Controls

(c’78-85) Tim Naylor (bass / vocals), Melvin Crawford (guitar / vocals), John/Jon Monks (guitar / vocals) and Kerry “Captain” Kirk (drums).

This 4-piece from Fleet formed as the Bright Young Things from the remnants of punk bands the Grunties, Keine Namen, Incredible Mounties, and The Fastnets around Christmas ’78. Original vocalist Tim Freeman left early due to musical differences, later joining Frazier Chorus. Grunties’ Crawford took on the vocals, and Kirk covered drums. Keine Namen’s Naylor joined making it a trio. Their first gig was at Ewshott Village Hall on 25 May ’79.

Originally called Bright Young Things, this A4 poster is for Controls first ever gig at Ewshott Village Hall on 25 May 1979

A few private parties / gigs followed. Ex-Fastnets Monks added the second guitar and they became Controls in July ’79. A few rehearsals / performances at Basingbourne Pavillion were recorded over July / August ’79 and released as “Rampant Silliness At The Pavilion” on Stupid Rabbit Tapes. This included covers of “Rebel, Rebel” and “Public Image!” The band then secured slots at The Albert Social Club, Fleet and on 5 December ’79, the Prince of Wales, Fleet. They also and supported Lonesome No More at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough later in the month, on 11 December ’79. Controls weren’t the first or last band to have the power pulled on them, but notably the regulars at The Albert Social Club got them shut down after just 4-numbers followed by Naylor getting into a fight and the band walking home with an escort of locals.

11 December 1979: Controls supported Lonesome No More at the Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. Picture courtesy of Tim Naylor

Once described as Joy Division on whizz they released the “Sock It To ‘Em, Dave” cassette EP on Stupid Rabbit Tapes [SRT001] in April ’80 with tracks ‘So Soon I Forget’, ‘Secrets’, ‘Nobodies Daughter’ and ‘Invited Few’. Late the prior year, Naylor had written to Sounds announcing the release of Controls’ “Sock It To ‘Em” cassette; even though it didn’t exist. Sounds ran it in the New Year and offers for distribution, publishing, fanzine interviews and payments for the cassette started rolling in.

Short snippet that appeared in Sounds in 1980. Source: Die or DIY

Naylor and Monks spent a Sunday gathering 4 tracks from old rehearsal tapes and made up the “Sock It To ‘Em, Dave” cassette EP. Monks then produced the copies using two Philips portable cassette recorders. The band eventually sold around 500 cassettes at a quid each; thanks to Sounds and positive fanzine coverage in the likes of Cultural Revolution and Stick It In Your Ear.

“Don’t Adjust The Controls” on Stupid Rabbit Tapes [SRT002] was recorded live on 21 June ’80; eventually releasing as this cassette LP in July. Source: Stupid Rabbit Tapes

The band recorded their second cassette “Don’t Adjust The Controls” live on 21 June ’80; eventually releasing it as a cassette LP in July, again on Stupid Rabbit Tapes [SRT002]. Shortly after Monks stepped down and the band continued as a trio. Their June gig at Crondall Village Hall, headlined by The Mental and supported by Men Like Gods, ended with the audience wrecking the place before attacking the village green, stealing band kit and a car or two. It was reported in the Aldershot News as the ‘Crondall Village Hall Riot’ (Ed- We need to get hold of that clipping). This line-ups final gig was an unofficial appearance on Aldershot Lido’s cafe roof; after which the band split up.

Over the following weeks Naylor held auditions to reform the band; as result Mark Pendelton (guitar) and Jim Rump (vocals) were recruited in August ’80. Over September ’80 Controls had a three week residency at the Fox and Hounds, Fleet. A recording of one gig at the Fox and Hounds was released by Stupid Rabbit in November ’80 as “Late Night Love Songs” [SRT 003]. The Wooden Bridge, Guildford had Controls headline on 8 October ’80, with Prisoner of War in support.

20 March 1981: Quality Drivel, supported by The Poles, Controls, and Dig Dig Dig were up at The X Club, Drayton Labour Club. Source: Stupid Rabbit Tapes

On 20 March ’81, Quality Drivel headlined The X Club at Drayton Labour Club, supported by The Poles, Dig Dig Dig, and Controls. This new line-up was taken on by Reading based X-Cassettes, who re-released “Late Night Love Songs” as “Dance” [X-003] in April ’81. They also appeared on X-Cassettes “Anything Could Happen In The Next Half Hour” [X-002] and “Bits” [X-005] compilations.

The band were managed by ex-Keine Namen member Dave Mallins, who sometimes stepped in on drums, and Mark “Willy” Whitehead was their roadie. The band reappeared in late ’83 with Tracy Taylor on vocals. On 23 March ’84 they performed at the West End Centre, Aldershot with The Waltons, and The Service, and In Hill House. This was ‘Fast Pop Friday’, the opening night of West End Centre’s first Aldershot Rock Weekend, that featured 20 local bands across the 23-26 March. At some point in ’84 they issued the “Searching For The Perfect Partner” Live cassette LP on Stupid Rabbit Tapes, recorded at Farnborough Sixth Form and held a short residency in the Spring of that year at Fleet Country Club’s Alternative Night. Splinters was a club held at the Cambridge Hotel, Camberley and Controls played there on 3 October ’84.

At Christmas ’85 Controls played at Farnborough Tech. This was also recorded and issued as a live cassette album titled “Let’s All Bark Like Labradors” on Stupid Rabbit Tapes in ’86.

Naylor and Monks would later team up with Richard Jennings in Beating Hearts.

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