History of The Hugh Reed Explosion

The “Panties” were formed during the Glasgow City year of culture - 1990 - and broke up on Saint Valentine's Day 1998. From their very inception they were chart toppers - soaring to No.1 in the “Sounds Crap Band Name Charts” - the paper subsequently folded . After their third gig they were snapped up by Tower Studios in Glasgow , who released the first two singles by the band. Tower Studios subsequently folded.
Their first single “Six to Wan(621)” was used by Radio One as a theme tune for a series of programmes on Scottish Rock, and was distributed by Rough Trade, who quickly went bust, the next single “Satellite Baby” consolidated the Band’s reputation, and subsequently the Band split up, The bass player and guitarist leaving to allegedly pursue a “career in music” leaving Tom, the drummer and Hugh the major member in the Pants. They were not too perturbed as Pants do have to be changed regularly, a new pair were soon added.

Following local T.V. appearances the Band were spotted by Pam Hogg, the fashion designer, and were recommended to her friend Deborah Harry - who invited them to support her on 11 dates throughout the U.K. in the winter of 1993. This culminated in Hugh and Debs doing a live duet of “Waiting for the Man” which was captured on video. Deborah also faxed Lou to tell him about Hugh.

Despite the name and the title of the first album, “Take a Walk on the Clydeside” , the “Panties” were definitely not a tribute band and all material was original. Certain influences were apparent, the “Sensational Alex Harvey Band” from the Seventies, and the lesser known “Edith and the Ladies” from the Eighties - all of whom , unlike most of their contemporaries, sang about Glasgow street life.

After signing to Edinburgh’s ‘Ecletic’ label - the first album was made available internationally thru Pinnacle Distribution and should still be able to be ordered. Later in their career the ‘Pants’ toured with “Half Man Half Biscuit” , the “Fall” “Charlie Chuck” , ”John Otway” and did supports for “Simple Minds”, “Glen Matlock” amongst many others. The “Supernaturals” supported them as did an up and coming band called “Glass Onion”, who went to London to seek their fortune - changing their name to “Travis”

European tours followed, where the band could get away with pretending to be more famous than they actually were, playing better venues and receiving more money than they did in their homeland. Often leaving Britain for months on end. This created ‘security’ headaches - ‘social security’ headaches. They became especially popular in Germany and struck up an alliance with the German punk legends “The Lennons” - which has continued to this very day.

After many drunken escapades in far flung territories involving Hospital Waiting Rooms, Femmes and Fraulines, spilt Guinness, van breakdowns in Alpen tunnels etc.- the strain on the Pants proved unbearable and they split.

MR SATURDAY NIGHT
Jeffrey Gillespie has gone on to be a prolific 'extra' - appearing in the Robert Duvall film "The Cup Final" wearing a Rangers scarf - the rash is slowly healing.

TOM DOCHERTY
Tom has taken a massive cut in wages , since the Pants performed last, and has had to scrape by on a meagre lawyer's income. As well as appearing regularly at Falkirk Sheriff court , defending the indefensible at the taxpayers' expense , he can also be seen battering a defenceless drumkit into submission as part of the "Hugh Reed Explosion"

PAUL WOODS
Paul grew tired of dreary Glasgow and wanted to head to where there was a vibrant music scene , about to erupt, a new Seatle - he shrewdly reckoned that it had been previously Liverpool's turn with the 'Merseybeat', Londons' turn with Punk. The baggy eighties sound of Manchester and Oasis had already happened - so now it was the turn of ..........Ipswich - we're still waiting. Since making the 'Switch to Ipswich', he ,accustomed to a lavish lifestyle as the 'bass'is of the Pants Rock Steady Rhthymn Section, has had to accept humble employment as a 'Computer Programmer' -now getting paid weekly - very weakly compared to his Pant past.

RUSSELL SWAN and DES MURRAY
Russell and Des went on to champion a Scottish World Cup Song , rejected by Hugh Reed, as showing no potential. The track so bowled over national t.v. producers that they soon became a regular fixture on programmes such as the 'Jack Docherty Show'. They now gig regularly round the Scottish folk and rock circuit, including a recent gig at the Glasgow Rocert Hall.