups such as the New York Dolls. Brady commented, "The whole point of the Brats was to annoy and disturb!"[2] Matheson reflected:
Our performances often ended with audiences booing us offstage—occasionally even physically attacking us because they preferred gentler music. We approached every record label, but they all claimed rock 'n' roll was finished and that our raw style wouldn't make a comeback.[3]
Endorsing their promise, Keith Moon described them as the finest band he had encountered.[1] In 1973, they recorded an album for NEMS Records, which Allmusic characterized as "pure rock fun featuring fuzzy, garage-style guitar solos, cowbell rhythms, and irreverent lyrics." The material was predominantly written by Matheson and Steel, except for a cover of "Then He Kissed Me." Nevertheless, NEMS declined to release the record; it was eventually issued in Norway by Mercury Records in 1975 under the title Grown Up Wrong, following the band's breakup.[3] The single "Then He Kissed Me" appeared through Cherry Red Records in 1979, with a re-release of the album as Hollywood Brats arriving in 1980.[4]
Aftermath
Following Hollywood Brats' disbandment, Brady collaborated with Wreckless Eric, while Steel briefly joined London SS before becoming part of The Boys.
Matheson pursued a solo career, releasing Monterey Shoes in 1979. He later moved to Canada, where he produced Night of the Bastard Moon in 1994, recorded in Oslo, Norway. This album earned him a nomination for the Best New Solo Artist at the Juno Awards of 1995. In 2015, he authored a memoir titled Sick On You: The Disastrous Story of Britain’s Great Lost Punk Band, named after one of Hollywood Brats' songs.
Matheson passed away from leukemia on 31 May 2025 at age 73.
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedindy - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedallmusic - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpunk77 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedoldies