BMX Bandits

A leading light of the short-lived C-86/anorak movement of the mid-1980's, the BMX Bandits stood at the epicenter of the Scottish pop music scene for over a decade; however, despite helping launch the careers of talents ranging from Teenage Fanclub and Eugenius to the Soup Dragons and Superstar, the group itself never grew beyond the confines of a fervent cult following. They were essentially the vehicle of singer/guitarist Duglas T. Stewart, a Bellshill native and onetime member of the Pretty Flowers; he formed the band in 1985, sarcastically selecting the name "BMX Bandits" out of his belief that they would fall apart after only one gig. Instead, the group became a popular local attraction, and soon signed to Stephen Pastel's 53rd and 3rd label. Recorded with a line-up of Stewart, bassist Sean Dickson, guitarist Jim McCulloch, drummer Willie McArdle and backing vocalist Billy Wood, the BMX Bandits' charming 1986 debut single "E102" launched them to the forefront of the C-86 uprising, despite being denied a spot on the NME magazine compilation cassette of naive jangle-pop which gave the movement its name. By the follow-up, "What a Wonderful World," both McArdle and Dickson had exited, and were replaced by ex-Boy Hairdressers bassist Joe McAlinden and drummer Francis McDonald; Dickson soon founded his own band, the Soup Dragons, the first of many BMX Bandits spin-offs to eclipse the original group's success. After a series of subsequent singles and roster changes (including the exit of McCulloch, who joined Dickson in the Soup Dragons), the BMX Bandits -- Stewart, McDonald, McAlinden, fellow Boy Hairdressers alum Norman Blake, and guitarist Gordon Keen -- released their long-awaited debut LP, the tongue-in-cheek C-86, in 1990. A whimsical concert album, Totally Groovy Live Experience!, appeared later in the year, but another hiatus followed as Blake and McDonald formed Teenage Fanclub. Blake returned to the Bandits fold, however, for 1991's Star Wars, also recorded with ex-Vaselines frontman Eugene Kelly; after the 1992 EP Gordon Keen and His BMX Bandits, Keen and Kelly broke off to form Captain America, later rechristened Eugenius, and McAlinden founded Superstar. Later in 1992, the BMX Bandits signed to the Creation label, where they issued their finest effort to date, the single "Serious Drugs." 1993's Life Goes On was the first Bandits LP recorded with the steady of line-up of Stewart, McDonald (after a brief tenure in Teenage Fanclub), his bassist brother Finlay, and guitarist John Hogarty; ex-Soup Dragon Sushil Dade was later added to the roster for 1995's Gettin' Dirty, a move into more lush sonic territory drawing clear inspiration from the Beach Boys.