| antics were formed in January 1976 by guitarist Tom | | | | regional tour throughout New England. The band |
| Hauck and bass player Bruce Wilkinson, two students | | | | performed with artists including The Ramones, Cheap |
| at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, just | | | | Trick, Boston, The Cars, Graham Parker, and many |
| outside Boston. A mutual friend introduced them to | | | | others. The single One Last Night by Bruce |
| drummer Boby Bear and lead guitarist Jeff Lock. To | | | | Wilkinson received regional and international airplay, |
| complete the lineup Bruce recruited singer Bobby | | | | and the album garnered a glowing review in Rolling |
| Marron, a friend from his hometown in New Jersey. | | | | Stone. |
| The Atlantics played their first show in March of 1976 | | | | In the summer of 1979 Paul Caruso joined the group |
| at The Rat in Kenmore Square. In May of 1976 they | | | | as drummer, and the band came back in 1980 with |
| scored the opening slot for the Ramones, who were | | | | what was to become one of New England's biggest |
| playing two nights at The Club in Central Square. The | | | | indy singles, Lonelyhearts, written by Tom |
| band made their first trips to New York in the | | | | Hauck. It was the flip side to Can't Wait |
| summer of 1976, playing at CBGB and Max's Kansas | | | | Forever, a Motown-flavored song by Bruce |
| City. The band quickly became an important and | | | | Wilkinson. Lonelyhearts rocketed to the top |
| authentic part of the emerging punk/new wave | | | | of New England radio and dance charts and stayed |
| movement. | | | | for months, and can still be heard on Boston radio |
| The following spring Ray Boy Fernandes replaced | | | | stations over twenty-five years later. |
| Boby Bear on drums. In the summer of 1977 the | | | | During the next two years the Atlantics released |
| band recorded its first independent 45 on Jukebox | | | | several more songs on tape to Boston radio stations, |
| Records, When You're Young by Bruce | | | | including Pop Shivers, Wrong Number |
| Wilkinson, backed with Where Would I Be | | | | and Weekend. In June 1983 the band played |
| Without Your Love, by Jeff Lock. A thousand | | | | their final show at the Channel in Boston. The original |
| copies were pressed but never released, and the | | | | analog tapes of many of the Atlantics most popular |
| single is now considered a collector’s item. In | | | | songs were then put into storage. In 2006 these |
| the spring of 1978 Jeff Lock left the band and was | | | | tapes were recovered and thirteen tracks were |
| replaced by Fred Pineau. The Atlantics were signed to | | | | digitally restored for the ATLANTICS album. These |
| ABC Records that summer, and in December the | | | | tracks were recorded between 1979 and 1982 in |
| band recorded their album BIG CITY ROCK at the Hit | | | | studios in the Boston area, and have no overdubs or |
| Factory in New York. The record dropped in March, | | | | other alterations. In 2007 the band released a second |
| 1979, but a few weeks before the release ABC | | | | CD, ATLANTICS LIVE. The disc is a recording of a |
| Records was sold to MCA Records. Their new label, | | | | March, 1979 concert at the Paradise Club in Boston |
| together with Premier Talent, put the Atlantics on a | | | | and features many of the songs included on the Big |
| nationwide tour with Roxy Music, followed by a | | | | City Rock LP. |