The Beat was founded by Paul Collins, the step-son of a civilian father attached to the US military, who spent his pre-teens living in Greece, Vietnam and Europe before returning to his native New York.
He studied at the prestigious Julliard Music School and eventually moved to San Francisco where he hooked up with songwriter Jack Lee and bassist Peter Case to formΒ The NervesΒ in 1974.
The Nerves proved to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning US punk rock scene, releasing their own four-song EP which included the classicΒ Hanging on a Telephone, later to become a hit forΒ Blondie.
Moving to Los Angeles after The Nerves broke up, Collins met bassist Steve Huff, drummer Mike Ruiz and Lead Guitarist Larry Whitman and they named themselves The Beat in homage toΒ The Beatles.
By mid-1979, their friendΒ Eddie MoneyΒ recommended them for management to legendary concert promoter Bill Graham and The Beat toured withΒ The Police,Β The Jam andΒ Joe Jackson. They also made numerous TV appearances.
In the spring they recorded their debut self-titled album with producer Bruce Botnick (who had producedΒ The Doors).Β The album featuredΒ Byrds-influenced guitars and catchy choruses and defined the skinny-tied power pop whichΒ The KnackΒ took to the charts.
Unfortunately, coming on the heels of the backlash accorded to The Knack, and with radio still mostly resistant to theΒ new waveΒ of bands, The Beat were never able to penetrate the Top 40 and the group sadly fell through the cracks betweenΒ discoΒ and dinosaur rock.
In order to avoid confusion with theΒ British ska bandΒ also called The Beat, the band were known outside the US as The Paul Collins Beat.
Paul CollinsΒ
Vocals/guitar
Steve HuffΒ
Bass
Larry WhitmanΒ
Guitar
Mike RuizΒ
Drums
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