They are often considered as one of the many punk rock bands that sprang from that city in the mid-Seventies, but in fact saw themselves as more influenced by groups like The Who and The Kinks, and other pub rock acts such as Dr Feelgood or Graham Parker & the Rumour. Their brand of energetic R&B was over-trumped massively by the punk explosion, and they withered away. The repertoire consisted of Chicago Blues or Soul covers, plus tunes in a similar vein written by the band's guitarist Dave Higgs.
Before rising to semi-stardom in 1977, the Hot Rods underwent several changes in personnel: One of the first members to leave the band was Eddie himself, a dummy that featured prominently in the Hot Rods' early gigs and was discarded as the joke had worn thin. Otherwise, the band consisted of Barrie Masters on vocals, Pete Wall and Dave Higgs on guitar, Rob Steel on bass and Steve Nicol on drums. Ed Hollis, brother of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis became their manager, and the band were signed to Island Records.
By 1976, Lew Lewis (harmonica) and Paul Gray had replaced Wall and Steel. Lewis's tenure in the group lasted for the release of their first two singles before he too left. With this new line-up, the Hot Rods played a set at London's famous Marquee club - their opening act was a young band named Sex Pistols. They first appeared in the UK singles chart the end of that year with the "Live at the Marquee" EP and the single "Teenage Depression", an energetic rock'n'roll song.
After the release of the Teenage Depression LP, which gave them their first appearance in the UK albums chart, they recorded another EP called "Live - At the Sound Of Speed". During the gig from which this EP was recorded, Graeme Douglas (formerly of the Kursaal Flyers) joined the band onstage and jammed along adding extra lead lines. Afterwards his membership of the band was made permanent, and they set about writing and recording for their second album. The live recording of the "Sound of Speed" EP featured Douglas on only one track, he therefore set about recording additional lead guitar overdubs in the studio, though to keep in with the essence of a live release, he was only given one attempt at recording each song.
With the addition of Douglas, the band was moved in a more radio-friendly direction. Their biggest hit came with the Douglas/Hollis collaboration "Do Anything You Wanna Do" in the summer of 1977, under their shorter, snappier name 'The Rods'. This single made the British Top 10 (number 9 in August 1977) and also proved popular with the then predominant punk audience, as did that year's album Life on the Line. Still in 1977, the Hot Rods toured the Americas. When it came to recording a follow-up album, Thriller, the band tried hard to recapture the success of "Do Anything You Wanna Do", but to no avail. They found themselves sacked by their record company in 1979, and after Fish'n'Chips, another misguided effort for EMI, the Hot Rods disbanded in 1981.
At this point, Gray and Douglas had already left the band, the former joining The Damned. Masters teamed up with The Inmates. Ed Hollis went on to work with some of the best known acts of the punk era including The Damned, Elvis Costello, and Stiff Little Fingers.
In 1985 the band reform with Masters and Nichol joined by Warren Kennedy (guitar) and Russ Strutter (bass)and release a single and live mini-album, but after a couple of years this version of the band fizzles out.
In early 1991 the 'classic' line-up (Masters, Nichol, Higgs, Douglas, and Gray) regrouped to play some live dates, by the mid 90s Masters, Gray and Nichol are joined by Manfred Mann guitarist Mick Rodgers to record the album Gasoline Days; plus in 2005 a Masters-led outfit recorded Better Late than Never in preparation for a 30th anniversary tour. The band is currently enjoying renewed popularity throughout Europe with regular tour dates, and is also performing in the U.S. after a 25 year sabbatical.
Get Out Of Denver
Eddie & The Hot Rods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then we let out in a pick-up truck Chorus: Go, get out of Denver, baby, go goget out of Denver, baby, go goget out of Denver, baby, go go′Cause you look just like a commie and you might just be a member, baby, get out of Denver, baby, Get out of Denver well the lights were flashingwe made to London mass in less then half an hourthe sirens screamingwe had to pinch each other just to see if we were dreamingand it turned into a thunder shower.
The lyrics to Eddie & The Hot Rods's song "Get Out Of Denver" describe a wild and exhilarating ride through the American Midwest. The singer is driving his 1960 Cadillac at breakneck speed, pushing it up to 120 miles per hour while the moon shines overhead. He is accompanied by a Baptist preacher and a "southern funky school teacher" who are trying to sell him some kind of contraband.
As they speed through the countryside, the singer is consumed by a sense of excitement and reckless abandon. He imagines snow trailing behind him and the fields bending over in his wake. Eventually, they switch to a pickup truck and head for Denver, but encounter flashing lights and sirens along the way. When they finally arrive in Denver, the singer warns his companion to "get out of Denver" because she looks like a "commie" and might be mistaken for a member of the enemy.
Overall, the song seems to be about the thrill of rebellion and the excitement of living life on the edge. The singer appears to be a rogue figure, unafraid to break the rules and embrace danger. At the same time, there is a sense that this lifestyle is temporary and unsustainable, as the flashing lights and thunderstorm at the end of the song suggest a looming reckoning.
Line by Line Meaning
I still remember it was autumn and the moon was shining
Recalling a specific autumn night when there was a bright moon in the sky
my ′60 Cadillac was roaring through Nebraska whining
Driving a 1960 Cadillac loudly through Nebraska with a whining sound
to hit 120, man the fields was bending over
Driving so fast that it felt like the fields were bending over and the car almost hit 120 mph
and then I thought about the snow and he was trailing for the whole entire place a.
Reflecting on the snow that was trailing behind the car and covering everything in sight
and his spinning wheels were turning turning
The car's wheels were spinning rapidly
and my... excitement ...she was burning, burning.
Feeling incredibly excited and exhilarated
I popped a Baptist Preacher Southern funky school teacher
Meeting a Baptist preacher and a funky school teacher from the Southern region of the U.S.
she had to rattle something even though we couldn't reach her
The preacher and teacher couldn't be reached, but they still tried to communicate something
we told her we needed something that would get us going
Asking the preacher and teacher for something that would help them get energized
she pulled out all she had and laid it on the counter
The preacher and teacher gave them everything they had
showing all I had to do was lay my money down and pick it up...
Offering to sell them what they needed for a price
And then we let out in a pick-up truck
Leaving in a pick-up truck
Go, get out of Denver, baby, go go
Strongly urging someone to leave Denver immediately
′Cause you look just like a commie and you might just be a member, baby, get out of Denver, baby,
Suggesting that someone appears to be a communist and should leave Denver
Get out of Denver well the lights were flashing
Describing leaving Denver while seeing flashing lights
we made to London mass in less then half then hour
Joking about how fast they drove, but implying they managed to reach their destination quickly
the sirens screaming we had to pinch each other just to see if we were dreaming
Feeling like they were in a dream or feeling disbelief because of how fast they traveled
and it turned into a thunder shower.
Experiencing a sudden and strong storm
Writer(s): Seger Robert Clark
Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew Arthur Matthews
Phew high energy from the very underrated Hot Rods. These guys and the likes of Feelgood, Ducks, Lew Lewis et al set the standard and influence for all those punk bands that came along. I was fortunate to see Feelgood with Wilkco and the Rods and you were guaranteed a good no nonsense fast and furious night of Rn B, and R n R ; didn’t need any spitting or fighting !
Rave on you Rods
Richard Southgate
Rochford, Canvey , Those Essex Boys Dun Good
petebest22
R.I.P. Barry 😮 what a great lively band 😊
Kay Elizabeth
Played this at me dad's funeral. I'm pretty sure everyone with no exception was dancing
Cheeky.
This is one of the most exciting TOTP moments ever.
Brian Haining
I saw them at the Lyceum either in 76 or 77 and they were fantastic. Energy, high tempo and intensity
Don't knock the rock
Stunning performance.
steven dimmock
The first time I saw the hot rods was at the hunt hotel in leighton buzzard, the summer of 76. This was a showstopper and the band were the best thing i'd ever experienced. Thank you Barry and the boys.
Dronemf S.
Missing link band between Stones, and also 50's and 60's blues rock-rock n roll and punk movement. Legends for me.
BilgemasterBill
I cannot recall how or even when I got my hands on their Teenage Depression album, but I always enjoyed it.