SCARS re-up by request

Scars was a Scottish post-punk quartet that debuted in 1979 with an excellent single, "Adult/ery" b/w "Horrorshow".  An EP was followed by an LP (both were titled Author! Author!).  Scars made two John Peel sessions and were getting good press.  The single "All About You" became popular.  The band fired singer Robert King and continued as a trio with guitarist Paul Research singing, but the momentum was lost.  King put out one solo single in 1982.  He later became a professor of ancient languages.  Scars bassist John Mackie played in a few other bands, and he and his brother Paul Research became DJs.  Original drummer Calumn MacKay became an engineer and still plays music.  Scars' second drummer Steve McLaughlin became a music producer who has worked with Tom Petty, Sting and others.

Dave Sez shared some Scars rarities here awhile back, and Mike F. requested a re-up.  I have added tracks from videos posted to Youtube by Scoorieboy (John Mackie) and by Vibracobra23. Look up those Youtube user names:  their channels are full of great stuff! Paul Research wrote a band history at his site, scarsresearch.com.



Fast forward two decades:  interest is renewed in the post-punk of the early 80's, and "Horrorshow" is sampled by the trip hop duo Lemon Jelly on their popular "Shouty Track" in 2004.  Paul Research put out the first and only Scars CD in 2007 (also called Author! Author!)  Copies are now scarce and expensive.



Scars reformed for an Edinburgh concert in 2010, and in 2011 they recorded a BBC Session with Marc Riley (wherein Riley admits to stealing a Scars lyric).  Sadly the partnership with Professor King ended again, and King started a new band called Opium Kitchen.  

Scars is an unsung band from a great era.  Paul Research is underrated as an innovative guitarist, and Robert King's lyrics are well-written and inventive.  Adult/ery and She's Alive are stories in song.  Other tunes (like All About You and Leave Me In The Autumn) lean toward an indiepop sound that was successful for U2, the Bunnymen, etc at the start of the 80's; and I think Scars could have been as popular as their contemporaries if they had stayed together.  Earlier songs like Horrorshow and Your Attention Please are outstanding post-punk: sharp-edged, aggressive and striking in their originality.