(c’89-93) Paul Huggett (guitar / vocals)
Woking based, ex-Public Warning member, Huggett went solo with his 12-string acoustic as singer / songwriter Billy Liberator and released the ‘Glebeland Blues’ demo in late ’89 / early ’90 which opened with ‘And How Daddy Loves You’, followed by ‘The Newtown Boys’, ‘A Love Like This’ and ‘She’s Just One Kiss Away’. Meanwhile, Huggett was still playing in Forrest & The Choppers.
Leeds and Reading Festival promoter Neil Pengelly agreed to give him a regular gig at the Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon. Liberator made his live debut at the acoustic room there in 1990 with a selection of his own material, a small smattering of Public Warning songs and Woody Guthrie and Alarm covers. This was the start of a successful run at the venue that lasted two years. He returned to the Mean Fiddler in ’91, accompanied by Trusting Quimberries. Three years after it’s original release ‘…Just One Kiss…’ appeared on the A-side of Revenge of Farnborough Groove Vol.4 in ’93.
In ’95, Forrest was invited to put the Choppers back together for a mini festival in Chertsey. The band has gigged sporadically ever since doing weddings, parties, working men’s clubs & the like, with a line-up that includes Huggett. After an extended sabbatical Liberator returned in September 2020 digitally releasing a 4-track EP titled “Your Heart Wears It Well”.
“Your Heart Wears Well” was produced by Steve ‘Smiley’ Barnard, and comprises “Evelyn”, “What Needed To Be Said”, “Stand Up For Your Love” and the title track. Billy Liberator is now gigging solo and as frontman to The Orbiteers with Jakey Miller (guitars), Andy Lodge (drums), Mitch Veness (bass) – who Huggett met through the ’95 version of Forrest & The Choppers -, and Al Zarth (keyboards). Post lockdown, Liberator and his ensemble have been busy gigging and releasing LPs and singles.
Tracks:
Gallery:
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