The Tights were formed in 1977, and hail from Worcestershire in the UK. The current line up is : Malcolm Orgee - vocals; Rob Banks - Guitar & Vocals; Barry Island - Bass , Keyboards & vocals; Hodge - drums & vocals
They were the first ever band to be signed to the now legendary punk rock label
Cherry Red Records.
Their 2 singles 'Bad Hearts' and 'Howard Hughes' released in 1978 reached
number 4 and 6 respectively in the UK indie charts at the time.
Review : Radio & Record News : Bad Hearts : 1978
"Lay down a raucous rhythm guitar in the background , bring in clear foreground
vocals, and finally make the sound complete with the bass and drums combining
as one unit, and you have a superb modern pop record."
When the 80's arrived and put pay to punk.. the band split, but still remained good friends.
After nearly a 27yr break, the band reformed in 2004 believing there were songs
that were left unsung.
2 new EP’s by the band have been released on Cherry Red Records the first ' 7707 ' which is a eulogy to the dead and near dead punks from the days of the late '70's and ‘Blood & Flowers’ they are both available on download.
Review : Mick Mercer : November 8th 2006 : The Tights - 7707 : www.mickmercer.com
"The Tights were an unusual punky pop band way back when, with their glorious singles ‘Bad Hearts’ and ‘Howard Hughes’. ‘Bad Heart’ hinted at perverse lyrical forays, with punctilious little drum bursts and gritty guitar, then on the lumpier, chanty ‘It’ they became ever more pungent, then flipped over, and over with the exquisite ‘Cracked’ which seems poppity heaven but also stirs in demented, squeezed wordplay. Somewhere between The Carpettes at their most relaxed, and either The Boys at their most cherubic, or The Cortinas at their most bitter, The Tights deserved to stick around at least until an album or two had sapped them, but it was not to be. The advancements made with the tingling, rushing ‘Howard Hughes’ showed they were en route for being immensely successful but they had no labels taking an interest. Even the pretentious ‘China’s Eternal’ is musically diverse and eddies with a surreptitious beauty.
In 1979, gone. In 2004, back. In ‘7707’ nostalgia breathes through rancid, inspired lungs, because they're still throwing slippery spanners into their own works, and haven’t returned sounding the same at all! The first song is a choppy 1977 retread with no Jam, Strummer or Ramones in 1977 (etc) but while the vocals regret angrily it slowly assumes a more flexible threat, and there’s a few lyrics pitched in which begin to confuse. ‘State Of Nature’ is both darker, and leaner, increasingly involved and ‘I Can’t Sing (About What You Are)’, with no actual clues as to the validity of their ire, is sheer spite by the sound of it!
Passionate and unpredictable, they have a reason for returning."
After hearing the new EPs, Cherry Red Records have ask The Tights to put out a new album on their label,
which will be released in 2008.
Their track 'Cracked' from '78 has been used as the soundtrack to skateboarder Corey Duffel's DVD
'Beautiful Breakdown'
The Tights are planning to head to LA in August 2008 as there has been such an incredible response to their music from young punks and skateboarders, who are so into the inimitable sound of '77 punk rock.
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