ONE THOUSAND MOTELS, the collaboration between Rat Scabies and Chris Constantinou, are to have their debut album 2% Out Of Sync released on vinyl for the first time.
Having recorded three albums with punk supergroup The Mutants - alongside members of UK Subs, The Specials, Vice Squad, The MC5 and Stiff Little Fingers - the Damned drummer and Adam Ant bassist found themselves with downtime in a NYC studio and One Thousand Motels Was Born.
“Chris writes from the heart and shares his ups and downs, which are often butt-clenchingly awkward,” Scabies explains. “He writes about his loves, losses and good times, which often play out like a Jacques Brel movie (if there were such a thing).”
“My songs are about my experiences, what else have I got to write about?” adds Constantinou, succinctly.
Scabies completed the album's drum tracks at Glastonbury's Orchard Studios; meanwhile Constantinou overdubbed his parts in his garden-shed. “There were times when we’d blown all our money and it felt like it was time to call it quits," Scabies recalls. "But I’d listen to the rough mixes and felt it would be a dreadful waste not to finish this record – the tunes are just too good.”
Originally released to rave reviews on CD in 2020 amid the confusion of COVID, the album is now getting a second chance. Released on limited edition smoke green vinyl on 17 April through FOAD Musick via Cadiz and Plastic Head, it's available to pre-order here.
But there's a twist: Scabies and Constantinou have signed 15 gold test-pressings have been tucked in Willy Wonka-style with pre-sale stock, so buyers won't know what they've got 'til it arrives!
Pic by Tina Korhonen