Heavy Pettin

In the middle of 1981, Glasgow served as the birthplace for the Scottish hard rock band Heavy Pettin', which came together when the Weeper trio—consisting of guitarist Gordon Bonnar, bassist Brian Waugh, and drummer Gary Moat—expanded their ranks by bringing in vocalist Steve Hayman, also known as "Hamie," along with lead guitarist Punky Mendoza. The band's moniker, drawn from a UFO record, led them to perform live shows frequently prior to inking a contract with Neat Records for the release of their first single, "Roll the Dice," in 1982. A major-label agreement with Polydor followed shortly thereafter, enabling the ensemble to lay down tracks for their inaugural album, Lettin' Loose, in 1983 under the guidance of Queen guitarist Brian May serving as co-producer. Ahead of issuing their second album, Love Ain't Dead, in 1985, Heavy Pettin' embarked on UK tours backing Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne. Work on what would become the third record faced disruption after Polydor chose the track "Romeo" to represent them in the Eurovision Song Contest, an entry that not only displeased the adjudicators but also shifted toward a poppier style that distanced their established fans. By the start of 1988 the act had disbanded, though their finished third LP appeared the next year bearing the name The Big Bang.