The Payolas
Scott Beadle | May 10, 2010 in Payolas
The Payolas were formed in 1979 around the core musical partnership of singer/guitarist Paul Hyde and lead guitarist Bob Rock. Rock was a studio engineer at fledgling Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver. From that position, he recorded all of the prominent local punk/indie bands and built up his production resumé. Over the next two decades Little Mountain earned a reputation as one of the most in-demand studios in the world of rock music, and Bob Rock became one of the most in-demand producers in the industry.
The Payolas started off in the studio, then made the jump to playing live. In August 1979 they released their debut single China Boys b/w Make Some Noise on their own Slophouse Records label (recorded at Little Mountain Sound, of course). The band were eager to hone their chops in live settings, adding themselves to existing bills as an opening act, just for the experience. Despite their later success, in these early days The Payolas played the same venues as all the other bands on the scene, including Oddfellows Hall and the Smilin’ Buddha. In 1980 the band was signed to A&M Records in Canada (IRS Records in the US).
Payolas
I remember being at an all ages gig around 1980 and The Payolas were on the bill- I'd never heard of them at that point. I recall the audience reaction was lukewarm and even antagonistic with some- I think to a lot of us at the time it seemed too "commercial" sounding. Now as an old dude I see they were a good band, and Paul Hyde was a great frontman- it seemed clearly headed for the mainstream at the time though, which was kind of sacrilege.
Personel
Barry Muir was the bassist who replaced Wilkins in the summer of '82 after the release of the Second album and the Split Enz tour.
Christopher Livingston was playing keyboards in a band in Winnipeg when the band saw him live. Mick Ronson played keyboards during the Enz tour. Livingston joined shortly after the band's return to Vancouver, when Muir was emlisted to play bass.
Line up #5
Alex 'A Train' Boynton replaced Muir circa 1984 or 5.
Thanks Anonymous
This one was a tough one for me, I was hoping someone would chime in! I will fix ASAP, thanks again.
China Boys
I heard China Boys on CFMI - the station where music stopped about '79 - of all places the other days - and it was awesome - and the deejay said "That was the punkish side of the Payolas" (Honeymoon Suit, undoubtedly followed) - I'm surprised that excellent track hasn't been covered or surfaced on a movie soundtrack. Eyes of a Stranger holds up well over the years too. But "America is sexy" or whatever that attempt at a hit was - you can't be forgiven for that Mr Hyde.
China Boys
I remember touring with the band just around the time of the first EP and playing a week in Victoria. Most of the people at those gigs refused to believe The Payola$ were not just covering the song... lol! It's still a classic Van. song from the period.
JD
I was in a Vancouver Eastside
I was in a Vancouver Eastside high school in 1979. That song was our unofficial anthem. Nothing else got every last kid on their feet during a dance like China Boys.