Modern Eon -

Modern Eon was an English post-punk band from Liverpool that released the 1979 EP Pieces on self-press Eon Records, followed by the single “Euthenics” and the 1981 album Fiction Tales on DinDisc.

Members: Alix Plain [aka Alex Johnson] (guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, horn), Danny Hampson (bass, vocals), Tim Lever (guitar, saxophone, 1980-81), Joey McKechnie (drums, 1978-80), Ged Allen (guitar, vocals, 1978-80), Bob Wakelin (synthesizer, strings, percussion, vocals, 1980-81), Cliff Hewitt (drums, 1981)

Formation

Modern Eon originated as the Luglo Slugs, formed in 1978 by guitarist singer Alix Plain (aka Alex Johnson) and bassist Danny Hampson. With drummer Dave Hadbattle, Luglo cut the Plain–Hampson original “Benched Down–70s Sixties” at Liverpool’s Open Eye Studios.

In 1979, Plain and Hampson welcomed guitarist Ged Allen and drummer Joey McKechnie. The new lineup named itself Modern Eon. Meanwhile, the Luglo cut appeared (under the new band name) on Street to Street – A Liverpool Album, a collection of Open Eye Studios recordings by Big In Japan (“Match of the Day”), Echo & The Bunnymen (“Monkies”), The ID (“Julia’s Song”), and Tontrix (“Screen Love”).

Pieces

In November 1979, Modern Eon released Pieces, an EP with four songs by Plain, Hampson, and Allen. This was their sole release on Eon Records.

A1. “Second Still”
A2. “Special Patrol”
B1. “Choreography”
B2. “The Look a Smack”

Modern Eon laid the tracks at August Studios, a newly opened Liverpool facility whose inaugural recording, Echo’s “The Pictures On My Wall,” appeared that May on Zoo. Freelance engineer Martin Mitchel engineered both recordings.

Pieces features a puzzle-themed sleeve illustration by illustrator Bob Wakelin, who created similar art for “Better Scream,” the debut single by Wah! Heat.

“Euthenics”

In November 1980, Modern Eon released “Euthenics,” a Plain–Hampson–Allen number backed with the Plain–McKechnie cut “Waiting for the Cavalry.” It appeared as the third release on the Liverpool indie Inevitable Records (INEV 003) between singles by Nightmares in Wax and Wah! Heat.

On January 28, 1981, Modern Eon cut a session for BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, whose 2/5 broadcast aired in-studio renditions of four songs earmarked for their upcoming album: “Real Hymn,” “Grass Still Grows,” “High Noon,” and “Mechanic.”

Meanwhile, Allen and McKechnie cleared out for guitarist–saxist Tim Lever and drummer Cliff Hewitt. Eon’s ongoing sleeve artist, Bob Wakelin, joined on strings, percussion, and synthesizer.

Modern Eon signed with Dindisc and issued a re-recorded “Euthenics” in March 1981, backed with “Cardinal Signs,” an Alix/Hampson exclusive.

B. “Cardinal Signs” (3:10)

Ex-Gong bassist Mike Howlett co-produced the single amid 1980/81 projects with Fischer-Z, Martha + The Muffins, Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark, The Revillos, and Teardrop Explodes.

Fiction Tales

Modern Eon released their singular album, Fiction Tales, in May 1981 on Dindisc.

Fiction Tales features twelve originals co-written by Alix Plain and Danny Hampson, including the re-recorded “Euthenics” and fresh versions of “Second Still,” “Choreography,” and “Watching the Dancers,” plus the Peel-previewed numbers “Real Hymn,” “Grass Still Grows,” “High Noon,” and “Mechanic.”

Select tracks feature third-writer input by Cliff Hewitt (“Real Hymn”) and Bob Wakelin, who sings on his co-contribution, “High Noon.”

A1. “Second Still” (4:08)
A2. “The Grass Still Grows” (3:41)
A3. “Playwrite” (3:14)
A4. “Watching the Dancers” (2:51)
A5. “Real Hymn” (3:07)
A6. “Waiting for the Cavalry” (3:11)

B1. “High Noon” (3:25)
B2. “Child’s Play” (3:58)
B3. “Choreography” (3:31)
B4. “Euthenics” (3:08)
B5. “In a Strange Way” (3:46)
B6. “Mechanic” (4:16)

Modern Eon promoted the album with “Child’s Play,” lifted as a June single with “Visionary,” an exclusive b-side.

B. “Visionary” (3:22)

Sessions occurred at the Manor, an Oxford mansion studio owned by mogul Richard Branson, the co-founder of Dindisc’s parent label, Virgin. They cut one track (“Real Hymn”) at Britannia Row Studios, an Islington facility owned by Pink Floyd. Modern Eon co-produced the album with Laurence Diana, a recent soundman for David Essex, John Cooper Clark, The Stranglers, and Scars.

Fiction Tales appeared in a textured monochrome sleeve with imagery sourced from a film by the Brothers Quay.

In late August, Dindisc lifted “Mechanic” as the album’s third single, backed with “Splash,” an exclusive song group-credited to Alix, Hampson, Lever, Wakelin.

B. “Splash”

On the weekend of September 5–6, 1981, Modern Eon performed at Futurama 3, a post-punk festival at the Staffordshire County Showground with sets by 23 Skidoo, A Flock of Seagulls, Bauhaus, Felt, Gang of Four, The Lines, The Passions, Sisters of Mercy, The Sound, Theatre of Hate, and Clash-associate Tymon Dogg. Eon appeared in Sunday’s lineup, which also featured B Movie, Blue Orchids, Bow Bow Wow, Diagram Brothers, Doll by Doll, Eyeless In Gaza, Higsons, Ludus, Modern Eon, Section 25, Simple Minds, and the Virgin Prunes.