Artist: ELECTRIC BOYS
Album: FUNK-O-METAL CARPET RIDE Re-Release (DIGI)

Year:
Media type: CD

Cult Funk Metal band, the ELECTRIC BOYS proved with their debut album, 'Funk O Metal Carpet Ride' that it was possible to marry the then in vogue Funk sounds with excellent songs. The record comprised of an amalgam of older, self produced material and more recent Bob Rock produced tracks.

ELECTRIC BOYS were assembled in 1988 by the ex-ROAD RATS and ROLENE duo of vocalist/guitarist Conny Blomqvist (who adopted the surname 'Bloom') and bassist Andy Christell. Pre ELECTRIC BOYS Bloom had been asked to replace the late drummer Razzle in HANOI ROCKS following the Englishman's tragic death in a car crash, but the Swede turned the offer down, opting to join a revamped version of the Stockholm based Rock veterans NEON ROSE.

However, following the break up of that group Bloom once more teamed up with his erstwhile colleague Andy Christell to create ELECTRIC BOYS.

As a duo (and signed to PolyGram) ELECTRIC BOYS scored a domestic hit with 'All Lips n' Hips' and soon augmented the band line-up with ex-GLORY BELLS BAND guitarist Franco Santunione and a drummer in the shape of Niclas Sigevall.

With the release of the debut album, 'Funk O Metal Carpet Ride' throughout Europe, the ELECTRIC BOYS toured Britain to much acclaim with support act ATOM SEED and later as guests to THUNDER. Regrettably the eagerly anticpated second album, 1992's 'Groovus Maximus', was short on quality songs, excepting the 60's flavoured single 'Mary In The Mystery World', putting the brakes on the momentum achieved by the debut.

Signed to Atco in America, the ELECTRIC BOYS toured America opening for MR. BIG on the back of the second record, but it was at the cost of losing Santunioine, to REPTILE SMILE, and Sigevall upon their return, coinciding with the loss of their record deals to boot.

Back in Stockholm, Bloom and Christell set to work reviving the band with the recruitment of ex-GREAT KING RAT drummer Thomas Bromann and ex GRAND SLAM guitarist Martin Thomander, with whom the duo recorded a brand new album, 'Freewheelin''. However, the album was not released by new label Polydor in Britain, the ELECTRIC BOYS thus negotiating with the leading independent label Music For Nations for a British release. The album was subsequently to appear in British stores with the addition of three extra tracks, including a sterling cover of AMERICAN RAM JAM's 'Black Betty'. Sadly, the record failed to revive the group's fortunes and, disillusioned, the band split, Thomander joining British act AGENT ORANGE (better known as SEND NO FLOWERS).

Determined to continue as an artist Conny Bloom formed TITANIC TRUTH in 1995 and this new band boasted a veritable wealth of Swedish talent in ex-TRASH vocalist Tony Hellander (a.k.a. Roy Taylor) and former GREAT KING RAT bassist Anders Fastader. Bloom has also put in live work in a band with erstwhile HANOI ROCKS guitarist Andy McCoy.

2000 would find Bloom embarking on an Anglo-Swedish collaboration aimed fairly and squarely at the Japanese market with SILVER GINGER 5, a union with Ginger, erstwhile frontman of the anarchic UK act THE WILDHEARTS. Joining in this alliance would be drummer Bladder of THE YO YOS and guitarist Jon Poole and keyboard player Bill Drake of THE CARDIACS. An album, 'Black Leather Mojo', arrived on the Mercury label in Japan. Andy Christell joined PLASTER, the post JEKYLL & HYDE band of bass guitarist Tin Star (a.k.a. Stephan Molander) and drummer Pete Henrix with former PUSSY GALORE guitarist Magnus Bierfeldt.

Bllom would feature prominently on a 2002 ROLLING STONES tribute album issued by the Deaf & Dumb label entitled 'We Love You'. As well as contributing guitar to PELLE ALMGREN's version of 'We Love You' itself Bloom formed up SWEDEHEARTS TOGETHER in league with ex-HANOI ROCKS drummer Gyp Casino for a rendition of 'Congratulation'. CONNY BLOOM, working alongside ex-ELECTRIC BOYS drummer Tom Broman and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS keyboardist Per Wiberg, was all set to release a solo live album in early 2003. By July it had been revealed this project, with an all new membership, was to take on the title GROOVIES INC.

In March of 2004 Conny Bloom was subject of rumours suggesting he had joined Finnish act HANOI ROCKS. This union would indeed transpire, with another ELECTRIC BOYS veteran, bassist Andy 'A.C.' Christell, also joining the fabled act by the close of the year.

TRACKLISTING:

Psychedelic eyes
All lip’s and hips
Who are you
Electrified
Freaky funksters
Halleluja! I’m on fire
Cheek to cheek (In a moolit world)
Get nasty
Party up
Funk-O-metal carpet ride

Bonus tracks:

Rags & Riches
The change
If I had a car
Captain of my soul
Into the woods

LINE-UP:

Conny Bloom (vocals / guitar)
Franco Santunione (guitar)
Andy Christell (bass)
Niclas Sigevall (drums)