Inter

(c’95- ) Michael Boylan (bass / vocals), Steven Bray (vocals / guitar / keyboard) and Johnny Gill (drums), Sid Stovold (guitar).

Boylan, Bray and Gill formed Farnborough’s Inter in late ’95 (just scrapping into the Soundscene timeframe) with ex-Who Moved The Ground? guitarist / vocalist Stovold joining around February ’96. They had already secured and played a number of local gigs, such as The White Hart, Frimley, in 1996 when they released the demo cassette EP “Product” carrying ‘Cherry Red, Electric Blue’. Sticks and Stones’, ‘Boss Grasshopper’ and ‘You Lose’. These were all recorded at Monster Studios, Leatherhead on the 30th and 31st March ’96

Now described in Melody Maker as ‘kings of the catchy cheesy chorus’ Inter had their debut London gig at the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town on 14 August ’96. Over the following year extensive gigging, including appearances at Interspace at The Bull & Gate supporting Kissing Katy with Realise and Farnham ’96, resulted in several more rave reviews in the national music press. Plus, their “Cherry Red, Electric Blue” track released on Fierce Panda’s Screecher Comforts EP, having featured on ‘Snakebite City Five with “You Lose” and headlining NME’s 1997 Brats Unsigned. They also featured on a Spanish cinema advertising campaign for Casio. In ’97 they released their debut single “Happy Ending” – reportedly described by John Peel as ‘the best pop song in the last 30 years’ – on the Pet Sounds label and appeared at the Manchester Radio 1 roadshow. “Happy Ending” had been recorded at Monster Studios, Leatherhead in ’96 and was mastered at Abbey Road.

Front of sleeve of Inter’s Happy Ending CD single

’97 was also the year of they recorded “Radio Finland”, “Cherry Red Electric Blue”, “Think Big” and “Jimmy” at Maida Vale 4 for their first Peel session held on 25 May. Earlier that month they shared the Civic Hall, Guildford stage with Supermodel, Jolt and Redwood for a Splatch night. Inter’s “Boss Grasshopper” also appeared on ‘The Best Of Splatch!’ CD compilation, released that year, on the Mother Stoat Recording Co. label [STOAT 006]. They continued gigged locally throughout ’97; including The Cricketers, Westfield; The Maltings, Farnham and the Civic Hall, Guildford.

Inter signed to Yoshiko Records in ’98 and began recording tracks for the debut album: “Got My Nine”, all while continuing to gig; including Splatch at the H.G. Wells Suite, Woking with Floor, Freekspert and The Samurai Seven. Early in ’99, their first single from these sessions, “National Paranoia”, was released, reaching #10 in the NME Indie Top 30 singles chart. This had been produced and mixed by Mark Wallis, who had mixed among others Travis, U2, Go-Betweens, The Primitives, Michael Hutchence, Wet Wet Wet, The Smiths, and Joan Armatrading. The bands second Peel session followed on 29 Sept ’99 with “Speed Racer”, “Something Criminal”, “Shan’t Quit Ripping” and “Not Curious” forming the set.

Front of sleeve for Inter’s Finland CD single

Record company issues delayed the singles “Radio Finland” and “Speed Racer”, and the debut and only album “Got My Nine” until 2000. Wallis was involved again, with tracks recorded at Loco Studios, Usk Valley, Gwent and Great Westwood. Inter called time in 2001 after supporting Stiff Little Fingers at the Forum in London. John Peel described the “Got My Nine” LP as ‘excellent’ and ‘a real favorite at Peel Acres’.

In 2005 they reformed to play a benefit show for the British Heart Foundation in honor of band friend and roadie, Richard Hazell, who had recently died. They reformed again in 2009, playing a brief set at the West End Centre, Aldershot for manager Pete Cole’s wedding.

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Bed & Breakfast