China Drum

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Biography

REFORMED! 2013!

Played The Garage February 2013 and have a further gig lined up at;

Newcastle University Students Union on Friday May 10 2013. Check the NUSU website for details.


China Drum were formed in the late 80’s and were made up of Adam Lee (Drums and Vocals), Bill McQueen on guitar and his younger brother Dave on Bass. (They were to be augmented later by Jan Alkema, ex Compulsion, on drums when Adam stepped from behind his kit)

They are probably best described as pop-punk but that really doesn’t do them justice. They had the guitars, they had the energy and the speed, but their melodies were just that cut above the usual offerings.

Their first album, Goosefair, released in 1996 on Mantra featured a stonking version of Wuthering Heights (originally released on Fierce Panda), and the promotion of this album saw them touring the world with Green Day, Leatherface, Doughboys, Ash to name but a few, as well as numerous dates on their own.

Their follow up album followed the traditional “difficult” second album path. Self Made Maniac saw them throttle down the pace, and focus on the songs. Highlights include the single Fictions of Life, Another Toy, and the genuinely menacing 60 Seconds.

Steve Lamacq was a fan, as were John Peel and Phil Jupitus; indeed there was strong Radio 1 support for them for a while in the late 90s.
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  • HimitsuUK

    One of the best bands I have randomly discovered. Favourite track - Situation

    24 Mar 8:54pm Reply

  • nickholway

    Did anyone see the London gig? If so, how was it?

    24 Mar 9:41am Reply

  • Fatcat66

    Newcastle University Students Union Friday May 10 2013 tickets £10 via seetickets.com or in person at the Union shop! EDR and Reverse support!

    22 Mar 9:48am Reply

  • brownieboy

    I have 4 of their Single releases due to some carboot sale and one single with a kate bush cover, I probably would've been a fan of this group but it was before i was into music, plus maybe too young at the time.

    15 Feb 11:37am Reply

  • nickholway

    Looks like they've reformed and are playing in London on the 21st of Feb - wish I could make it!

    18 Jan 3:35pm Reply

  • wretched-one

    One of the best live bands I've ever seen!!! Still have al their vinyl...great stuff it is too :)

    6 Jan 2:20am Reply

  • Mycodenameis

    This is a massive long shot but if anyone has their Evening Session from Radio 1 from about 1995 I would love a copy, I used to love that but have long lost it :(

    3 Dec 2011 Reply

  • durhammag

    Reunion gig in Newcastle on the cards!!

    9 Sep 2011 Reply

  • thisisall1word

    I'd have to agree that self made maniac was a bit of a chore - kinda felt a bit oddly serious - and most of all the artwork was rotten. Gooses/Geese are always good. Just found the pictures single on yellow 7" for 99p - yay! B side was a great (but short) acoustic version of Last Chance. China Drum were/are ace and one of the best crowdsurf-able live bands.

    15 May 2011 Reply

  • Mycodenameis

    This is probably one of the only pages on last.fm where fans can disagree but actually be civil and constructively argue their point! @FashionMunx – I will give ‘Self Made Maniac’ another try.

    13 Mar 2011 Reply

  • Skafunrastapunk

    I miss the 90's

    18 Jan 2011 Reply

  • KaiBraun

    Goosefair and the Barrier EP have been classics in my mind for years... Decades at this point... There's a certain aire there... Immediate nostalgia - something I felt the second I heard them. One of my few regrets in life is not seeing them in Phoenix opening for Ash back in 1995. And I hate Ash...

    30 Dec 2010 Reply

  • Mycodenameis

    And for the record Fall Into Place, Can't Stop These Things and Last Chance are the best China Drum songs.

    25 Jul 2010 Reply

  • Mycodenameis

    FashionMunx - with the greatest respect I disagree. There are so many non-single (album) tracks such as Situation, Simple, Pictures, Find the Time, Take it Back that are awesome. Combined with the single tracks we have an awesome band who were way ahead of their time. By the way, I think the 2nd and 3rd albums are pretty shitty and I feel very disappointed by them.

    25 Jul 2010 Reply

  • Furashubakku

    Their cover of Wuthering Heights really is the best. xD

    28 Jun 2010 Reply

  • Mycodenameis

    Barrier should have been on Goosefair

    1 May 2010 Reply

  • captainbasic

    Eine der besten Cover Versionen Wuthering Heights

    15 Dec 2009 Reply

  • yuyayz

    Great band. I've seen them playing 15 years ago in Japan. One of the best live I've ever seen.

    15 Nov 2009 Reply

  • AndyShark

    Fantastic band musically and very down to earth guys when you spoke to them. I recall staying back after a few Glasgow gigs and chatting, good memories.

    29 Sep 2009 Reply

  • kuulalaakeri

    Indeed.

    6 Aug 2009 Reply
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