WHIRLWIND : Dangerous!

One of the first significant bands to emerge from the British rockabilly revival, Whirlwind was a potent live attraction in the U.K. and helped establish a tenuous but important link between the Roots Rock community and the growing punk rock underground. Whirlwind was formed in 1976 by singer Nigel Dixon and drummer Phil Hardy, both being fans of first-era Rock 'n' Roll. They joined forces with Mick Lewis on guitar and Chris Emo on bass and stormed the London club circuit. After a successful residency at legendary club The Speakeasy, Whirlwind became a hot attraction in London and earned many fans on the burgeoning punk/new wave scene by opening for the likes of the Clash, Elvis Costello & the Attractions and Ian Dury &the Blockheads. Chiswick Records, home to such proto-punk notables as the Count Bishops, the Gorillas and Johnny Moped, signed Whirlwind in 1977, and after a pair of singles issued the group's debut album "Blowing Up A Storm" in January 1978. The group embarked on major U.K. road trip opening for Blondie, but by the end of the tour the band had called it a day before the second album "Midnight Blue" was even released. Nigel Dixon's post Whirlwind career included solo released, but most notably he formed HAVANA 3AM with Paul Simonon of The Clash. Nigel Dixon lost his life to cancer in 1993 the disease also claimed Phil Hardy the same year. A CD anthology of Whirlwind's Chiswick material "In the Studio" was released in 1995. "Dangerous" is a collection of previously unissued Whirlwind recordings from 1977 to 1984.