The Accelerators
American rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Accelerators were an American rock band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1982 by singer/guitarist Gerald Duncan. They released five albums and were described by writer and critic Peter Eichenberger as one of the best rock 'n roll bands in the world due to great songs perfectly rendered.
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Accelerators
- Origin
- Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
- Genre
- Alternative rock
- College rock
- Rockabilly
- Power pop
- Roots rock
- Years active
- 1982–2000
- Label
- Dolphin
- Profile
- Sound Asleep Records
- Spinoff of
- Moon Pie
Facts from the source article.
History
The Accelerators originated from the Greenville, S.C. band Moon Pie, which recorded an EP titled Welcome to Hard Times. In 1982, three Moon Pie members, along with manager and producer Dick Hodgin, relocated to Raleigh and renamed the group The Accelerators. The original lineup consisted of Gerald Duncan on lead vocals and guitar, Doug Whelchel on drums, Chris Moran on guitar and vocals, and Keller "Skip" Anderson on bass. Their music was described as raw-edged sketches of drive-ins, fast cars, beer joints, and teenaged passion framed in a muscular sound of rockabilly-influenced pop and rock. After moving to Raleigh, Moon Pie was picked up by Dolphin Records, a label operated by the Record Bar retail chain, and appeared on the compilation Mondo Montage. In 1983, Dolphin issued the Accelerators' debut album Leave My Heart, produced by Don Dixon of Arrogance, who also played on it. Part of the album was recorded at Mitch Easter's Drive-in Studio, with Easter contributing to two tracks. One reviewer noted that Dixon overembellished some songs, diminishing their impact, but the album received recommendations from Billboard and The Village Voice. Rolling Stone's Dave Marsh praised it as bar band soul and rock with post-punk humorous lyrics direct from Springsteen land. To promote the album, low-budget music videos for "Stiletto" and "Leave My Heart" were directed by Steve Boyle, the latter shot in a Record Bar warehouse. The band opened for The Clash in Chapel Hill and for Nick Lowe in Los Angeles in 1985, but promotion was hindered after their Dolphin representative was fired before the album's release.
Hiatus and break up
The Accelerators fell apart after recording Dream Train, due to personal issues and a delayed third album, sending members toward other projects. Duncan started a solo singer-songwriter career. When Dream Train finally came out in June 1991, the band hadn’t performed live in three years, and only Duncan and Wurster agreed to come back. Duncan brought in new players: bassist Ron Bartholomew (formerly of The Hanks, The Woods, and Robert Kirkland) took over for Mike Johns, who had joined Fluffy, and Bo Taylor replaced guitarist Brad Rice, who had moved to Finger. This fresh lineup made its debut on October 4, 1991, at The Brewery in Raleigh. Wurster stuck around for a while but eventually left to focus on Superchunk, which he had joined during the band’s break. Michael Batts of Automatic Slim, who was Ron Bartholomew’s brother-in-law, took over on drums. Guitarist Taylor also departed, and Dave Bartholomew, Ron’s brother, stepped in. Even though Duncan was the only person left who had played on all three albums, the trio of Duncan and the two Bartholomews stayed together through the self-released album Nearer in 2000. After those recording sessions, Mark Auble replaced Dave Bartholomew on guitar for a short round of promotional shows. Not long after Nearer came out, the band slowed down, playing only now and then around the Raleigh-Chapel Hill area. Duncan, who founded the group, sang lead, and wrote most of the songs, decided to retire after more than twenty years with The Accelerators and over thirty years in music. But after working on the Road Chill compilation, he said that rumors in the mid-1990s about him retiring or dying were overblown, and he expressed interest in getting back into the studio with producer Hodgin to cut a new album.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Accelerators from?
The Accelerators originated in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.
What genre of music does The Accelerators play?
The Accelerators's music is classified as Alternative rock, college rock, rockabilly, Power pop and Roots rock.
Which record labels has The Accelerators released music on?
The Accelerators has released music on Dolphin, Profile and Sound Asleep Records.
More in Roots Rock Music Groups
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