(c’77-79) Rob Jacob (vocals / guitar), Kevin Smith (guitar), Pat Martin (bass / vocals), Ken Baker (guitar / keyboards/ vocals) and Pete Perryer (vocals / drums).
The Volunteers’ Rob Jacobs, with Justin Hildreth (who was moonlighting from Roogalator) on drums behind, at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
The Volunteers were formed by guitarist Jacob with ex-Unicorn members Smith, Martin, Baker, and Perryer when Unicorn split in ’77. Baker, who went solo, and Perryer left about a year into the band’s lifespan, with Justin “Illdressed” Hildreth joining on drums. Hildreth lasted a while – he was certainly on drums in late ’78 at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford – but ultimately it didn’t work out with his other drumming commitment with Roogalator. On 24 March ’79 the band appeared at The Superstar Club, held at The Star, Guildford.
Bonaparte Records advert for The Volunteers single from Barbed Wire Vol2 No2, May 1979. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
An ad was placed in Melody Maker and their manger David Fagence, who ran Bonaparte’s, Guildford and later became an EMI Records A&R man; asked around. This resulted in two suggestions: Rod Johnson of Straight Eight and Michael “Nicko” McBrain who’d been in the Pat Travers Band and the Chapman Witney Streetwalkers, from the rep at A&M. They were both auditioned at Merrow Village Hall in early ’79. Nicko joined and played his first gig with the band on 31 May ’79 at The Three Lions, “Scratchers”, Farncombe having just 3 hours of rehearsals in Mick Bryant of the Mick Bryant Band’s cellar that afternoon.
After some more rehearsal the gig at the Nashville, Kensington on 2 June ’79, supporting The Soft Boys, was much improved. In amongst all this, on what is believed to be 28 April ’79 – although that date doesn’t work based on Nicko’s joining date – the band recorded a number of live tracks while supporting The Tourists at The Music Machine, Camden. Martin recalls sitting watching The Tourists sound check and cutting his finger on a coke can ring pull. Annie Lennox saw this and shouted over the mike “Hang on I have some plasters in my bag”; came over to him, cleaned the cut with a hanky and put a plaster on and gave him a wonderful smile. After which Nicko teased him “She wants your body man”. Both bands were on the Logo label at the time.
The Guildford based Volunteers released a single [GO 351] on the Logo label in May ’79 titled “If You Ain’t Scared” with “Little Pictures” on the b-side. The band then wrapped things up. Jacob pulled together Noit Otni & The Pits and later joined Martin and Smith to form Square One. Nicko went on to play with McKitty, then the French band Trust, before joining Iron Maiden just before their 4th album, in ’82. Baker started a short solo career under the Kenny Baker moniker.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Rob Jacob up front of The Volunteers at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front of The Volunteers at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front, with Pat Martin behind, of The Volunteers at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front, with Pat Martin behind, of The Volunteers – and Frank in the corner – at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front of The Volunteers, with Justin Hildreth on drums (moonlighting from Roogalator) at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front of The Volunteers at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front of The Volunteers, with Justin Hildreth on drums (moonlighting from Roogalator) at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front, with Pat Martin behind, of The Volunteers – and Frank in the corner – at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesRob Jacob up front of The Volunteers at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, late in 1978. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes.The Volunteers at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers’ Rob Jacobs, with Justin Hildreth (who was moonlighting from Roogalator) on drums behind, at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers’ Rob Jacobs, with Justin Hildreth (who was moonlighting from Roogalator) on drums behind, at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers’ Rob Jacobs, with Justin Hildreth (who was moonlighting from Roogalator) on drums behind, at The Woodenbridge, Guildford c’78. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesArticle on The Volunteers from page 10 of the Barbed Wire fanzine issued in January 1979. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesGig Review from Barbed Wire Vol 2 No.2, May 1979. Picture courtesy of Fred PipesThe Volunteers interview with Sally Clark for Barbed Wire in 1979 Volume 2 Number 3. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Interesting. I used to get gigs for The Volunteers on the London music pub and college circuit when they first formed after Unicorn finished. Not sure how I met Rob because I used to live in a house in Rowtown, Surrey, with Tim Green who was with Mungo Jerry at the time and Stompin’ Steve, lead singer in the rock’n’roll band Rock Island Line. I think my ex-secretary knew Rob so perhaps that was how we met.
Now that I think about Rob was not in the early Volunteers line up. It was ‘just’ the ex-Unicorn members to start with. I remember doing a photo shoot outside one very cold, snowy day to put together a poster of the band. I don’t remember Rob being in the shoot.
It was very interesting working with them but about a year after getting involved I had to stop getting them gigs. Had to bow out because I was doing a language degree at Bedford College, London University and had to spend a year working in a French speaking country. Not easy hustling for gigs in England if you’re based in Tunisia!
Good memories. After I went to live abroad (turned out to be two and a half years) we lost contact. I was very said to hear of Rob dying. So sad to hear of Pete, too.
Our Soundscene 
Interesting. I used to get gigs for The Volunteers on the London music pub and college circuit when they first formed after Unicorn finished. Not sure how I met Rob because I used to live in a house in Rowtown, Surrey, with Tim Green who was with Mungo Jerry at the time and Stompin’ Steve, lead singer in the rock’n’roll band Rock Island Line. I think my ex-secretary knew Rob so perhaps that was how we met.
Now that I think about Rob was not in the early Volunteers line up. It was ‘just’ the ex-Unicorn members to start with. I remember doing a photo shoot outside one very cold, snowy day to put together a poster of the band. I don’t remember Rob being in the shoot.
It was very interesting working with them but about a year after getting involved I had to stop getting them gigs. Had to bow out because I was doing a language degree at Bedford College, London University and had to spend a year working in a French speaking country. Not easy hustling for gigs in England if you’re based in Tunisia!
Good memories. After I went to live abroad (turned out to be two and a half years) we lost contact. I was very said to hear of Rob dying. So sad to hear of Pete, too.
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