The La's

The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from 1983 until 1992. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group are best known for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1983 and Mavers joined the next year, although for most of the group's history, the frequently changing line-up revolved around the core duo of Lee Mavers (vocals, guitar) and John Power (bass, backing vocals) along with numerous other guitarists and drummers including Paul Hemmings, John "Timmo" Timson, Peter "Cammy" Cammell, Iain Templeton, John "Boo" Byrne, Chris Sharrock, Barry Sutton and Neil Mavers.

The La's
Black and white image of The La's standing in a doorway
The La's in 1990
Left to right: Lee Mavers, Peter "Cammy" Cammell, Neil Mavers and John Power
Background information
OriginLiverpool, England
Genres
Years active1983–1992, 1994–1995, 2005, 2011
Labels
Past membersLee Mavers
Neil Mavers
Phil Butcher
John "Timmo" Timson
Jim "Jasper" Fearon
Bernie Nolan
Tony Clarke
Paul Rhodes
John Power
Barry Walsh
Paul Hemmings
Mark Birchall
Sean Eddleston
Tom Richards (The Hangmen)
Peter "Cammy" Cammell
Roger Galante
John McNally
Iain Templeton
John "Boo" Byrne
Chris Sharrock
Barry Sutton
Mike Badger
James Joyce
Lee Garnett
Jay Lewis
Nick Miniski
Gary Murphy

After the departure of Badger in late 1986, the band signed to Go! Discs in 1987 and started recording their debut album. Following the release of singles "Way Out" (1987), "There She Goes" (1988) and "Timeless Melody" (1990) and having aborted several recording sessions with different producers, the band released their debut album The La's in 1990 to critical acclaim and modest commercial success. John Power left The La's to form Cast and the group entered a prolonged hiatus in 1992. The group later reformed briefly in the mid-1990s, 2005 and 2011. However, no new recordings have been released.

History

1983–1986: Formation and early years

The La's formed in 1983, with original member Mike Badger stating that the band name occurred to him in a dream, as well as it being Scouse for "lads", and having obvious musical connotations. The band existed briefly as an arthouse/skiffle-type outfit with a few tracks released on local compilations. Lee Mavers joined in 1984 as rhythm guitarist, eventually gaining songwriting prominence and emerging as the band's enduring figurehead. Bernie Nolan, accomplished musician formerly of The Falcons, The Russian Rockabillys and The Swampmen was the original bassist. John Power joined the group in 1986, having met Badger on a local council-run musicianship course. Badger however left the group in late 1986 to form The Onset.[4]

The band attracted the attention of several record labels after a series of performances in their hometown in 1986, and demo tapes copied from a session at the Flying Picket rehearsal studio in Liverpool began circulating. One of these demo tapes was sent to Underground Magazine. A journalist there with the task of reviewing unsigned bands gave the cassette to Andy McDonald at Go Discs. Several record labels later became interested in signing the band. The band chose to sign with Go! Discs.

1987–1990: Record deal and The La's album
Neil Mavers' 1964 Ludwig drum kit used during his time in The La's

The band's first single "Way Out" was mixed with producer Gavin MacKillop. When it was released in October 1987, it broke into the top 100 and was praised by The Smiths' frontman Morrissey in the music magazine Melody Maker, but attracted little notice. The band continued to perform around the UK and gained success as a live act, drawing comparisons to The Beatles due to their origins, vaguely Merseybeat sound, and Mavers' expressive lyrics. "There She Goes" was released in 1988 with the B-sides "Come in Come Out" and "Who Knows". The song garnered moderate attention and airplay, but performed poorly in the charts. The music video for "There She Goes" features the La's scampering through run-down Liverpool streets and was filmed in an afternoon on a hand-held camera. It was later re-released a number of times, the earliest being 1990's Steve Lillywhite mix. After working with producer Jeremy Allom at the Pink Museum Studio in Liverpool in May 1989, the band were set to release "Timeless Melody" as a single. While test pressings had been sent out for review, and was awarded "single of the week" in Melody Maker,[5] Mavers was reportedly unhappy with the production and the single release was scrapped.

The La's then spent two years fruitlessly recording and re-recording their intended debut album, with a constantly changing band line-up, where only the core of Mavers and Power remained the same. Discarded producers included The Smiths' producer John Porter, as well as John Leckie and Mike Hedges. Both Leckie and Hedges have nevertheless spoken positively in interviews about the band's songs and their respective sessions. The previously volatile band line-up settled in 1989 with Lee's brother, Neil Mavers on drums, and Peter "Cammy" Cammell as lead guitarist. The group then entered London's Eden Studios in December 1989 to again record their debut album with Simple Minds and U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. Despite this line-up being arguably the most stable, and press interviews from the time painting them as extremely confident, the sessions still did not satisfy Mavers. In one instance Mavers was reported to have rejected a vintage mixing desk, claiming it did not have the right sound because "it hasn't got original Sixties dust on it",[6] although this claim has since been revealed as apocryphal. The Eden sessions with Lillywhite would become the band's final attempt at recording the album. The frustration of not achieving the right sound and mood in their songs, as well as increasing friction with Go! Discs, who had spent a considerable sum of money on recording sessions for the album, led to them simply giving up on the sessions. Lillywhite pieced together the recordings he had made with the group into what became the eventually released album. The band, particularly Lee Mavers, were not pleased with this decision. Among the band's complaints were that Lillywhite used vocal guide tracks on the LP and that he did not "understand" their sound.[7] In an October 1990 NME interview with Stuart Maconie, Mavers said that he "hated" the album because of the sound, which was "All f---ed up like a snake with a broken back".[7]

However, recognition, at least critically, came for the La's in 1990 when the self-titled album, The La's, was released. The album reached No. 30 in the UK charts and received a Silver certification, but the album did not fare as well overseas. The album only reached No. 196 on the Billboard 200 and to date has sold fewer than 50,000 copies in the U.S. The album included, among new material, re-recorded versions of all the previous singles, including a remixed version of "There She Goes" which was then re-released as a single. This time around, the song reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and remains the most visible and enduring of all the band's songs. Additional singles from the album included the LP versions of "Timeless Melody" and "Feelin'". Both sold reasonably well, reaching chart placings around the top 40. A short promotional tour proceeded, accompanied by television appearances on shows such as Top of the Pops.

1991–2003: John Power's departure and hiatus

1991 promotional tour dates were fulfilled in the UK and Europe including a few festivals, and a US tour. Bassist John Power left the group on 13 December 1991, frustrated with having played essentially the same set of songs since 1986, and resurfaced a year later with his band Cast. The remainder of the 1991 concerts were performed with James Joyce on bass as well as a handful of 1992 dates. The band stopped touring and rehearsing in 1992 until further short-lived reunions, with various line-ups, throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

The La's reunited sporadically for a series of live performances throughout 1994 and 1995. The comeback was brought about due to a merchandising debt from the 1991 U.S. tour and the band played support slots to artists such as Oasis, Paul Weller and Dodgy. The reformed band consisted of differing line-ups for each concert and as well as Lee Mavers other performers included several former members such as Barry Sutton, Lee Garnett, John "Boo" Byrne, James Joyce, Peter "Cammy" Cammell and Neil Mavers.

In 1996, Mavers began recording at The Arch studio in Kew, London owned by ex-The Damned drummer Rat Scabies.[8] Initially working alone, he was later joined in the studio by ex-The Stairs frontman Edgar Jones, Lee Garnett and Neil Mavers.[8] The sessions ended because of damp in the studio, however Mavers and Summertyme continued to rehearse and record in Liverpool for a year.[8] After the collapse of Go! Discs, Mavers recording contract with the label was acquired by PolyGram[8] and eventually expired in 1998.[9] In 1998, Mavers began rehearsing with the then unsigned Liverpool band The Crescent. A bootleg recording of one of these rehearsals known as The Crescent Tape would later leak on to the Internet.

In the late 1990s, Mavers renewed contact with founder member Mike Badger[10] and subsequently two compilation albums of early demos and home recordings were released by The Viper Label (founded by ex-La's Badger and Hemmings), Lost La's 1984–1986: Breakloose (1999) and Lost La's 1986–1987: Callin' All (2001). A Japan only compilation album Singles Collection (2001) was released by Universal Music Japan containing all of the band's singles and b-sides released from 1987 to 1991. A biography about the band In Search of The La's: A Secret Liverpool by MW Macefield was published in 2003. The book contained interviews with many former members of the La's including Lee Mavers, John Power, Mike Badger, Paul Hemmings, Barry Sutton, Peter "Cammy" Cammell and Neil Mavers.

2004–present: Reformations

Following a reunion between Mavers and John Power,[11][12] The La's reformed in June 2005 with a line-up of Lee Mavers (vocals, guitar), John Power (bass, backing vocals), ex-Cracatilla frontman Jay Lewis (guitar) and Nick Miniski (drums), playing dates in England and Ireland ahead of an appearance at the Summer Sonic festival in Japan as well as a spot at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival and other UK festivals.[13][14] After three concerts, Miniski was replaced as drummer by roadie Jim "Jasper" Fearon,[15] who was Mavers' school friend and one time bass player for the La's. The set lists were mostly the same as in the late 1980s, although certain encores contained some previously unheard songs such as "Gimme the Blues" and "Sorry". Since the reunion gigs it has been rumoured that Mavers has continued working on the La's' elusive second album. When interviewed in August 2006, John Power explained that Mavers was still "tinkering with something that's majestic" and of the release date, "I can’t tell you where and when...' cos whatever he does, whether it’s in this lifetime or the next, it can’t be rushed".[16]

A compilation of the La's' live radio sessions BBC in Session was released on 18 September 2006. In 2008, a new deluxe edition of The La's was released containing the lost Mike Hedges album, alternate recordings and live recordings for radio and television including previously unreleased songs "I Am the Key" and a Buddy Holly cover "That'll Be the Day". Also Lost Tunes (2008) was released as a download only EP of studio out-takes and alternate recordings.

After being introduced to each other by Gary Murphy of The Bandits,[17] Lee Mavers began jamming with Pete Doherty in 2008[18] and appeared on stage with Doherty during his 2009 tour.[17][19] Mavers then started performing live with artists such as Drew McConnell and Jon McClure in London in April 2009.[20] In 2009 Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek revealed plans of the La's' second album to be recorded with the Babyshambles as backing band[21] and Drew McConnell revealed plans for him to join The La's as bassist;[22] however, this supposed lineup did not materialise and live appearances were cancelled.[23] In 2010, a four-disc box-set of singles, b-sides, studio out-takes, alternate recordings and live material Callin' All (2010) was released by Polydor which collected most of the band's still unreleased recordings produced whilst signed to Go! Discs.

In June 2011 Lee Mavers, accompanied by Gary Murphy on bass guitar, played a surprise concert in Manchester under the name Lee Rude & The Velcro Underpants.[24] Following this Mavers and Murphy reformed the La's and played a series of "stripped back" shows across the UK and Europe[25] including a performance at Rock en Seine festival in France in August 2011.

Musical style and legacy

Lee Mavers has described their sound as "rootsy"[26] and "raw and organic",[27] whilst AllMusic have noted the band's "simple, tuneful, acoustic-driven arrangements".[28] The La's were also noted for their distinctly different style to other popular British bands in the late 1980s, such as The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays,[27][28] who were part of the Madchester movement.

The sound of The La's has been compared to that of Merseybeat and 1960s British rock music,[28] and the band received comparisons with the earlier Liverpudlian band The Beatles.[29][30] Founding member Mike Badger has named Captain Beefheart as the La's' main influence; the band have also cited artists such as Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong,[31] The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks,[32] Bob Marley,[27] Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix,[30] Duke Ellington,[33] and Ella Fitzgerald[34] as influences.

Noel Gallagher of Oasis named The La's as one of his 13 favourite albums.[35]

The La's have been cited as influences by Oasis, The Courteeners, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, The Libertines and The 1975.

Pitchfork would name The La’s as one of the best Britpop albums as part of their 50 Best Britpop Albums list, placing the album at #14.[36]

Post-La's activities

Bassist John Power went on to form Cast in 1992, releasing 4 studio albums before splitting in 2001. Guitarists Barry Sutton and Peter Cammell featured in an early lineup of the band. Cast reformed in 2010. In 2016, Jay Lewis who performed with the band in 2005, later joined Cast as bassist.

Mike Badger and Paul Hemmings later played together in The Onset and started The Viper Label, releasing many early recording compilations by the La's.

In the mid-90s, Neil Mavers joined Liverpool group Bullit, featuring David McDonnell, later of The Sand Band.

In 1998, Cammell and drummer Neil Mavers continued to work together after the La's' breakup under the name "Cami". The band was managed by former La's and then-current Cast manager, Rob Swerdlow. The band recorded a nine-track album with future Coldplay producer Ken Nelson at Parr Street Studios in October 1999. However, the band split up leaving the album unreleased. The album tapes re-surfaced in October 2015, with plans for a near-future release. The tapes required "baking" to remove layers of oxide that had formed on the tapes after twenty years; this was carried out at London's FX Copyroom.

Neil Mavers and Cammell briefly reunited once more in 2002, performing with another former La's member, guitarist Barry Sutton in Heavy Lemon. The band played three shows in 18 months before disbanding. Cammell also went on perform with Sutton again in his jam-style project Beatnik Hurricane in 2015, playing dates in Liverpool, including residencies at The Everyman Bistro and a tour of Ireland, most notably a sold-out show in Dublin.

In 2015, previous recordings and demos by Cammell's band surfaced online (most notably the song "Make A Chain") which led to Cammell forming a new band named Cami & The Reverbs, managed by La's associate Chris Parkes. The band consisted of Mick Marshall (guitar, The Joneses) Phil Murphy (drums, The Red Elastic Band) Leon De Sylva (drums, Electrafixion) Daniel Lunt (bass) David 'Swee' Sweeney (drums, The Bandits) and Mark McInnes (bass, The Levons). Cami & The Reverbs played sporadic shows across Liverpool including a support slot with Liverpool group Rain and a Christmas Show at The Zanzibar.

In 2018, a BBC TV comedy-drama series entitled There She Goes features a cover version of the La's song of that name.

Members
  • Lee Mavers – guitar, vocals (1984–1992, 1994–1995, 2005, 2011)
  • Mike Badger – guitar, vocals (1983–1986)
  • Sean Eddleston - guitar (1984)
  • John "Timmo" Timson – drums (1984–1985, 1986–1987)
  • Phil Butcher – bass (1984)
  • Jim "Jasper" Fearon – bass, drums (1985, 2005)
  • Bernie Nolan – bass (1985–1986)
  • Tony Clarke – drums (1985–1986)
  • Paul Rhodes – drums (1986)
  • Mark Degnan 1984-85 Bass Player (Originally signed with Mike Badger)
  • John Power – bass, vocals (1986–1991, 2005)
  • Barry Walsh – drums (1986)
  • Paul Hemmings – guitar (1987)
  • Mark Birchall – drums (1987)
  • Peter "Cammy" Cammell – guitar, bass (1988, 1989–1992, 1994–1995)
  • Iain Templeton – drums (1988; died 2022)
  • John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (1988, 1995)
  • Chris Sharrock – drums (1988–1989)
  • Barry Sutton – guitar (1988–1989, 1991)
  • Neil Mavers – drums (1989–1992, 1994–1995)
  • James Joyce – bass (1991–1992, 1994)
  • Lee Garnett – guitar (1994–1995)
  • Jay Lewis – guitar (2005)
  • Nick Miniski – drums (2005)
  • Gary Murphy – bass (2011)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[37]		 US
[38]
The La's 30 196

Compilation albums
  • Lost La's 1984–1986: Breakloose (1999)
  • Singles Collection (2001)
  • Lost La's 1986–1987: Callin' All (2001)
  • BBC in Session (2006)
  • Lost Tunes (2008)
  • De Freitas Sessions '87 (2010)
  • Callin' All (2010)
  • There she goes: the collection (2015)[39]
  • The La's 1986-1987 (2017)[39]
  • The La's Live (1986-1987) (2021)[39]

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[40]		 NLD
[41]		 US
[42]		 US
Alt.
[42]
"Way Out" 1987 86 — — — The La's
"There She Goes" 1988 59 — — —
"Timeless Melody" 1990 57 — — 12
"There She Goes" (re-release) 13 57 49 2
"Feelin'" 1991 43 — — —

Other appearances
  • A Secret Liverpool (1984) "I Don't Like Hanging Around"
  • Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger (1985) "My Girl (Sits Like a Reindeer)" and "Sweet 35"
  • Unearthed: Liverpool Cult Classics, Vol. 1 (2001) "Don't Lock Me Out"
  • Lo-Fi Acoustic Excursions (2004) "Cool Water"
  • Lo-Fi Electric Excursions (2006) "Midnight Shift", "Painting Dub", "Space Rocketry"

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The La's". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. "Making The La's". 25 October 2021.
  3. "The 25 Best Albums of the Britpop Era". SPIN. 30 September 2020.
  4. MW Macefield (2003). In Search of The La's: A Secret Liverpool. London: Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 174. ISBN 1-900924-63-3.
  5. Bob Stanley. "Single of the Week: The La's – Timeless Melody". Philspector.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  6. Steve Jelbert, "Pop: The One and Only" The Independent (London: 26 January 2001, p. 16)
  7. Stuart Maconie (20 October 1990). "This Could Be The La's Time". NME.
  8. Dave Simpson (1998). "The Lost Boy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011. Alt URL
  9. Ben Todd (21 July 1999). "Loner Lee Has the La's Laugh". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011. Alt URL
  10. "Lost La's 1984–1986 – Breakloose". Les Inrocks (in French). Les Inrockuptibles. 31 October 1999. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  11. "The La's Broadcast?". NME.com. NME. 16 February 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  12. "The La's Eyeing Reunion?". Billboard.com. Billboard. 19 February 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  13. "The La's Reform For Festival Show". Xfm. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  14. "The La's reform for UK concerts". BBC News. BBC. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  15. Dave Monks (28 June 2005). "The La's – Live!". BBC Liverpool. BBC. Archived from the original on 17 January 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  16. "John Power". Troubadour. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  17. "Pete Doherty plays gig with The La's frontman Lee Mavers". NME.com. NME. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  18. "Pete Doherty and The La's team up". NME.com. NME. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  19. "Pete Doherty closes solo tour with Lee Mavers and a stagediving stripper". NME.com. NME. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  20. "La's Lee Mavers plays gig with Carl Barat, Babyshambles". NME.com. NME. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  21. "Lee Mavers planning second La's album with Babyshambles". NME.com. NME. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  22. "La's Lee Mavers' second album plan revealed". NME.com. NME. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  23. "The La's and The Rascals pull out of Tramlines festival". NME.com. NME. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  24. "The La's Lee Mavers makes surprise comeback in Manchester". NME.com. NME. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  25. The La's (15 August 2011). "@TheLasOfficial". Twitter. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  26. John Power; Lee Mavers (2 July 1991). "Much Music" (Interview: video). Interviewed by Erica Ehm.
  27. John Power; Lee Mavers. "The La's X-Ray" (Interview: video).
  28. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The La's review". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  29. David Giles (14 November 1987). "The Likely La's". NME. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011. Alt URL
  30. Bob Stanley (10 June 1989). "Side Lines". Melody Maker. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011. Alt URL
  31. "Tom Graves' Blog: Interview with British Cult Icon Lee Mavers of the La's". Tomgraves.blogspot.gr. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  32. Andrew Collins (26 November 1988). "The La's Chance". NME. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Alt URL
  33. Greg Kot (1991). "Lee Mavers Detests The La's Debut Album". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  34. Lee Mavers (September 1991). "Interview with Lee Mavers of The La's". Rock & Roll Disc (Interview). Interviewed by Tom Graves.
  35. Doran, John (17 October 2011). "Noel Gallagher Selects His Thirteen Favourite Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  36. "The 50 Best Britpop Albums". Pitchfork. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  37. "LA'S | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  38. "The La's Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  39. Apple Music
  40. "The La's". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  41. "Discography The La's". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  42. "The La's Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  43. "British single certifications – La's – There She Goes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 May 2023.

Further reading
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