Biography
Not to be confused with an Australian surf outfit sharing their name, the Boston-rooted Atlantics carved out regional attention during the late 1970s and early 1980s by blending proto-punk edges with poppy new-wave hooks in much the same vein as local peers the Cars, though the latter enjoyed far greater commercial traction. Guitarist Tom Hauck and bassist Bruce Wilkinson started the group in 1976 during their studies at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. The initial roster also included drummer Boby Bear, guitarist Jeff Locke, and vocalist Bobby Marron; their first major outing came in May 1976 when they opened for the Ramones’ debut Boston concert, anchoring them firmly within the city’s fast-growing music community.
Ray Boy Fernandes stepped in on drums in place of Boby Bear during 1977, and lead guitarist Fred Pineau succeeded Jeff Locke the next year. A deal with ABC Records in New York City led to the 1979 release of their debut album, Big City Rock, which earned positive notice from Rolling Stone and triggered multiple tour dates supporting Roxy Music. After MCA acquired ABC, however, the band’s visibility declined under the new parent company. With Big City Rock failing to achieve commercial traction, drummer Fernandes departed. Regional radio play persisted into the early 1980s once Paul Caruso joined on drums—he would later co-produce Joe Perry’s 2005 solo album—yet insufficient national breakthrough prompted the group’s dissolution in 1983.
Two decades afterward, following the deaths of Caruso and founding member Wilkinson, the remaining musicians reconvened to issue a 2006 self-titled set of previously unreleased material. Buoyed by the reception of their first recording in nearly three decades, they next put out Live, captured in 1979 just before the Roxy Music tour, during summer 2007.
Ray Boy Fernandes stepped in on drums in place of Boby Bear during 1977, and lead guitarist Fred Pineau succeeded Jeff Locke the next year. A deal with ABC Records in New York City led to the 1979 release of their debut album, Big City Rock, which earned positive notice from Rolling Stone and triggered multiple tour dates supporting Roxy Music. After MCA acquired ABC, however, the band’s visibility declined under the new parent company. With Big City Rock failing to achieve commercial traction, drummer Fernandes departed. Regional radio play persisted into the early 1980s once Paul Caruso joined on drums—he would later co-produce Joe Perry’s 2005 solo album—yet insufficient national breakthrough prompted the group’s dissolution in 1983.
Two decades afterward, following the deaths of Caruso and founding member Wilkinson, the remaining musicians reconvened to issue a 2006 self-titled set of previously unreleased material. Buoyed by the reception of their first recording in nearly three decades, they next put out Live, captured in 1979 just before the Roxy Music tour, during summer 2007.
Albums
