The Stairs
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Edgar "Summertyme" Jones, Ged Lynn, Paul Maguire |
| Defunct | 1994 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1994; reunited in 2015 for performances and tours |
| Headquarters | Liverpool , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Stairs is a Liverpool-based English rock group established in 1990 by vocalist and bassist Edgar "Summertyme" Jones, guitarist Ged Lynn, and drummer Paul Maguire.
They produced a single album along with multiple singles before guitarist Lynn left in 1993, leading to the band's dissolution in 1994.
The group reunited in 2015 for a one-time performance at The Kazimier in Liverpool, followed by a UK tour in 2016 and a headlining appearance at London's Le Beat Bespoké festival.
History
After playing bass for Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen, Edgar Jones sought to form a band inspired by Nuggets/Pebbles compilations, drawing influence from The 13th Floor Elevators, The Seeds, The Chocolate Watch Band, as well as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Their initial plan was to release their debut EP Weed Bus via independent label Imaginary Records, but they ultimately signed with Go! Discs, known for artists like The La's and Paul Weller. Under Go! Discs, they launched the album Mexican R'n'B (1992) and three EPs, all recorded in mono to capture their garage rock essence. Their manager, Jason Otty, often contributed harmonica parts and appeared in promotional photos.
Additionally, they issued an EP featuring the Del-Vetts' "Last Time Around" and recorded a cover of Captain Beefheart’s rendition of David Gates’ "Moonchild" for an Imaginary Records compilation, compensating for not releasing Weed Bus through that label. Plans for a full-length garage rock covers album were abandoned due to contractual obligations with Go! Discs.
Following their departure from Go! Discs in late 1992, the band underwent unsuccessful sessions for a follow-up album, lineup changes—including guitarists Carl Cook and Danny Kierney—and transitioned from mono recordings toward blues rock and psychedelic styles. After Ged Lynn's exit, The Stairs disbanded in 1994.
In 2006, The Viper Label released Right in the Back of Your Mind, a collection of demos containing early versions of previous songs and tracks from the shelved second album. Two years later, Viper issued the second official Stairs album, Who Is This Is, believed to be connected to an unreleased project tentatively named "Our Life Behind The Golden Cabbage," which is alluded to in the album’s artwork.
On 17 July 2015, The Stairs announced their reunion to headline "The Butterfly’s Ball & The Grasshoppers Feast" at The Kazimier, Liverpool on 26 November. They premiered a new track titled "1000 Miles," developed from regular soundcheck improvisations. A UK tour was subsequently scheduled for June 2016.
Post Stairs
After The Stairs ended in the mid-1990s, Edgar Jones collaborated with prominent musicians such as Paul Weller, Johnny Marr (early The Healers), St Etienne, Candie Payne, Cherry Ghost, and The La's. He also established The Isrites and The Big Kids during the 90s—bands that included future members of The Zutons and Howie Payne from The Stands—released three solo records, and formed Free Peace in 2008.
Ged Lynn founded The Living Brain, initially as an acoustic duo with Lars Gabel before expanding its lineup. The band dissolved by 2000; the remaining members excluding Lynn went on to create Zukanican. They participated in Get Serious '97, a Merseyside artists compilation, and released two albums: Life Sentence On Planet Earth (1999) and Bad Present Day (2000). Lynn also performed with Kung Fu (1996–1999) before founding Rhombus of Doom and The Privileged Few.
Paul Maguire formed Gloss alongside Icelandic vocalist Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir, signing with Nude Records between 2001 and 2002 until the label ceased operations voluntarily. He has contributed session work for former Cast lead singer John Power and Candie Payne before relocating to Iceland where he became part of Ske.
Members
- Edgar "Summertyme" William Jones – bass guitar, lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1990–1994)
- Gerald "Ged" Michael Lynn – guitar, backing vocals (1990–approximately 1993)
- Paul Maguire – drums (1990–1994)
- Carl Cook – guitar (circa 1993/1994)
- Daniel Kierney – guitar (circa 1993/1994)
Albums
- Mexican R'n'B (Go! Discs, 1992)
Singles and EPs
- Weed Bus (EP, Go! Discs, 1991)
- Woman Gone and Say Goodbye (EP, Go! Discs, 1992)
- Mary Joanna (EP, Go! Discs, 1992)
- Last Time Around (EP, Imaginary, 1992)
- Flying Machine (1992)
- S**t Town (Eighties Vinyl Records, 2015)
Compilations
- Right in the Back of Your Mind (Viper, 2006)
- Who Is This Is (Viper, 2008)
- The Great Lemonade Machine In The Sky (Viper, 2015)
Compilation appearances
- 1965 - Through the Looking Glass (1992) – track: "Moonchild"