Various line-ups: 1981-1990
Manual Scan emerged after the demise of La Jolla High School-based group The Pedestrians at the beginning of 1981. The original lineup consisted of Kevin Donaker-Ring; Bart Mendoza; David Fleminger (who actually attended Clairmont High School); and Paul Kaufman, with an official start time of July 4, 1981, and a gig at fleeting downtown eatery, The London Tavern, alongside The Roosters. Hanging out at their friend Ron Archibald’s house, they were pressed for a name that a concert promoter could use for their debut show. Donaker-Ring chose Manual Scan by putting his finger down at random in a Radio Shack catalog laying on a nearby coffee table.
The Manual Scan lineup which made the initial impact came a few months later when former Pedestrian Paul Brewin took the drum throne; they recorded the “Plan of Action” EP the following year. They were initially managed by Peter “English” Verbugge. Ring and Mendoza would continue as the core of the band, with numerous line-up changes and variations thereof in their nine year existence. The band signed to England’s Hi-Lo Records in 1984, releasing an album in 1985. They continued working with indie labels throughout thier existence, notably Minneapolis’s Susstones Records and Pittsburgh’s Get Hip Records. In 1986 the band’s song “Nothing Can Be Everything” was included in the Sony Pictures crime drama “A Girl to Kill For.” The band toured frequently, with gigs at the 100 Club (London), Mabuhay Gardens (San Francisco) and Rancho Grande (Tijuana) particular highlights. Manual Scan split in 1990, but there have been reunion shows, most recently in 2005.
Post Manual Scan, Donaker-Ring formed long-running group The Shambles with Ray Brandes, Mark Zadarnowski and David Klowden. Mendoza joined that combo just prior to a UK trip in 1992. That group has also undergone numerous line-up changes in its existence, but the core of Mendoza, Donaker-Ring and Zadarnowski remain.
Bart Mendoza: lead vocals, rhythm guitar • Kevin Donaker-Ring: backing vocals, lead guitar • David Fleminger: Bass • Paul Kaufman: Drums. Later line-up’s included: Drums: Paul Brewin, Joel Kmak, David Anderson, Brad Wilkins, Bobby Allend, Morgan Young. Guitar: Richie “Rooster” Brubaker. Guitar/Vocals: Yvonne Simon. Bass: Scott Harrington, Tony Saurez, Ron Friedman, Orrick Smith. Studio Only Guests: Joyce Rooks: vocals, Matt Comione: Keyboards, Paul Bevoir: keyboards, vocals.
Manual Scan Discography
ALBUMS:
1) 1985 — One (HiLo Records/UK): Nothing Can Be Everything/And We Still Feel the Same/Ever Any Reason/New Difference/The Bird/Go On Time After Time/Plan Of Action/ Don’t know where to Start/Yesterday’s Gone/Shape Of Things/Confidence and Love/Man About town/I Want to Hold Your hand/For Those
2) 1987 — Downlights (Susstones/US): same music as above, different sleeve
3) 1998 – Plan Of Action (Snap/Spain): All Night Stand/Nothing You Can Do/And We Still Feel The Same/Ever Any Reason/For Those/She Said It’s Late (Long Version)/I Want To Hold Your Hand/Plan Of Action (ITC Version)/New Difference/Yesterday’s Gone/31968/I Can’t Don’t Want To Faster/Confidence And Love/New Song/Come And See Me/Jungle Beat (remake)/ Man About Town/ Don’t Know Where to Start/Nothing Can Be Everything/The Bird (Demo 1)/ Shape Of Things++++Bonus Tracks: Woman (live)/Gloria (live)/ Hanky Panky (live)/What Did You Say (demo)/ Yesterday’s Gone (demo)
4) 1998- All Night Stand (Get Hip/US): Plan of Action/I Can Only Give You Everything/Shape Of Things/Nothing You Can Do/Delve Into Everything/And We Still Feel The Same/Confidence And Love/New Song/She said it’s late (Long Version)/I Want To Hold Your Hand/All Night Stand/The Bird/Nothing Can be Everything/Ever Any Reason/It’s Alright With Me/Jungle Beat (remake)/Don’t Know where to Start/Anymore/ 31968/New Difference(Remix)/Come see Me ++++++Bonus tracks: Fearless (live acoustic)/I Want To Hold Your Hand (demo) / Don’t Know Where To start (live acoustic)/The Bird (demo 2)
5) 1999 – Plan Of Action (Snap Records/Spain) second pressing, same as above, with new tray insert, tray card
COMPILATIONS:
1) 1985 Cutting Edge (Razor/UK): Jungle Beat ’85
2) 1985 In the Crowd #18 (Fab/7″ Flexidisk/UK): And We Still Feel The Same/ Plan Of Action (+ 1 song by the Risk)
3) 1986 American Heart & Soul (HiLo/UK): New Song
4) 1988 Phase III (Unicorn/7″ EP/ UK): 31968 (+3 other bands)
5) 1994 Cutting Edge (Jimco/VACD/Japan): Jungle Beat ’85
6) 1997 It’s A Mod Mod World (Antenna/VACD/UK): New Song/Confidence And Love/New Difference
7) 1998 This Is Mod Volume 6 (Cherry Red/VACD/UK): Nothing You Can Do/American Way/New Difference/Anymore/Jungle Beat
8 ) 1999 The Cutting Edge (Rhythm Vicar Preach 035/VACD/UK): Jungle Beat ’85
9) 10/01 San Diego Music Awards 2001 Sampler (US/SLAAM/VACD): Nothing You Can Do
10) 2001 Echoes of the Kinks Vol. 2 – (Bootleg/VACD): All Night Stand
11) 2008 TBD (Sound Asleep/VACD/Sweden): TBD
SINGLES:
1) 1981- Plan of Action (Dance and Stance/7″ EP/US): Nothing You Can Do/American Way/New Difference/Jungle Beat/Anymore
2) 1986 –Lost Sessions (Get Hip/US): All Night Stand/Come See Me/I Can Only Give You Everything/It’s Alright
3) 1986 – Lost Sessions (Get Hip/US): same music as above, but a blue vinyl, white vinyl promo.
4) 1989 – Days & Maybe’s (Susstones/US): She Said It’s Late/Of Heart And Soul/And If/James Bond Theme/It’s Only Love/For Jamie
5) 1990 – Days & Maybe’s (Susstones/US): Repressing 200 copies. Ltd oversleeve.
6) 10/2006 – Plan of Action (Munster/7″ EP/Spain): Nothing You Can Do/American Way/New Difference/Jungle Beat/Anymore – reissue
VIDEO:
1) A Girl To Kill For (Video Cassette 1989 this film features “Nothing Can Be Everything” in a scene)
2) A Girl To Kill For (Laser Disc 1990 this film features “Nothing Can Be Everything” in a scene)
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/manualscan
http://www.youtube.com/user/LosShambles (Both Manual Scan & Shambles videos)
http://www.myspace.com/kevinring
http://www.myspace.com/3363716 (Bart )
http://www.myspace.com/theshambles
http://www.theshambles.net (includes discographies on related bands including the Crawdaddys, Mystery Machine and more + memorabilia etc)
http://www.myspace.com/blindspotrecordssd (our band run “label,” not just us though…)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shambles_(band) (just the facts…)