Swervedriver and Long Distance Runner

Founded by school mates and guitarists Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, with later the addition of Franklin’s brother Graham and drummer Paddy Pulzer, members first began playing together under the moniker Shake Appeal in 1984. Despite the subsequent breakdown of Shake Appeal in 1989, Franklin and Hartridge knew they needed to develop a sound of their own, and looked for ways to build on the music of alternative rock outfits Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, and Dinosaur Jr. Franklin went on to write and compose the songs “Volcano Trash”, “Afterglow”, and “Son of Mustang Ford”, which found their way on to a demo that ultimately landed in the hands of Alan McGee of Creation Records.

Swervedriver subsequently signed to Creation and in line with the current trend released a number of EPs in place of a full-length. “Song of Mustang Ford” EP arrived in July 1990, reminiscent of Hunter S Thompson’s drug-fueled escapades across the American West. The EP earned rave reviews from DJs and the musical press and was followed by their second EP “Rave Down” in November. After signing with American label A&M, the group issued their third EP “Sandblasted” and embarked on their first U.S. tour. The full-length “Raise” hit the shelves in September 1991, extending the group’s fascination with cars and charting at No. 44 on the UK Albums Chart. Following the EP “Never Lose That Feeling”, Swervedriver set off on their first headlining tour on the U.S. alongside indie rock act Poster Children.

Following the departure of the majority of the band’s members, drummer Jez Hindmarsh and bassist Steve George joined the group to record Swervedriver’s sophomore album “Mezcal Head”. Produced by Alan Moulder, the album incorporates American indie rock, alternative rock and shoegazing, in a clear and focused way. The album was supported by an initial tour of the UK, before heading over to the U.S. alongside Shudder to Think and The Smashing Pumpkins. By this point the band’s American popularity had swelled, enamoured by Franklin’s narrative and Hindmarsh’s heavy-hitting drums. Swervedriver’s third studio album “Ejector Seat Reservation” received no label promotion, due to A&M believing the album wouldn’t return well, and the band were subsequently dropped by the label. Despite the poor sales, critics have argued “Ejector Seat Reservation” as a creative high for Franklin et al., and Swervedriver’s greatest musical achievement.

Adopting a simpler recording process and song structures, the band’s fourth album “99th Dream” was released in February 1999. Like its predecessors the album earned favourable reviews from critics however couldn’t halt the inevitable hiatus that followed. Franklin went on to record and tour with Toshack Highway, followed by Adam Franklin & Bolts of Melody, and Hartidge founded a distribution company. Swervedriver however returned in April 2008 and embarked on a reunion tour starting with a show at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Followed by a host of other performances, the band released their first album in 17 years “I Wasn’t Born to Lose You” in March 2015.