One Hit Wonders: Ian Gomm’s “Hold On”

Ian Gomm Performs "Hold On," c. 1978 (YouTube)

A one-time member of UK band, Brinsley Schwarz, guitarist Ian Gomm scored his one hit in 1979 with the melodic New Wave pop song, “Hold On.”

Once considered the best of all rhtyhm guitarists by NME magazine, Ian Gomm was a member of Brinsley Schwarz for most of their five-year history. When bandmates Bob Andrews and Brinsley Schwarz went on to back Graham Parker‘s band and Nick Lowe started cutting his teeth as a producer, Gomm floated about somewhat aimlessly.

Revived in the 1970s, Gomm spent time learning about production from Martin Rushent and, subsequently, producing tracks by the Stranglers and Alexis Korner.

In spite of his efforts, Gomm found solo success to be fleeting and support from the industry to be non-existent.

“I took (my demos) around and got rejected by everyone,” Gomm once said. “It’s the old story, but even worse. I’d go into offices and they’d say, ‘Face it, Ian, not only are the tunes awful, but you can’t even sing. Why bother? Get a day job.’ I began to think they were right.”

In spite of the resistance, Stiff Records took a chance and released a 1978 solo record called Summer Holiday, that was repackaged as Gomm With the Wind for US release the following year. Contained therein was “Hold On,” Gomm’s delightful strumming taste of pop punk that went to Number 18 on the US Hot 100 in October 1979.

Gomm continues to work steadily on a variety of projects to this day, most recently completing a set of 14 tunes with Jeb Loy Nichols called Only Time Will Tell.

Gone but not forgotten, at least not at WNEW, find more tales of one-hit wonders here …