(c’88-’90) Richard Askew (keyboards), Kyd Douglas (bass), David Bates (guitar), Steve Bell (drums) and Gavin Thomas (vocals).

This Guildford five-piece band were formed in early ’88 by songwriters Askew and Douglas. Phone The Pope developed a loyal fan base and regularly played London venues including the Rock Garden, Dingwalls and the Mean Fiddler. Their debut at London’s Rock Garden, supporting The Wheel, reportedly pulled better box office returns than U2’s debut gig at the same venue with the band performing two encores: Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” and “Something So Electric”.

Phone the Pope recorded two EPs, although the first was more of a double A-sided cassette single carrying “Tortured Paradise” and “Wouldn’t Want to Be Like”. The second, was recorded at Black Barn Studios, Ripley with Robin Black producing the 3 songs: “Don’t You Love It”, “Sugar Daddy”, and “Chills”.

Douglas was last seen in Farnham and may be involved in artist management. Askew is in Aldershot. Bell emigrated to the USA.

Gallery:

Soundscene June 16th 1988