The Arrows

The Arrows were a US/UK band produced by legend Mickie Most on his RAK Record label. They were active in the mid 1970's with chart hits "Touch Too Much", "My Last Night With You", and "I Love Rock N Roll". The latter, an anthemic song written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows, became a huge hit for Joan Jett in 1982.

The Arrows were Alan Merrill (bass guitar and lead vocals) Jake Hooker (guitar and background vocals) and Paul Varley (drums) and this was the recording line-up. They recorded one album, FIRST HIT, on RAK Records produced by Phil Coulter in 1976. Ironically the LP did not contain any of their chart hit singles produced by Mickie Most. They had success on FIRST HIT with the single "Boogiest Band In Town". The Arrows hosted a weekly Granada TV series in the UK in 1976 &nd 1977, and the band also had a book written about them by Bill Harry on Everest books.

RAK/EMI Records UK have been preparing to release an Arrows CD in the near future containing their hit singles and other tracks. The group broke up in 1978.

The Arrows were a mixed group of American and British musicians that made their biggest impact in Britain during the mid-'70s. The band worked with producer Phil Coulter on their one and only album, 1976's First Hit, which didn't really catch on in America but gave them a modicum of success in Europe. They also had several singles produced by Mickie Most during this era, the most important being "I Love Rock 'N Roll," which would go on to be a smash hit for Joan Jett a few years later. The band was made up of bassist/vocalist Alan Merrill, guitarist Jake Hooker, and drummer Paul Varley. The three also scored a television deal, leading to a regular series that played from 1976 to 1977. The group broke up in 1978, leading Merrill to pursue a solo career and record with artists as varied as Meat Loaf and Rick Derringer. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide