BMX Bandits

In the mid-'80s the BMX Bandits shone brightly within the fleeting C-86 and anorak scene, occupying a central position in Scotland's pop world for more than ten years. Although they helped propel the trajectories of artists including Teenage Fanclub, Eugenius, the Soup Dragons, and Superstar, the group remained confined to an ardent cult audience while continuing to craft endearing, offbeat pop songs.

Singer and guitarist Duglas T. Stewart, a native of Bellshill who had previously played in the Pretty Flowers, essentially steered the band as his own project; he assembled it in 1985 and chose the ironic name BMX Bandits, convinced it would disband after a single performance. Far from dissolving, the outfit quickly became a local favorite and secured a deal with Stephen Pastel's 53rd and 3rd imprint. Their 1986 debut single "E102," recorded by Stewart, bassist Sean Dickson, guitarist Jim McCulloch, drummer Willie McArdle, and backing vocalist Billy Wood, propelled them to the forefront of the C-86 movement even though the track missed inclusion on the NME's defining compilation cassette. By the time of the follow-up "What a Wonderful World," McArdle and Dickson had departed, replaced by former Boy Hairdressers bassist Joe McAlinden and drummer Francis MacDonald; Dickson promptly launched the Soup Dragons, the first of several BMX Bandits offshoots that would outpace the parent band in commercial reach.

Following additional singles and further personnel shifts, among them McCulloch's exit to join Dickson in the Soup Dragons, the BMX Bandits—now comprising Stewart, MacDonald, McAlinden, another Boy Hairdressers alumnus Norman Blake, and guitarist Gordon Keen—issued their debut album, the playfully titled C86 Plus, in 1990. Later that year came the lighthearted live set Totally Groovy Live Experience!, after which another pause ensued as Blake and MacDonald formed Teenage Fanclub. Blake rejoined for the 1991 album Star Wars, also featuring ex-Vaselines frontman Eugene Kelly; the 1992 EP Gordon Keen & His BMX Bandits then preceded the departures of Keen and Kelly, who established Captain America (soon renamed Eugenius), while McAlinden started Superstar.

Later in 1992 the band moved to Creation and released the single "Serious Drugs," widely regarded as their strongest recording up to that point. Life Goes On, their first album with the stable lineup of Stewart, MacDonald (fresh from a short stint in Teenage Fanclub), his bassist brother Finlay, and guitarist John Hogarty, arrived in 1993; ex-Soup Dragon Sushil Dade joined for the 1995 release Gettin' Dirty, which ventured into richer sonic textures clearly recalling the Beach Boys. After the more direct rock approach of Theme Park in 1996, Stewart stepped away to record the solo album Frankenstein.

Following an extended hiatus the group resurfaced in 2006 with vocalist Rachel Mackenzie added to the roster. They issued My Chain that year on Rev-Ola and quickly followed it with Bee Stings in 2007. Stewart and the band then signed with Elefant, releasing the 2009 compilation The Rise and Fall of the BMX Bandits before returning in 2012 with the studio album BMX Bandits in Space, which featured the returning Jim McCulloch. Mackenzie departed soon afterward and was succeeded by vocalist and keyboardist Chloe Philip. After another lengthy break, during which Stewart relocated from Bellshill to Glasgow and dealt with depression, Elefant put out the tenth BMX Bandits album, BMX Bandits Forever, which included a guest appearance by Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe and production contributions from Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab on several tracks.