(c’80-83) Pete Woollett (vocals), Nick Moore (bass / guitar), Calvin Gumbs (drums / tambourine), Anne Morrison (vocals / flute), K.T. Moore (keyboards), Andy Lockwood (lead guitar) and Kev Tidy (rhythm guitar).

Renowned for their stonking live performances this seven piece reggae group gigged throughout the local area and up a down the country. They originated in Slough, but like Cardiacs, Soundscene claimed them as one of our own. In 1980 they released a double A-side 7″ on the Ape Records label [APE 001] carryimg “Five For You (Work)” and “Natural Reaction” to positive reactions from local rags and fanzines.

That same year, the penultimate issue of the Bracknell and Newbury based No Cure fanzine featured The Mighty Strypes, as did Grinding Halt No.6 which reviewed two separate gigs. The first at The Monday Club supporting El Seven aided by A Fast Crowd had The Mighty Strypes stealing the show; the second saw the band headline with The Runners in support. While we do not have a clear gigography for The Mighty Strypes we do know that they performed at least two or three times a week and a typical schedule would look very much like this from November ’80: Youth Club, Gerrards Cross (14), Studio One Club, Slough (18), Royal Holloway, Egham (21), Dingwalls, Camden (22), and Scamps, Oxford (26). At the very end of 1980 the band found themselves supporting The Flatbackers at Dingwalls on 27 December.

The Mighty Strypes gigged at The Cricketers, Westfield in early ’81 on both 16 January and 1 February. On 10 June ’81 the band were up in Oxford at the now closed Scamps in the Westgate Centre. In ’82 we know they appeared at Alexandra’s, Chippenham on 28 July supported by Death Pop and two days later they were at Midnight Express, Bournmouth. The band’s appearance supporting Black Symbol at Fisher Hall, Cambridge in early October ’83 was reviewed by Keith Legoy for the 15 October issue of the Cambridge Rock Rag: Blue Suede News fanzine. Later that month they opened for Death Pop, with The Telephone Boxes, at Langley College, Slough.

We know that Morrison worked at Tesco in Wokingham.

Tracks:


Gallery:

No Cure No.6 featured The Mighty Strypres
The Mighty Strypes supported The Flatbackers at Dingwalls on 27th Dec 1980
A review of The Mighty Strypes gig at Fisher Hall with Black Symbol, by Keith Legoy for the 15th Oct 1983 issue of Blue Suede News fanzine.
The Mighty Strypes gig at The Cricketeers on Feb 1st ’81. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner
Woking News & Mail
Midnight Express, Bournemouth flyer from 1982
The fanzine, Grinding Halt No.6, covered two Mighty Stripes gigs
The fanzine, Grinding Halt No.6, covered two Mighty Stripes gigs
10th June 1981 and The Mighty Strypes were up in Oxford at the now closed Scamps in the Westgate Centre.
Review of The Mighty Strypes single from a Berkshire music fanzine (we’re trying to confirm which).