Donovan’s Brain 1980-1984
First Cab 1985-1992
The Band
Phil Etheridge – lead vocals, bass guitar
Niclas Carron – guitar, backing vocals
Ulf Andersson – guitar
Björn Hammarberg – drums
Dan Gustavsson filled in on guitar for a few shows in the spring of 1984 while Ulf Andersson was on tour with Landslaget (the band not the football team)
Phil Etheridge switched to guitar/keyboards when Ulf Andersson quit the band in 1986 and David Parkin became the new bass player
The Bio
First Cab was started under the name Donovan’s Brain in 1980 by Phil Etheridge: bass and lead vocals, Ulf Andersson: guitar and keyboards, Niclas Carron: guitar and backing vocals and Björn Hammarberg: drums and percussion. Singer and guitarist Phil Etheridge was inspired by new wave artists like Elvis Costello and Ian Dury and bands like XTC, Squeeze, The Jam, The Clash and many others to write songs for a four-piece guitar-based pop band.
After meeting guitarist Ulf Andersson and airing the possibility of starting a band, former fusion band “Sirban” members, drummer Björn Hammarberg and guitarist Niclas Carron were eventually roped in to the new band. As Phil had already played bass in London bands from the early 70’s, switching to bass was easy.
Donovan’s Brain secured a recording contract with Mistlur in early 1984 after winning a rock-band competition at Stockholm’s Mosebacke venue and “Little Pieces” was subsequently recorded with producer Stefan Glaumann twiddling the knobs. The album was released in 1985 under the band’s new name: First Cab. Several very good reviews were received, along with some national radio-play, but ultimately the album never took off.
Many demos were recorded and gigs were regularly played until 1992 when the band finally decided to call it a day. As of 2021 the band is again performing songs from “Little Pieces” as The Dave Park Five, in memory of late 80’s First Cab bass-player David “Herbie” Parkin, who succumbed to cancer in 2020.
The Pix
The 7″
Donovan’s Brain
Exile Records, ESS-01, black vinyl
Release date: 1983
A side:
Push 4.25
B side:
Remember 6.25
The 12″ Promo
First Cab
Animation
Mistlur Records, MLRDJ-05, black vinyl
Promo 12″ single not for sale
Release date: Autumn 1985
A side:
Animation 2.47
Anastasia 4.07
B side:
Little Pieces 3.27
The 12″ US Promo
Richard Lloyd, First Cab, Lolita Pop, Imperiet
Mistlur Records, MLRUSAMAXI 1, black vinyl
Promo 12″ single for the US market, not for sale
Release date: 1986
A side:
Richard Lloyd – Keep On Dancin’ 5.40
First Cab – Animation 2.47
B side:
Lolita Pop – Trains of Longing 3.51
Imperiet – Peace 6.11
The Album
First Cab
Little Pieces
Mistlur Records, MLR-47, black vinyl
Release date: Autumn 1985
A side
Animation 2.49
Anastasia 4.09
What You Say 3.19
French Kisses 3.30
Tell Me Why 3.10
66 3.36
B side
The Cypress Tree 3.26
Pictures of You 4.12
Bluebeat 3.00
Shoot 4.40
Little Pieces 3.29
Five Minute Trend 3.25 – CD bonus track
The Shows
Click on dates for setlist
19820828 Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
198xxxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
198xxxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
198xxxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
198xxxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
1983xxxx Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
19830312 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Träffen
19830602 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Dollhouse
19830923 Donovan’s Brain – Sandviken, Folkets Hus, Teatern
19830930 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Söderhielmska Gården
19831018 Donovan’s Brain – Uppsala, V-Dala Nation
19831125 Donovan’s Brain – Sandviken, Eos
19831126 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Fenix
19831223 Donovan’s Brain – Sandviken, Bellman
19840211 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Brynjan
19840313 Donovan’s Brain – Uppsala, V-Dala Nation
19840322 Donovan’s Brain – unknown venue
19840403 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Lärarhögskolan
19840404 Donovan’s Brain – Stockholm, Mosebacke
19840425 Donovan’s Brain – Stockholm, Mosebacke
19840425 Donovan’s Brain – Stockholm, Mosebacke (alt setlist)
19840431 Donovan’s Brain – Hudiksvall, Wallnersgården
19840511 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Helges
19840608 Donovan’s Brain – Gävle, Folkparken
19840620 Donovan’s Brain – Sandviken, Eos
19840811 Donovan’s Brain – Bollnäs Marknad
19850102 First Cab – Gävle(?), Solängen
19850112 First Cab – Gävle, Dollhouse
19850131 First cab – Uppsala, Kalmar Nation
19850302 First Cab – Gävle, Strömbadet
19850317 First Cab – Stockholm, Orionteatern
Support to Imperiet & Docenterna
19850406 First Cab – Gävle, Fenix
19850629 First Cab – Örebro, Lorry
19851109 First Cab – (?), Munken
19860119 First Cab – Söderhamn, Dollhouse
19860607 First Cab – Furuviksparken
19860816 First Cab – Uppsala, Kalmar Nation
1986-10-08 First Cab – Gävle, Royal Blue
1986-11-05 First Cab – Stockholm, Tre Backar
Support act: Midnight Act
1987-09-02 First Cab – Sandviken, Backbeatbolaget (as a trio)
19870905 First Cab – Hofors, unknown venue
19880130 First Cab – Stockholm, Kaos
19880514 First Cab – Gävle, Söderhielmska
19890826 First Cab – Gävle, Skänken
19900216 First Cab – Gävle, Piggis
19900901 First Cab – Högbo Bruk
1992-10-23 First Cab + Elvert Under Ground – Gävle, Key Club
198xxxxx First Cab – unknown venue
198xxxxx First Cab – Stockholm, Kaos
20140802 Donovan’s Brain – Forsbacka, Robin Hood
The Videos
First Cab – Good Guy Shakes (Live at Orionteatern, Stockholm, 17 March 1985)
First Cab – Song and Dance (Live at Orionteatern, Stockholm, 17 March 1985)
First Cab – Another Mess (Live at Orionteatern, Stockholm, 17 March 1985)
First Cab – Bluebeat (Live at Orionteatern, Stockholm, 17 March 1985)
More more more coming soon soon soon!