Post Two-Tone Bands
Pauline Black is running an excellent series of interviews with Coventry musicians, particularly from this time.(please note, I am not Pauline, just and ex-cov scene musician and fan)
Aching Tongue
Karl Shale - Bass
Drums - Dianne Cox
Karl Shale joined Colourfield.
Attrition
Martin Bowes - Vocals, Keyboards lots of other stuff
Julia Waller - Vocals
Ashley Waller -
Others
Martin ran "Alternative Sounds", coventry's own Fanzine, reckoned he'd like to make some music, Attrition were born. They initially issued cassttes on their own label. Went on to be quite famous. They are still going strong. Visit their website.
Singles
Fear/Devoid - 1982
Monkey in a bin - 1984
Deliverance - 1984
The voice of god - 1984
Shrinkwrap/Pendulum - 1985
Take Five - 1987
Haydn (remix) - 1988
Haydn (the final session) - 1989
Turn To Gold - 1989
Thin Red Line - 1991
Something In My Eye - 1992
Lip Sync - 1993
The Eternity ep - 1997
Kissing a Virtual Angel - 1999
Red letter/Kharb - 2000
Albums
The Attrition Of Reason - 1984
Smiling, At the Hypogonder Club - 1985
In the realm of the hungry ghost - Archive LP - 1986
Death House - Soundtrack LP - 1987
At the Fiftieth Gate - 1988
A Tricky Business - 1991
Hidden Agenda - 1993
Ephemera - 1995
Three Arms and a Dead Cert - 1996
History promotional release only - 1996
Ephemera - 1995
Etude - 1997
The Jeopardy Maze - 1999
Heretic Angels live - 2000
The Hand that Feeds remix/best of - 2000
Esoteria ambient & classical works - 2000
Keepsakes and reflections an essential collection of rarities - 2001
Blown Fuse
Gary
John Hewitt (Stonki) - Drums
Chevy
Ted Duggan - Drums
Steve Walwyn - Guitar
Martin Cure - Vocals, Guitar
Andy Chaplin - Drums (at some point)
Paul Shanahan - Guitar
Bob Poole - Bass
Whether this is Martin Cure of "the Peeps" is unknown. Ted was also in Purple Haze in the 60's, Drops of Brandy in the 70's, Paris in the 80's, Chevy in the 80's and The Mudsliders with Baz Eardly, Clive Layton, Tim on bass, Greg Crab vocals.
He now plays for Banco De Gaia and from time to time plays for the Two Tone Collective
Single
Too much loving/See the light - 1980
Album
The Taker - 1981
1. The Taker 2. You got me running 3. Skybird 4. Chevy 5. Too much loving 6. Turn on the light 7. Shine on 8. Cold and lonely 9. Rock on
Courtiers of Fashion
After Dave Pepper left I, he had one more stab at new romanticism with this band.
Dave Pepper - Vocals, Keybords, Guitar
Paul Johnston - Drums, Keyboards
Karen Ellett - Vocals
Singles
Courtiers of Fashion
Criminal Class
A skinhead band with political message. The trouble is, I've forgotten what it was. Can anyone help?
Craig St Leon- Vocals
Still going - Last known line up Craig - vocals Danny Greer - Lead Guitar Fred Waite - Drums Mark Branski - Bass
CD
"Blood On The Streets" on the Captain Oi label.
Track Listing
1 Blood On The Streets 2 Running Away 3 Soldier 4 Jimmy Kelly 5 Anti Social 6 Blood On The Streets 7 Do You Wanna Be Mine 8 Soldier 9 Police Brutality 10 Running Away 11 Blood On The Streets 12 Oi Oi Skinhead 13 Fighting The System 14 Soldier Soldier,Blood On The Streets and Fighting The System were released as singles in 1981. Most are taken from demos in 1980 and 81 at the Woodbine Studios.
Clique
Gordana - Vocals replaced by
Caron Joyce - Vocals
Brian - Bass
Alan - Drums replaced by
Pete King - Drums
Chris - Guitar
Andy - Guitar
Densa
James Phillips - Guitar
Jon Larsen - Drums
Simon Bell - Bass
Stu Corner - Guitar
Steve - ?
Densa later became known as Act, and then Bop With McCow, with slightly
different line-ups.
Digital Dinosaurs
Chris
Single
Don't call us/Orders from the C O - 1981
D.S Band
Steve
The D.T.s
Steve Walwyn - Guitar
R 'n B band that played with Steve Marriott. Steve Walwyn, is now a member of Dr Feelgood.
The Editors
Tony White - Guitar
John Bradley - Guitar
Rex Brough - Bass
John Kenzie - Drums
Earlier members were:-
Martin Birch - Guitar/Bass
Guy.... bugger, I forgot!!! - Vocals
I was in this band. We didn't gig enough. STOP PRESS: - Tony White has revived the Editors. See below....
Memories from John Bradley
"Well, this is a real blast from the past, I happened to stumble across your web site today and got all misty eyed and nostalgic. Great days, and you're right, we didn't gig enough. I could still rattle off a set list now and remember most of the songs. Shame that all of the tapes that I had fromthose days have been lost/stolen. Remember the 1979 International year ofthe Child gig at Tiffany's where they pulled the plug on us and the Battle of the bands gig, downstairs at the Lanch where we played at 2 million miles
an hour. Also remember the recording session at Leamington where we produced a very strange sounding tape and turning Tony White's folks house into a studio for a weekend while they were on holiday. - Long time ago!
Musically, I went on to join a jazz funk band - Nightflight and we had a single out in 84 (Growing up / Out of the game) Did a demo with Tony and Tracy Tracy (The Primitives) (Crystal Carnival) Then played in a Tex mex band (The O'Pablos) as a bit of fun. Still strumming away and currently trying to master Jazz + Flamenco guitar (I've got a very long way to go !). I'm now living in Southsea and working for an ISP in Fareham as an
electronic messages manager."
Memories from Tony White
"Hi Rex - Love the Cov Band stuff - how d'ya remember so much ?
Just for the record, this is what happened to me over the last twenty years or so...
After I left the Editors I played with L'homme de Terre for a short while - remember them? Caron Joyce was the lead singer before she went on to join Dave Ged in the Mix.
After that I played with with Bassist Mark Harold (Ex The End/The Rest) in a Jazz Funk band called Nightflight. Johnny Bradley ex-Editors was lead singer. We did quite a few gigs in Cov and recorded an independant single at Horizon - 'Growing Up' on Iguana.
After that John and I formed Crystal Carnival (only 2 gigs but had some Paul Samson-engineered demos played on Radio Mercia) Actually, whats-her-name from the Primatives sang backing vocals with us before she found fame and fortune with the Prims.
In between somewhere, Mark Harold (Bass) and I formed Reflections - a really cheesy (but good) club-band - we needed the dosh. I mention this 'cos Julie the lead singer went on to sing with Smackee, who I see you've mentioned.
Anyway, around 1985 ish - Pauline formed The Supernaturals.
2 years ago I bumped into JK (John Kenzie) the old Editors Drummer and we started to mess about again with a few songs. We drafted in Dave Nicholls on Bass (Ex-Cov band Spider Murphy) and have recorded a CD which at some point I'll get a copy of to you. We're still called The Editors (Didn't want to tarnish any great memories, but couldn't think of a better name) and the CD is appropriately called Older Not Wiser."
The End
Another good Cov band. Jerome formed Team 23. Dave formed the Mix, and Bill Gough joined the Swinging Cats.
Jerome Heisler - Guitar Vocals
Dave Gedney - Guitar Vocals
Bill Gough - Drums replaced by John Hewitt
Mark Harold - Bass
Adrian Vaughn - Keyboards, Guitar
Memories from Jerome Heisler
"Myself and Adrian Vaughn had been at school together since we were about 11 years old. We always played some music together and as time went on this became full bands. By the summer of 77 this band was called the Guests and included John Hobley ( later of Squad and Gods Toys ) on drums. We played here and there, La Chaumiere, Mr Georges and even supported the Buzzcocks at Tiffany's. John left, and in the autumn of 78 Adie and myself found ourselves on the art course at College of F. E. which is where we met Dave Gedney and formed the End. Mark Harold (from what was previously known as the Dave Gedney Band) played bass and Bill Gough joined on drums, learning the job practically from scratch. This was the definative line up. By the Autumn of 79 Bill and Geduz had left (turbulent times). We stole John Hewitt, drums, (a.k.a Stonki) from Blown Fuze and continued as a four piece managing, along with all the other gigs, a support slot with God's Toys at the Music Machine ( I think there were about seven people there). February 1980 we were at a pretty low ebb (drugs) when Graham Smith (previously of the X-Certs) asked myself, Adrian and John to form a band with him and Dave Pepper. This, under the watchful eye of Dave Chalmers (Mr.C.) friend/manager/sound technician is what became Team 23."
Flackoff
Rod Goodwin - Bass
Arthur Jackson - Guitar
Charlie Pullen - Drums
Claire Ellis - Vocals, replaced by Chrissie Pew
Ted Duggan - Drums
Released single on sofa records in "81" Cocktails at six,Montague jack farmer,and The king is dead.
Memories from Chrissie Pew
"I sang with Flackoff after Claire Ellis left the band, and stayed with the band until it's demise, after which Rod Goodwin and myself
formed 'European Sun'. This line up stayed together for nearly eight years.
I am finding it difficult to find anything on the net. about 'European Sun'
; which is strange, as we where very well known in local band circles, and
we also had an indie deal"
Fun Boy Three
Following a split from the Specials, the Fun Boy Three had many hit singles before splitting up in 1983.
Terry Hall - Vocals
Neville Stapes - Vocals
Lynval Golding - Vocals, Guitar
Singles
The lunatics have taken over the asylum/Faith hop and charity - 1981
It aint what you do/The Funrama theme - 1981 (with Bananarama)
The Telephone always Rings/The Alibi - 1982Summertime/Summer of 82 - 1982
Tunnel Of Love/The lunacy legacy - 1983
Our Lips Are Sealed
The more I see - 1983
Albums
The Fun Boy Three - 1982
Waiting
Gods Toys
A band that almost "made it" Brilliant live. Supported Adam and the Ants on tour. Apparently it was hell, and split up the band. Dill Formed I. Chris Dickie became a recording engineer, working at RAK with Mickie Most.
Dill - Vocals
Chris Dickie - Bass
Nick Kavaz - Keybords
Larry Lupin - Guitar
John Hobley- Drums
Single
All the born losers/I love the sound of my own voice
Everybody's got a mother/Package tour to heaven (Badge BAD 7)
Memories from Peter Howard
Well. I was never in Gods Toys but seeing as they were good mates I lent Larry my Les Paul copy that went on tour with them when they supported Adam and the Ants. You¹re quite right. That tour destroyed them. The straw that broke the camel¹s back was the gig at Coventry Tiffanys. For the first time the sound was brilliant, they were seriously rocking and as they were on home turf, going down a storm. And then suddenly, the plug was pulled and that was it. Bastards. I saw Larry and Chris just before the Ants came on. Larry was in tears and Chris was going beserk. Enough said.[One of their singles] had one of my photos on the sleeve. They were at the time one of the best bands in Coventry. Happy days.
Let me know if you were in any of these or other Coventry bands.....