THE HISTORY OF HORSE ROCK, EQUINE SURF AND THE UNIVERSE

“THE SHADOWS AS IF PLAYED BY CHILDREN BROUGHT UP ON MOTORHEAD”

The Early Days

IN THE NON-SUMMER OF 2011, WHEN THE 9 PLANETS (10 INCLUDING PLANET X) OF THE MILKY WAY HAD COMPLETELY MISALIGNED, A NEW BAND FORMED CALLING THEMSELVES MEN OF ASCOT. THEY CONSISTED OF A SURF-GUITAR ENTHUSIAST (ALEX DELMONTE), A POWER-HOUSE DRUMMING LEGEND (JUSTIN LEISK) AND A BOUNCING BASS PLAYER WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF INSTRO-SURF BEFORE (PAUL BULGER). THE BAND QUICKLY DEVELOPED THEIR (UNREGISTERED) TRADEMARK SOUND OF INSTRO-SURF MIXED WITH FILTHY 60’S GARAGE ROCK AND GALLOPING HORSE-LIKE RHYTHMS, SOON TO BE DUBBED EQUINE SURF. A NAME CHANGE FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTER, THE NEW BAND NAME (HORSE ROCK) COMING FROM THE TITLE OF AN EARLY DEMO TRACK “TAKE IT EASY HORSE ROCKERS.”

HORSE ROCK PLAYED THEIR FIRST GIG IN FEBRUARY 2012 INFRONT OF A SEATED CROWD OF AT LEAST 17 HUMAN ADULTS AND A FEW FIDGETY TEENAGERS. FOLLOWING THIS, PAUL BOUNCING BULGER FELT THAT HE HAD REACHED THE PINNACLE OF HIS PERFORMING CAREER AND DECIDED TO EXIT WHILST AT THE TOP OF HIS AND THE BAND’S GAME. PAUL BOUNCING BULGER LATER RE-APPEARED AS THE VOCALIST OF READING PUNK BAND - NANCY JOHNSON.

Fresh Blood and Aged Vinyl

Photo by Alan D

CATS AGAINST THE BOMB FRONT MAN (AND ONLY MAN) BECAME HORSE ROCK’S NEW BASS-PLAYER, JUST IN TIME FOR A LONG PERIOD OF INACTIVITY BETWEEN AUGUST 2012 AND FEBRUARY 2013. PRIOR TO THE HIATUS, THE BAND SET ABOUT CREATING THE NEVER-TO-BE-RELEASED “EQUINE SURF” ALBUM. ALL 13 TRACKS WERE RECORDED IN ONE DAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE HOTTEST DAY OF 2012. PROBLEMS DURING POST-PRODUCTION RESULTED IN THE NEVER-TO-BE-RELEASED ALBUM ACQUIRING AN “AGED VINYL” EFFECT THAT CAN STILL BE HEARD ON THE ALBUM TO THIS VERY DAY.

IN FEBRUARY 2013, HORSE ROCK RECONVENED WITH SOME NEW TRACKS, A NEW LOOK AND A RUN OF LIVE DATES. LATER THAT YEAR THE BAND SET ABOUT RECORDING A FEATURE LENGTH FILM WHICH EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO A PROMO VIDEO FOR THEIR 1950S-INSPIRED TRACK “SHOW US THEM JAZZ HANDS PADRE”. THE VIDEO PROVED AN INSTANT HIT ON YOUTUBE GETTING AT LEAST 10 HITS IN THE FIRST WEEK!

HORSE ROCK PLAYED MANY GIGS, MOSTLY WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS OF READING TOWN CENTRE, BUT WITH OCCASIONAL FORAYS FURTHER AFIELD - INCLUDING A NOTABLE TRIP TO CARDIFF THAT SAW BUILDINGS BURNING DOWN, SPILLED PINTS, HORSES ON RAILWAY LINES, AND PLAYING AFTER THE ROLLING STONES (not necessarily at the same venue…)

Going Loco

ATTRACTED BY THE SURFY SOUNDS AND INTERESTING SMELLS, MR LOCO JOINED IN WITH THE BAND’S PERFORMANCE AT THE RISING SUN ARTS CENTRE ON MANY OCCASIONS, LEADING TO COLLABORATION AND FULL MEMBERSHIP. HE NOW PROVIDES A VISUAL EXTRAVGANZA TO ACCOMPANY THE SURF-FEAST.

Photo by Alan D

Today

IN THESE POST-PANDEMIC TIMES, HORSE ROCK ARE GOING STRONG.

LONG MAY THE LEGEND CONTINUE…