BMX Bandits

A leading light of the short-lived C-86/anorak movement of the mid-1980's, the BMX Bandits stood at the epicenter of the Scottish pop music scene for over a decade; however, despite helping launch the careers of talents ranging from Teenage Fanclub and Eugenius to the Soup Dragons and Superstar, the group itself never grew beyond the confines of a fervent cult following. They were essentially the vehicle of singer/guitarist Duglas T. Stewart, a Bellshill native and onetime member of the Pretty Flowers; he formed the band in 1985, sarcastically selecting the name "BMX Bandits" out of his belief that they would fall apart after only one gig. Instead, the group became a popular local attraction, and soon signed to Stephen Pastel's 53rd and 3rd label. Recorded with a line-up of Stewart, bassist Sean Dickson, guitarist Jim McCulloch, drummer Willie McArdle and backing vocalist Billy Wood, the BMX Bandits' charming 1986 debut single "E102" launched them to the forefront of the C-86 uprising, despite being denied a spot on the NME magazine compilation cassette of naive jangle-pop which gave the movement its name. By the follow-up, "What a Wonderful World," both McArdle and Dickson had exited, and were replaced by ex-Boy Hairdressers bassist Joe McAlinden and drummer Francis McDonald; Dickson soon founded his own band, the Soup Dragons, the first of many BMX Bandits spin-offs to eclipse the original group's success. After a series of subsequent singles and roster changes (including the exit of McCulloch, who joined Dickson in the Soup Dragons), the BMX Bandits -- Stewart, McDonald, McAlinden, fellow Boy Hairdressers alum Norman Blake, and guitarist Gordon Keen -- released their long-awaited debut LP, the tongue-in-cheek C-86, in 1990. A whimsical concert album, Totally Groovy...