Eruption was a UK soul-funk group that charted with the Ann Peebles cover “I Can’t Stand the Rain” from their 1977 Hansa debut, followed by the 1978–80 albums Leave a Light and Fight Fight Fight and the 1983 Jupiter release Our Way.
Members: Lindel Leslie (vocals, 1974-75), Precious Wilson (vocals, 1975-79), Kim Davis (vocals, 1980), Jane Jochen (vocals, 1980-85), Greg Perrineau (guitar), Morgan Perrineau (bass), Gerry Williams (keyboards), Eric Kingsley (drums)
Background
Eruption formed in London in 1974 when guitarist Greg Perrineau and bassist Morgan Perrineau teamed with keyboardist Gerry Williams and drummer Eric Kingsley.
The Perrineau brothers hailed from Curaçao and rehearsed on Spanish guitars at their family home. The quartet developed from Silent Eruption, a school group dating to 1969. Williams came from Guyana and Kingsley from Ghana.
Jamaican singer Precious Wilson joined in 1974 after two teenage years in Connecticut, where she sang in a gospel choir. She initially played tambourine and sang backing parts. In January 1975, Eruption recruited lead singer Lindel Leslie and developed a soul-funk repertoire of originals and rearranged numbers by Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, and Eddie Kendricks.
After three gigs with Leslie, manager Des entered Eruption in the RCA/Record Mirror Soul Search competition. Capital Radio nominated the sextet for the London heats, followed by a national semifinal in Manchester. In April 1975, Eruption won the final at Hammersmith against three regional finalists from a field of nearly 400 acts. The victory brought an RCA recording contract, Utopia Management representation, and Bose amplification equipment. Tymes producer Billy Jackson took charge of the July RCA single “Let Me Take You Back in Time,” a Leslie original backed with “Funky Lover.”
Eruption turned professional and toured beyond Britain. Leslie departed during the RCA period, leaving Wilson as sole lead singer. In late 1976, an agent booked the quintet for a six-week German tour that yielded little income. The musicians remained in West Germany and secured further discotheque engagements without the agent. A scout for producer Frank Farian discovered Eruption and arranged an audition at his nightclub. Farian recruited the group for concert dates with Boney M and signed them to Hansa.
In May 1977, Hansa issued the Gerry Williams number “Party, Party,” co-produced by Farian and Rainer M. Ehrhardt. Eruption supported Boney M on an October British tour. Hansa followed in November with an Ann Peebles remake, “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” ahead of the December 1977 debut Eruption.
Discography:
- Eruption (1977)
- Leave a Light (1978)
- Fight Fight Fight (1980)
- Our Way (1983)
References and notes
- Sue Byrom — Record Mirror, May 3, 1975. Lindel Leslie recruitment, initial rehearsals, three live engagements, Capital Radio selection, and Soul Search victory at the Hammersmith Odeon. (Record Mirror)
- Adam White — Music Week, May 3, 1975. Clapham origins, early lineup, Utopia management, and RCA agreement. (Music Week)
- Music Week — July 12, 1975. Confirms the RCA single “Let Me Take You Back in Time” (b/w “Funky Lover”). (Music Week)
- Sue Byrom — Record Mirror, August 2, 1975. Gulliver’s performance with Lindel Leslie and Precious Wilson sharing featured vocals. (Record Mirror)
- Mary Ann Ellis — Record Mirror, March 4, 1978. Greg Perrineau interview on home rehearsals, Soul Search, overseas touring, and German residency. (Record Mirror)
- Record Mirror — October 29, 1977. German residency, Boney M tour dates, and forthcoming Hansa album. (Record Mirror)
- Joe Marchese — The Second Disc, July 27, 2017. Silent Eruption name, promotion of Wilson, German talent-scout contact, and Farian partnership. (Second Disc)
- Billboard — March 18, 1978. Birthplaces and musical roles of the five Hansa-era members. (Billboard)
- Hansa International — Party, Party, May 19, 1977. Original single, Gerry Williams authorship, and Farian–Ehrhardt production credits. (Austriancharts)
- Hansa International — Eruption, December 1977. Original German album and production credits. (Musicbase)
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