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Jameson Raid
Jameson Raid are a British heavy metal band.

Described in ‘The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal’ as “cult heroes for the Midland rock circuit… Their music is a poppy form of heavy metal…”1, Jameson Raid originally came together in 1975 and are one of the unsung heroes of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM).

Taking their name from an incident in the Transvaal at the turn of 1895/96, the band can originally be dated back to 1973 when bassist John Ace and guitarist Ian Smith played together in Spectaté II at the school they attended in Sutton Coalfield. The band went their separate ways to go to university – aside from Smith who went to sea – at which point Ace formed a covers outfit. When this split, Ace, together with the rhythm guitarist Stewart [surname unknown], persuaded Smith to return and with the addition of drummer Phil Kimberley the band was ready to roll. Their first gig took place on 26 August 1975 under the generally disliked name Notre Dame. (It’s roadie Nick Freeman who is credited with recalling the event from his school history books and proposing it to the band.) With Hoi Polloi singer Terry Dark joining in December 1976 and Stewart leaving a few days later, Jameson Raid’s most well-known and well-respected line-up was complete.

Jameson Raid released their first single, the ‘Seven Days Of Splendour’ EP in February 1979. “The combination of influences which had given birth to the band’s overall sound was quite difficult to pin down, as there were elements of 70’s rock/pop (particularly David Bowie and Mott The Hoople), heavier acts such as Thin Lizzy and the occasional nod towards punk snottiness…” notes author Malc Macmillian2 and the three tracks offered up on the EP (‘Seven Days Of Splendour’, ‘It’s A Crime’ and ‘Catcher In The Rye’) illustrate Macmillan’s conundrum in terms of an inability to categorise the band’s sound. But the EP was well received and, as Martin Popoff points out, showcased “a masterful bit of songwriting throughout these three tracks.”3 The first 1,000 copies came in a white sleeve, with a further pressing of 2,000 in a black sleeve; both featured what Popoff calls “a spoofed band history” together with the lyrics to all three songs.

In May 1980 EMI released the second of its ‘Metal For Muthas’ NWBHM compilations. ‘Metal For Muthas II Cut Loud’ featured the Jameson Raid track ‘Hard Lines’ although the band were unhappy that EMI had, unbeknownst to them, completely remixed the song (which the band had already mixed to their satisfaction) and in doing so pretty much destroyed it. The band were credited as The Raid on this release.

Fighting against a tide of apathy, Smith and Ace handed in their notice and played their final gig with the band in Birmingham in July 1980. A second 7” EP, widely referred to as ‘The Hypnotist’ but actually entitled ‘End Of Part One’ was released at this time. Featuring four tracks (‘The Hypnotist’, ‘The Raid’, ‘Getting Hotter’ and ‘Straight From The Butchers’), the EP proved to be the band’s vinyl swansong, a shame as the NWOBHM was by now just about hitting its stride, meaning that gigs should have started getting easier to find.

Kimberley and Dark soldiered on, recruiting guitarist Mike Jones and bassist Peter Green. In 1981 Jones was replaced by James Barrett, who in turn gave way to Steve Makin in 1982. The four-track ‘Electric Sun’ demo cassette (featuring ‘Electric Sun’, ‘Run For Cover’, ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ and ‘’Getting Hotter’) was made available, but later that year Kimberley and Dark quit and the band was effectively over. A green vinyl LP ‘Jameson Raid’ is the only other release featuring the band. Comprising the ‘End Of Part One’ EP, the ‘Electric Sun’ demo tracks, the ‘Metal For Muthas’’ take of ‘Hard Lines’ and an unreleased track ‘Running Blind’ – a oddity as none of the band can remember such a song in their back catalogue! – ‘Jameson Raid’ is a bootleg and not an official release, although has become an expensive collectors’ item.

In 1983 Green and Makin drafted in drummer Roger Simms, and with Makin handling both guitar and vocal duties tried to resurrect the band as The Raid with no great success nor longevity. The classic line-up of Terry Dark, Ian Smith, John Ace and Phil Kimberley re-united in 2008, although given the fact that they all live in different parts of the world, logistics of how and when to start gigging again are still being addressed. A CD of back catalogue material is due in 2009.

Official website: www.jamesonraid.net

John Tucker January 2009

Members
Original lineup, initially known as 'Notre Dame' June 1975
 * Ian Smith - Guitar / Vocals
 * John Ace - Bass / Vocals
 * Unknown - Drums
 * Stewart - Rhythm Guitar / Vocals

December 1976 to July 1980
 * Terry Dark - Vocals
 * Ian Smith - guitar
 * John Ace - bass
 * Phil Kimberley - drums / Vocals

1980 - 1981
 * Terry Dark - Vocals
 * Mike Jones - Guitar
 * Peter Green - Bass
 * Phil Kimberley - Drums / Vocals

1981
 * Terry Dark - Vocals
 * James Barrett - Guitar
 * Peter Green - Bass
 * Phil Kimberley - Drums / Vocals

1982
 * Terry Dark - Vocals
 * Steve Makin - Guitar
 * Peter Green - Bass
 * Phil Kimberley - Drums / Vocals

1983 (Now known as ‘The Raid’)
 * Steve Makin - Guitar / Vocals
 * Peter Green - Bass
 * Roger Simms - Drums

Studio Albums

 * Seven Days Of Splendour (GBH Records 1979)
 * End Of Part One (Blackburn Records 1980)

Tracks On Sampler Albums

 * Metal For Muthas II (EMI Records 1981) One Track, 'Hard Lines'.

Compilation Albums

 * Jameson Raid (Pheonix records)