Twenty Flight Rockers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 in London, England |
| Founder | Gary Twinn, Mark Laff, Steve Counsel |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Twenty Flight Rockers emerged as an English rock group in the late 1980s, established by vocalist Gary Twinn, drummer Mark Laff, and bassist Steve Counsel.
Career
Originating in London in 1983, the band was founded by Twinn, previously a member of the Australian outfit Supernaut, along with drummer Mark Laff, formerly of Empire, and bassist Steve Counsel, who had played with Puncture. Shortly after formation, lead guitarist Ian McKean joined the lineup. Counsel departed early to become part of The London Cowboys and was succeeded by Jeff D. Vine on bass.
Drawing inspiration from 1950s rock & roll legends such as Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, and Gene Vincent, their sound fused classic Rock & Roll and Rockabilly with vintage punk influences. They frequently performed at notable London venues like The Marquee Club and Mayfair Ballroom and made an appearance on BBC's Janice Long program.
In 1985, the band issued the single "Tower Block Rock" through ABC Records, which was placed at number 31 in Rockerilla Magazine's top singles for that year. The subsequent year saw the release of "Johnny 7" via WEA Records; however, neither single achieved chart success. Their song "Searching for a Hero" featured on the Spools Gold cassette distributed by Record Mirror Magazine. Additionally, they performed at the 1986 Reading Festival.
Initially under the management of Brian Atchinson—who secured their contract with Warner Brothers and arranged national BBC airplay—the band switched management to Bernie Rhodes in 1987. Rhodes signed them to Epic Records, replaced McKean with guitarist Danny B. Harvey, and supervised recording sessions that produced the album Ride. In 1988, they released the promotional single "Black Leather Jacket," which did not enter the charts. After Sony acquired Epic Records, the band was dropped from the label and failed to obtain another recording deal, resulting in their disbandment in 1989.
Members
- Gary Twinn – lead vocals (1985–1989)
- Mark Laff – drums (1985–1989)
- Danny B. Harvey – lead guitar, backing vocals (1986–1989)
- Jeff D. Vine – bass, backing vocals (1985–1989)
- Ian McKean – lead guitar, backing vocals (1985–1986)
- Steve Counsel – bass, backing vocals (1985)
Discography
- Albums
- 2001 – Twenty Flight Rockers (Revel Yell Music) (Originally recorded as Ride in 1988.)
- 2004 – The New York Sessions 1988 (Revel Yell Music) (Recorded in 1988.)
- Singles
- 1985 – "Tower Block Rock" b/w "Weekend Revolution" (ABC Records) (7" version, duration 3:26)
- 1985 – "Tower Block Rock" b/w "Weekend Revolution" & "Young Man (Live)" (ABC Records) (12" version, duration 5:50)
- 1986 – "Johnny Seven" b/w "Tower Block Rock (W.1)" (WEA Records)
- 1988 – "Black Leather Jacket" b/w same track (Epic Records)
- Other Releases
- 1985/1986 – 9 Yards of Dead Cow - Live (Unreleased)
- 1986 – "Searching for a Hero" included on limited edition Spools Gold cassette compilation (Record Mirror Magazine)
- 2001 – "Guns 4 Sale (NY Sessions)" featured on History Of Danny B. Harvey CD compilation (Revel Yell Music) (Incorrectly labeled as studio version)
- 2016 – "King of a Lonesome Road" & "We Are the Rockers" appeared on Danny B. Harvey: Rock 'n' Roll Guitar Hero compilation (Naked Spurs Records)