Shy - Shy Shy

Shy were a mainstay in the melodic rock scene right back to the mid 1980s. But one fundamental difference separated Shy and the rest, they came shining through time and time again. Crowned by the success of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Europe, the 80s were the golden era of AOR and for a while every record company craved its own poodle-haired, tight-trousered offspring. Shy made albums for two different major labels and for a while seemed in with a genuine shot at glory, but like all the above ended up biting the dust. Before adopting the name of Shy, their roots lay in the altogether heavier, twin-guitar metal of Trojan. However, even in 1982 they sensed the decade’s wind of change and set out to leave pub-metal behind. They received an offer to make an album for Hull-based independent Ebony Records on the day after a helium-voiced ball of energy called Tony Mills was sacked by his own ex-band. Their debut album Once Bitten… Twice Shy was described by Kerrang! as perhaps the greatest English pomp rock album of all time. Already having gigged with UFO, Magnum, Twisted Sister and Pallas, the band then added high profile supports with Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf and Gary Moore. Before undertaking their all-important third album, 1987’s Excess All Areas, RCA relocated Shy to Los Angeles to soak up the Californian hard rock radio vibe. Such was the quality of Excess All Areas that just like FM’s Tough It Out and Native Sons by Strangeways, its inability to make stars of its creators now seems almost unfeasible. “In any genre, there will only ever be a couple of winners,” reflected Steve Harris. “But it’s surprising how many people talk of that album in hushed tones and don’t actually own a copy – or only bought the reissue.” In the following years a lot of changes occurred and Shy went through many changes. A settled line-up completed by keyboard player Joe Basketts and drummer Bob Richards played one of the sets of the day at the second Firefest show in Nottingham alongside the likes of House Of Lords, Danger Danger and Harem Scarem. The event’s packed attendance confirmed that AOR still had a fiercely devoted niche following in Britain, though strangely Shy claim to still be discovered by new followers.

Frontman Tony Mills (RIP) left the band for Norwegians TNT, and Lee Small (Phenomena / Surveillance) took the mike stand. Shy lost none of their appeal and the resulting CD was a burst of fresh air, sounding at their very best and this self titled release is a crowning achievement that set the standard for all others.