Who: Big Stick
What: Drag Racing/Hell on Earth 7″
Where: New York, New York, USA
Why: In the vibrant music scene of 1985 New York City, a bold and unconventional musical duo emerged, capturing the heart of legendary BBC DJ John Peel with their indescribable, head shaking sound.
Big Stick, comprised of John Gill and Yanna Trance, pushed the boundaries of songwriting and recording, blending punk rock, industrial music and art rock into their repertoire.
With a brutally simple performance style, Big Stick made a lasting impact with their debut release, Drag Racing. The record, featuring the infectious vocals of Yanna Trance repeating the iconic line “In the summer I wear my tube top, and Eddie takes me to the dragstrip,” quickly garnered both domestic and foreign cult status.
One of only 142 singles handpicked by Peel for his cherished wooden record box collection, Big Stick’s presence in this exclusive company speaks volumes about the legacy they have left behind in the annals of Rock N Roll history.
Peel, known for his trend setting eclectic taste and keen ear for emerging talent, painstakingly curated this box of records which lay hidden amongst his personal belongings until after his untimely death at the age of 65 in 2004.
While mining the depths of John Peel’s record box, one discovers a treasure trove of shadowy gems, each bearing the mark of a visionary artist.
While The Fall, Peel’s favorite group, resides in a separate box, Big Stick and their fellow artists in the collection stand as testaments to the diverse and groundbreaking sounds that defined entire eras of music and pop culture.
In the corridors of music history, Big Stick’s inclusion in John Peel’s Music Box cements their place as pioneers of innovation and creativity.
When: 1985
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John Peel’s Record Box: