Rich Kids 12 miles high

Rich Kids "12 Miles High"


From Wikipedia:

The Rich Kids were a short-lived, much-hyped rock and roll band from London in the late 1970s.

They were formed by Glen Matlock (vocals / bass guitar) after he left the Sex Pistols, and fronted by Glaswegian Midge Ure (vocals / guitars / keyboards) (formerly of Slik and PVC2). Rusty Egan (drums) and Steve New (vocals / guitars), briefly second guitarist for the Sex Pistols and later PiL, completed the line-up.[1]

An early line-up in 1977 was formed by New and Egan on their same instruments and Matlock on lead vocals and bass, and The Clash's Mick Jones on guitar. Midge Ure saw a little interest early 1977 in the group and continued with his Slik transformed to punkier PVC2 members, which split up in September 1977. Ure left his Slik/PVC2 bandmates and moved immediately to Rich Kids and Jones dropped out and continued with The Clash.

The Rich Kids were amongst the foremost British exponents of the power pop style, blending influences from 1960s acts such as The Small Faces and The Who with more recent punk rock sounds.

They put out one album, Ghosts Of Princes In Towers (produced by Mick Ronson), and three singles during their existence, from March 1977 to December 1978 (although the official announcement of their disbanding was not made until mid 1979). At their Lyceum show in spring 1978 Ronson played guitar and Ian McLagan (ex-Faces) played keyboards.

Their material did not have commercial success (like the first single "Rich Kids") and the group announced their official separation in 1979.

Matlock and New went on to tour with Iggy Pop, while Egan and Ure formed a band called The Misfits (not the American hardcore punk band) and, after short spells with The Skids and Thin Lizzy, respectively, reunited in Visage.[1] In April 1979, Ure joined Ultravox[1].

With only one single making the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart,[2] the Rich Kids join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk or new wave acts such as John Cooper Clarke, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and The Vibrators.