(’82-’83) – William de Kock (drums), Nigel Turner (bass / backing vocals), Dave Raphael (keyboard / harmonica) and Pete Alvis (guitar / lead vocals).

XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock

Alvis, who’d previously been in The Fix, teamed up with fellow fellow Westfield residents de Kock and ex-Panther and Cutting Edge Raphael, and Turner from Old Woking to form XLR8, who rehearsed in Sutton Green. XLR8 played their first gig at The Cricketers, Westfield and were on the local circuit for about 2 yrs in the early 80’s, including The Cricks, almost as a residency.

A typical month for XLR8 went a bit like this: They played The Cricks on the 1 October ’82, supporting Precious Few – in which Raphael also played – and a week later they appeared at The Mariner, Frensham on 8 October; two days after which they were entertaining the punters at the Coach & Horses, Farnham. Peasmarsh Rock Club hosted the band in Guildford on 14 October before returning to The Cricks and The Mariner on 24 and 30 October respectively. The band ended up playing Peamarsh Rock Club monthly (11 November and December) and The Cricks on a similar schedule (18 November and 12 December), one of which saw them supporting Toulouse. They even ventured into the home turf of The Jam, to whom they were often compared, at the Youth Club, Sheerwater on 17 November.

Ten days into January ’83 saw the band at the Community Centre, Frimley and back at The Cricks on 24 Janaury. On 10 February ’83, The Cricks hosted the band again but they officially split in March / April that year the result of the double whammy of pubs preferring to book discos over live bands and the lack of live venues in the Woking area. Over the next few months pressure mounted, particularly from The Cricks regulars, to reform. Eventually they succumb to the pressure, which included the landlord of the Cricks itself, and agreed to get together and do one very last gig on 7 July ’83 – billing it as our final farewell.

7 July 1983, Farewell gig flyer. Picture courtesy of William de Kock

It may have been billed as their final gig but we have a listing for the band playing at the Youth Club, Woking on 1 October ’83…? Turner and Raphael turn up a couple of years later in China Heart. Twelve years after the split the band reformed one more time for a gig supporting Sideways on 14 February ’95.

Tracks:

Gallery:

Picture courtesy of William de Kock
Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
XLR8 at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
Turner threatens to send Jon Harlow a demo… Picture courtesy of William de Kock
1983. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
1995. Picture courtesy of William de Kock
Picture courtesy of William de Kock
Picture courtesy of William de Kock