WE
FREE KINGS
BIOGRAPHY:
Edinburgh based folk / punk / rock act formed in the mid-1980's by Joe Kingman
(vocals), Seb Holbrook (guitar / vocals), Pam Dobson (melodian), Geoff Pagan
(violin), Kenny Welsh (drums), Phil Bull (cello) & Falkirk born Colin Blakey
(flute / guitar / mandolin / vocals, ex-Green
Telescopes). We Free Kings built up a sizeable Scottish following through
energetic live dates with acts like The Waterboys (Kingman used to share a flat
with Mike Scott). After a self-financed storming debut single in 1986, "Death
Of The Wild Colonial Boy", they signed to D.D.T. and released their debut
album in 1988. The band disintegrated the following year, with Blakey going
off to join The Waterboys in Ireland.
Kingman, Holbrook, Pagan & Bull then regrouped with Mark Ritchie (guitar),
Simon (bass) & Grangemouth drummer Greg Drysdale (ex-One
Over The Eight). This line-up released a 12 inch single, "Howl"
for Avalanche Records in 1990, and then toured the UK with The Waterboys. The band split almost immediatly afterwards, with
Drysdale joining The Diesel Kings,
and Bull, Pagan, Holbrook, Kingman & Holbrook joining The
Clan.
RELEASES:
"Death
Of The Wild Colonial Boy" (7 inch single, Howl Records, 1986)
"Oceans"
/ "Wipe Out Gang" (7 / 12 inch single, D.D.T. Records, 1987)
"T-Shirt"
/ "Still Standing" (12 inch single, D.D.T. Records, 1988)
"Hell
On Earth & Rosy Cross" (vinyl / cassette album, D.D.T. Records, 1988)
"Howl" (12 inch single, Avalanche Records, 1990)