We're Only Human (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1 July 1981 |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music (powerpop, rock) |
We're Only Human (previously known as The Incredible Kidda Band and The Kicks) was a London-based English group specializing in powerpop and rock, established on 1 July 1981. The lineup featured Alan Hammonds (guitar, lead vocals), John Rollason (guitar, backing vocals), Keith Taylor (bass guitar), and Mark "Tarky" Bates (drums, backing vocals).
During recording sessions, producer Graham "Kidder" Hammonds also added percussion and backing vocals.
Career
Following consistent gigs at The Bridgehouse venue in Canning Town, the band secured a contract with Terry Murphy's Vinyl Cuts record label to launch their first single, "Hold Your Head Up High" / "I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (Like You Treat Me)" in June 1985. Murphy, who also managed Wasted Youth, directed the release. The single was tracked at Village Recorders on 19 March 1985, with production handled by Hammonds and engineering by Gary Edwards. Both songs were mastered by George Peckham, recognizable by his 'A Porky Prime Cut' etching on the vinyl run-out.
In 1987, guitarist John Rollason temporarily stepped away from the band to collaborate with the Dirty Strangers.
The group dissolved in 1989.
Answering fan interest, Detour Records issued their debut album, Too Much Too Little Too Late, in 2000. This two-disc collection comprised 29 studio and demo tracks and garnered favorable critiques, including coverage in issue 254 of Record Collector.
In 2002, the Japanese indie label 1977 Records republished the band's initial four singles.
On 24 February 2006, Hammonds and Lister featured on BBC CWR's 'Pop Into The Past' hosted by Pete Chambers.
The lyric compilation Pop 'Til You Drop, which accompanies Too Much Too Little Too Late, was released on 28 March 2007 via Lulu. Later that year, on 20 June 2007, the album was reissued through the band's Black and Blue Records imprint in partnership with Detour Records. Also in 2007, Teenage Frames recorded a new version of "Sign on the Dotted Line"; in 2008, New York's Baby Shakes incorporated a cover of "If Looks Could Kill" into their live performances. Additional covers include The Brothers Gross tackling "I'm Gonna Join the Army" and "We're Gonna Make It," alongside numerous other interpretations surfacing over time.
In 2011, Last Laugh Records from New York released multiple Kidda Band singles, including previously unreleased tracks such as "Radio Caroline" and "(Watch out) Thief," along with a reissue of "Everybody Knows." That December, Germany's Red Lounge Records issued a vinyl repackage of Too Much Too Little Too Late. Last Laugh Records continued with further reissues in 2012 featuring "Fighting My Way Back" and the unreleased "Bitch/She's a 50."
Singles
- "Hold Your Head Up High" / "I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (Like You Treat Me)" (1983) - Vinyl Cuts Records VC002
Albums
- Too Much Too Little Too Late (CD) (19 June 2000) Detour Records DRCD 023
- Too Much Too Little Too Late (Vinyl) (19 June 2000) Detour Records DRLP 023
- Too Much Too Little Too Late (CD Reissue) (20 June 2007) Detour Records DRCD 023
- Too Much Too Little Too Late (Vinyl - Repackaged) (9 December 2011) Red Lounge Records RLR095
External links
- Official Website of The Incredible Kidda Band
- The Incredible Kidda Band’s MySpace Page
- The Kicks’ Profile on MySpace
- We’re Only Human on MySpace
- Mod Pop Punk Archive Collection
- Overview of Avery Hill College Campus
- 45 Catalogue Entry for Incredible Kidda Band
- Interview with Kidda Band on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Radio