(c’88-90) – Pete Bailey (vocals), Phil Brookes (guitar), Vince “Shagnasty” White (drums) and Ian “Wez” Westley (bass).
Ex-Kyoto Rose / Trashqueen guitarist Brookes pulled the band together at the end of ’88, with White and ex-Monterey and Trashqueen bassist Westley. After seeking a vocalist since August, Bailey come over from Van Gogh and the Earlobes in early ’89. The band rehearsed at a number of location, but could be regularly found perfecting or testing material at Horsell’s Village Hall. The band appeared at France Hill School, Camberley alongside Deceased Disease and Jeopardy (later to be known as Warp Spasm). In March ’89 the band appeared at The Devils Dance Party at the Civic Hall, Guildford with The Button Factory, Napalm Groove Squad, Too Many Cameras, and Van Gogh and the Earlobes; at which Metal Hammer / Metal Forces / Kerrang writer Dave Reynolds was reportedly present. They then toured for one month with Last of the Teenage Idols, sharing “One Man Show”; “Nobody Knows” and their cover on “Smoking In The Boy’s Room” with a broader audience. The ‘Keep on Smiling’ demo was released that same year.
An appearance at The Cricketers, Westfield, betwixt Christmas ’88 and New Year, was not – as rumoured – the band’s last according to the band; instead they were taking a break while Westley focused on his final year at university. They did appear again at the Civic Hall, Guildford for the the ABC Music sponsored Showcase ’89 on 15 July with The Extremes, The Hype, Wise Child, The Ha Ha Men, Forrest and The Choppers; Bitter Sweet, and Screw Loose. However a proper re-grouping didn’t occur and on the groups ‘official’ demise, in January 1990, Brookes joined London based Scarlette, first appearing with the London band at Calamity Sax’s Westfield haunt: The Cricketers. Many years later Calamity Sax were described as “a long-forgotten combo ” in The Independent.
White emigrated to the US and was managing a Guitar Center, but regrettably passed in 2017. Westley was General Manager of Mushroom Records where Garbage, Muse, Ash, Zero 7 and Paul Oakenfold were launched and is now Hassle Records label manager and manages a number of bands. He is co-owner of Full Time Hobby (the holding company for Hassle) whose first release was Portland, Oregon based duo Viva Voce’s EP “Alive With Pleasure”. Bailey now fronts folk rockers Leatherat.
Brookes went on to become a guitar tutor in Woking before co-founding The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford. ACM is now affiliated with Guildford’s Electric Theatre, Guildford College, Middlesex University and University of Surrey. In May 2008 ACM was awarded the The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation (Technology) and in late 2009, with support from The University of Central Oklahoma, ACM opened up its first location outside of the UK in Downtown Oklahoma City. In August 2013, ownership of ACM was acquired by Kainne Clements, who also co-owns Metropolis Studios. The likes of Amelle Berrabah, member of The Sugababes; Joe Butterworth, drummer for Talanas and Ed Sheeran (although he dropped out) are all ex-ACM students.
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