Capital Models
(1979-1980)
Angus Bolton - Guitars, Vocals (Sept '79-Aug '80)
Eric Merrill - Guitars, Vocals (Sept '79-Feb '80)
David Reilly - Lead Vocals, Synth, Guitar (Sept '79-Aug '80)
Jim Park - Drum Kit (Oct '79-Feb '80)
Jamie Frain - Bass, Vocals (Nov '79-Aug '80)
Keith Apter - Drum Kit (Mar '80-Aug '80)
Nicky Hind - Guitars, Synth (Mar '80-May '80)
Capital Models was a short lived New Wave band from Edinburgh, contemporaries of the likes of Scars, Josef K, TV21, The Freeze, Pure Bears, The Cubs and The Visitors...
In the late summer/early autumn of 1979, David Reilly...
...late of Rough Cut, joined with ex-Noise guitarists Angus Bolton and Eric Merrill to write songs together...
After putting together a set of around 7 songs as a trio, David recruited Jim Park on drums to complete the band. Jim was the brother of college friend Ann Park...
After a short period as a quartet, to allow David to concentrate on vocals, Jim's friend Jamie Frain was draughted in to take over bass duties...
The band took its name from a shop in Edinburgh's Royal Mile and started gigging in January/February 1980...
The quintet's first release was the 11 song album, "The Sweet Thrill of Industry". It was recorded onto two track reel to reel at Eric's house in January 1980 after the initial five-piece had played just one gig...
In late February, after several more gigs, both Jim and Eric left to concentrate on their University courses but were quickly replaced by Jim and Jamie's chum Nicky Hind on guitar and, friend of a friend, Keith Apter on drums...
Gigging recommenced and continued throughout Scotland during April...
In May, David added synth to the musical line-up and the group recorded a six track EP, "Breaking Silence", featuring three re-recordings from "The Sweet Thrill" and three new songs...
Nicky left the band shortly thereafter, leaving Gus as sole guitarist in the four piece...
The quartet rejigged their set for the new trimmed down line up and started gigging around Scotland again over the Summer...
In August, less than a year since the original trio formed, the band split when David accepted a teaching post and moved abroad to Germany...
Towards the end of the year, Keith had moved on too and Gus and Jamie were joined from Pure Bears by singer Kenny McLeod and drummer Donald Mitchell to form Ritual Dance...
In late 1980, "Maskless" emerged, comprising a further 10 songs and another re-recording of a track from "The Sweet Thrill". Sources for this third release comprised rehearsal and live recordings showcasing the final quartet...
Finally, the Anthology featured on the player above, was put together in 2002 for Jamie's 40th birthday...
It contains every song the Models ever played, apart from their cover of The Who's "Substitute" which was never recorded...
