ZODIAC MINDWARP & THE LOVE REACTION
Food Records impresario David Balfe discovered Zodiac Mindwarp (aka Mark Manning), a leather-clad Hells Angel, whilst the latter had been stalking the Spar supermarket near his girlfriend's house. On hearing Zodiac's demo with it's T-Rex riffs and early hip hop beats, Balfe signed his band, who became the labels main act during 1985.  Lacking in resources, they lost the band to a major label soon after (although Balfe remained as the band's manager).

If you believe that you'll believe anything! Manning was actually a writer for Sounds music magazine (in the 80's there were three weekly U.K. mags; the NME, the Melody Maker, and Sounds) and became a rock god of his own making in the late '80's, with Food releasing his acclaimed E.P. 'High Priest of Love' in 1986, and his major label debut 'Prime Mover' hitting the charts in 1987.

The Love Reaction's solitary album briefly set the music world aflame with a dirty, grinding mixture of AC/DC, Hanoi Rocks, Motorhead, and the punky but not so precious attitude of the Damned. Top of the Pops appearances soon arrived, and then departed as quickly as they came when follow-up singles 'Backseat Education' and 'Planet Girl' saw diminishing chart positions in comparison to to their early success.

Maybe wisely, Manning suspended his musical activity in 1988, but returned in 1991 with new material and a U.S. tour supporting Guns n' Roses.  The music was again suspended in 1994, although the Love Reaction have again reconvened for new releases in 2002.

In between, Manning continued his career as a writer, with books such as 'Get Your Cock Out' (2000) being described as 'a romance' (?), in addition to work as a cartoon artist and the occasional journal of his years as a touring and recording musician. To this end, an autobiography entitled 'Fucked By Rock' was released in 2000, with early copies featuring a CD of new material by the Love Reaction.  A new full-length album is planned for release in late 2002.

IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE ZODIAC MINDWARP & THE LOVE REACTION: 
Crazyhead, Judas Priest, The Cult, Van Halen, Marc Bolan & T.Rex, AC/DC, the KLF, Motorhead, Gaye Bykers on Acid, Alice Cooper, Guns N' Roses, Hanoi Rocks.
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A fine, up-to-date Zodiac Mindwarp website exists at:-
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~god/