(c’84-’93) Doug McKeller (drums), Simon Bartlett (bass, backing vocals), Robert Bathurst (lead & rhythm guitar) and Martin Day (vocals, lead & rhythm guitar)
Out of Mervyn Sprockett And The Crankshaft Assembly the four members morphed into Salt Solution, which was announced in Soundscene in January ’84. McKeller, ex-Dark Paradise, was replaced by Andy Clark on drums, as he became the bands manager for a couple of years. In August ’84 the band appeared at the Greenbelt Festival at Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire. The Salties, following an audience participation number at a Knaphill gig, added Pete Milner (sax / keyboards) and continued as a 5-piece. A predominantly live christian rock band, they did release the “Your Country Needs You” single, on the Embryo Arts label [EAS 7], backed by “New Life” and recorded at Scarf Studios on Furze Street, Bow, in ’86.
In ’87, Salt Solution played at Brixton Academy to a few thousand gig goers, and continued gigging through the early 90’s. The band’s “The Art Of Growing Old” featured on the American ACM (Alternative Christian Ministries) Journal’s 3rd Anniversary Compilation CD, released in the US in ’92. This featured, to quote the packaging ‘twenty independent artists and twenty-one alternative songs from… New Zealand, England, Sweden, and America’. A four-track cassette demo followed a short recording hiatus prior to the bands demise in ’93. In 2000 came the “Arctic Frosties” retrospective album release.
Tracks:
Gallery:
…and Salt Solution were born. Soundscene, 19th January 1984Soundscene, 22nd October 1987Soundscene, 15th October 1987The band’s “The Art Of Growing Old” featured on the American ACM Journal’s 3rd Anniversary Compilation CD,Front cover of the “Your Country Needs You” singleBack cover of the “Your Country Needs You” singleA-side of the “Your Country Needs You” singleB-side of the “Your Country Needs You” singleL to R: Andy Clark, Rob Bathurst, Simon Bartlett (obscured) & high jumping Martin Day. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comSalt Solution: L to R Pete Milner, Andy Clark, Simon Bartlett, Rob Bathurst, Martin Day. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comThe retrospective “Arctic Frosties” album from 2000. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.com“Arctic Frosties” back cover image featuring Andrew Clark and Simon Bartlett. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comImage courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comThe Art of Growing Old” demo cassette cover. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comSalt Solution Demo cassette cover 1984. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comPress cuttings from 1984 and the release of Salt Solution’s single “Your Country Needs You”. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comWoking Informer clipping from 1984 and the release of Salt Solution’s single “Your Country Needs You”. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comRobert Bathurst and Martin Day, mid 80’s. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comSimon Bartlett on bass and Martin Day in open-air performance mode. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comAn outdoor gig in Woking, 1984: Top to Bottom: Rob Bathurst, Doug McKellar, Martin Day, Simon Bartlett. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.com“Live At The Brixton Acaemy” video cover. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comRob Bathurst & Martin Day at the Greenbelt Festival 1984. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.comMartin Day and Andy Clark performing ‘Get Out’, mid 80’s. Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.com
Our Soundscene 
It’s worth mentioning that Salt Solution’s 19 track album ‘Artic Frosties’ is still available on all digital platforms (e.g. https://open.spotify.com/album/7CHhFGOBq1T97TeqV9TEJf & https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC6ipZ8OXz7KenTeAYQ2j9Jg) and also on the Salt Solution pages of the Shallowdeep website – https://shallowdeep.com/music-salt-solution/
Also, I am still producing new music with Rich Milner under the name Mervyn Sprocket (see https://youtu.be/9ESDLahnR-M)
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