The UK 70s Arrows

Arrows, I Love Rock N Roll and more!

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Arrows with their 6th single “Once Upon A Time” (1976) on RAK records “RAK N Roll” compilation LP with “Once Upon A Time”. 

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Arrows and fans at Capital Radio, London England, March 1976. Our single “Once Upon A Time” (RAK) had entered the station’s top 30 charts and we were there doing an interview. Thanks to friend of the Arrows Cheryl for providing the rare photos! Arrows founding members Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker and Paul Varley. 

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Fantastic find! 

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Arrows in 1974, left to right- Alan Merrill, Paul Varley, Jake Hooker.

Photo by Gered Mankowitz.

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Arrows, ‘I love rock n roll’ 1975.

Arrows were  produced by Mickie Most.

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Arrows first two releases were chart hit UK/Europe singles in 1974 produced by Mickie Most on RAK records “Touch Too Much” (#6) and “Toughen Up” (#51) they got the the Golden Lion award as best new band in Belgium. Lead vocals / bass guitar Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker guitar / vocal harmonies, Paul Varley drums /vocal harmonies. 

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Arrows Alan and Paul, Arrows weekly TV show season one 1976.

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Arrows lead singer Alan Merrill on the Arrows weekly TV show 1976 season 2.

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Arrows “Once Upon A Time” sheet music. The band’s 6th and last single out in January 1976 on RAK records. Produced and written by Phil Coulter. Lead and harmony vocals by Alan Merrill.

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Sweet slow dance for the band’s last single.

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The UK band Arrows made the charts with their first three singles and oddly their 4th single, the monster song that the band wrote “I Love Rock N Roll” was the one the label didn’t promote, with that single never going further than the DJ demonstration copy phase in England with the A-side version only being promoted in Belgium where the band had won the Golden Lion award for best new band in 1974. Mad as it seems now, “I Love Rock N Roll” was the least promoted of the 6 Arrows singles.

A very weird story!

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Arrows Top Songs • #1: "A Touch Too Much" • #2: "My Last Night with You" • #3: "Toughen Up" • • Music VF, US & UK hits charts

Arrows were a short lived band (1974-1977) based in London England. Their first three singles made the British charts. After their third single “My Last Night With You” made the charts with the 4th single “I Love Rock N Roll” a song written by the band’s lead singer, their record label mysteriously stopped promoting the group and by February 1976 the band stopped releasing singles and broke up not long after in 1977 unable to release records and held to their binding recording contract. 

They are the only band in history to have a weekly TV series Arrows (1976-77) and no records released during the run of the shows, two full seasons in the UK. This was due to a severe acrimonious clash between the label RAK and the band’s manager Ian Wright of MAM Management.

The story would make a great movie.

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Arrows lead singer Alan Merrill London England 1974. Photo by Michael Putland for Getty Images.

Jacket design by Noko Ohno of Tokyo.

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Arrows ‘Night At The Opera” - from the Arrows comic strip in Music Star magazine UK 1974 and ‘75. 

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Love these cartoons!

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Arrows Alan Merrill at the piano up on the 2nd floor at RAK records (2 Charles Street London W1) with Paul Varley (middle) and Jake Hooker (right). Time frame going by the band’s jackets this was early summer of 1974 and the band’s debut single was in the charts top ten.  

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Arrows in Berkeley Square, London England  spring of 1974. The park is near their record label RAK at 2 Charles Street.

Left to right: Paul Varley, Jake Hooker., Alan Merrill

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Left to right: Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows on their weekly TV series 1976.

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Lead singer of the UK band Arrows hits and songwriter of “I Love Rock N Roll” Alan Merrill, in 1975.

Photo by Terry O’Neill. Location London England.

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Arrows tour of the UK October-November 1975 to promote their 5th single on RAK records “Hard Hearted.”