* En anglais uniquement
The Barracudas were an Anglo-American band based in London that included members
Jeremy Gluck (vocals),
Robin Wills (guitar),
David Buckley (bass), and
Nick Turner (drums). They formed in 1978 and scored a U.K. Top 40 hit in 1980 with the neo-surf song "Summer Fun." Debut album
Drop Out with the Barracudas, released in 1981, shifted the band's sound from surf to American psychedelia and garage rock.
Turner and
Buckley left soon after, replaced by
Jim Dickson and Terry Smith.
It was another new addition, guitarist
Chris Wilson of
Flamin' Groovies, whose influence was most felt on
the Barracudas' second and third albums, 1983's
Mean Time and 1984's
Endeavour to Preserve (the latter featured new drummer Mark Sheppard). Both albums were released only in France, and
the Barracudas disbanded by late 1984.
Wills and
Wilson later reunited in a new venture, the Fortunate Sons, who recorded two albums for Bam Caruso. And
Wills re-formed
the Barracudas in 1989 with
Gluck, Fortunate Sons bass player Steve Robinson, and drummer Rick Sigmund (although the latter was quickly replaced by Jay Posner). They recorded the excellent Wait for Everything in 1994 for the Canadian indie label Shake!, but the reunion was ultimately hampered by lack of money. Another reunion took place in 2003. ~ William Ruhlmann