San Diego Reader

Manual Scan was formed in the early 1980s in San Diego, CA. The first lineup consisted of Bart Mendoza on vocals and guitar, Kevin Ring (later Kevin Donaker-Ring) on guitar and vocals, David Fleminger on bass, and Paul Kaufman on drums. Througout several lineups, the core of Mendoza and Ring remained, and Manual Scan was one of the premiere mod bands of the U.S. in the 1980s.

Releasing a string of singles beginning in 1981 and an album issued in both the U.S. and England in 1986, the band toured extensively throughout Califormia and Arizona as well as England (the 100 Club and the Marquee, among other venues) and Mexico.

Other members have included Paul Brewin (later in Drip tank, Uncle Joe's Big Ole driver); David Anderson (Trebels, Gravedigger V); Joel Kmak (Hitmakers, the Farmers, the Penetrators); Brad Wilkins; Rob Wilson; Bobby Allend; and Morgan Young; as well as guitarist Ritchie Rooster and saxophone player Joe Asaro.

A number of Manual Scan's recordings are available today: Manual Scan's U.S. "Best of" compilation, All Night Stand, is available from Get Hip Records (www.gethip.com), as is the Lost Sessions vinyl EP. (FYI: The band also has a "Best of" issued in Spain by Snap Records, Plan of Action, with different songs and a different cover.)

Numerous performers from around the world have covered Manual Scan songs, including the Eddies ("Jungle Beat"), Afterglow ("Of Heart & Soul"), Mod Fun ("Nothing Can Be Everything"), Anna Troy ("31968"), the Kingpins ("Plan of Action"), Anthony Meynell & Sugarplum ("Confidence & Love") and Static Halo ("American Way").

In November 2006, Spain's Munster Records re-issued Manual Scan's ultrarare Plan of Action 7" vinyl EP as part of their Collector's Club series. After evolving into the Shambles, an early 2006 Manual Scan reunion concert and a few subsequent shows indicated the band may re-form.

As of 2010, Mendoza and Ring are still members of the Shambles, along with Mark Z, formerly of the Crawdaddys. Manual Scan played another reunion show at the Casbah on January 30, 2010. Around the same time, they performed on CW-6 TV’s San Diego Living program, as well as convening at Signature Sound Studios with producer Alan Sanderson (Rolling Stones, Weezer) to record a special edition of the Pyles Sessions, to be broadcast on host Tim Pyles FM94.9 show.

In late 2010, drummer Morgan Young relocated to L.A., where he plays with Into the Presence, but he remains with the reunited band, which has a sporadic gig schedule.

The February 2011 issue of UK mag Heavy Soul (#5) included a twelve track CD, featuring Manual Scan’s otherwise unavailable cover of “She’s So Fine” by the Easybeats. In addition, Spanish band Paff Boom has recorded a version of Manual Scan’s instrumental “The Bird” for inclusion on an upcoming EP.

In May 2011, the band appeared on the cover of Heavy Soul #6, a fanzine from England, which included a CD featuring the track “Plan of Action” recorded for The Pyles Sessions by Alan Sanderson and Tim Pyles. Around the same time, former Manual Scan roadie (and occasional backup singer) Steve Griggs passed away. He was the former president of Secret Society S.C., as well as MCing several local New Sounds Festivals.

When they opened for the Penetrators at the Casbah on August 13, 2011, drummer Morgan Young was temporarily replaced by former Dragons drummer Jarrod Lucas, alongside bassist Tim Blankenship (ex-Creedle), keyboardist Dave Fleminger (the Answers, Cardiac Kidz), and MS mainmen Bart Mendoza and Kevin Donaker-Ring.