Ouch!

Kev and Jon met in April 1993, when Jon picked up a Melody Maker and phoned for an audition for Kev's band Ouch!

In 1992, Ouch! had released their first UK single, I Need You More, featuring the retro 60's sound and characteristic vocal harmonies, for which they were to become hailed throughout the next decade.

With Jon on board, the band embarked on UK tours with The Commitments and 70s lovegod, David Essex. Major success followed in Japan, where the 1994 release of the first album, Life Goes On, spawned two No.1 singles, Can't Stop Looking At You and You Should Know By Now.

Far eastern tours followed, seducing radio, TV and live audiences with 'unplugged' sessions built around the band's tight vocal harmony arrangements. The Japanese public were fascinated by the Lennonesque quality of lead singer Kevin Taylor's voice and the press billed him as the nearest living thing to the man himself - quite an accolade!

Link to Youtube to enjoy live TV footage of the boys in their pomp! - I Need You More & Can't Stop Looking At You

Although Ouch! recorded three albums between 1992 and 1999, the heady heights of 1994 were never surpassed and the band played their last gig in London in 2000, culminating in a Spinal Tap style bust up in front of a captivated but bemused audience!

But in 2000, from the ashes rose the mighty Bulldog, featuring the blend of voices at the heart of Ouch!'s success.

Albums

The band's first album Life Goes On was recorded in 1992 for independent label Cavell Records. Two tracks, I Need You More and World Of Fantasy, were, to the band's great excitement, put to tape at Abbey Road.

Although the band were truly honoured to be recording in the spiritual home of their biggest heroes, they were not the greatest admirers of tradition during their time as temporary tenants. Their antics ensured that Ouch are unlikely to be welcomed back there with open arms, even 17 years on!

The album was not released in the UK until 1993, by which time Cavell were virtually bankrupt. But in Japan the album was backed by Sony and there its release spawned two number one singles and a successful tour in 1994.

Highlights include You Don't Fool Me Twice, Can't Stop Looking At You, More Than A Friend and Life Will Go On.
Featured track : Can't Stop Looking At You

In 1995, following the collapse of Cavell Records, the band recorded their second album Knock! Knock! While waiting for the outcome of the Cavell saga, they wrote over 40 songs, from the familiar sixties-tinged Come On and Overstayed My Welcome to the ageing boy band offering Strongman.

But somewhere in between are the Taylor-penned classics She's With Me, Time Of Our Lives and Endless Daze. If you look past the lightweight production and 90s drum programming, you'll find the album contains some good stuff.

An extra track It Could Have Been Me, a cover of a song by Japanese band Spitz, was featured on the Japanese release. Despite the fact that Kev hated the song with a vengeance, it became the band's 4th Japanese chart single in 1996.

Featured track : Endless Daze

Medway Dog is the band's last and best album. The songs were written and arranged by reunited trio Kev, Jon and Medway legend Darren Green and feature drummer Clive Jenner, who has also played with Lenny Kravitz, Groove Armada, The Proclaimmers and The Freestylers, and lead guitarist Eddie 'Two Brains' Stewart. The album, released through the band's own label Funky Dad , is brimful of energy and does not contain a bad song.

The first single Seen The Light/I Never Kissed Your Picture was finally released in the UK in April 2000, but at the single launch gig, disaster struck. Since that night, the band have not played together as the full ensemble, which makes this album some kind of collector's item!

Other stand out tracks include the anthemic Never On A Sunday, the haunting Beatles-inspired Multicoloured Mirrored Eyes and the last song the band ever played live, Draggin' Me Down. This album is Ouch! at its very best.
Featured track : Never On A Sunday