In 1980, Melody Maker labelled Any Trouble: "the most exciting new rock 'n' roll group since the Pretenders". Formed in Stoke, England, by songwriter Clive Gregson (b. 4 January 1955, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester, England) and Tom Jackson (vocals), they were part of a "pub-rock" scene that also included Dr. Feelgood and Elvis Costello's Flip City. The line-up was completed with Chris Parks (lead guitar), Mel Harley (drums) and Phil Barnes (bass), although Jackson left before the band landed a recording contract. Stiff Records signed them and backed the single "Yesterday's Love" with full-page adverts in the music press. Where Are All The Nice Girls? was an assured debut, but the promotional-only live album (just 500 were pressed) was a better example of their tough, bluesy music. They toured Europe and the USA as part of "The Stiff Tour", but the label began concentrating on the US market because in the UK, Gregson, with his black-rimmed glasses and cynical lyrics, was frequently dismissed as an Elvis Costello imitator. Wheels In Motion lacked brightness, and Mike Howlett was an odd choice as producer, having just worked with OMD. Stiff lost faith and after releasing Any Trouble from their contract, drummer Martin Hughes (who had replaced Harley on the second album) and Chris Parks both quit. Any Trouble made a comeback in 1982, supporting John Martyn on a UK tour and signing to EMI America. Only Gregson and Barnes remained from the first line-up with new members Steve Gurl on keyboards and Andy Ebsworth on drums. Any Trouble was over-produced and Gregson himself later referred to it as "dull". Wrong End Of The Race, a double album, was their swansong but it was not backed by EMI America, and soon afterwards the band split. Their final performance was at London's Dingwalls venue at Christmas 1984. Gregson went on to work with Richard Thompson and record with the accomplished vocalist Christine Collister as Gregson And Collister.

Listen to Any Trouble at Finetune.

• Second Choice

• Joe Jackson
• XTC
• Squeeze
• The Knack
• Elvis Costello
• Graham Parker
• Wreckless Eric
• The Undertones
• The Boomtown Rats
• Dave Edmunds
• The Cars
• Thin Lizzy
• Nick Lowe
• Faces
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Paul Simon
• Johnny Cash
• Buzzcocks
• Blondie
• Talking Heads

• fiveherb
• seductress