Probe Plus was a

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

based in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. It was founded by Geoff Davies, an enthusiastic promoter of small, unsigned bands, who describes the label as "Music to drive you to drink".De Burgh, Simon (1991) 'Probe Plus Records', ''Spiral Scratch'', Issue 12, July 1991

History

The label was started in May 1981, its first release being the self-titled debut EP by local electronic band Ex Post Facto. For years the label was based in an office above the Probe Records shop in Rainford Gardens. Due to a change in building ownership both the shop and label were forced to move and Davies set up office in his house. After marrying Anne in 1999, they moved house and he continued to run the label from there. Probe Plus has a number of bands to their name including Kelso, Dead Poppies and Marlowe. In 1990, the label released "Colours", the first single by

No-Man No-Man are an English art pop duo, formed in 1987 as No Man Is an Island (Except the Isle of Man) by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson. The band has so far produced seven studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes ...

, who later signed to

One Little Indian One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In ...

and Epic/Sony. The label is perhaps best known for

Half Man Half Biscuit Half Man Half Biscuit are an English rock band, formed in 1984 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Known for their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs, the band comprises lead singer and guitarist Nigel Blackwell, bassist and singer Neil Cr ...

, who were signed from 1985 until the end of the label. Davies signed the group on the basis of a tape they gave to him, saying "I thought that if the tape was half as good as the titles then I'd want to record this group". The band's debut album sold over 50,000 copies, enabling Davies to plough money back into the label. Probe Plus were later home to a number of

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

bands, including

Fflaps Fflaps were a Welsh post-punk band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, formed in Bangor, Gwynedd, Bangor, Wales.John Robb (musician), Robb, John (2013)Lost treasure: 80s Welsh underground band the FFlaps, Louder Than War, 2 January 2013. Re ...

who released a Welsh-language album on the label. Many of the label's releases are produced by Davies and Sam Davis under the pseudonym 'The Bald Brothers'. In 2021, Davies announced his retirement and the closure of the label with Half Man Half Biscuit announcing they will move to self-releasing their future material.

Probe Plus artists

Probe Plus have released records by artists including: *

Attila the Stockbroker John Baine (born 21 October 1957), better known by his stage name Attila the Stockbroker,Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 208 is an English punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter. He pe ...

*Betrayal *Brenda and the Beachballs *

Cyclic Amp Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP, cyclic AMP, or 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate) is a second messenger important in many biological processes. cAMP is a derivative of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and used for intracellular signal transd ...

*Dead Poppies *Dog Flambé *The Doonicans *Ex Post Facto * The Farm *

*Gone to Earth *

*jd meatyard *

Jegsy Dodd Jegsy Dodd (born 1957, Wirral)Sills, Ben & Panja, Tariq (2009)Liverpool Tries Refinancing as Treatment Angers Fans, Bloomberg, 24 July 2009, retrieved 2011-08-14, "Jegsy Dodd, 51" is an English performance poet from Wirral. He first came to prom ...

*Levellers 5 * Lovecraft *The Magic Carpets *Mel-O-Tones *

The Onset The Onset were formed in 1987 by Mike Badger after he left his former band The La's. Badger teamed up with locals Danny Dean on guitar, Hamish Cameron on piano and Colin Becket on drums. The first demo "Let's Go Home" can be found on the 20 ...

- featured Mike Badger and Paul Hemmings formerly of The La's *

Ophiuchus Ophiuchus () is a large constellation straddling the celestial equator. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek (), meaning "serpent-bearer", and it is commonly represented as a man grasping a snake. The serpent is represented by the constella ...

Poisoned Electrick Head Poisoned Electrick Head (PEH) is an English psychedelic indie rock/punk band formed in 1986 in St Helens, Merseyside, England.Carney, B. (2010) ''Take Your Protein Pills...'', Page 29, Lulu The band is best known for the 1994 independent ch ...

*Pressure Drop *Public Disgrace *Sik Lizards *St. Vitus Dance *

Surreal Estate ''Surreal Estate'' (french: Sérail) is a 1976 French mystery film directed by Argentine filmmaker Eduardo de Gregorio, who is best known for his screenwriting work with Jacques Rivette. Plot ''Surreal Estate'' tells the story of Eric Sange ...

(who included

Will Sergeant William Alfred Sergeant (born 12 April 1958) is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in Walton Hospital, he grew up in the village of Melling and attended nearby Deyes Lane Secondary Modern. He is th ...

and

Les Pattinson Leslie Thomas Pattinson (born 18 April 1958 in Ormskirk, Lancashire) is an English musician, best known for his work as the bassist and co-writer of the Liverpool-based band Echo & the Bunnymen,Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discog ...

of Echo & the Bunnymen) *

The Tansads The Tansads were an English band from Wigan, Greater Manchester, who were active during the 1990s. Playing a mix of folk, punk and indie music they developed a strong following on the festival circuit and on the crusty/ traveller scene, but ne ...

*The Tractors *The Tunnel Frenzies *

The Walking Seeds Walkingseeds were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1986 in Liverpool. History Frank Martin (vocals), Bob Parker (guitar), and John Neesam (drums) had previously worked together as the Mel-o-Tones, releasing a mini-LP and an EP on L ...

References

External links

* http://www.probe-plus.co.uk/ British record labels Indie rock record labels {{UK-record-label-stub

History

Probe Plus artists

See also

References

External links