The Slowguns

The Slowguns (or SlowGuns as they preferred) were a Stockport (nr Manchester, England) punk rock band whose brief career spanned two singles between 1978 and 1980. Although a part of the burgeoning local punk scene the mod influence was obvious in both their sound and look. Their lineup briefly included Stockport actress Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, who was then unknown.

The Slowguns were two Stockport brothers, Peter Daulby (vocals) and David Daulby, (guitar), bassist Terry Podmore and a pool of irregular drummers. The two principal songwriters were Podmore and Peter Daulby, who met at a local art college.

Their first single (1978) was T.V. Movie with the B side American HeartBeat, both songs a swipe at the vapidity of American culture. Both sides were also marked by an idiosyncratic off-the-wall guitar style and melodic facility that placed them above the usual three chord thrash of the time.

The single garnered praise from Radio One DJ John Peel (who preferred the B-side) and was voted joint record of the week with Splodgenessabounds ‘I’m in Love with Margaret Thatcher’ in the popular English music journal 'Sounds'

The second single ‘The Time Is Right for Us’ backed by ‘My Karma’ was much poppier and less angular and arty than their first outing but met with little success. Internal dissent within the group caused them to split in 1980.

Despite their general obscurity, or because of it, interest from punk nostalgists and the internet have made original Slowguns singles highly collectible. Interest may also have been created by endless bootlegging of their first single on illegal CD punk compilations.

An abandoned LP 'Wrestle poodles & win' is said to exist but has yet to come to light.