(c’87-’89) Jake Spires (vocals / harmonica), Dan Hiscocks (drums), Ed Walters (bass), Peter Bailey (vocals), and Ian Smith (guitar).
Formed by Hiscocks and Bailey, they started as a 4-piece with Smith and Walters, before adding Spires..in fact the band occasionally pulled “guest” musicians/performers from the audience including Aled Jones (harmonica) and ex-Trashqueen roadie Graham Clayton for a vocal. Van Gogh’s first gig, only 3 weeks after forming, was to a non-responsive crowd at Woking College. They were once touted for a warm-up slot on a prime-time TV show (which, I do not know), but were also well known for their exploits in the raft race held on Goldsworth Park Lake. Their biggest headline came when a schoolgirl ran off to Manchester with Bailey. Damian Wilson, of The Button Factory, is reported to have said of Van Gogh’s Bailey “he’s a better singer than myself”. In September ’88 they were part of “Showcase ’88”, one of numerous gigs at venues such as Brooklands College, Woking College and the Lion Brewery (Scratchers). Many of their most notable appearance occurred at The Cricketers, Westfield – the ‘local’ for Woking College students. They closed out ’88 with some time recording in a London studio. Smith left at the end of ’88 to pursue a journalistic career in New York, his rumored replacement being Arno Spires (guitar). Arno was certainly involved in the recording of the bands first demo cassette, “Van Gogh Through The Beers”.
“Through the Beers” demo tape cover…
The job eventually fell to Paul Bushell in early ’89. Not long after this Bailey moved on to Calamity Sax. Calamity and Van Gogh then proceeded to both appear at The Devil’s Dance Party at the Civic Hall, Guildford in March ’89. In August ’89, Van Gogh picked up the Sigue Sigue Sputnik award in the Phil Gibby farewell honors, as well as sharing the Most Momentous Occasion with Guildford Live Aid. In Jan 1990 the band released their second demo cassette, “One Hundred Percent…” carrying four original tracks. Oliver Angel replaced Ian Smith for the recording and subsequent gigs. The end of Van Gogh and the Earlobes was, some say on the same day (27 July) as Van Gogh’s untimely demise, hailed by Hiscocks backpacking Europe and India.
Bailey now fronts folk rockers Leatherat. Bushell is no longer with us unfortunately.
19 December 1988: Tickets for Van Gogh and the Earlobes’ lunchtime gig in the Main Hall, Woking College. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksSoundscene’s Gigs Column, August 4th 1988July 28th, 1988 Soundscene sparks rumours of Body Politic reformation, and suggests Van Gogh… will be part of Woking Showcase gigA little mention of the Earlobes in this July 7th ’88 Soundscene piece by Phil GibbyPerpetual PG Tips material, Van Gogh appear again on May 26 1988A snippet from Soundscene’s PG Tips (as written by Phil Gibby) – May 19, 1988Soundscene, May 26th 1988 – really hard to read, and I thought twice about posting this, but lets take the good with the badSoundscene, April 21st 1988Taken from Soundscene’s PG Tips July 14th ’88PG Tips column from the August 4th 1988 Soundscene adds fuel to the fire that was the Button Factory / Van Gogh and The Earlobes rivalry…Pete Bailey gets an apology, kind of…. As taken from Soundscene’s PG Tips 18th August 1988.David Rose reviews Van Gogh and the Earlobes in 22 September ’88’s Soundscene. Picture courtesy of Vis The SpoonVan Gogh and the Earlobes playing at Centre Halls, Woking for Brooklands College party. The year is possibly ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes playing at Centre Halls, Woking for Brooklands College party. The year is possibly ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes playing at Centre Halls, Woking for Brooklands College party. The year is possibly ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes playing at Centre Halls, Woking for Brooklands College party. The year is possibly ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes playing at Centre Halls, Woking for Brooklands College party. The year is possibly ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksBB reviews Van Gogh… at Brooklands College gig held at Centre Halls, Woking. Date unknown, but we’d guess ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksFrom the 15 December ’88 Soundscene column, Phil Gibby profiles latest news on Van Gogh. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksPhil Gibby mentions Van Gogh and the Earlobes twice in this PG Tips section, possibly from 22 Dec 1988 – a bad week for typos. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksReview of Van Gogh and the Earlobes 23 December 1988 gig at The Cricketer’s, Westfield. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh get a string of mentions in this undated PG Tips. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes get mentioned in PG Tips again (date unknown). Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh Article from Soundscene (date unknown). Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh win the “Anything for Publicity Award” in the PG Tips December 1988 honors list. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksEarly ’89 and Paul Bushell confirms he has joined Van Gogh and the Earlobes (last paragraph). Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksSoundscene article from ’89 on the demise of Van Gogh an the Earlobes. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksBackstage Pass for The Devil’s Dance Party, 23 March 1989, that included Van Gogh and the Earlobes. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksReview of The Devil’s Dance Party from Soundscene (30 March ’89 column), that included Van Gogh and the Earlobes. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh clipping from Soundscene, date unknown. Picture courtesy of Dan HiscocksVan Gogh reformation unlikely as Hiscocks goes backpacking. Soundscene clipping, date unknown. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh annouce, another, Farewell gig at The Cricketers, Westfield following Showcase ’88…Soundscene clipping, date unknown. Picture courtesy of Dan HiscocksVan Gogh annouce “One Hundred Percent…” demo release. Soundscene clipping, 18 Jan 1990. Picture courtesy of Dan HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes “…Through the Beers” cassette released. Soundscene clipping, date unknown. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes “…Through the Beers” cassette released. Soundscene clipping, date unknown. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksClipping from 6 January 1990 Soundscence. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksClipping from 21 December 1989 Soundscene. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh in caricature. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksPhil Gibby reviews Van Gogh’s first gig for Soundscene (date unknown). Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksPG Tips clipping from Aug 1989 puts next Van Gogh gig on Aug 20. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh pick up the Sigue Sigue Sputnik award and share Most Momentus Occassion in the Phil Gibby farewell honors, August 1989. Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh and the Earlobes Soundscene column clipping (date unknown). Picture courtesy of Daniel HiscocksVan Gogh exceeded expectations at Showcase ’88, held at Centre Halls, Woking in Sept ’88. Picture courtesy of Daniel Hiscocks
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