Million Miles by Hollywood Killers

HERE IS A BRIEF HISTORY

1976

-Jim Penfold forms first band "The Matinee Idols" in Hastings UK with school friends Neil 'Chilli Willi' Aplin Duncan Reid NO RECORDINGS

-Jim releases debut single "Hot Hazy Days/Unknown Person" on Rollerball Records as "Jim Penfold & The Hollywood Killers"

-Duncan Reid leaves to join The Boys in London and Jim forms new HK line-up of Dick Rowley Duncan Dray Ashley Pepper Terry Pack & Jim Penfold

1977

-The Hollywood Killers build up a large following in and around Hastings and received rave reviews in Hastings Observer (anyone still got a copy?)

-Various gigs were promoted by then schoolboy Simon Fuller who went on to manage The Spice Girls and S-Club 7. Where did it all go wrong Simon?

-Current lineup Pete Poodle Neil Aplin Bernie Smirnoff Alexander Moylegrove Third

1978

-Debut London gig, supporting the world famous "The Pirates" at The Mean Machine in Camden. Great success!

-Recorded and released a new single "Goodbye Suicide/Tramp" on Rollerball Records. John Peel Show on Radio 1 played it a few times!

-Muff Winwood (Steve's brother) the leading A&R man put the band into Island Studios in Notting Hill to demo some songs over a long summer weekend. Dire Straits were recording their debut album at the same time in Island Studios.

-No deal materialised but the band started to build a major following in London scene playing extensively Dingwalls in Camden Lock,Rock Garden,Nashville etc etc. NME review.

1979

-Jim signed 3 songs to Paper Music (managed by Billy Lawrie and Lawrence Ronson )

-Recording session at Matrix Studios in Bloomsbury with Neil Aplin Lem Lubin Bob Henrit ex-Argent .Songs were "Bad Water", "Chasing The Crazies", & "Raspberry Reich"

-Charlie Tumahai of Be-Bop Deluxe joins the band for a few months

-4 Demos ;- "Strange Lights"," Brown Eyes" & "Cute Little Girl"

-The Boys ( www.theboys.co.uk ) backed Jim in the studios to record 4 more of his new songs including "Waiting For The Lady" which was later to appear on "To Hell With The Boys" (see The Boys site) having been re-recorded by them

-The HK's record "Butterfly" & "Speedo" at Gooseberry Studios in ChinaTown Soho with Jack Black of The Boys Ricci Goldstein of Sham 69 . This version of Butterfly was later released on B-side of Jim's single with EMI records in 1980

1980

-Current line-up burned out and Jim moved to London

-Jim was signed by Mike Hurst (Producer of Cat Stevens & Showaddywaddy) and recorded and released a solo single on EMI Records "Killer on The Dance Floor/Butterfly" under the name of The Speedos

-Jim signs "Speedo" & "Money Maketh Man" to Carlin Music Publishing and records both songs with Mike Hurst as Producer. The single was never released.

-Jim forms new band "The Speedos" with Neil Aplin Duncan 'Kid' Reid Lino Robinson Paul Tully JP

-Jim releases Xmas single "Silent Dream/Goodbye" on PenMelodies Records

1981

-The HK's gig furiously in London and gain a substantial cult following

1982

-The Speedos revert to The Hollywood Killers and their popularity goes crazy! Clubs played included Dingwalls, The Embassy, Hammersmith Palais, Marquee, Rock Garden, Legends as well as a few society gigs such as The Berkeley Square Ball (in front of the late Princess Margaret) and one at the Savoy

-Pursued by major record companies and demoed for EMI Records/CBS/Magnet Records but eventually sign with Creole Records.

-Creole put the band in Chipping Norton Studios with Producer Mike Vernon (Fleetwood Mac/David Bowie). Record the single "Butterfly", "Hanaker Row", "Colourful Rain", "No Joke" (Duncan Reid on Vocals), and "Killer Wail"

-The single "Butterfly/Killer Wail" released in November 1982.

-Radio 1 In Concert on November 19th 1982 and recorded a session for Andy Peebles Show also on Radio 1

-Record failed to chart and the Creole contract was terminated

1983

-Jim signs worldwide publishing deal with Dick James Music

-Various recording sessions with DJM

-Many more gigs

1984

-Tony Visconti (Producer - Marc Bolan & T Rex,David Bowie) puts Jim in the studios to record "Teenage Dream" and "Paradise" as a single. Never released.

-Jim leaves DJM after several personnel changes

-Duncan leaves the band and eventually the HK's split up

-Jim approached by Director Philip Knatchbull to act in a short film entitled "Teenage Dream". Jim plays a con-man at the fairground. Jason Connery plays Jim's brother, Jack Dee as his assistant and Katrine Boorman as the love interest

1985

-Jim forms The Company of Wolves

-Record "Dream On/Words & Tears" and released as a 12" solo single later in the year by Water Records which also included "Satellites" & "Miss Pearly Divine"

-Jim disbands the Wolves in July

-Jim and the 1982 HK line-up play a one-off comeback gig at Crazy Larry's in Kings Road Chelsea. Over 800 people cram into the nightclub

1986

-Jim forms The Killers with Rene Berg ex-Hanoi Rocks Phil Brown ex-Records Mark Greenwood Dave Armstrong

-Gig extensively around UK

-Record 3 new songs at Berwick Street Studios. Unreleased.

-The Killers record "Night Owl" for London Weekend Television

-Melody Maker Review

-Jim shoots the video for "Hole In My Room" in December 1986 which the band recorded

1987

-The Killers disband

-Big Time Records in Los Angeles USA offer Jim a solo record deal. Jim records "Hole In My Room", "Velvet Cushion", "Hand On My Heart" with John Brand (Aztec Camera/The Waterboys/currently manages Stereophonics)

1988

-Big Time Records collapses weeks before the release of "Hole In My Room" single

-Jim offered a publishing deal with Peer Southern Music

-Jim stars in pilot for film in Los Angeles called "No-one Slow Dances Anymore" and writes the theme song "I Do"

-John Brand produces "Baby" and "I Can't Breathe".

-Jim Penfold & The Ghosts play 100 Club Oxford Street in December

1989

-Jim reforms Jim Penfold & The Hollywood Killers with line-up as Rob Manzoli (later in Right Said Fred) Poppy Gonzales Mark Greenwood Martin Petersen

-Gigs follow

-Jim releases the Big Time recording of "Hole In My Room" on Crazy Horse Records. Gets extensive airplay in UK Europe especially with Johnny Walker on GLR and Steve Wright on Radio 1

1990

-The HK's gig continually and disband at the end of the year

-Jim gigs around solo and forms The Ghosts (Jim and Levi ex-Aswad on percussion) and The Grand Dukes consisting of Paul Baverstock Phil Brown Will Parnell

1991-1994

- Jim plays the thespian in Rumpole of The Bailey on London Weekend Television

-Walk-on parts during this period included Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Mountains of The Moon, Gulag, Superman IV, Inspector Morse, Paradise Postponed and Emma a film in which he plays a head gypsy and has to attack Gwyneth Paltrow in the woods. Its tough at the top!

1995-1996

-Meridian TV start showing "Hole In My Room" video

-Various London gigs

1997

-Jim regroups with Neil Aplin Paul Tully Phil Brown

-Record a new version of "Elizabethan Man" (Produced by Jon Sweet & Pete Schivier) as Jim is immortalised as a bronze statue outside The Globe Theatre on the River Thames next to the Millenium Bridge.

1998

-Jim writes and records "Cash In Hand" as theme for movie of the same name starring Richard E Grant and Charley Boorman. Also featuring on soundtrack are Hole In My Room, Money Maketh Man and Satellites

2000

-CD compilation released

2001

-Commenced Groovy Music Project with Jon Sweet as Producer

2003

-Release "Million Miles" cd

2004

-Jim forms 4 piece with old stalwart Paul Tully (Drums) Willy South (Keyboards) Martin Giles (Bass)& play their inaugural gig at the Rhino Challenge 2004 in Kent UK

2005

-Jim Penfold launches new band line-up as above

-HEADLINE AT THE HOPE & ANCHOR, ISLINGTON, LONDON SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2005

-HEADLINE AT BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE, LONDON SATURDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2005

2006

-5th November (Fireworks) Jim Penfold & The Hollywood Killers release "TIMEBOMB" on Soluble Discs

-Jim wrote and sang the theme song for Charley Boorman's new TV series Race To Dakar which is showing on Sky TV in the UK, ABC in Australia, OLN in Canada through Oct and Nov 2006 onwards. The DVD is available now on www.whsmithonline.co.uk

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