(c’92-95) David Bailey (guitar / vocals), Martin Smith (drums), John Rollinson (guitar / vocals) and Scott Merritt (bass).

The boys live gigs featured mostly their own material, with a smattering of covers such as Squire‘s “The Face of Youth Today”. By ’93 Pete Cole was managing the band and a 5-track demo tape “Memory Babe” did the rounds early that year. That same year their appearance at the Bull & Gate, London ended in a tussle that saw Bailey kneed in the nether regions and his brother breaking his hand – they never appeared there again. The band appeared at the Guildford Council sponsored Rock Explosion 3, featuring local bands: Annoyance, Blue, Strangeworld and Vox Pop on 4 June ’93. The following month, on 11 July, the band were at The Shepherd and Flock, Farnham with Who Moved the Ground? Vox Pop had completed their set, when for no apparent reason the landlord took except to WMTG, ending their set and refusing to pay. The audience was ushered out, but WMTG played on resulting in twelve of the local constabulary’s finest attending the Shepherd and Flock. That same week, on 16 July, Vox Pop were supported by Basingstoke outfit The Perishers at The Cricketers, Westfield. They were then appeared at the Sidewalk Cafe, West Byfleet on 24 July ’93.

Also in ’93, the band recorded a number of tracks at Earth Terminal Music in June. with Cor Blimey! and Pretty Impossible, both produced by Luke Baldry along with the band, making it onto 7″ vinyl as Detour Records‘ double A-sided DR007. Pretty Impossible would go on to appear on The Farnborough Groove and the Japan only release of a various mod artist compilation titled Kickstart! (TFCK-87501) on the Flavour of Sound label in ’95. When Record Collector magazine published an article on Dizzy Holmes’ Detour Record label, they called out Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey! as indicating a direction away from the typical mod sound of the label.

The following year, “Dear Diary” appeared on Bluefire Records “Snakebite City 2” and the bands “Pretty Impossible” featured as track #1 on “The Farnborough Groove, Vol.4”. Merritt left the band and auditions for a new bassist included a try out by David Burrows; but ultimately Bailey’s brother Michael ended up slapping the four-string. They were back on “Farnborough Groove Strikes Back (Vol.5)” with “Beat Girl & Me” in ’95.

The next year, co-produced with Detour Records, Flavour of Sound released “The Jam Tribute the Modern World” compilation album – again in Japan only – which carried Vox Pop’s “Running on the Spot”. This was re-released (PREACH008CD) in the UK on the Rhythm Vicar label in 2001 with two additional tracks.

At some point they supported Manfred Mann (Manfreds at the time – due to a legal dispute!) at the Guildford Civic Hall along with Eat the Sofa (Ed – Michael Bailey never did tell us “a great story about that gig”). Record Collector magazine published an article on Dizzy Holmes’ Detour Record label, were they called out Vox Pop’s “Cor Bimey!” as indicating a direction away from the typical mod sound of the label.

David and Michael Bailey, Rollinson, and Smith formed Summerbee after Vox Pop. Michael Bailey sadly passed on 12 August 2021.

Tracks:
Actress & The Bishop

Beat Girl & Me

Carnival

Cor Blimey

Dear Diary

Pretty Impossible

Gallery:

Vox Pop band shoot… Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop band shoot a la Funeral Pyre. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop band shoot…Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Two of the four Vox Poppers tucking in… Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop at Woking’s Muslim Burial Ground… Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop’s “Beat Girl & Me” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.4 in 1994. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
Vox Pop get a brief mention in this review of Farnborough Groove Vol.5 in the Staines & Ashford News from 8 Sept 1994.

Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD
Front of Vox Pop’s single. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
Back of Vox Pop’s single. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
A-side of Vox Pop’s single. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
B-side of Vox Pop’s single. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
Sleeve for Vox Pop’s “Memory Babe” cassette EP from 1993. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold
A-side of Vox Pop’s “Memory Babe” cassette EP from 1993. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold
Lyric insert from Vox Pop’s “Memory Babe” cassette EP from 1993. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold
Vox Pop at The Cricketers, Westfield in ’94 / ’95. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop at Steps Wine Bar, Dorking in ’95. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop at The Cricketers, Westfield at Christmas ’94. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey
1994 and Vox Pop play The Cricketers, Westfield with Tamberlaine.
The 1993 “Planet Indie” contemplation cassette created Icarus Records featured Vox Pop’s “Carnival”
Also in ’93 the bands “Pretty Impossible” featured as track #1 on “The Farnborough Groove Vol.4. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole.
1994… Photo courtesy of Michael Bailey
Boyz II Men may well have been topping the UK chart with “End Of The Road” on this day in 1992, but this Vox Pop gig was a much better performance and all for just a couple of quid. Photo courtesy of Michael Bailey
Vox Pop flyer. Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
“Pretty Impossible” popped up on the Japan only release of a various mod artist compilation titled “Kickstart!” (TFCK-87501) on the Flavour of Sound label in ’95
Set list for gig at The Cricks, 8th Oct 1994! Remember at The Cricks you were expected to deliver at least two 1 hour sets. Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Vox Pop Profile Sheet – Would you book ’em? Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Vox Pop’s diary…so, who “never showed up”? Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Vox Pop gig list//notes, 1992. Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Vox Pop gig list – You’d didn’t get rich playing in and around Woking. Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Vox Pop guitarist / roadie John Rollinson at The Cricks. Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
It’s Martin Smith of Vox Pop at the Cricketers, Westfield, around about 1993.
Vox Pop at the Football Club, Bracknell, October 17, 1992. Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
Vox Pop at the Football Club, Bracknell, October 17, 1992. Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
1993 – Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
1993 – Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
Vox Pop’s “Memory Baby” 5-track demo tape did the rounds in early ’93.
1992 and a gig described by Martin Smith as “Brilliant”. Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
Cor Blimey, Vox Pop’s purple vinyl…Picture courtesy of Martin Smith
Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
“Ok, Sound a bit shit!” is what Martin Smith had to say about this 1992 gig. Thanks to Col Bird for the image.
In ’96, co-produced with Detour Records, Flavour of Sound released “The Jam Tribute The Modern World” compilation album – in Japan only – which carried Vox Pop’s “Running On The Spot” as track 11.
4 June 1993: Guildford Council’s Rock Explosion 3 featured local bands: Annoyance, Blue, Strangeworld and Vox Pop.
Vox Pop at The Cricks, Westfield.
Clipping from 15 July 1993 Soundscene column. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole